"I WROTE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE"
I like to tell people. "I’ve been writing for over 30 years… and I’m going to get good at it any year now". The truth of the matter is I don’t think I’ll ever write the "perfect" song. But I’ll keep trying.

The CD "I Wrote It Down Somewhere" is a self proclaimed project. It is made up largely of songs that did not appeal to publishers for one reason or another. Many of these songs have been rolling around in my head for a real long time. I have sung "Evergreen Eyes" under my breathe for over 30 years. I’ve always liked the song myself but it really had no "slot" to go in (As you may be aware, there are not a lot of Irish-Rock stations around these days). I had so many songs without a slot that I decided, "What the heck… I’ll publish them myself." I am really glad I did. Holding a song in you can be like keeping a secret. Sooner our later it screams to get out. I had carried too many of these songs for way too long. Finally, some of my secrets are out.

If I am "diverse" this collection of songs will show it. I really did not want to be bothered with theme, or continuity or genre. If I wrote the song and I liked the song it had a home on this CD. It didn’t matter if the first song was Bluegrass and the second song was Irish/Rock and the third song was acoustic.

Originally I wanted to have written every song on the CD completely by myself. I was starting to get the impression that people might think that Mitch Stephen couldn’t write alone. I should have enough "Solo" material o this CD to dispel that notion. However, Billy and I have written so many of my favorite songs that I simply did not want this collection to be without them.

Billy is a fantastic writer. More importantly he is a fantastic person. I am so fortunate to have found the perfect songwriter match. He has a way with the guitar. The command he has over his instrument always inspires me to find the words. Sometimes his melodies are so moving the songs practically write themselves.

I thought it would be disrespectful to eliminate Billy’s Solo efforts from our collaborative collections (Honky Tonk Ballet and Tuesday) just so I could say "every song was written or co-written by yours Truly". Soooo, in an effort to keep the original CD song format in place, you will find a few songs on this site that I didn’t write. As usual, I always regret not being in the room when Billy writes a song. Make no mistake about it… Billy can write a great song all by his lonesome. Just take a listen to "What’s Wrong with This Picture" or "Been There Done That Years" and tell me different.
Many artists do not write about their personal life while others prefer to write about their own experiences. I tend to write "Truth + Invention". Something happens and I want to mark the moment. I want to get it all in words just right, described how I feel and then let the melody capture that emotion or that moment. I have vented the emotions of my life through song. Music is how I catalogue my emotional growth. When good or bad things make an impression on me I write them down, attach a melody to them and file them in my heart and or my head under the label- SONGS.

The way I write is not particularly glamorous. In fact, it is frustrating because I can never perform the songs myself. I’m not negative about whatever talents I have, I just believe a person has to recognize his limitations (if he decides not to conquer them). My life has gone a different direction and to consider putting in the years and years it would take to become a consummate Musician like Billy O’Rourke or Bobby Flores is, well, more than I can ponder. So, I’ll stick to the words and the melody. Let me explain my way of writing it to you like this;

I don’t have a great singing voice (although I can get my point across), I don’t play a melodic instrument, and I don’t know if my songs are in the key of C, G or K… I simply start singing to myself, ocupello, to the snap of my fingers (by the way… that "K" thing was a joke). I arrive at the words and the melody at the exact same time… "on the fly." I run until I land on a melody I like and then I start repeating the same melody over and over throwing some miss matched words on top. At first the words don’t make any sense but as I start to sink into the melody the words start to take shape. Eventually I’ll find a few words or a few lines I like and I’ll start repeating them with the melody. At this point I am running the words and melody over and over but each time I get to the end of my words I take a stab at the next line. Eventually I finish all of the words and Melody. At that point I can sing you (or my producer) the complete song.

If the song makes a complete circle and tells the story then it’s a keeper, whether I like it or not. I hear lots of hit songs on the radio that I personally do not care for but hey, a hit’s a hit. Who am I to judge?

I am excited about this site because now I have a "Storefront" if you will. I have a place to put my art and people form all over the world can browse by and take a look…or a listen… and decide for themselves. I am willing to live with whatever the response is but, as you can imagine, it is my sincere hope that you find a song or two you just can’t live without.

Sincerely,
Mitchell Stephen