While the tour wrapped up in Australia and the US in March and April 1973, Anderson pitched his idea to Howe, a prolific songwriter and arranger in the group, who took an interest in the concept. Together they used the spare time in between gigs to hold writing sessions in their hotel rooms lit by candlelight, sharing musical and lyrical ideas that suited the album's concept. Howe recalled: "Jon would say to me, 'What have you got that's a bit like that...?' so I'd play him something and he'd go: 'that's great. Have you got anything else?' and I'd play him another tune". One riff that Howe played for Anderson was rejected at first, but it was later incorporated into "The Ancient" as by then, the two sought for a different theme that would suit the track. A six-hour session in Savannah, Georgia that ended at 7 a.m. saw Anderson and Howe complete the outline of the vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation which took the form of one track based on each of the four texts. Anderson described the night as "magical left both of us exhilarated for days". When they pitched the concept to the rest of the group Howe recalled some resistance, "but Jon and I did manage to sell the idea ... sometimes [we really had to spur the guys on".