I Can't Write a Song

by Rob Roper

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about

This song has a story.

In 2004, I decided to get serious about songwriting. I attended the Rocky Mountain Song School in Lyons, Colorado, in August, 2004. I came out of it all fired up to write songs. I met 3 other people from Denver, and we decided to start a songwriting group that would meet once a month. We'd all write a song and bring it to the group for critique.

The day before the first meeting in September, I hadn't written a song. I felt ashamed, embarrassed. Here I was, the one who had started the songwriter group, and I wouldn't have a song to present. After I got off work, I went jogging. I came home and took a shower, and I wrote this song in the shower.

I presented it to the group the next night. Enjoy the irony. :)

-Rob Jan 31, 2019

lyrics

I Can't Write a Song
by Rob Roper © 2005

I can't write a song
Been starin' at this notepad all day long
Don't even have one rhyme
And now I'm out of time
Been trying my whole life long
But I can't write a song.

Chorus:
I can't write a song
No I can't write a song
Won't ever be a Dylan
Lennon or Pete Townsend
It's clear I don't belong
'Cause I can't write a song

I guess I'm just not the artist type
I could never cut off my ear with a knife
I don't even have one tattoo
And if I did, it would say "Born to Lose"
My career choice is all wrong
'Cause I can't write a song.

(Chorus)

So I signed up for a songwriting class
And the teacher gave me a good kick in the ass
He said, "A song don't have to be serious"
"You can just write crap like this"
This one sure didn't take long
But I just wrote a song.

New Chorus:
I just wrote a song
Yeah, I just wrote a song
I may never be a Dylan
Lennon or Pete Townsend
But I feel I do belong
'Cause I just wrote a song

credits

released January 31, 2019
Rob Roper: acoustic guitar and vocal.

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about

Rob Roper Denver, Colorado

Songwriter, guitar player and singer.

"...the troubadour of the misfit." --Kurt Loken

"...a guy with some sharp songwriting skills and a knack for penning witty lyrics." --Jon Solomon, The Westword.

"...striking similarities to Elvis Costello... pop rock with a lyrical edge." --Sheryl Radetsky ... more

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