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Hi Friends,

I think of this as country, so it needs to be real, conversational and have a great instrumental melody! Woo, not there yet..

But what'd you think?

© 2009 Magne Kolstad / The Songcabinet

Small Trips

Drove through the rusty steel mill lots
Youngstown has seen better days
Here were lots of work when I grew up
Now almost everyone has moved away
But as I rolled the window up
The old Irish grocer shouted at me

“How about some sweet’n sour gum?”
I guess I looked like I could use the sugar, eh?

It’s the small trips to the big things
That always makes my day
It’s the shortest way to big win’s
That’s one thing that’ll never change
Nothing like a small trip to the big things
I get the point today

While chewing hard I stopped at the parking spot
And walked down memory lane
We used to live right outside the old laundromat
Sure our old house didn’t look the same
But as I stepped up and knocked at the door
Dad shouted “HEY, you’ve been here before!”

“How about moms homecooked meal?”
Now I couldn’t ask for a better deal!

It’s the small trips to the big things
That always makes my day
It’s the shortest way to big win’s
That’s one thing that’ll never change
Nothing like a small trip to the big things
I get the point today

I still live here in Ohio
Never could leave for the bayou’s
Took a second look behind it all
That’s how I learned how the big is really small

It’s the small trips to the big things
That always makes my day
It’s the shortest way to big win’s
That’s one thing that’ll never change
Nothing like a small trip to the big things
I get the point today

Ha - you reeled me in two ways. The first you already know. The second was that I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio.

Yes, I get the point too.

I was a little confused in V2. Is it a different house? Or is it the laundromat that's gone now?

Nice write, Magne. Maybe a couple of suggestions - a different activity than chewing hard and a more descriptive phrase than parking spot might work a little better.

Not sure about the bayou - I guess there could have been a few of us who dreamed of living in the bayou but I didn't know any and wouldn't think it common. Mostly we dreamed less about where to go and more about where to leave

Aside from that (and even that's a small point), this could have been written by someone who lived there. Impressive......

Scott

Hey Magne.

Scott said it well and offered some good suggestions. I guess you could pass this as a country song but don't believe you have to place it there. I found it 'slight' country (if there even is such an animal?)but there were elements of pop in there as well.

Either or, Neither nor, good work.

Douglas

Scott,

Now how about that! You're from Youngstown, thats some coincidence.

Well, I was'nt sure where to situate this, so I picked a spot after corresponding with Kevin Pearson. He's from Ohio too, and told me a couple of things about the state. Actually that was for another song Im working on, but decided to use the imagery in this one as well. Its a little risky business these days, where artists won't do anything that is not from their own state. Still I think Ohio is interesting, as the whole downfall of steel mill industry, and industry in general, represents important changes in society over the last three decades (at least), so that makes Ohio, and Youngstown in particular, a good spot for a song about "change" (the BIG word this season :-)), and how to find valuable things in times of stagnation.

Im very happy you think it seems authentic. I agree very much with your comments and suggestions, your inputs will contribute to make the lyric even more authentic, Scott.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Doug,

Thanks for stopping by this one!

Well, I have to ask around how country is doing in Ohio, I guess. And if there are any Ohio artists at all? I guess there must be, but I just can't think of any..

Magne,

Looks like you are off to a good start. Scott I Didn't know you were from Youngstown. Lived here all my life went to Liberty High School and live now in Girard. By the way the lead singer from Rascal Flats is from down around Columbus, Ohio if that counts.

Kevin