Words & Music

by Mike Power

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  • The Difference between Comedy and Tragedy

    “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” MelBrooks One of the first things a writer has to decide after a story has presented itself to him or her, is how to tell it. Is it told from a character’s point of view (first person)? Read more

  • Karma Police

    I always thought Karma Police was a great name for a song and Radiohead live up to the name with their tune. There are three sections to the song, each made up of straightforward yet interesting chord progressions. The lyrics are funny, biting, challenging and fluid, like the music they accompany. The song was originally Read more

  • Workingman

    Garcia/Hunter So I got a job. I’m officially moving back from the takers column to the makers. I’m going back to being a Workingman. 45 years ago this month the Grateful Dead went into the Pacific High recording studio in San Francisco and recorded 8 songs that they released under the title Workingman’s Dead. Every Read more

  • I’m A Little Bit Socially Awkward

    I’ve always been a little bit socially awkward but it’s only been the last couple of years that it’s made me, for want of a better word, a dick. It used to make me more accommodating but now it makes me less. It used to lead me to avoid confrontation but now it’s the thing Read more

  • Thank You for the Madness, Jack

    Thank you for the madness, Jack And for putting it into words For simultaneous loneliness and ecstasy That’s a tricky wire to walk You must have seen the plummet looming from a long way off Maybe even childhood You must have seen a lot of things that most of us cannot Thank you for the Read more

  • The Six (or Seven) Step Program for Becoming an Artist

    Christmas Tree Winter is not the most productive time of year. There’s a lot of sleeping going on (which is to be expected when the sun sets at 4:00), and eating and drinking, but not a lot of working. Between holidays and snow days and sick days who can get anything useful done anyway? It’s Read more