Rob Dimit

Looking through two books on songwriting. One offers lyric-writing exercises designed to inspire a kind of “poetic” language you never hear in actual songs (successful songs, at least). The other offers the advice that song lyrics are not poetry. I’ve always thought that the best country writers weren’t the poets but the ones with a more modest view of their craft. Hayes Carll wasn’t endorsing my opinion (or offering career advice) but I admire his line, “They say, Boy, you ain’t a poet/Just a drunk with a pen” (“Hard Out Here”).

Waiting for today’s last flight from Nashville to Newark. Had a great time here, but went pretty much non-stop all week. Hoping the flight is on time.

Here’s the view from the waiting area:

It’s great to be here, standing on Chet Atkins Place. Hell, it’s great to be anywhere in a town that has a Chet Atkins Place!

George Strait may have been the only “new-traditionalist” country singer from the 80s whose career remained intact after Garth Brooks blew up the scene in 1989. Strait still has top 10 hits three decades after his first single was released and they get played in Nashville. But he really gets airplay in the Midwest. Driving across Minnesota and South Dakota I hear more George Strait, old and new, than anyone else, including the hottest new acts. No idea why that should be.