The year 2017 was a very exciting one for me, for more than just the Thinking Sideways podcast. But in order to explain further why, I must first take you back fifteen years earlier, to 2002.
Please note: Some names have been changed for legal reasons.
Julie and I had taken some friends out who were visiting from Singapore. Unapologetic book-worms, they dragged Julie and me into a second-hand book store. As they scanned the Maths and Sciences section I checked out the comic books, then eventually the Music section.
Being an aspiring songwriter I was thrilled to discover on one of the shelves a beautiful, thick, hard cover book called Songdude (not its real title), by legendary American songwriter James Silkweaver (not his real name). For those unfamiliar with it, it’s widely regarded as the songwriter’s Bible.
It was in perfect condition and was only a measly fifteen bucks, so I snapped it up and raced home.
Suddenly realizing I’d left Julie and the Singaporeans in the bookshop I raced back and collected them, then raced home again.
Pumped enough was I already that I had just acquired this masterpiece; imagine my pumped-ness (not a real word) when I discovered, a few pages in, that James had actually SIGNED this particular copy!
He had written;
“For Matt,
keep on writing
secret word?
finish
James Silkweaver”
I couldn’t believe it, and wondered to myself how a book signed by James Silkweaver could end up languishing on the shelf of some dreary second-hand book store in my lowly home town of Eaglerock. (not a real place, it’s a Daddy Cool song)
I could only assume this guy “Matt” had died and his family had flogged off his effects, including Songdude,and handed it over to the book store without opening it first.
And I could only assume the book store owner hadn’t looked any further into it than the second leaf, on which they’d scribbled lightly in pencil,“$15.00”.
Thankfully they hadn’t looked just two pages further in!
It’s funny how some things really seem to be significant. Seeing James’s message gave me this weird feeling that something good was going to come of it. Why was it me who found this signed copy? Maybe I’d get to meet him someday?
I must admit I did toy with the idea of changing my first name to Matt so people would think that James had actually signed the book for me. But I decided the best thing to do would be to somehow meet him in person and get him to cross out “Matt” and write “Albert”.
Still buzzing with excitement I soon embarked upon the reading of this songwriting manual, further inspired by James’s advice to Matt to “finish”. I guess what he was saying was, “If you’re going to start writing a song, it’ll be a total waste of time and effort if you don’t finish it. It’s the secret word. Finish!”
I got two chapters in, then things got busy and Songdude ended up on a shelf above my desk.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months with no further inroads made. I’d see James’s face on the back of the book looking down at me, and every time the word “FINISH” would hit me like a hammer between the eyes. I thought to myself, “Forget finishing a song, I haven’t even finished the BOOK!
I was determined to keep reading, but it ended up being fifteen years before I got back to it. I still can’t believe I let it drag on that long, but maybe it was meant to be.
At the start of 2017 Julie and I were invited to a wedding eight hours’ drive from where we live. As Julie was driving a company car at the time she was happy to do all the driving, although I suspect it had more to do with her dislike of the way I drive!*
I took this as the perfect opportunity to sit and read Songdude cover to cover. Roughly sixteen hours in the car should just about get it done.
I can’t exactly remember if I’d finished before we got back home, but I know I did finish it around that time. But the amazing thing was, only a very short time after finishing the book (remember I’d had it for fifteen years) I got a phone call from Julie on her way home from work.
She said, “Guess who’s coming to Melbourne? James Silkweaver. I just heard it on the radio.”
In one blurred and yet brilliant moment all those thoughts of coincidence, fate and destiny exploded in my brain. James Silkweaver will be doing a show only an hour’s drive from where I live. Surely there’s a chance I can meet him and get him to re-sign my Songdude.
Julie and I looked up the concert date and ticket prices. Finances deemed it came down to a choice between two scenarios: Both of us going, getting cheaper seats and sitting up the back, or me going on my own, sitting in the front row and getting to meet James at an after-show book signing.
Er… I think that’s what’s described in modern parlance as the quintessential “NO BRAINER!”
The only problem was the concert was on Julie’s birthday. And here I was dumping her. So we came to a compromise; we’d stay overnight in a nice hotel in Melbourne, one which was only walking distance from the concert hall. But I also had a secret ace up my sleeve.
I had designed an original birthday card, and after the show I would not only explain to James about my copy of Songdude, but that I had dumped my dear wife on her birthday to go and see him. I was sure he’d be a good enough sport to sign the birthday card for her.
The night of the concert arrived and Julie and I checked in to our hotel. I made my way to the concert hall and took my seat in the front row.
I looked up at James’s grand piano and was instantly filled with horror! From where I sat, and indeed all the people to my right, because of the angle of the piano we’d be able to see nothing more than his shins and the top of his head!
I was right. For the first half of the show I wrestled with the idea of standing up somewhere off to the side so I could actually see him, but knew I’d be asked to return to my seat. So instead I looked for any empty seats with a better view.
I spotted three seats in the second row, right in front of James. So the moment intermission came I jumped onto one of them, and had a great view for the rest of the show.
Then came time for the meet and greet, and I joined the rest of the front-row-seaters in the appointed room. Not only were we to meet James, get a photo and whatever memorabilia signed, but we were also given a signed copy of his new book; Sloppy, Wet Bakery (not its real title).
My turn came. I explained all about my signed copy of Songdude, the whole dead guy Matt thing, and James happily crossed out “Matt” and changed it to my nom-de-plume “Andy”. (Long story)
Then I told him about Julie’s birthday and he signed her birthday card, before signing Sloppy, Wet Bakery. Then we smiled for a couple of photos, shook hands, and I was on my way back to the hotel to surprise Julie with her card.
*Julie did let me drive around one time in the town where we were staying, and I ended up copping a $420.00 speeding fine. Big, fat “Dang!”