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Am I the only idiot who can't remember lyrics?


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Been working on building up my play list now for over a year. Created a thread on this way back when... but now, a year later, I still cannot remember lyrics perfectly. I use lead sheets. There are almost NO songs I can remember 100%. There are many I can remember 80-90% but even if it's 99%, heck, one goof, and there goes the song. Numbers? I don't know exactly but I regularly play about 200 songs. Is requiring lead sheets necessary for some of you? Are there people like me who for some reason, can NEVER remember them 100%?

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Duke, Nobody can remember all of the words to all of the songs all of the time. You should be able to remember all of the words to some of the songs all of the time. And, you may be able to remember all of the words to all of the songs some of the time. I run over 100 songs on my play list & usually play from 3 to 4 hours gigs. With short breaks & between song chats & interaction with the crowd I never get close to that number. The playlist consists of the Title and first line of the song. Nothing more. There are days when I forget the words to the songs (I) wrote, let alone someone elses lyrics. It's normal. You just have to get comfortable with the fact that it happens & continue on. You may swap verse orders, play one a second time, what ever it takes to continue. Just don't quit in the middle of the song unless you're prepared to deride yourself, joke about it & not be embarressed. If not & you just quit & do something else, that will get the crowds attention. Otherwise they'll probably not even notice & certainly won't care. You're ability to maintain stage presence shows your professionalism. On the other side, there are times and days I nail everything under the sun, including requested stuff I haven't done in years. It's a funny deal & if you take it and yourself too seriously you won't be able to hang. If you're going to get upset with yourself about mistakes do it in practice and recording sessions. Live is the time to get involved with the crowd, show them you're having fun while entertaining them & forget about dropped notes, chords & lyrics.

 

Our Joint

 

"When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke...

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I can't remember words to shit I write without getting out lyric sheets after they been put away for more than a few days... you can imagine back when I had to do all those cover songs. I could end up saying some interesting things. ;)

William F. Turner

Songwriter

turnersongs

 

Sometimes the truth is rude...

tough shit... get used to it.

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On Dylan's [b][Self Portrait[/b] disc (ok, Jeff, disk...) there's a great live version of "Like A Rolling Stone" where he sings [i]the same line[/i] three times in a row ... He also mixes & matches his lyrics in concert sometimes...but then some of his songs have approximately 10,000,000,000 words...
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[quote]Originally posted by TheWewus: [b]Yeah, everybody has trouble with lyrics sometimes Live. So what's the story, are you playing any gigs now?[/b][/quote]My problem is not sometimes, it's always. I can't envision playing without lead sheets. Maybe but I dunno. Playing gigs? Just for friendly get-togethers. Coming Out Party is nearest Saturday around November 9th, if that is not available. You're the first to know. ;)

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The best was Paul McCartney on his recent tour, singing the bit from the medley on side 2 of Abbey Road, full band a-playing: "Out of college, money spent See no future, pay no rent All the money's gone, nowhere to go And now comes the part Where I don't know the words And I'll be damned if I'm gonna bother To try and relearn 'em before I finish the tour" Brought the audience down laughing, he did.
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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