Recent Inspirations for songs as told by Linda M. Smith.

The last song I wrote is about young guys trying to pick me up in a bar we were scoping out for a gig. It's a fun song, and quite different from the type of stuff I have written so far. Its form is different, and a lot more explicit. I really had to let myself feel things I am not used to or supposed to feel. Every time I sing the song it's pretty exciting, pretty hot, oooh, I like it.

Other times the inspiration comes from experiences less personal. The song "Wolf Inside" was inspired by the movie Wolf with Jack Nicholson. His role struck me very strongly. Not by the horror of the Werewolf story but, rather, by the Werewolf's accute senses. I couldn't help thinking about how cut off we are from the senses. How distracted we are from our own perception.

"Prisoner of Passion" is about my husband. It talks about the incredible passion that ensues when you meet someone you totally dig. How love is almost obsessive in its early stages.

"Tell Me" is a questioning song. It's really about all the crap out there; the violence and ignorance. And it really asks where can we go to feel safe. It's going to take a lot to turn this world around, so many people turn to violence because of where they came from.

I wrote a song after I was held up. Its called "All I Want (is a peace loving satisfying life)". It was such a scary event, I thought I would never write about this. Two weeks later the song was finished. I guess I felt lucky because the song turned out to be very upbeat. I want to be safe and so does the guy who held me up. I hope something I can do can change this situation, even if it's not just through my music. As my friend Michael Smith said, 'A lesson cheaply learned.' (don't trust - take care of yourself, don't always give people the benefit of a doubt.) I don't wan't that paranoia and this song is like a wish for that elusive situation."

"The Day Is Now" was a pivitol song. I wrote it after taking Julia Cameron's course the 'Artist's Way' and after really committing to being a songwrtiter who was committed to living what I was singing. It's a just do it - carpe diem song. I am doing it, and trying hard not to lose any focus.