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Warning and disclaimer: This story contains language that some readers might find offensive. The charactors are fictitious

They were sitting in a honky tonk on the outskirts of Nashville. Jesse Lee Taylor was an old country songwriter who had written a top 10 hit for Ronnie Milsap in the '70s. Paul Kelly was a 27-year old Nashville newcomer who'd been in town all of 3 days. There were only a few other people in the joint and nobody else at the bar.

"I'm 60-years old, dammit. I'm not gonna try to write like a 30-year old. I can't stand most of the corporate cookie-cutter crap coming out of Nashville these days anyway, so I sure as hell ain't gonna try to write songs like that.

"You gotta sound like what they play on the radio and kiss the ass of anybody who looks like he might be able to help you get ahead. Maybe it's always been that way."

Taylor paused to take a sip of beer from his glass. "Songwriters make appointments to meet and write songs nowdays, for Chrisssake. Mark up their calendars like damn lawyers scheduling meetings with clients. What a load of bullshit. There ain't no heart in it. Give me a guitar and the rest of the day and I'll give you a hit song and still have time to grab a few beers before closing time.

"Music ain't even the biggest industry in Nashville anymore. I'll bet you didn't know that," he said.

"You wanna know what the biggest industry in Nashville is?" Taylor didn't wait for an answer. "The biggest industry is preying on amateur songwriters, singers and bands dreaming of stardom, what I call the 'meet 'em and fleece 'em' business. They'll sell you generic melodies for your poems or a polished master recording of your song for $200 a pop. They'll burn and package CDs of your songs by the trunkload. All for a price. You can pay for seminars telling you how to succeed in the music business. Books, too. Anything that can help you make it in the business is for sale, anything but the one thing you really need: talent.

"That's Nashville's dirty little secret. Most of the dreamers like you just ain't got the talent it takes to make it big. But don't worry, they won't break your heart by telling you the truth. Oh, you'll figure it out eventually and it'll break your heart all right. But not until they've squeezed every last dollar they possibly can out of your wallet."

Taylor had paid for the beer, so Kelly let him talk. "There must be 50,000 songwriters in Nashville. Imagine that. If each of them spends just $1,000 a year on music gear and services -seminars, demo and full production recordings, fees for writing music for lyrics and critiquing or plugging songs - that's $50 million dollars.

"My advice to you, son, is go home and be happy to write your songs and slip them in between the covers you play at the bars. Play 'em for family and friends and be satisfied with that. Just get out of Nashville before it robs you blind and crushes your spirit."

Taylor was almost finished now. He looked around as if searching for some long lost memory or song lyric that might be hiding in the shadows or corners of the barroom. He emptied his glass and put it back down on the bar.

"I know. Go ahead and tell me the times have passed me by and my songs won't sell because they're dated," he said, sounding like it was an accusation he'd often heard before. "Tell me tastes changed and I never changed with them. Tell me this stuff on the radio nowdays is what the public wants to hear. Tell me the key to success in Nashville is building relationships, networking or whatever you call it. Hell, go ahead and tell me I'm too old." He paused a little too long and then said softly, "Go ahead. I won't argue with you."

Taylor shifted his weight and reached into his back pocket for his wallet, pulled out a twenty and laid it down on the bar. He looked back at Kelly. "Just don't say Jesse Lee Taylor didn't tell you the truth."

do I detect some bitterness in that story-lol

oh well everyone's got their opinions about Nashville and the music business....but its very apparent that old Jesse was really hooked on it all-despite his complainin-lol......alot of folks give Nashville 6 months to a year before they give up-cuss it out and go home...........then there's the ones who stay and cuss it out their whole life-lol........but when all is said and done there's no place they would rather be...........so it is obviously-like the booze in the honkytonks-right intoxicating just to be here........or would you rather have a normal happy life-lol......

thanks for the story Dan

Tom

Tom, I suppose it's fair to call ol' Jesse bitter and cynical. Maybe even world weary.

I'd like to apologize to Mark Preston, who I believe is a member of Just Plain Folks. Even though I made a disclaimer at the beginning of the story that the characters are fictitious, my exercise in creative writing wasn't creative enough, as the name I chose for the young songwriter in the story was Mark Preston.

I have since edited the story and changed the name of the young songwriter to Paul Kelly.

The mistake was unintentional and I again apologize to Mr. Preston.

Thanks one helluva lot.

- Paul Kelly




Just kidding, Dan - enjoyed the story.

Scott

Scott, you scared the hell out of me. I thought I screwed up twice on the name.

Sorry Dan, the devil made me do it

Forgot to mention - I like the dialog here - feels real.

Scott

Fictional-intentioned or not, I think ol' Jesse nailed it. (Of course, I tend to be curmudgeonly wshere this business is concerned.) There are an awful lot of people I know and like in Nashville. But there is also the Music Industry.

Joe

HiYa Bro Dan!

Quite a Tale, Amigo!

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" CD was actually promo'ed by a NASHVILLE Promoter...for the First 4 Million in Sales.

The Ville is still THE Place to Make Things Happen..in Many a Genre, tho, yeah, it's allus had its Darker-Side. WAS, if I got my History Right, the FIRST US City to legalize Prostitution AND give Regular Medical Inspections..& Hospitalizations..to The Girls, as-well...(During the Civil War, under Yankee Administration/Folded It after Reconstruction.)

In any business..or career field..it certainly PAYS to "Do Your Homework" before Investing. If ya go to college, you'll blow $15-25K a year..for prolly 4 years...before exiting with the Needed-Knowledge for a Career. Why expect NashCity to costya any less?

Gotta Scoot...but DID enjoy The Tale/Been There/I respect The Ville/AND PT Barnum's Slogan, too!
Best Wishes/Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

I suspect that your not too far wrong with that, you could change the scenario for London and it would be a similar story ... cynical is often far closer to the truth.

Dan....Now could you tell us all what you REALLY think?....I can't stand someone who holds back...LOL.

All kidding aside, Dan....No matter what the content, this is a really well written piece....very straight forward and conversational.....clear to understand. You could follow what was being said, without scratching your head on who was saying it....just a real good piece of writing, that some may or may not agree with....but, nonetheless...you have some serious writing chops.

I'm glad that I got to read it....

Jan

Great story Dan. Ah, the good old days.... or at least what we tell ourselves were the good old days. I will gladly provide very unpolished recordings of people's songs with just piano and vocals for $200 a pop! I better get to the phone because it will probably start ringing.

Mike

Michael, When your phone starts ringing it's gonna be for "Rest." That one has real magic in it. If you never write another song (and I hope you write many, many more)you've already got your masterpiece. I'll bet even ol' Jesse Lee Taylor wouldn't tell you to go home if he heard that one.

Hi Dan.

A great story about me... lol

Seriously when are you going to write the song. would be real interesting to see how many internet radio sations would play it.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Dan,
Felt like I was sitting on a bar stool next to those two guys. Especially loved the line, "give me a guitar and the rest of the day--". I'm 54, but have only been writing a few years. I am learning much from writers such as yourself. Thanks again for the great read.

for the record, Paul Kelly is an iconic Australian songwriter.....

as others have noted, your story is not unique to Nashville...

Mike