Story Behind the Song
Like many performers, my first experience before a crowd of strangers was an open mike. I still go to open mikes at my favorite places. They're a great way to meet new musicians and try out new songs.
Lyrics
Open Mike [(c)1999 by Joe Kretschmer, ASCAP]
[chorus]
Down at the local coffeehouse, on Monday or a Tuesday night,
There's some dusty old speakers and a microphone, lit up by a dim spotlight.
Standing up there, alone with your dreams, strummin' on an old guitar.
For fifteen minutes all the eyes are on you, for fifteen minutes you're a star.
Everyone gets fifteen minutes of fame, old Andy said that way back when.
But there's a place where, you can get your share, and have it again and again.
It doesn't really matter if you're young or old, or even if you're rich or poor.
With a little bit of talent and a lot of nerve, you can get your foot in the door.
[chorus]
There's no pay, all you get to do is play, one or two songs, maybe three.
But some fine day, you might get to say, "Bob Dylan started just like me."
The audience is small, and they're mostly all, the other dreamers just like you.
But their stares are real, like the fear you feel. This is how you pay your dues.
[chorus]
No matter how good your act, it's just a fact, that success is a long shot at best.
If you weren't that hot, at least you gave it a shot, and you can put those dreams to rest.
If you didn't even try, you'd always wonder why, and that would be an awful sin.
Years down the road, you'd be carrying that load, wondering what might have been.
[chorus]
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