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Legendary country singer-songwriter Steve Earle unveils the secrets of composing a great song.

Since 2015, Steve Earle has run an annual four-day intensive training session – called Camp Copperhead - in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York.

In 2016, journalist and aspiring songwriter Hugh Levinson joined around 100 other would-be balladeers from around the world to see what they can learn both from Steve and his fellow teacher, Shawn Colvin.

Listen-in to stories of dreaming, methadone, guns, jail, death and betrayal.

Producer: Smita Patel

First broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 in November 2016.