Lyrics to Love

I have written several songs over the years, and when I look back at them I can remember what songwriters I was listening to at the time. When I am creating, I always end up imitating--or copying--the artists who are inspiring at the time.

Mann, Jenny Lewis of Some influences or more subtle and indirect, like The Beatles or Paul Simon. Others--like Aimee Mann, Rilo Kiley, Bob Dylan, and Rosie Thomas--I have listened to regularly in the last few years and made a point to try and copy the things I like about them. I love Jenny Lewis' honesty and the way Aimee Mann can take a lyrical cliche in a new direction. I wish my songs could be as simple yet as beautiful as Rosie's. And Bob Dylan...he's in a league all his own.

So here is a playlist of some great songwriters and some of their best lyrics. Let me know what you think! Who are your favorite songwriters:

I also wanted to share the lyrics to a song I have written. Hopefully one day I'll be able to get a nice recording done, but until then, please enjoy the lyrics to my song "Smaller Than I Was".

When I was only five the things I said were cute
And when I'm sixty-five, they'll say I'm eccentric
But at the age I am today, all the things I do and say
just seem stupid

At age eleven I wanted to be famous
And at age sixteen I wanted to be beautiful
But when I turned twenty-four, I found there's nothing I want more
than to be loved

[CHORUS] They say that as we get older each year brings us greater wisdom
How can that be true when I feel smaller than I was?

By the age of two my mother knew I was stubborn
And by age eighteen I had moved far away
But everywhere that I go, I'm the same inside
You know that I'm not changing

[CHORUS]

Most days I just pretend that I'm a grown-up
That my thoughts are all rational and mature
And though I may have fooled the world, you know I'm really
just a girl

[CHORUS]