The Songwriter

A Personalized Christmas

A few days ago I saw a 1982 video clip of Louise Mandrell, singing a tribute to her sister, Barbara. She was singing the Kenny Rogers song "She Believes In Me". Someone re-worked the lyric from being a male lover singing to his female lover, to a sister singing to another sister. It was rewritten quite well and was very moving. The clip showed a close up of Barbara with big tears rolling down her face as Louise sang.

Personalized lyrics can be very powerful to the person it is written about. These kind of songs don't usually have much of a life beyond the first performance. But that one performance can become a memory that someone will carry the rest of their life.

Now I do not usually advocate rewriting someone else's songs, but I thought this might be a good exercise to try this December. Family and friends usually love when you write something that is just for them. And if it is a tune they are already familiar with, they might like it even more. This year you may want to try personalizing a familiar Christmas Carol with your loved one's name in it.

Now keep in mind, that this is just a writing exercise and all copyright laws will still apply. But there is nothing to stop you from rewriting a popular song and giving it as a gift to a family member or friend. You will NOT be able to record, or publish your version for sale at anytime without written consent of the Copyright owner.

If you are in doubt about the copyright laws, then choose a Public Domain Christmas Carol. You can rewrite them all day and have total freedom to copyright your version of it. See what possibilities come to mind with Jingle Bells, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, or Silent Night. Maybe you'll use nothing but the title. Away In A Manger, or What Child Is This, may spark some creative ideas. Perhaps you will want to use the tune and write a whole new lyric. Or maybe, use a portion of the original and create a new verse that personally fits your family. The choices are all up to you.

I hope all of you who read this will have a blessed Holiday Season that is filled with many new life long memories. If you are traveling, I pray that you have a safe trip with God's traveling mercies.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Until next time, keep on writing!

Daryl Williams
http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net