Here at Rook's nest, we frequently get questions about how we write our songs. Our songs are usually written as folk songs and all of our written material tells a tale.
The other question asked is where do we find inspiration and to be honest, songs can come from all kinds of influences or inspirations.
Traditional folk songs came into being as a way of conveying news to a mostly illiterate audience and covered topics such as crimes, usually those that came with execution, murders, theft, affairs of the heart and sometimes all three of these as well as numerous other topics that would catch the attention or interest of those listening and we try to emulate this when writing.
Reflections, the third track on our Reflections of the Tao album, started life as a poem written by Eileen and her daughter Kate. Kate was a graphic designer and had just repaired and printed a photograph of her 2 x great grandmother, Mary Owen nee Bouldin and had hung it in the hall of Eileen's home.
As they stood there looking at it, Eileen wondered if Mary would recognise her and Kate if the three of them were able to meet, (Mary had died shortly after childbirth with Eileen's grandmother) and thus the theme of the poem was born.
For the next couple of years, it languished on Eileen's computer just waiting for a time when it could be of use. One day, James played Eileen a melody that he had been toying with and was about to discard when the poem nudged Eileen; a quick play through against the words of the poem and a few tweaks to make it scat properly and voila! a new folk song came into being.