BY: VINCE “TOO TALL” TAYLOR
My English teacher must have had a tough time trying to inspire a bunch of adolescents in our comprehensive school but he obviously did something right as he sparked an interest in poetry which I have taken forward into my better-late-than-never music “career”.
As a singer-songwriter I try and connect with people using humour and familiarity, typically writing songs about parochial matters such as losing my phone or putting the bins out. But lately I have broadened my horizons including being asked to write a song for a book-launch. Myy latest single was inspired by Lord Byron and was released this month. Living near Cambridge and playing in the area has given a local dimension to the song and I often pass Trinity College on my way to a gig or busking in the market square.
“Lord of Verse” is out on the usual music “platforms” and is a potted life story of the great man. Although it might be seen as an irreverent rock song (and I certainly focus on the more scandalous aspects of his life) I hope there is a good helping of admiration coming through. Of course I could have written a song with as many verses as Childe Harold but I try and discipline myself to write songs less than 3 minutes long. Part of my punk song-writing philosophy but people can always listen again if they want. When I play the song live or do a radio interview I see it as a chance to inspire people to pick up on his work. It has also delighted me to find people who are Byron fans and “get” it.
I think of Byron’s life as a triumph of success in the face of adversity. His tough early childhood, physical disabilty and family history must have been traumatic and I can only guess at the humiliation he must have faced when he did join the “elite” class. His eccentricity and wild behaviour were probably a reaction to this – also a recurring theme in rock music too (think Johhny Rotten, Morrissey, Boy George etc). Despite or because of this he seems to have broken the mould and become an inspiration to others and this continues to this day. Abandoning the norms of sexual repression his love life was probably despised by those who could not free themselves from their societal straight-jackets. Certainly no surprise that on occasions Mick Jagger modelled himself on Byron during his mid sixties hedonistic heyday. Byron was perhaps the height of enlightenment before the coming of the grey Victorian age.
http://www.vincetootalltaylor.co.uk
