student: I want to write a song about my mother but I don’t want her to know.
teacher: don’t play it to her.
student: I’m not good at keeping secrets.
teacher: this is your big chance to start.
student: have you ever written a song about your mother?
teacher: yes.
student: did you say anything bad?
teacher: depends on one’s interpretation.
student: did you play it to her?
teacher: she heard it.
student: did you regret it?
teacher: sounds like you have something to say that you do not want her to hear.
student: right.
teacher: you ever hear Mother by John Lennon?
student: no.
teacher: it’s pretty strong. cathartic actually.
student: what did his mother think?
teacher: she never heard it.
student: he chickened out?
teacher: she died.
student: then he didn’t have my problem.
teacher: I guess.
student: I want to write what’s on my mind but I know sometimes it will hurt people who I don’t want to hurt.
teacher: making art makes casualties but you could always change it up.
student: pretend she’s dead?
teacher: no, I meant imply the woman you are singing about is not your mother or address some other person or invent a different character who is singing the song that the listener knows is not you.
student: that’s good.
teacher: that’s my job.
student: did you regret playing it to her?
teacher: i think regret is not worth dwelling upon.
student: you mean you advocate repression? wow, who knew.
teacher: that’s not what i’m saying. but if you have “difficult feelings”, put them in song.