The following is an excerpt of the first draft of my current WIP, a novel, You’re the One: The True Story of Jack and Jill. I have also self-published three other novels which can be purchased on Amazon and Kindle.
My music changes as well. The tune and lyrics go from light and fun and about love to hard and sad and about heartache.
Before Duke Edwardson Stole Jill:
BEST TIME OF MY LIFE
I saw you there. I was unaware And didn’t know You even saw me. I thought I’d try to come on by And do my best to get to know you. “Hi,” and I told you my name is. “Hi,” and you told me your name is. That begins the best time of my life.
I was shy but I thought that I Had to sweep you off your feet to win. I fell flat and it made you laugh. You thought I was so cute and sweet then. Wow! It’s still hard to believe it. How in the world did I achieve it? That begins the best time of my life.
That began the best of my life. Thank you for the rest of my life. You began the best of my life. I hope it’s so wonderful for you.
After Duke Edwardson Stole Jill:
DO FOR LOVE
What we do for love Exiles us to the Land of Nod Or draws us to the heart of God Rests upon Who we love.
We will do what we do Rather noble or untrue. Objects of love provide the clue For why we do what we do.
Will you do things gruesome or grave For the One that you love. Or for Whom you desire Will you aspire to go higher.
We will do what we do Rather noble or untrue. Objects of love provide the clue For why we do what we do.
I try to forget about Jill and move on, but I cannot. Within a week, I’m calling her, and the conversation flows as easy as it ever did. I guard my heart a little more than before the disappointing blow. That is not easy. Even the sound of her voice gives my heart palpitations.
I am hopeful as we continue our long-distance relationship spawned by the band’s need to tour and Jill’s movies filming in diverse locations. I learn that Jill does not move in with Duke. I speculate that my expression of love might have had some bearing on that change of heart. After each phone conversation and at the close of every letter, I say or write “I love you always.”
Then, standing in line at a drug store or grocery store, I see Jill’s picture. Each time, Duke’s at her side holding her hand, a muscular arm thrown around her or their standing mugging at the camera with her arm tucked around his. It happens too often to be publicity. I must guard my heart once more.
Trying to move on becomes easier for a while because my life becomes filled with many new opportunities and responsibilities. This starts with more recognition of the band and our work from others in the music industry. I don’t like to be a name dropper, but the band tours crossed paths with other bands and musical artists who encourage us with compliments and suggestions. I help write some tunes and lyrics for some popular artists of rock, Hip Hop, Country and even Gospel.
This eventually connects us with a record label company headquartered in Los Angeles. I hesitate to think about signing when the band is first approached by the label because my heart still belongs to Jill. I cannot seem to move on and just be friends. If it is love or not, I am not sure. Never-the-less, Denny, Tom and Chuck believe the move to California and the help of this infamous label will be the greatest thing we could do for our careers.
We make the change. In early October 1979, we sign with The Sound Factory. The contract brings higher earnings for the band. We retain full ownership of the music and lyrics that we create, which was not true of either of the recording labels before. So many things about the contract help us feel like a legitimate band.
Categories: Sample writing
Douglas Knight
I have the rich life full of a sinner wounded by misunderstanding and punishment but blessed by mercy and forgiveness.
Knight Writer 