The Songwriting Secret of a Timeless Storyteller

The songs that stay in our minds the longest don’t always have the most profound lyrics or melodies, nor are they performed by the best singers. These elements are, of course, important. But in the final analysis, it’s often the songs that perceptively explore the emotions and situations of the human condition that live on after their writers are gone. There is one song that has been covered by major musicians and vocalists of the past two generations, and it played a pivotal role in helping its writer forge a career as a performing artist as well as a writer.

Tom Paxton released “The Last Thing On My Mind” in 1964 on his album, Ramblin’ Boy.” The inspiration for the song came from Dave Van Ronk and Bob Dylan’s versions of “He Was A Friend of Mine.” This lost love ballad became one of Paxton’s biggest hits. He is also known for his protest songs against the Vietnam War and other social injustices. (What Did You Learn In School Today?)

“The Last Thing On My Mind” was one of the first songs I learned some forty years ago when I started playing the guitar. This is the first time I’ve released my cover publicly. The themes of the song include friendship, loss, and the passage of time.

Here’s my cover.

#songwriting #lostlovesongs # breakups #lookingbackonlove #Acousticguitarwithvocal #hitfolksongs #sixtiesmusic