Julie Unplugged

Jose, Jim, Minnie, Mae, Stevie: What Lyrics Do They All Have in Common?

Summer Blog Challenge asked me to tell you on July 8-- "What are some song lyrics that you find some meaning in?" which brought up some surprises I had to share with you today.

I used to be one of those girls who sang everything. Any friend would make some statement or ask a question and I would respond in lyrics. I sang all the time: quality didn’t matter all that much, it was just a matter of throwing my hands in the air and singing words into the air to clutter the skies with notes that rained down on my face, and my friend’s face and upon the shoulders of anyone in listening distance.

I think I stopped doing that around the time I met my husband, way back when I was twenty years old probably about the time he noted – and I committed to memory – that my behavior on the dance floor was “goofy”. That was date #3, perhaps.

With that and perhaps other memories I chose to snip away, I stopped singing.

I read the prompt today and the words that filled my brain immediately were the unlikely “Come on baby light my fire….” The first singer I heard in my brain was Jose Feliciano, not Jim Morrison, the Doors bandmate of Ray Krieger, the guitarist who actually wrote the song.

I didn’t know it until doing some research, but this song has actually been covered many times by many (to me) unlikely people.

Erma Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mae West!? recorded the song for her album Great  Balls of Fire in 1972. Incredibly Etta James recorded it as did Minnie Riperton (with Jose Feliciano who was the original cover singer) and there was a disco version recorded by a band called Baccara.

I searched for the lyrics for more hints. What I found reminded me of the moment I heard KC (as in KC and the Sunshine Band) lamented the meaninglessness of songs of the early 21^st Century.

 For some reason, though, I think fire has meaning today.

 I especially like this stanza:

 >> The time to hesitate is through
>> No time to wallow in the mire
>> Try now we can only lose
>> And our love become a funeral pyre

If you are unfamiliar with the term ‘funeral pyre’ it is a pile of wood on which a corpse is burned as part of a funeral ceremony in some traditions. Sounds like some kind of fun… actually, I could see having a funeral pyre for myself if my loved ones would agree to it.

So – my task for today – Sunday, July 8 – is to set the night on fire metaphorically.

I’ll let you know how that goes.

Anyone else in? Remember, the time to hesitate is through -  come on baby light my fire…. (you know you want to) Try to set the night on fire…..

And finally… for the unknowing – here is a link to the complete lyrics to this much loved classic.

This is why I love blog challenges. They take you places you didn't know you would go when stretching your arms as you get out of bed in the morning. :~)

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot   

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© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott

Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS & this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she finds the passion & the interest.

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The Birth of Writing Camp + The Birth of the Next Writing Camp in Your Neighborhood ~

I laugh when I think about the birth of writing camp.

I started hosting camps when I looked at my long term goal of creating an Artist Colony/Writers Retreat/Camp sort of place for all generations. I had been looking at writers residencies and found nothing where I could have a residency AND have my children with me.

I am just not up to leaving my children for four weeks at a time.

I thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a place where people could elect the option of bringing family with them on their artistic rest times, where the children are cared for and also doing creative activities simultaneously and learning the joy of silence, quiet and the creative process.” I also thought a certain Mother (of mine!) would benefit from the same thing!

Grandparents, Children, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Moms and Dads, all enjoying a sacred and protected time of creating together separately.

This was my dream AND it didn’t show any signs of manifesting right on my horizon so the creative me said, “How can I bring this sort of experience into fruition before I have an actual property?”

This is how Writing Camp was born.

Since then there have been many (I have lost count!) virtual writing camps. There have been Writing Camps in high school classrooms, in City Parks, in National Parks, in Hospitals, in College classrooms. People have attended camp from all over the world.

My next logical step is to take Writing Camp on the Road: in other words, bring Writing Camp with me when I travel and/or intentionally taking Camp to certain places. A natural combination to me is taking Camp to writerly AND natural places.

Since I love visiting writers’ homes and benefit from the creative vibe within places, this seems like not only a logical next step, but a “filled with passion” next step.

This Summer, I will be in these cities and locations:

Flagstaff, Four Corners,  Canyon de Chelly, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Colorado Springs, Denver, St. George, Bryce and Zion National Parks, Las Vegas and also since I am so close to Los Angeles, would love to do some Camps there: preferably at Art Museums and places like the variety filled Griffith Park.

In the Fall, I am thinking Portland for a weekend trip and South Dakota or Kansas or both for another weekend trip.

Where would you love to see Writing Camp appear? Perhaps you’ve been wanting to manifest an intentional writing community – here is your chance, delivered to a neighborhood, a museum, a home near you.

All you need to do is speak it to me here, email me at juliejordanscott at gmail dot come or call or text me at 661.444.2735  and we’ll begin the delightful task of putting it into motion.

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott

Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS & this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she finds the passion & the interest.

Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -

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