I signed up for SongwritingWith:Soldiers because I’m a good writer – of stories. But I didn’t think I could write a song. The email a friend sent said, “come to the Nashville retreat,” but I am not a songwriter? I almost didn’t go, until a last minute phone call convinced me. Turns out writing a Hit Song is not what it’s about. They pair you up with a professional singer/songwriter who guides you and then performs your song. This mentor constructs the song about your experience as a veteran. OK, let’s do this!
Arriving at the SWS Retreat were six other veterans in our group. We each got a private cabin at Evins Mill Park, a beautiful place with a waterfall and a bridge. It was certainly inspirational. My song idea was based on the Blues, they didn’t know that, just by random luck James, the Blues guy was my assigned mentor. That was exciting so I stayed up late making notes and demos on my iPhone with a plan.
The next day James introduces himself. I had all my material ready to show him – I’m a little too excited about it.
He says ho ho hold on, before we get into that just tell me about you. Tell me your story.
So I thought ok, ok I’ll give my background story, and then we’ll get back to the songwriting business. I start my story in 1979, joining the Army, reservist, contractor … and he starts strumming and singing while I’m talking. He says, “wait, say that again.” I’m talking. He goes, “what did you just say there?” He puts that in there. I’m thinking, HEY WAIT A MINUTE he’s writing the song right now. We’re started. THIS is the session the song is coming to life as I speak. We went back and forth and we’re building it on the spot. This was what they explained the previous evening, that your song is a magic moment in time, created on the spot out of thin air, it is a LIVE creation. Musicians know all about this, the magical first take. Now I understood.
Jim Carrey said when you stop trying to be somebody is when you become somebody. Took me 60 years to learn that. My song is called “Lucky Man” which sounds misleading. I’m not a lucky man in that I got big things or big things happened, it’s about how nothing happened. I’m a lucky man because nothing happened to me. I just feel happy to be here.
Lucky Man
Chris Carter / James House
Don’t owe anybody anything
I’m a rich man in my mind
Don’t care about gold or diamond rings
I just lose them every time
Yeah I know I’m a lucky man
Can’t get the blues
When you feel this fine
I was living out in Hollywood
Things were looking up
I was gonna be a big ol star
In a town that’s known for being cold and tough
Signed on the line to fight for my country
9/11 made things rough
Well I analyzed intelligence on a computer
All day long
They don’t like to give us guns
Give a geek a weapon
What could go wrong
Fought the war the way they told me
Right or wrong
Yeah lucky man
Knock on wood
Yeh doin’ alright
Life’s pretty good
One day they said I’d been in the army too long
Hey chief you gotta go
40 years and you’re getting fat can’t do a push up
And you run too slow
Gotta sweet little place by the ocean now
That’s what I call home
Yeah lucky man
Knock on wood
Yeh doin’ alright
Life’s pretty good
Don’t owe anybody anything
I’m a rich man in my mind
Don’t care about gold or diamond rings
I just lose them every time
Yeah I know I’m a lucky man
Can’t get the blues
When you feel this fine
Can’t get the blues
When you feel this fine
Lucky man
Knock on wood
© 2022 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music (ASCAP) / James in House Music (BMI)