On these hands and knees I’m crawlin’

He realises he needs to save someone from an untimely death

Sep 18, 2024

Inspiration comes from many places when writing stories. For me, it somtimes comes with a song…

Copyright Deposit Photos Standard Licence — Author paiken

Today I am going to share a handful of my older stories on Medium: Click on the picture banners to view…

Realistic Fiction

Last year, the masterpiece Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen led me to create what I think is one of my best longer tales — One Last Chance to Make it Real. It's a small American town, edgy drama about growing up and having the courage to move on after a life-changing trauma:

I Don’t Like Mondays

I was soon to become a teen when this song came out and remember Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats performing it on the television. I was blown away by the lyrics and shocked when I read it was based on a true story. But they do say truth is often stranger than fiction.

It was after looking back on the song last year that I wrote, Sweet sixteen, ain’t that peachy keen? Caution advised.

Ballerina, you should have seen her…

I am not an Elton John fan but this song — Tiny Dancer — has a special place in my heart as my youngest daughter was crazy about it when she was a teen and we always played it in the car. I kinda miss those days with her.

In December 2021 Tiny Dancer became an earworm and I couldn't shake it off. I decided to exorcise by writing a story. Once more, caution advised.

The Groupie Scene

A music scene I have written about more than once is that of the groupie girl. My haunting story, Lament for a Groupie girl was inspired by an incredible song from 1970 by the amazing musician Tony Joe White.

Do watch the video for a real taste of the era.

Then recently I returned to write a prequel to “Lament For a Groupie Girl,” and penned this uncomfortable, transgressive story:

This tale takes a dive into Susie’s life and how she weaved herself into the groupie lifestyle.

Savin’ Me

Ever since I first heard the song Savin’ Me from Nickleback in 2007 I have been a little obsessed with the video:

Who would you save?

The video is about a guy who is in a half way place between life and death. Here, he can see how long others have to live and realises he needs to save someone from an untimely death— and only by doing this will he ultimately save himself. Heady stuff!

What has this got to do with my work? Well, a while back I wrote a semi erotic story (now on Medium) with this very song in mind.

Title: On these hands and knees, I’m crawlin’

And in case you are wondering where I got the title for this article from… Here is the first verse of “Savin’ Me” by Nickelback.

Prison gates won’t open up for me
On these hands and knees, I’m crawlin’
Oh, I reach for you
Well, I’m terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can’t hold my soul in
All I need is you

My brother-in-law — BIL

His unknown songs have also inspired a few stories from me. In fact I would go as far as to say he is a fabulous storyteller.

BIL wrote a song called “Woman in a Cage” quite a while ago. I saw so many possibilities with these lyrics and eventually put together a five part series about a wife imprisoned in a cage by her husband. It proved very popular over on Redemption Magazine. Read the first episode, Crazy for You… Actually just a snippet as I am making it into a paperback atm.

Then, more recently, he sang a new song to me about being old yet still feeling the same as he did years ago, setting a scene where an older guy can’t keep his eyes off the gorgeous waitress. He doesn't stand a chance with her, although he knows in his heyday she would have happily walked out on his arm. It’s sad and witty.

I was instantly inspired and wrote this story which doesn't match up to the emotion in his song but at least I gave it a go!