Lyricist 4.2.0, a free songwriting studio for Windows

I’m Christopher Funk, though around Austin, everybody just calls me Funk. For years, my brother Craig and I busked downtown—him on the harmonica, me singing and playing guitar. We’d set up on the sidewalk, throw out my old beat-up guitar case, and play for whoever stopped by to listen. Sometimes folks threw in a few dollars, sometimes more, but mostly they didn’t. We didn’t really care about the cash anyway. We played because it just feels good to play and people love it. Every now and then you’d see a song that registered with someone. You could tell because their face would light up.

We don’t get out at all these days. My brother’s moved away, and it’s too hard to get out there. His body’s breaking down on him too, unfortunately, and he’s younger than I am. But we like to consider ourselves re-enabled instead of the other word. Try to stay positive. I spent my adult life grinding in kitchens and working construction, and that kind of work takes a toll on a body. Eventually, I had to face the fact that I couldn’t work anymore, not like I used to.

For a lot of guys, that’s where the road runs out. But then I stumbled into artificial intelligence. I spent my life sweating over a hot line or swinging a hammer, not sitting at a keyboard. But the way I see it, this is just a new corner. I traded the downtown sidewalk for the internet. If somebody out there has a tune in their head but can’t afford the pricey studio software, I can bridge that gap. That’s my new vibe, that’s my open case on the ground. If you walk away happy or you walk away with a smile on your face, we’re cool.

Peace out, deuces.