Darren Wiedman scored 1st place in the November/December 2024 American Songwriter Lyric Contest for his song "Jack Daniels or King James." American Songwriter caught up with him to get the scoop on the inspiration behind the lyrics and other musings.
What made you decide to enter the American Songwriter's Lyric Contest?
I won a contest with this song in my local songwriting group, so I thought I'd see how it did against a larger pool of songwriters.
How did you feel when you learned you won?
Lucky. There are so many great songwriters that enter this contest. To have a winning lyric is a great honor.
Have you written music for this lyric? If so, how would you describe it?
This is a mid-tempo Country song. I'm a better lyricist than a musician, so the best word to describe the music would be "adequate."
How long have you been writing lyrics?
I think I was 23 when I made fun of my dad for listening to country music. I told him the songs were corny. He told me to write something better. So, I gave it a shot and was hooked. (I also started loving country music soon after.)
Who are your all-time favorite songwriters, and why?
I started to make a list, but ultimately, it comes down to the song, not the writer. I will mention three though: Roger Miller because my dad used to sing his songs when I was a kid, so he was my first exposure to classic country music. Don Schlitz and Jeffrey Steele–I've had the privilege of meeting both of these guys, and I'm amazed by their talent, humility, and willingness to help aspiring writers.
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