How Many Songs?

How many songs get lost? Most. Let me break it down for you. On average three or four songs come to me each day. Because I must function as a normal person, I couldn’t possibly stop working, driving, talking to my loved ones etc. every time a song comes to me. So, most of my songs are lost as fast as they come. Sometimes I will pull over my vehicle and grab my pen and paper. I try to make sure I have something to write on and my favorite blue ink pen with me. Sometimes I must write the words on a receipt, again, often lost. Sometimes I am awaken in the middle of the night by a song. I have learned that, as much as it feels good to fall back asleep, I must get up and write it down. Some of my best work comes to me in the middle of the night.

Over the years I have filled countless notebooks full of songs. Some of these notebooks are so old that they have fallen apart or been misplaced. Here is my best guess at how many songs get lost. For every 50 songs that come to me, 1 gets captured (written into the magic book with the magic blue pen). For every 100 captured songs, 1 gets set free (turned into a song that can be performed in front of an audience). For every 100 songs that have been “set free”, 1 gets eternal life (professionally recorded).

So, if you see Chris J daydreaming or struggling to stay engaged, don’t be offended. Hand me my magic book and blue pen and feel good. You might have said or done something that I find inspiring.