Songwriting: Following in the Footsteps of Texas Legends Spring 2012 POLICY STATEMENT and SYLLABUS

Home , For the Sake of the Song, James McMurtry, Kimmie Rhodes

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN UGS 302: Songwriting: Following in the Footsteps of Texas Legends Spring 2012 POLICY STATEMENT AND SYLLABUS

Instruction Professor Moore [email protected] Office: ETC 5.140 (512)471-4478 Office hours: Th 1 – 4 or by appointment Teaching Assistant Scott Pryor [email protected]

Song is an art form that engages the mind, body, and creative spirit of listeners as well as musicians. Texas songwriters such as Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Nanci Griffith have written songs on their own terms rather than shape their art to fit the demands of Nashville, New York, or Los Angeles. Outside the mainstream of country or popular music, this unique community of artists is a wellspring of iconoclastic creativity. This course allows you not only to study that group, but to join it as songwriters yourselves. The course will follow two primary tracks. The first will involve analysis and study of songs by Texas songwriters. The second track will work like a creative writing workshop with students writing songs and critiquing each other's songs. The objectives of the class are to • analyze and do close readings of songs; • find and use credible sources for academic research; • learn the tools that songwriters use to craft songs; and • write and revise two original songs.

Texts Required: Pattison, Pat. (2009) Writing Better Lyrics. Writers Digest Books: Cincinnati, OH. Recommended: Strunk, W., Jr. (1999). The Elements of Style. (Original work published 1918) Retrieved from http://www.bartleby.com/‌141/.

Other readings will be handed out in class or posted on Blackboard.

Listening List 1. Townes Van Zandt Live at the Old Quarter 2. Selected songs compiled by instructor (see attached list). 3. Selected songs compiled by students in conjunction with the group project.

I recommend purchasing the songs on the song lists from ITunes, but you can also listen to them on YouTube and may benefit from finding different performances of the same song or different covers. For each song you will need to download the lyrics and chords from one of the many resources on the web such as UltimateGuitar.com (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/0 or CowboyLyrics.com (http://www.cowboylyrics.com/index.html). Try out different databases for lyrics and see which ones seem most comprehensive or accurate. You are expected to keep up with reading and listening assignments so that you can participate in class discussion.

OUTSIDE EVENTS University Lectures All Signature Course students are required to attend a lecture on campus. This requirement gives first-year students an opportunity to interact with leading members of our institution — scholars, scientists, artists, and civic leaders who are nationally and internationally renowned. We will review the list of possible lectures in class and choose one to attend as a group.

Gems of the University The University of Texas has a wide array of world-class resources, such as the Harry Ransom Center and the Blanton Museum, available to students. One goal of the Signature Course program is to introduce first-year students to the wealth of resources available to them. In this course we will focus on the opportunities for live music on campus. You are required to attend two musical performances on campus. At least one of these should be at the Cactus Café, which is one of the most valuable gems the University has to offer. The other can be a musical performance at one of the other venues on campus.

Communication Assignments The course will include the writing assignments described below: 1. Homework/in-class exercises/informal assignments. The following are included in this category: • short description (1 to 2 pages) on the musical performances on campus that fulfill the Gems of the University requirement described above (must be turned in within a week of the performance) and • peer critiques of other students’ songs.

2. A 4-page essay analyzing a song on the listening list.

3. Group Project. This project will involve collaboration with other students and will include several components that can be divided into two categories: • This first part of the project is an overview of one of the guest songwriters coming to class. This portion of the project will involve an oral presentation introducing the songwriter to the class. In addition the group will (a.) write three questions to ask the songwriter during the q & a portion of the interview/performance and (b.) compile a listening list of songs by the songwriter for the class and a list of relevant links (such as the songwriter’s web page or online reviews of the songwriter.) • The second part of the project is a formal research paper and presentation to the class on a significant Texas songwriter who has had noteworthy influence.

4. Song portfolio. The portfolio will include the following: • A song journal that students will begin keeping the first week of class. I will not grade the writing in the journal, but want to see that you have been recording ideas, brainstorming, and doing writing that helps you build songs. You will be asked to bring the journal to class for certain exercises.) • Two songs Each song will be submitted (this means performing or playing a recording and handing out lyric sheets) while it's in process to the class for feedback and will then be revised. The second of these will be co-written with another student in the class. The portfolio, which will include the first draft, revisions, and a recording of each song, will be graded on the basis of how seriously students have taken the task of revising their songs and how much they've improved.

GRADING Your course grade will be based on an average of your grades on written assignments and oral presentations. To pass the course, you must submit all major assignments before semester's end. I will not give any incompletes. Final course grades will be weighted as follows:

Homework/Exercises/Peer Critiques 15% Essay Analyzing Song 20% Group Project Overview/introduction of guest songwriter 15% Research paper and presentation on significant songwriter 25% Songwriting Portfolio 25%

CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS Two rules concerning the technology enriches our lives: 1. Turn your cell phones off in class. 2. Turn the computer off if you aren’t using it to take notes or use it for a specific in-class assignment. I know it’s tempting to check your email, do a little social networking, and just keep up your multi-tasking skills, but please turn the computers off unless we’re doing a writing or research activity involving computers.

PLAGIARISM In all academic work you must acknowledge any source you quote, paraphrase, or summarize, and any work you do on an assignment must be your own or your team’s. In songwriting, the legal issues are even thornier. Plagiarism can result in a failing grade for the course and a report to Dean Woodruff. For more on UT’s policy on scholastic dishonesty, please see http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/scholdis.php.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES The University of Texas provides upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471- 4641 TDD or the College of Engineering Director of Students with Disabilities at 471-4321.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS If you observe a religious holy day that conflicts with class, you will be given an opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin that you must notify each of your instructors at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates you will be absent to observe a religious holy day.

CONFERENCES I will hold office hours every week. If the scheduled times are inconvenient, please ask me for an appointment. You should make time to meet with me to discuss any concerns you have about the course in general or about a particular assignment.

UGS 302 Songwriting: Following in the Footsteps of Texas Legends Listening List

Georgia on a Fast Train Billy Joe Shaver Jesus Was Our Savior Billy Joe Shaver Cotton Lightnin Hopkins Texas, 1947 Guy Clark Love at the Five and Dime Nanci Griffith Boxcars Butch Hancock San Antonio Rose Bob Wills Baby Dallas Jimmie Dale Gilmore Bright Lights, Big City Jimmy Reed Levelland James McMurtry Corpus Christi Bay Robert Earl Keen Texas Trilogy: Bosque County Romance Steve Fromholtz Desperados Waiting for a Train Guy Clark The Road Goes On Forever Robert Earl Keen Gallo del Cielo Tom Russell The Other Texas David Rodriguez When I Heard Gypsy Davy Sing Carrie Rodriguez If I Had A Pony Lyle Lovett Mr. Bojangles Jerry Jeff Walker London Homesick Blues Gary P Nunn Feeling Good Again Robert Earl Keen Oh, Pretty Woman Roy Orbison Love Me Like a Song Kimmie Rhodes I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal Billy Joe Shaver Chantilly Lace J.P. Richardson Daddy Said Nanci Griffith If I Were the Woman You Wanted Lyle Lovett/(cover by N.Griffith) She's About a Mover Doug Sahm That'll Be the Day Buddy Holly Just a Wave Not the Water Butch Hancock Crazy Willie Nelson You Don't Know Me Cindy Walker Faithless Love J. D. Souther Baby, Please Don’t Go Lightnin Hopkins Hello Walls Willie Nelson Somedays You Write the Song Guy Clark Beat the Devil Kris Kristofferson Live Forever Billy Joe Shaver

SCHEDULE

Day Focus Prepare for class by Assignments due reading or listening to UT Gem performance da 1 Wed 1/18 Introductions 2 Mon 1/23 Analyzing songs: • Listen to TVanZandt Live at the HW due: In a 2-page analysis of criteria of Old Quarter (TVZ). Download a song that had a powerful effect evaluation lyrics and chords to Pancho and on you. Lefty, To Live’s to Fly, Tecumseh Valley, If I Needed Bring your song journal to class You, For the Sake of the Song • Read Didion “Why I Write” http://www.idiom.com/~rick/html/why_i_write.htm • Read Ch 1 Writing Better Lyrics Wed 1/25 Billy Joe Shaver • Listen to BJ Shaver songs on the HW: Two 10-minute object Meet in Cactus list; download and read lyrics. writing sessions in your song Cafe • Reading posted on BB on Song journal. Use exercise 1 in Structure Writing Better Lyrics. • Read Ch 2 Writing Better Lyrics Butch Hancock Jan. 28 Cactus 3 Mon Analyzing songs: • Listen to song list HW due: Choose 4 songs from 1/30 structure and hook • Reading on rhyme posted on song list; describe structure, hook Blackboard placement, chord progression. WED Finding sources Reading on research posted on 2/1 Meet in PCL 1.339 Blackboard 4 MON Analyzing songs: Read Chs 3 - 5, Writing Better HW due: Structure, hook, rhyme, 2/6 Rhyme and Lyrics metaphor, chords in 3 songs. metaphor Kinky Friedman Feb. 9 Cactus WED Melody/ Linda Readings on melody posted on Essay on song analysis due 2/8 Jones Blackboard; . Terri Hendrix Feb. 11 Cactus 5 MON Writing songs: Read Chs 6 – 8, Writing Better HW: brainstorm concepts for 2/13 Finding a hook Lyrics songs in song journal WED Writing songs: Read Chs 9-10, Writing Better HW: Brainstorm expanded ideas 2/15 Using the tools Lyrics on concepts in song journal 6 MON Writing songs: Read Chs 14-19, Writing Better HW: Lyric exercise in song 2/20 Using the tools Lyrics journal WED Research Intro: Foster, Halley, Hickman 2/22 presentations Research presentations: Hopkins, Van Zandt, Griffith 7 MON Ruthie Foster Review links posted on R. Foster; 2/27 Meet in the Cactus listen to recommended songs. WED David Halley Review links posted on D. Halley; 2/29 Meet in the Cactus listen to recommended songs. 8 MON Song Workshop Group 1 song critique session. 3/5 Songs may be performed live or recorded. 20 copies of lyrics due. WED Song Workshop Group 2 song critique session. 3/7 Cory Morrow, March 8, Cactus S P R I N G B R E A K

9 MON Sara Hickman Review links posted on S. Hickman; 3/19 Meet in Cactus listen to recommended songs. Cafe WED Research ChS 20 – 24, Writing Better Lyrics McKay Bros Intro/G. Clark, 3/21 presentations/ REKeen Research Project Song revision WS Group 1 song revisions 10 MON The McKay BroS Review links posted on McKay 3/26 Meet in Cactus Bros.; listen to recommended songs. Cafe WED Research Brennan Leigh Intro/Willie 3/28 presentations/ Nelson Research Project Song revision WS Group 2 song revisions 11 MON N. McKay/B. Leigh Review links posted on B Leigh; 4/2 Meet in Cactus listen to recommended songs. WED Co-writing exercises Read Appendix Writing Better 4/4 Lyrics 12 MON Co-writing To be announced. TBA 4/9 exercises WED Co-writing TBA 4/11 workshop 13 MON Songwriting TBA Group 1 song critique session 4/16 Workshop

WED Songwriting TBA Group 2 song critique session 4/18 Workshop 14 MON Revision TBA Group 1 song revisions 4/23 Workshop WED Revision TBA Group 2 song revisions 4/25 Workshop 15 MON Practice workshop 4/30 WED Final performance Perform songs 5/2 Meet in the Cactus Song portfolio due