Great advice there for Mark, Shel, and for anyone else. I hope that others are having a think about writing a song to a special picture. I'm still wondering if I can ever get close.
I've been pondering the power of such photos and of words in general and specifically in lyrics. A photo paints such a complete picture which would take so many words to just sketch. But words are also very powerful spell makers. Ever consider that, that we spell words? We spell it. Words cast spells. Put them to music and its powerful spell making and a song can be spell-binding. There is magic in our world and songs is where you will often find it. I am fascinated by the (real) meaning of words and their power. And we are dabbling in spell making and are exposing ourselves to this magic every time we listen to or play or write a song. Why is it magic? Well, if I say to you, for example, "a host of golden daffodils", I have put directly into your mind's eye a very strong image.... and its certainly yellow, isn't it? So my spell cast a colour and certain shapes directly and instantly into your mind from a distance of however far you live from Zürich! Powerful stuff, no?
EDIT: Ah, Freud just whispered in my ear, there is a line in a Moody Blues song, " A fleet of golden galleons upon a crystal sea"... I guess that's what I had in the back of my mind.
Take another sip my love and see what you will see,
A fleet of golden galleons, on a crystal sea.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Let Merlin cast his spell.
Ride along the winds of time and see where we have been,
The glorious age of Camelot, when Guinevere was Queen.
It all unfolds before your eyes
As Merlin casts his spell.
The seven wonders of the world he'll lay before your feet,
In far-off lands, on distant shores, so many friends to meet.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Let Merlin cast his spell.
- Are you Sitting Comfortably - from On the Threshold of a Dream