The Other Shoes

I’m not constrained by the need to feed the family when I write a song. It’s a hobby, not my way of putting money on the table. And when I hear a formulaic song on the radio, I sometimes count my blessings and think:

“There, but for the grace of god, go I”.

On the other hand a lot of Motown writers were writing to feed the family. The songwriting was the day job, paid at a rate.

Look at the creativity and joy that came from that.

A hobbiest may fall short of the relentless dedication needed to produce great work. And a professional will sometimes phone it in.

In either position it might be helpful to put ourselves in the other’s shoes.