I know, I know...

I've said this before, but I think writing song lyrics and screenplays have a lot in common. Just because those who've actually done one or the other (or both) disagree with me, doesn't mean I can't freely expose my ignorance on the subject.
I should modify the above to say "certain kinds of song lyrics." How are they same? Both song lyrics and screenplays are kind of a shorthand they both hint at a lot and let you fill in the blanks. (At least they should, if they are done right.) They both have a central theme and they both tell a story.
For example from one of my favorite albums, "The Nitty Dirt Band's" "Will the Circle be Unbroken volume 2" the following song, sung by Emmylou Harris and written by Paul Kennerly there's a story (tragedy) built in:

"Mary Danced with Soldiers" by Paul Kennerly
"She'd slip away each day with the dimming light
And with the sweetest smile she'd kiss the child goodnight At the mill she'd work her fingers till they were raw For the sake of her son and the daddy he never saw

Mary danced with soldiers
She stepped a light quadrille
Shawl across her shoulders
To keep away the chill, to keep away the chill
It was a rebel boy who brought her joy they say
Though the years had passed the memories stood fast each day Before a bullet crushed the life of their romance
He gave her a shawl and a parasol from France
Mary danced with soldiers
She stepped a light quadrille
Shawl across her shoulders
To keep away the chill, to keep away the chill
They came around to the tavern in town that night
And with silent cries Mary never tried to fight
They cut her hair and left her body torn
Her spirit slipped away before the dawn
Mary danced with soldiers
But now her body's still
Shawl across her shoulders
To keep away the chill
Mary danced with soldiers
She stepped a light quadrille
Shawl across her shoulders
To keep away the chill, to keep away the chill"
So, why do I like this song? mostly for the lyrics, the way they succinctly tell the story. And it's a ghost story at least that's the way I see it. The beginning of a ghost story. It's the chorus that says the most.
"She stepped a light quadrille." Right away we know the era and it just took five words. And even before we know that the song's story will turn out badly for Mary we feel the "chill." (The tune has something to do with that also.) That's the theme to me. And the shawl is the "touchstone" that Bill Martell talks about. (Is "touchstone" the right word?) The shawl connects her past life, her current life and goes with her into death still "keeping away the chill."Sorry to ramble. It's a good album, if you like blue grass. Besides the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, (a long time favorite of mine), there's Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff, Rosanne Cash, Ricky Skaggs, the Carter Family, Chris Hillman, Michael Martin Murphy, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Earl Scruggs, John Hiatt, Roger McGuinn (singing the Bob Dylan song "You Ain't Going Nowhere"), Randy Scruggs, New Grass Revival, Levon Helm, Jerry Douglas, Roy Husky Jr., Mark O'Connor, Paulette Carlson, John Prine and Bruce Hornsby.

Oh, and there's also that Jimmy Martin guy they've got a picture of him wearing a raccoon on his head I guess it's supposed to be a hat, but it just looks like a raccoon. No tracks laid down everything recorded in one shot. Great variety. A lot of good musicians but kind of sad because so many of them are gone now the album came out in 1989.

Man, I've really rambled now.

RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"