WHY I LIKE A WELL-WRITTEN SONG LYRIC: When I teach Creative Writing (actually, almost all writing), I often preach the primacy of image. Most kids don’t get it. They want to talk about abstractions with abstractions. Every sentence they build contains a linking verb in its weak heart. Their utterances are vague and pallid and sickly. When I show them the good stuff, they don’t see it.<\/p>\n
Bruce Springsteen brought these thoughts up today. Look at how imagery carries this song, one of my favorite pop pieces. Start the video and read along. He gets a ton of mileage from bicycle spokes, a rubber ball, the various lights and a bit of dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES<\/p>\n Well, the streetlights shine down on Blessing Avenue The girls in their summer clothes A kids rubber ball smacks And the girls in their summer clothes Frankie’s diner, an old friend on the edge of town She went away, she cut me like a knife The girls in their summer clothes The girls in their summer clothes
\nLovers they walk by, holding hands two by two
\nA breeze crosses the porch, bicycle spokes spin ’round
\nMy jackets on, I’m out the door
\nAnd tonight I’m gonna burn this town down<\/p>\n
\nIn the cool of the evening light
\nThe girls in their summer clothes, pass me by<\/p>\n
\nOff the gutter ‘neath the lamp light
\nBig bank clock chimes
\nOff go the sleepy front porch lights
\nDowntown the stores alight as the evening’s underway
\nThings been a little tight
\nBut I know they’re gonna turn my way<\/p>\n
\nIn the cool of the evening light
\nThe girls in their summer clothes, pass me by<\/p>\n
\nThe neon sign spinning round
\nLike a cross over the lost and found
\nThe fluorescent lights flick over Pop’s Grill
\nShaniqua brings the coffee and asks “Fill?” and says “Penny for your thoughts now my boy, Bill”<\/p>\n
\nHello beautiful thing, maybe you could save my life
\nIn just a glance, down here on magic street
\nLoves a fool’s dance
\nAnd I ain’t got much sense, but I still got my feet<\/p>\n
\nIn the cool of the evening light
\nThe girls in their summer clothes, pass me by<\/p>\n
\nIn the cool of the evening light
\nThe girls in their summer clothes, pass me by<\/p>\n