Congratulations to our MAS 2021 March Co-Writing Challenge songwriters!
Each time we run these challenges, it's a special treat to see what songs are created from the same set of prompts they are given. Some writers selected their own co-writer, and some were adventurous and let us pick a writer at random for them.
The talent, creativity, and heart of our writers shows up in their work.
You'll hear it in a second.
If you're interested in jumping in on the fun our members have, click here to find out how you can join MAS today.
Fun Facts
We always try to build in a few MAS trinkets in the song challenges. Some part of the prompt is based on one or two MAS members.
The word "bug, bugs, or bugged" was merely the fact when we created the challenge prompt, the day's high didn't make zero, and even warm weather bugs were missed.
The line, "You always claim you have stage fright," is a line from Andrew Spreck’s song, Dancing Girl.
You'll find it and other great rocking songs on his new CD release, Where I’m From.
The chord progression A E D C# D comes to us from Larry Suess. It's the A and E within his name, and his street address transposed from Nashville numbering.
What was the prompt this time?
Each writing team was given a choice to pick one of three writing challenge levels.
Here they are:
Level 1: Huh, okay. Seems easy enough.
- They had to put the word bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.
That was it for this level.
Level 2: Umm sure. A challenge but I’ll go for it.
- Must have bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.
- Must contain the phrase, “You always claim you have stage fright”, somewhere in the song.
- Must be a VCVCBC song structure.
And that’s it for this level
Level 3: Yeah baby! Bring it on!
- Must have bug, bugs, or bugged in the title.
- Must contain the phrase, “You always claim you have stage fright”, somewhere in the song.
- Must be a VCVCBC song structure.
- The chord progression A E D C# D must show up in the song. Or a key equivalent.
- The bridge must contain only three lines and at least one question.
- Must contain a breakdown for at least one measure. At some point in the song everything drops out except a drum beat and vocal or just vocal for a minimum of one measure to however long they feel it should be.
Here are the songs.
Bugs on the Windshield
Date submitted: March 10, 2021 at 8:08 pm
By: Paul Beckermann, Chad Shank,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Bugs-on-the-Windshield-1-1.rtf
Bugs on the Windshield
The summer heat was rising
Like phantoms from the highway
The spirit of the day all around
Your hand was on my shoulder
We were dreaming down the road
And cranking up the radio
Ain’t it funny how a two lane
Gets etched in your brain
I can still see it plain as day
We were two kids in blue jeans
With a full tank of gas
We let the summers take us away
Chorus
We were on the black top
You were in a tank top
68 with the windows down
We just let our hair blow
Letting all our cares go
The wind is the only sound
We’re burning down the highway
Nothing in our way
Just a crystal clear view
Of blue skies and cornfields
And Bugs On The Windshield
And no matter how I tried
To wash those bugs from the window
They never seem to wash away
But that’s ok with me
‘Cause every time I see them
It takes me back to those days
Ain’t it funny how a two lane
Gets etched in your brain
I can still see it plain as day
We were two kids in blue jeans
With a full tank of gas
We let the summers take us away
[Repeat Chorus]
Never wash never wash away (no, no, no)
Never wash those memories (not the memories)
Never wash those memories away (can’t wash them away)
Never wash never wash away (no, no, no)
Can’t wash those days away (those days)
Those memories are here to stay (they’re here to stay)
[Repeat Chorus]
[Repeat Chorus]
© Chad Shank and Paul Beckermann
Carry Me
Date submitted: March 17, 2021 at 6:09 am
By: Vicki Morrison Goble, Doyle Turner,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Carry-Me-lyric-sheet-for-MAS.rtf
Carry Me
verse 1
can’t let it loose, this thought is bugging me
like lost love and my need to be free
speed me to the grave with certainty
oh-oh rising wind come and carry me
verse 2
breathing through me when I was young
rocked my cradle where it was hung
sang to me in familiar tongues
oh-oh rising wind come and carry me
chorus
carry me, can you carry this pain?
hold me in the sun and through the rain
Breathing softly through the leaves in the trees
rising wind come and carry me
verse 3
blowing in and out of memories
sway the branches of reverie
force of nature and identity
oh-oh rising wind come and carry me
chorus
bridge:
pages turn faster every day
slow them down
I need to keep the words,
don’t let them go away
will they stay?
chorus
©Vicki Morrison Goble/ vicki@latebloomersrock.com / 218-434-0495
©Doyle Turner / mdturn@midco.net / 218-766-8522
Down At Bug Z’s Bar
Date submitted: March 19, 2021 at 8:15 am
By: Paul Nye, Zane Blom,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/1-DOWN-AT-BUG-Zs-BAR-RTF.rtf
Down At Bug Z’s Bar By Paul Nye & Zane Blom © 2021
VERSE 1:
He was minding his own business, drinking at the bar
Chick walks up, toys with her hair, says, “I bet I know who you are?”
“I don’t mean to bug you, but you’ve been in my peep sights”
“Ya see, you were my fantasy in a dream I had last night”
CHORUS:
A lotta boot bustin’ – line dance shufflin’ – Poundin’ down the floor
To Willie, Waylon, Garth & Hank – Haggard, Cash & more
Bottles clangin’ Jukebox playin’ – No one knows who you are?
Just fake a role at this waterin’ hole – Down at Bug Z’s Bar
VERSE 2:
He turns his head and wonders, “Does this princess have no life?”
Tips back a bottle of Bud (and) says, “Lady, I got a wife”
She says, “Why should that matter?” (Uh) He nearly chokes on his beer
“Hey baby, Ditch that ring, my bed’s a king, so let’s get outta here”
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE 3:
He shoots back and says, “Girl, I’m not looking for romance”
With a devious smile, she winks a while, says “I want what’s in those pants”
He dug deep his pocket, pulled out shiny dime
Says, “Here ya go, baby, you’re a lil’ bit crazy, have yourself a good time
BRIDGE:
She snarled at him, “You’re so drunk.” He said, “That might be the case,”
“A good sleep will cure my beer buzz, but it sure won’t fix your face.”
END CHORUS (2X):
A lotta boot bustin’ – line dance shufflin’ – Poundin’ down the floor
To Willie, Dolly, Garth & Hank – Haggard, Cash & more
Bottles clangin’ Jukebox playin’ – No one cares who you are.
They’re fakin’ roles at this waterin’ hole – Down at Bug Z’s Bar
TAG:
Just fake a role at this waterin’ hole – Down at Bug Z’s Bar
By Paul Nye & Zane Blom © 2021
218-507-0081 (Paul)
218-428-3351 (Zane)
It’s Buggin’ Me
Date submitted: March 19, 2021 at 6:17 pm
By: Douglas Millaway, Mike Rudquist,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Its-Buggin-Me.rtf
It’s Bugging Me (It Ain’t Bugging You)
Rudquist/Millaway
Copyright 2021
There are 13 steps from the kitchen to the door
Gotta quit counting, can’t take it anymore
The music from the neighbors been blaring since four
And you don’t seem to notice at all
The check engine lights on and you say its OK
Wishing and hoping to get through another day
Dishwashers rattling and there are bills to pay
And you don’t seem to notice at all
How can you just keep moving on?
It’s bugging me (it ain’t bugging you)
That just don’t seem fair
Maybe it’s time for us to make a change?
It’s bugging me (it ain’t bugging you)
Can’t you just disappear?
My life would improve in so many ways
I tried to tell you about my worried mind
My anxiety list, problems that ain’t right
But you were ordering drive through burgers and fries
You didn’t listen at all
You nodded your head, pulled out that mini van
So I tried to tell you my problems again
I hoped that you’d hear me, but the radio cut in
You didn’t listen at all
How can you just keep moving on?
It’s bugging me (it ain’t bugging you)
That just don’t seem fair
Maybe it’s time for us to make a change?
It’s bugging me (it ain’t bugging you)
Can’t you just disappear?
My life would improve in so many ways
I gotta stop living with fear
Not gonna last another year
You’re driving me up the wall, dear
Paranoia
Luzana Meets Buggsy
Date submitted: March 20, 2021 at 3:11 pm
By: Douglas Millaway, Chucks Madhav,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Luzanne-Meets-Bugsy.docx.rtf
Bugsy Meets Luzann
Instrumental 4 bars
Luzann Cloud was a local worker
Some call her Speedy others call her Lightning
‘cause she moved, moved so fast
She’s always happy, she was delighting
Bugsy Swanson was a local misfit
Some call him Trouble others call him Cool
Didn’t like people, he didn’t like anything
Always fighting, he’s one angry fool
Nobody knows one second to another
Sometimes you are here sometimes you’re there
Nobody know one minute to another
How to be and how not to be
At the Snow Bar their worlds would collide
Bad boys wanted Bugsy gone
By the time the bullet left the gun
Luzann knew what had to be done
Nobody knows one second to another
Who’s to be and who’s not to be
Nobody knows one minute to another
When your time comes where will you be
So who you think is not to be?
Luzann shoved Bugsy down
Bullet went on to hit the ground
Nobody knows one second to another
Who’s to be; there’s no guarantee
Nobody knows one minute to another
Who you’ll meet and how it will be
Nobody knows one second to another
Who’s your princess and who’s your knight
Tho she always claims to have stage fright
When the time came she did right
© Doug Millaway and Chucks Madhav
FILL IN
FILL IN
CBMadhav@StThomas.edu
612) 308-4717
Buggin’ My Bedroom
Date submitted: March 20, 2021 at 9:13 pm
By: Patrick Bonier, Don Strong,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Patrick-Bonier-Don-Strong-Buggin.-My-Bedroom-Co-write-Challenge.rtf
Buggin’ My Bedroom
D. Strong, P. Bonier
Chorus:
She must have been buggin’ buggin’ my bedroom
She coulda been tappin’ tappin’ my line
She must have been lurkin’ lurkin’ my insty
Or even reading my mind
Just another Saturday hangout
Same old crowd same old place
Just swiped right on my Tinder
I looked up and there was her face
We laughed she said “Yeah, I’m Gretchen
I said, “Everybody calls me MC.
”Hey Girl, let me buy you a Jaeger
She said, “Boy why don’t we leave?”
[Repeat Chorus]
Took her to iHop for breakfast
She said it was her favorite spot
She knows everything on my menu
This chile is just too damn hot!
[Repeat Chorus]
She’d seen all my favorite movies
She loves all my favorite tunes
But Mama said: “Son, better be wary
Of something too good to be true!”
Then she dropped a note on the table
“Check this, Melvin!” she laughed with a smirk,
I looked down; girl had stolen my passwords,
…and took my damn keys for dessert!
[Repeat Chorus] x2
That girl was tappin’ my line
She done left the scene of the crime
Better Together
Date submitted: March 22, 2021 at 1:17 pm
By: Tony Wentersdorf, Ann Thompson,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Better-together-Tony-Ann.rtf
Better Together
Hey Buggsie…
Ya, doll?
How about we go to Mancini’s for a little Karaoke?
Karaoke? You know I don’t sing in front no one!
Bugsy, what scares ya?
Me? I’m not afraid of nuttin, cept maybe Sing Sing and facin’ my ma when I die.
Bugsy, I’ll be there for you, as long as I’m alive !
Thanks, Doll. That means the world to me.
We’re better together than we are alone For me and you, two is better than one.
You’re the tomato sauce to my spaghetti
You’re the chocolate syrup to my vanilla ice cream
We’re better You and me doll, together ya, we seem to find our way, together, you and me.
What are you afraid of Doll?
Me? I guess I’m afraid of being alone with no one who cares, no one to call.
But that won’t ever happen as long as I got you.
Ya, we’re a lucky pair.
We’re better together than we are alone For me and you, two is better than one.
You’re the peanut butter to my jelly
You’re the buttered toast to my poached eggs
We’re better You and me doll, together ya, we seem to find our way, together, you and me.
Bugsy, do you think I’m afraid of life?
Naa, you just got a little stage fright.
I’ll help if you help me , face our biggest fears.
We’re better together than we are alone For me and you, two is better than one.
You’re the steak sauce to my fried steak
You’re the Irish cream in my coffee
We’re better You and me doll, together ya, we seem to find our way, together, you and me.
Cause when we stick together, like glue and paper we make a pretty good pair.
Tony Wentersdorf, afwentersdorf@hotmail.com
Ann Thompson, athompson@sagecommunication.com, 651-592-3900
Ladybug
Date submitted: March 22, 2021 at 5:53 pm
By: Elicia Faul, Emily Whitcomb,
Copyright info: 2021
Lyrics sheet: https://mnsongwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/EliciaFaul-EmilyWhitcomb-Ladybug-cowritechallenge.rtf
Ladybug
Little girl pig tails Little “Lady Bug”
dancing happy cries
Young girl dreams for life
turblent teenage years
yearning to take flight
Chorus:
Life goes on without a care
for those like statues standing there
There’s magic in the come and go for those with wings
first time- we love her so
2nd time- Who learn and grow
3rd time- who really know
4th time- Will we ever know?
Roaming into life love and babies come overwhelmed young wife
Sleepless nights go by no end to the tears dishes piling high
Older graying hair grandma “lady bug” children everywhere
An illness in the night her final days A light
Ladybug took flight
Nature draws a close to this little song
Ladybug flying by a reminder… just try
