Advice for new songwriters

As an aspiring songwriter (well, I don't know how appropriate "aspiring" is as I don't "aspire" to write songs, I "will" write songs)..Anyway, I know you are asked a plethora of questions dealing with songwriting but I think you are the ultimate of this craft so I wanted to ask you a question about it anyway. If you could give a new songwriter just one single piece of advice that they could carry with them through their journey, what would it be? Stephanie - New York, NY

Sing and write songs that are truest to you. There are certain topics that will make you sound more like 'yourself'. Never pronounce LOVE: "leuve". And don't write melodies that are too hard for you to sing. Stay away from rhymes that are obvious or overused or hakneyed. Carly - 10/28/01

Typical Day - Part I

Hello Carly, Could you provide some insights into what a "typical" day for you is like? Are you usually traveling or at home? Do you spend most of your time working, writing either songs or books or making public appearances? Or are you usually immersed in hobbies or mingling with family and friends? Jeff - Cleveland Heights, OH

My days begin like this: pulling down the shade that is right above my bed. If it's cloudy, I am happy. I like the clouds. I like, actually prefer, days that are gray and it's ideal for the extra half hour in bed.

I am always coaxed downstairs by Mol, my dog, who clearly needs to be let out. Also by the sound of Ursula, my cat, at the downstairs door to my bedroom. She knows when the clock has gone later than nine. She just does.

So I go down stairs and let the animals out and feed them. I put on no coffee, as it is not a part of my life except when Jim is here. I notice that outside the skunk catcher is catching a small glimpse of me in my nightgown and in the name of modesty, I go back upstairs and get dressed. I usually wear pants this time of year. And a sweater and clogs. Or sometimes a flannel shirt. Some piece of jewelry. Earrings usually. Hair down and sometimes in a pony tail. Or braids.

Then I gather together vitamins and creams to douse myself in and with. If I don't bathe, these go on and in anyway. Then I make my chai tea. Isn't that the dullest report you have ever gotten? Fortunately, it gets better, but you'll have to wait for the next installment. After all, a little at a time. Work yes, but I don't want to think of that yet. Not tonight. Love Carly - 10/24/01

Sons Of Summer

Your music has been a part of our lives and marriage from the beginning. I did have a question regarding "Sons of Summer" which appeared on the "Playing Possum" album in 1974.

Was there a specific person or place that the song was directed to? It seemed at once to be sad, joyful, and reminiscent of a particular place or time. The harmonies were perfection and it remains my favorite of your songs. Our Fond Aloha, Steve & Jan Perry - Wahiawa, Hawaii

This song was written by a friend of mine named Billy Mernit. Amazingly talented lad. He was responsible for pointing out the clouds in my coffee that eventually went into the lyric of "You're So Vain" .Carly Simon 10/22/01

Halfway Round The World

Hi Carly -- I saw you in concert in Chicago a few years ago - the best present my dear husband has ever given me. When you started to sing Halfway'Round the World you made a comment to the audience that seemed to indicate this was a very serious song/issue to you. I should have probably already guessed by now - but who is the song about?

By the way, I can't think of a better evening than to be cooking dinner with my husband and sister, enjoying a glass of red wine and listening to you sing..... You have created such beauty with your voice and heart. Teresa Koch - Peoria, AZ

Dear cooker of red wine with sister and husband, "Halfway Round The World" is a sad song to me. An emotion best dealt with in a song.

Making music out of pain and rejection is a healthy thing to do. Or painting or a meal. Any kind of sublimation in a pasta. You wind up, the pasta on the fork and once it is swallowed the hurt is negated by the peristaltic action that follows. Can't really tell you who it's about because it just ain't fittin', it just ain't fittin' as Mammy in "Gone With The Wind" would say. Carly Simon 10/10/01

Do You Read Music?

Carly, do you know how to read music? I ask this because I just recently learned a very prolific songwriter and musician does not know how to read music (and in fact, uses a capo on his guitar to change keys).

How does one write a song without knowing how to read music? I am so mystified by this, but perhaps it is very common in the music world. Also, have you ever wanted to learn a new instrument just for the fun of it? After spending many hours at the piano in my teenage years trying to master "I Haven't Got Time for the Pain," I decided to chuck the piano and try the violin at the age of 40. It has been a great challenge for my brain.

Also, I just wanted to tell you I think this is one of the nicest web sites I have ever seen. Thank you for letting us share it! You're beautiful! Sheree Swanson - Atlanta, GA

This Website is the work and creation of Jodie Wright. She is the spellbinder of a Webmaker. The spider of the home. The nicest kind of spider too.

I read music, but very slowly and I don't bother to learn it any better which is only an indication that I have put my energy elsewhere. It's not an example that you should follow, as I heartily advocate learning a new craft, art or discipline at the age of forty because it keeps the mind spongy and alert and reduces the need for ginko.

Andreas Vollenweider when he writes music does lead sheets writing out only the bars and in between pictures of what he wants the musicians to 'feel' as they play the music. So there will be pictures of mountains and then a little house and then a waterfall and then a goat and so on. It's a creative way of writing music when you haven't been to the type of music school that teaches you in the old fashioned way. Love Carly Carly Simon 10/7/01

Four or Five Times

As a former DJ, I've enjoyed all of your top 40 releases. There is one song which I would love to find out more about. No, it's not "You're So Vain" although that one is an all time favorite. I want to hear about "Four or Five Times" which you recorded with Peter Dean. I wish it would have been a single release...it's such a catchy tune. Can you talk about it and how you came to sing it? Ron - Albany, OR

Wow and Goodness gracious. Four, five times. Yes indeed. What a great man my uncle Peter was. He was the all time wonderful uncle. He used to sing that song with his brother, Uncle Dutch. They sang it everytime we could get them to sing it. At Sunday lunches, at Thanksgiving dinners, at Christmas lunches. Peter would play ukulele and Uncle Dutch faked the bass with his voice. When he asked me to sing it on his album, it was a natural. I'm so glad you're aware of this recording. Carly Simon 10/3/01

Still Painting?

You gave our family one of their biggest thrills during our annual Vineyard August in 1997 when we received a beautiful red pear you had painted. Are you still painting? And, if you are, how do you compare the experience of that form of expression to the use of your more famous instrument--your glorious voice? Bob Walter - Mountain Lakes, NJ

I still paint red pears!!! In fact, I painted one last week for a friend who was getting married. Sometimes I paint lovers on Paris streets and sometimes women hovering over lettuce fields.

I love to paint and I do it with crayons and NOT paints which I find you have to have a certain amount of space (as in a studio or special room) in order to deal with toxic things like turpentine. Oil crayons are a wonderful substitute for oil paints and it is fun to smudge them all over the canvas or the piece of wood or masonite (which I prefer). It probably is toxic to do that, but I haven't heard that it is yet so I can smudge with an easy mind. Carly Simon 10/1/01