Approach

I haven't been able to sit down and record anything or even work with an instrument for any of the songs yet, so my approach has been much different thatn how I usually write. I have a clipboard that I've been carrying with me that has the wiki entries and I've been writing lyrics and letting arrangements and melodies form in my head. I think it will result in better songs than my usual write on the instrument first technique. I hope... I've also found that I'm writing in character of the topics when they are people. It reminds me of the Jake Waif songs! Here's the Leonard Feeney chorus I'm particularly fond of (imagine a Tom Waitsesque piano blues delivery...)

extra ecclesiam nulla salus
I hate to be the one to bring ya bad news
but that Pius the twelfth's just jerkin' youse
extra ecclesiam; nulla salus

63 - first draft

I went off the wikipath with these lyrics, writing what first came to heart and mind rather than adhering to the wikipedia entry. I may revisit these lyrics. This is a country song with a great melody and backing vocals. I'll record and post soon.

Do you remember the night
that I first walked you home
the headlights swirled like stars ‘round our brave new world
swift and oh so free, similes of you and me
the night running beside us breathlessly

You grew to hate New Year's, you grew to hate Fourth of July
you grew to stay out later and later at night
You never once felt shame
for all of these and other things
in the nine years it took me
to wear down your puppy-dog heart

We had a good run
What more

Now on this long dark road
A couple of miles below the limit
I run and run, but I can't keep up with you
You live seven years for every one of mine
I gotta keep on running
and hope I make it home safe tonight

We had a good run
Our time hasn’t come

Standing at the platform
A voice crackles over the speaker
As the last train for Melbourne departs
give Lupe a gentle hug
give Uncle Jimmy all my love
I’ll see you when my own days of running are done

The 20 Topics...

1. Cal McVey
2. Kill Switch
3. Drayton
4. Thorkel
5. Ruby Character
6. Archaeopteryx
7. Uvedale Price
8. Kiyomizu-dera
9. In the Eye of the Storm
10. Apposition
11. Zanamivir
12. Jack Starbright
13. Leonard Feeney
14. Abel
15. United States Bureau of Land Management
16. Myocardial disarray
17. USS Pintado
18. Oranges and Lemons
19. Transcendental function
20. 63 (number)