Acceleration and Deceleration

Acceleration and Deceleration relatively shorter or longer lines to punch out the idea. Make sure the system is complete or closed – no movement required.

First two lines from Pat Pattison

Accelerated
I’ve been playing cards all night
I’ll never get it right
Eyes full of sweat
Here’s the next bet
Lost my bike.

Decelerated
I’ve been playing cards all night
I’ll never get it right
Just one more hand and I’ll be free
That’s what I keep telling myself anyway

Accelerated
The last time that I saw you
Your hair was up in curls
Never saw you lookin’ quite so nice
Let’s go for coffee
What’s new in your world?

Decelerated
The last time that I saw you
Your hair was up in curls
Never saw you lookin’ quite so nice
Remember back when we were just friends?
We’d share homework and talk on and on
Let’s go for coffee and see if we can start something new.

Accelerated
Caught you lookin’
Dead to rights
Something cookin’
It’s your eyes
It’s your smile
Stay awhile?

Decelerated
Caught you lookin’
Dead to rights
Something cookin’
What’s that look in your eyes?
What’s the question that you won’t ask?
I’m here for you like a good book end.

Accelerated
Lost your love by playing hard to get
Tried to win and gave away the set
I dropped the ball
I crossed the line
Love to one
Out of time.

Decelerated
Lost your love by playing hard to get
Tried to win and gave away the set
I thought winning was the most important part
I forgot that it was all about your heart

Exersises - Balance and Movement

Here are some efforts based on Pat Pattison's book Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure.

When you see "Original" it is Pat Pattison's original to work from.

Unbalancing- taking away or adding

Original
I wonder who you’re seeing in your dreams
What fantasies you follow in your sleep
I’ll watch beside you till the morning light
While you go chasing shadows through the night

My Turn
I wonder who you’re seeing in your dreams
I’ll watch beside you till the morning light
While you go chasing shadows through the night

I wonder who you’re seeing in your dreams
What fantasies you follow in your sleep
I’ll watch beside you till the morning light
Watching your back; keeping you safe
While you go chasing shadows through the night

Movement – adding a line to vs 2 to move forward (possibly to chorus)

Original
Some girls have the restless touch
Way they hold you lets you know
They’ll get you burning for a while
Start you up and let you go

My Turn
Some girls have the leaving touch
The shiver of pleasure is short
They’ll hold you once and move along
It’s hard to keep ‘em satisfied
Morning comes and soon they’re gone