Mellotronists

That's a quote that is clearly from somebody who holds lyrics and narrative 
as the crucial parts of music.  That's fine, but there are also some of us 
who find melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, and timbre the interesting 
elements.  It's the difference between a songwriter and a composer.  I 
assign no relative value to either one, they are just some of the different 
ways that people come to the common table of music.  Personally, I couldn't 
quote you the lyrics of even my most favorite rock music apart from bits and 
pieces of songs, and I don't see anything wrong with that any more than 
there's anything wrong with Don's lack of interest in the vibrations in air 
as being anything more than vehicles to support the story he wants to tell. 
Music is an incredibly multifaceted creation of humans and I think that is 
why it has such universality, you can find whatever it is that tickles your 
brain the right way somewhere in the realm of music.



> Thanks for taking an interest in this page and in my
> activities. I have been singing since I was a small
> child but once I began to play the guitar, I formed in
> my mind the idea that perhaps I could write songs.
> Simple rock songs like 'Teenager in Love' could be
> played with the same chords over and over. I've taught
> my young daughter how to play this tune, it's that
> simple. Folk songs were also everywhere in the fifties
> and the guitar was perfect for them. A simple,
> beautiful song will inspire most musicians to try to
> write. Complicated, pretentious and non-melodic music
> is a turn-off. So are lessons. Keep music in your life
> and have fun with it and after a time it will grow on
> you and you will understand the language of song."
>
> Sincerely,
> Don McLean
>
> Don't think there is anything wrong with simple music
> as such, I like pop, rock and blues, but there is a
> lot more to music than the three chord trick, and
> unless you are naturally very gifted lessons and music
> theory can be very helpful. Doing anything really well
> is never easy.