Creative Thinking 101 · The Creative Circus, Atlanta GA
LEMON
One prompt. One word. Four worlds.
A take-home assignment that got a little out of hand.
The Creative Circus
A legendary portfolio school in Atlanta, Georgia — one of advertising's iconic training grounds. From 1995 to 2023 it turned out creatives in advertising, design, interactive, and photography.
- A program well-known for making or breaking creatives
- Programs spanned copywriting, art direction, design, and photography
- Portfolio-first: you graduated with a book, not just a diploma
I "studied" Creative Technology, 2015 – 2017.
How we got here
The assignment
Every student at The Creative Circus took a required course in their first-quarter called Creative Thinking 101.
One take-home assignment: write a song. Any genre, no rules.
We were handed exactly one prompt.
“Lemon.”
Limoncello
lee-mon-CHELL-oh · Southern Italy
A bright yellow lemon liqueur from the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, and Capri. Lemon zest is steeped in high-proof alcohol, then sweetened with simple syrup.
- Served ice-cold in a small glass as a digestivo after dinner
- Made from the zest only — the peel's oils, not the juice
- My wife Becca really likes. I've never tried it.
Lemon Jell-O
wobble rating: high · est. 1897
Lemon-flavored gelatin — the jiggly, translucent-yellow centerpiece of mid-century American potlucks and questionable congealed salads.
- Jell-O launched in 1897; lemon is one of the original flavors
- Peaked in the 1950s–60s alongside the molded 'salad' craze
- The natural rhyme partner for 'Limoncello'
Jack Lemmon
1925–2001 · note the two M's
One of Hollywood's great everymen. Spelled Lemmon, not Lemon — which is exactly the kind of thing a creative-thinking prompt is built to catch.
- Oscars for Mister Roberts (1955) and Save the Tiger (1973)
- Grumpy Old Men ( remember this one 🧠 ), Grumpier Old Men ( sequel )
- Longtime on-screen partner to Walter Matthau. Two-time Oscar winner (1955, 1973). Four-time Golden Globe winner (1960, 1961, 1973, 2000)
California's Lemon Law
Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act
A 'lemon' is a car with defects that just won't quit. California's Lemon Law says if the manufacturer can't fix it after reasonable attempts, they must replace it or refund you.
- Covers new (and some used) vehicles under warranty
- Kicks in after a 'reasonable number' of failed repair attempts
- The reason we call a bad product a 'lemon' at all
A true lemon hazard
The time a lemon nearly won
When I was 12, I almost choked to death on a lemon wedge.
My aunt Pat sprang into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver.
Thanks, Aunt Pat!
The main event
The Lemon Song
Play it below. The lyrics follow the music and keep time for you.
🍋 `The Lemon Song` Song & Lyrics by Peter Norman
Limoncello is a liqueur I’ve never tried.
I once choked on a lemon wedge and I nearly died. ( true story! )
And unless they’re in sweet tea,
well they ain’t no good to me.
There’s far better ways to get my vitamin C.
I spent half of my money on a truck that wouldn't start.
I gave the rest of my money to a woman who broke my heart.
So I asked the Lord above,
to make a Lemon Law for love.
Well, these lemons gonna make this poor boy tough.
and I really hate the color yellow,
and I'll never eat no lemon Jell-O. ( yuck! 🤢 )
Yea, buddy I'm really not a fan!
No wonder Jack Lemmon was a grumpy old man.....C'mon!
( Rippin' slide guitar solo in open G tuning in the style of Keith Richards! 🇬🇧 )
The point
In English, one word is never just one word.
Thanks for listening!