Serving in Viet Nam in 1970 I came across an album from an unknown songwriter at the time named Mac Davis.

However, a small independent may take on an unknown songwriter when nobody else is interested.

It must be better to have a publisher supporting your music, however big or small, than still being yet another unknown songwriter trying to get your first break.

Thus, an unknown songwriter might well have the same inspiration as a professional, then become convinced that the central idea was stolen.

Yet songwriters, some famous, but most unknown, have flocked to Jack Hardy's cramped three-room space for decades.

It was a standard contract for an unknown songwriter, but as the Police began to enjoy enormous success, so Sting's value in the market-place rose.

However, it later emerged that an unknown Irish songwriter, Ray Heffernan actually composed much of the song a year earlier.

Featured on the album was a song penned by an unknown songwriter by the name of Skylark, titled "System of Survival".

He was incredibly generous with his time and resources - especially considering I was an unknown songwriter he'd just met.

All songs traditional or public domain with unknown songwriters, arranged by Bruce Springsteen, unless otherwise noted.