Another RPM lesson: No, inspiration doesn't rain from the sky unbidden. But when you work hard at music, and do so daily, you're priming the pump. And then, when the muse does arrive, you recognize her.

I felt there was a missing piece to my album concept, the real 'summing up' tune to get it all beyond the storytelling and give it a bigger meaning. But I really didn't know what it needed to say, so I kept putting the thought aside until the end of the project, working on the easier and more storytelling elements.

Last night I was reading Larry McMurtry's book and really digging the details of the Wild West show -- such a smooth operation, and it ran for so many years. At the end of a run, the band would still be playing the finale, and the riders would still be parading around the ring, while the show trains were already backed up on the siding, loading 39 cars' worth of buffalo, elk, tents, barrels, infantrymen, Arab horsemen, ticket sellers, and so on.

Started picturing the scene of waiting to depart, the crowd still inside amazed at having seen this spectacle of supposed 'Western' life, when really it was a strange blend of show business and reality. I started playing around with a super-simple but haunting chord structure and melody, and wham -- got something solid right off the bat. It's titled 'The Real Thing,' and I just love it. It's got the bird's-eye view, anthemic feel I wanted.

Unless lightning strikes again (doubtful with only three more days left before I go record it all), that leaves me with 9 songs. I'm pretty sure they'll hit the 35-minute mark, so even though it's not 10 I think the composition process may stop now.