‘Write A Song About You’ — #lyrics to a #pop #rock song

This is just me screwing around, complaining about how Taylor Swift won’t shut up about short relationships from a decade ago.
Write A Song About You
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

you took my virginity
it’s sad but true
but I’m going to fight back
tell the world what is right and wrong
when I write a song, write a song
write a song about you

you think you have eveything down pat
but I think you’re nothing but a rat
people come and go that’s just swell
I’m ready to exact my revenge it’s true
when I sit down, sit down
put pen to paper so I can

write a song about you
write a song, write a song
write a song about you
write a song about you

you’re one of many who think
they know what makes me tick
it was long ago, it’s true
but I still remember your smell
how you lied to me
made me think everything was well

(bridge)
words fail me sometimes
the music just isn’t there I’m afraid
then I think of you once more
my heart is filled with rage
and I decide to

write a song about you
write a song about you
write a song about you
write a song about you

‘Edit A Blank Page’ — #lyrics to a #pop #rock #ballad

Given that I don’t know anything about music, this is very moot and very silly, but it is fun to see if I can write a poem meant to be sung REALLY FAST.
Edit A Blank Page
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

you can’t edit a blank page
there’s more than enough
written on my heart
from the start
for me to think
I’ve gone a lot of work to do
rewriting our love
so I want to sing praises
to the Heaven’s above

you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page

I’ve got my pen out ready to mark
cross out all the sin we’ve committed
thinking maybe that will mend
my way to the gates of Heaven
if I don’t succeed then we’ll meet
at the gates of Hell
for all the pleasure we’ve had

you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page

(bridge)
words fail me
I’ve got so many to say
but for the moment I summon a blank
because I want to be so frank
about how you hurt me in the dark
when your words were too sharp

you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page
you can’t edit a blank page

‘Vortex’ — #lyrics to a #pop #rock #dance song

I have repeatedly attempted to write a song using the word “vortex.” This is meant to be a song greatly inspired by “Umbrella.” But I’m just letting off steam. Lulz, nothing matters.
Vortex
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

pour me into the stream
your love is just too much
I’m ready to make my stand
if I can have your hand
but there’s no doubt
just as I’m about to shout
I have to deal with the
vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex
vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex

the warmth of your touch
is more than enough
make me want to pour myself
a stiff drink and think
of how it once was
when things were peace and quiet
before we moved mountians with our love
and it was just you and me
before the
vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex
vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex

(bridge)
things will be still as can be
when you’re lying next to me
no more chaos or shame
or people wanting to keep us confused
everything will be right
when we’re each other’s delight
no more thinking about a

vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex
vortex
ready to suck me in
vortex

‘Red Scarf’ — #Lyrics to a #Pop #Rock Song

This is a silly song about Taylor Swift’s virginity or a red scarf. You can take your pick.
Red Scarf
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

you took my red scarf
leaving me with knowledge of the tree
it was the cherry on top
to an brief affair
leaving me reaching for a towel
to pat myself down
wondering what happens next
now that you’ve stolen my

red scarf
my prized posession
is now more
never to return
even if it burns
because my love for you
was too strong
I lost my
red scarf
red scarf
red scarf

maybe I’ll write a song
or two about you
doing you
but now I’m free of my youth
ready to set a new path
one with you in the past
but my fans will roar
knowing that you stole my

red scarf
my prized posession
is now more
never to return
even if it burns
because my love for you
was too strong
I lost my
red scarf
red scarf
red scarf

(bridge)
let’s cross that bridge
when we we get to it
I think with a wink
I’m now free without my scarf
free of my innocence
no longer a waif in the woods
afraid of a pang of desire
the I am ready for hire

but my I still don’t have my

red scarf
my prized posession
is now more
never to return
even if it burns
because my love for you
was too strong
I lost my
red scarf
red scarf
red scarf

‘Drink Too Much’ — #Lyrics To A #Pop #Country Song

I’m feeling inspired. So, here’s an attempt at a modern pop country song. I still don’t know anything about music. So, consider this a poem written such that it’s meant to be sung. It’s a lulz. I really need to buy a guitar.
Drink Too Much
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

at the bar I trace the scar
that is the memory of our love
thinking of what once was
but you’re never coming back
’cause you say I drink too much
but here’s the rub
you drove me to drink
now I just sit and think
of how you told me I

drink too much
drink too much
drink too much
that’s just who I am
that’s the plan
now that you’ve left
me with the pain
I’m just going to sigh
and drink too much
drink too much

mamma told me of girls like you
that you’d railroad me out of town
maybe put me in prison
but I’ve avoided that fate
(for now)
so all I can say is goodbye
and I’ll buy another round
with the thought of your last words
before you said farwell
with a smile that turned into a frown

drink too much
drink too much
drink too much
that’s just who I am
that’s the plan
now that you’ve left
me with the pain
I’m just going to sigh
and drink too much
drink too much

(bridge)
if you return
maybe I’ll have cash to burn
since I won’t be drinking so much
maybe just enough
to keep you laughing at my jokes
(pass another toke)
you’re the one for me
my queen bee
but you’re gone
so I’ll continue to

drink too much
drink too much
drink too much
that’s just who I am
that’s the plan
now that you’ve left
me with the pain
I’m just going to sigh
and drink too much
drink too much

‘Not Too Nice’ — #lyrics to a #Pop #Rock Song

This one is written to be faster — more like a Chvrches song. Something with a beat that you can dance to.
Not Too Nice
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

See you around knowing what you’re about
you’ve got someone it’s clear
but your body belies the truth
of what lies between your thighs
we were meant to be it seems
but for the life you have
so all I get is a smile that’s

nice but
not too nice
nice but
not too nice
is your plan
leaving me feeling like a clown
nice but
not too nice
is your deal
anything else and you squeal

I wanna be yours
and you wanna be mine
the sly leer of your grin
as you meet me at the bar
tells me all I need to know
but your friends would never approve
us — me and you
so all I get is a bit of

nice but
not too nice
nice but
not too nice
is your plan
leaving me feeling like a clown
nice but
not too nice
is your deal
anything else and you squeal

(bridge)
if you gave me your heart
maybe a touch of skin
would we fall into sin
with only the wind
between us
when we touch up against us
but that’s not to be

nice but
not too nice
nice but
not too nice
is your plan
leaving me feeling like a clown
nice but
not too nice
is your deal
anything else and you squeal

‘Say Goodbye’ — #lyrics To A #Pop #Rock #Ballad

I’m drunk and sad. So, I’m writing a bit of doggerel to make myself feel better. the general vibe of this song would be Garbage’s “Drive You Home.” Something along those lines.
Say Goodbye
lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform.

you go out of your way
to tell me you saw me
make me think we’re cool
soon you’re gone and I’m alone
at the bar
at the bar
I think to text you but refrain
you’re with your friends
maybe later, later, later
then I turn to look your way
and you’re gone

gone without
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
your empty seat
is the closest I have
to you answering my questions

now I’m alone at the bar
feeling sad
thinking of the conversations
we never had
never had, never had
but you’ve got someone
and I have no one
so you like me, but can’t be too nice
your empty seat tells all I need to know

you’re gone
gone without
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
your empty seat
is the closest I have
to you answering my questions

(bridge)
if you were still seated
would you smile my way
let me think I might get laid
or would we both be too afraid
to ruin what you’ve got
would we ever let our lust
run riot

you’re gone
gone without
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
saying goodbye
your empty seat
is the closest I have
to you answering my questions

My Screenwriting ‘Secret Weapon’


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

One of my favorite books is “The World According To Garp” and in it, we learn that Garp’s literary agent has a “secret weapon” — his office’s cleaning lady. She’s the person who read Garp’s mom’s feminist manifesto and loved it so much, giving the agent some sense of its potential.

I’ve kept that plot point in my mind since I first read it many, many moons ago as a young man and I’ve gone out of my way to find just an average person to bounce novel and movie ideas off of to see what they think. The latest incarnation of this secret weapon is the young woman who cuts my hair.

I told her the plots of the four thrillers I’m working on and she was quite impressed. This made me very happy. So, I decided to try again when I got my hair cut today and gave her a broad outline of the screenplay I’m currently mulling.

She really liked the third act, which is currently the most developed part of the story. I’m even more determined to see if I can develop this specific concept into something I at least won’t be embarrassed by — the same metric I have been using for the thrillers I’m working on.

She liked the premise of the story even though it subtly belies my liberal-progressive leanings on an existential basis.

But I still have a lot — A LOT — of work to do. And I am going into this side project knowing I have the severe headwinds of Hollywood agism, where I live and also my general Twitter reputation as nothing more than a crank.

And, yet, so what.

Of Gender Determinism & The Screenplay I’m Developing


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

So, I’ve got my McGuffin and I’ve got a general plot. Now, the thing I’m struggling with it how I might toy with gender expectations with the characters I’m thinking up in my mind.

I like the idea that that my Hero has a lot of “potential” as the story opens — much like Luke Skywalker — but his Princess starts off as a tough as nails broad who helps him become the man he always could be. I guess that’s pretty much every Hero’s Journey, but I like to think I’m following the old saw of “Tell an old story in a new way or an new story in an old way.”

I’m really trying to follow the beat structure of A New Hope with this first attempt to write a screenplay. Since I have four –4! — thriller novels to work on, for the time being, this screenplay is just what I work on when I need to burn off some steam.

I’m not going to get too wrapped up in making the first draft perfect. In fact, at the moment, I don’t even know how to use Final Draft at all. That’s something I’m going to have to work towards. But I do actually own it, so once I figure out how to use the software, I can hopefully just sit down and start writing.

But to get that point, I need to flesh out the outline I have. I really like how with a screenplay you have some very strict beats you need to meet. I find that very freeing. I don’t have to re-invent the wheel. I just think up my beats for the outline and when I get to them, I pull the trigger.

The universe I’ve come up with is pretty cool. The screenplay itself has elements of Alien, Logan’s Run, The Time Machine, Star Wars and any thriller movie where a McGuffin is involved. But it’s also meant to have a pretty strong romantic element to it which would be the heart of the story.

But I have noticed, even this early in the process of development, that by making gender expectations more modern, the story is flowing a lot easier. The trick is, of course, not to be so “woke” that no one wants to watch it. You see, Olivia Wilde, there is this thing call “subtext” where you can preach all you want to and not alienate every CIS white male in existence.

As such, my Hero starts off a lot like Luke Skywalker, but by the end of the story he and his love interest throw themselves into the future as equals. I think audiences will really like that.

I hope.

Fleshing Out My Screenplay’s Outline


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

As of right now, things are moving really fast with the development of this first screenplay. A lot of this comes from my white hot fucking rage against MAGA and how this screenplay, like the four thrillers I’m working on, help me feel some agency when it comes to striking back at those fucking fascists.

I’m not a violent man, so, like the Little Drummer Boy, I can use my one talent — the ability to tell a damn good story – to fight MAGA at least in my own mind, if nothing else.

I’ve stumbled across a minor obstacle –what to do at the midpoint.

At the midpoint in your story, you’re supposed to have a false victory or false setback for your Hero.

At the moment, I honestly don’t have either one of those. But I still have time. I like the dynamic I’ve established between my Hero and his love interest. My Hero is very much inspired by Luke Skywalker, but in such a way that he feels a lot more modern.

It helps that the character is pretty much based on ME, too, but not in a bad way. I’m just taking elements of my own personality and running with them in such a way that hopefully it’s interesting and entertaining.

Your Hero is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE YOU. So. that’s another element of development I need to think about. I really like the universe I’ve constructed, now I need to figure out how to force my hero and love interest to be forced to run around it in a way that helps the audience see it.

I’m beginning to dread having to write a sex scene. But, I think as my first screenplay I’m going to grade myself on a curve when it comes to things like that.