I differ. I don't think somebody who writes lyrics has got to learn to play an instrument, or write music. Yes, it helps. But not everybody's strength lies in that direction.

For years 'n' years, songs were team efforts, in the pattern Tin Pan Alley made famous (though it had been going on for a few hundred years before that)--one person wrote the lyrics, and another wrote the music. Until real recently, Nashville still worked like that.

I would agree that lyrics only are not going anywhere in the music industry; they never have. If you've got lyrics, you need to find a composer. You're prey for the Paramount (&c.) crowd, and I would not give 'em the time of day. Instead, you are likely to find just what you need right here, or somewhere like here. There are a bunch of people (including myself) who are able and willing to set somebody's lyrics to music. At that point, you've got something you can peddle.

My opinion, as always.

Joe

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