Should a writer be paid more than a car mechanic?

Actually, I was going to call this piece “Drayton-Bird-Wanker” because somebody who obviously knows and hates me (no small congregation) put that up on the web so that I often see it when setting out to write one of these pieces.

Turning aside, though, from that subject, and rejecting its implications as firmly as I can, I am drawing your attention to a good ole country and western lyric.

It was sent to me by my friend Peter Hobday, who runs Subscription Strategy – the best publication of its kind, full of sage. simple advice. If you go onto his site, maybe you can listen to it.

Anyhow it is dedicated to “all you car-owning copywriters who have ever had to pay a garage mechanic more than you charge for copy”.

The song, by Alan Jackson, is a big hit in the USA, apparently, though as I can’t even drive it was all double dutch to me.

The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues

The mechanic raised up from under my hood
He shook his head and said, “This ain’t good
Your timin’ belt’s done shrunk one size too small
Those spark plug wires are a little too long
And your main prodsponder’s nearly gone
Your injector ports are stripped and that ain’t all”
“The torque converter’s runnin’ low on torque
And that water pump’s nearly down a quart
But we caught it all in time so you’re in luck”
He said, “I’ve got the time and I’ve got the parts
Just give me the word and I’m ready to start
I think we can bring her in for eight hundred bucks”
But don’t be downhearted, I can fix it for you, sonny
It won’t take too long, it’ll just take money
Then he said, “Ain’t you that songwriter guy?”
I said, “Yes, I am,” he said, “So am I”
And he sat down and played me a song by the grease rack
When he finished singin’ he gave me a smile
And I closed my eyes and pondered awhile
And he said, “What do you think?
Now don’t hold nothin’ back”
Well, I gave him my most sorrowful look
And I said, “This song’s got a broken hook
I can order you a new one from Nashville but it won’t be cheap
And I know you’ve been using a cut-rate thesaurus
‘Cause your adverbs have backed up into your chorus
Now your verse is runnin’ on verbs that are way too weak”
But don’t be downhearted, I can fix it for you, sonny
It won’t take too long, it’ll just take money
And I said, “Hold on friend now I’m not through
I hate to be the one to give you the news
But your whole melodic structure’s worked itself loose
It’s got so many dotted eighth notes in it
I’d keep her under fifty beats per minute
I mean, that’s just me talkin’, it’s really up to you”
And you’ve got a bad safety problem with
That dominant chord with the augmented fifth
Just see how dangerously high it raises you up
So just go on over there and work on my car
I’ll sit here by the fan and chances are
I can straighten this thing out for eig…nine hundred bucks”
But don’t be downhearted, I can fix it for you, sonny
It won’t take too long, it’ll just take money
but don’t be downhearted, I can fix it for u, sonny
it won’t take too looooooonnnnnng,
You guessed it
It may be a hit
I like it

Written by Dennis Linde