Roy Allen is a folk singer who write about his life and childhood. His songs are like vignettes of his life and relatable in many ways.
Please tell me about yourself and your songwriting.
I was born and raised at the edge of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Plymouth to be exact. At the time there’s only three houses in my neighborhood. I could walked through a little stretch of woods and boom, it’s suburbia. When I go the other way it’s countryside.
There was a lot of according playing from my uncle and oldest sister. My other older sister taught me guitar at age ten. Didn’t practice as much till later in life. Well here I am at 65 wishing I would have.
I felt I was getting better then the rug was pulled out from under me. During a doctor’s visit I was diagnosed with cancer. Radiation, Chemotherapy then surgery and 5 months later here I am, continuing my music journey.
Your album, On the Bank of the River, seems to draw from childhood memories. In writing the songs, which came first, the lyrics or the music?
In my mind I’m always looking for song ideas. For example situations that happened in my life would pop in my head or something would happen that reminded me of something that happened in my past. Like the song “Toast and Jelly”. Dealing with bees and this song popped in my head. It really happened. And the song “Just Like Uncle Eric” I saw s bag of peanuts and I cracked open a beer and my chickens and guineas came over to check me out and the memory came to me.
And the second part of the question well I can say both. Like the song “Yesterdays’ Corn” for instance. I had a melody in my head I wanted to write a humorous song about undigested corn.
During this time I was having relationship issues and the lyrics flowed out kinda easy. Other songs I would write down random thoughts of words. I’d start strumming my guitar/chords and sing those words and more ideas would come out. I would rearrange the words start singing. Rearrange again. Sometimes the process was quick and other times a lengthy process.
I also joined a Facebook group ( singer/songwriter songwriters challenge) and the prompt words helped me reach into and develop a bag of ideas.
Your song, My Last Goodbye, is chillingly honest and authentic. Can you tell us about the song please?
I was just recently diagnosed with esophagus cancer.
At the time the word cancer to me meant death sentence. I found myself quoting from the movie The Green Mile. “Dead man walking boss”. I was freaking out and either that night or the night after watching my wife laying there in bed I was scared. And thoughts were racing through my brain. I wrote this song about that time just to let things out. I thought it would help, therapy I guess. I could not sing this song for a while I can sing it now though.
You mention on your website that music is therapy for you. What does that mean to you?
Its all good. Other peoples music or my music. It relaxes me and makes me think. I think to much and music writing helps me snap out if it too. As I develop my songwriting skills I can convey certain feelings that I want to share. It also helps me step out if my shell.
Where can people see you play? Or keep up with what you’re doing?
They can schedule me to play, lol. But seriously I just opened a web sight and through it you can see my social media sites and gig schedule. @royallensings.com
Mostly Minnesota 