Songwriting

It was always very difficult for me and I never had the patience needed to do it correctly. I gave up......

I enjoyed composing stuff, but not really writing lyrics. I'm a solid writer in the real world, but I'd always look back at what I wrote and think "God what a pretentious artsy douche."

That's probably in part because I was always forcing it. Songwriting from a detached, "academic" place (rather than a real, emotional, whatever place) just doesn't work IMO.

I had never written before until I joined a songwriters group a couple of years ago. Found out I was pretty decent at it, which I never would have guessed. The group folded but myself and a buddy continue to play and continue to write originals. We're getting more into better quality recording now. I would say it's enjoyable each time. There isn't much more satisfying than playing a tune that you wrote and put time into. If it starts to be unenjoyable, then there's a problem.

yeah,and when you hit that right hook,it's like the song writes itself,and I can't believe it just happened like that.
For me,it's absolutely opposite of a feeling of accomplishment though when it happens. I wish I'm not like that.

Sitting here with my guitar in my hand right now. I've got this great little melody going,and trying to come up with the right words,but it's not happening so far.

Most of my songs just kind of come out of nowhere and sort of write themselves, like you mentioned. It can be really magical when the creative juices are flowing and pouring out of you this way. I've written songs in less than 30 min, I also have a bunch that I just can't seem to complete. It's a funny thing, but it feels good when you're "on" and can draw inspiration from something. It's my therapy...


It would be cool to post a tune or two to get some feedback from each other.

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It would be cool to post a tune or two to get some feedback from each other.

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k. Here's one I wrote a few years back about the importance of good mental health--which I hope to achieve some day. I got a laugh out of writing it, and I get a laugh playing it. So I play it.

It's called ....

An Uninvited Guest

I know not how it came to be, but one day he was there
An uninvited guest who made his home in my affairs
I asked what are you doing here and how did you get in
He seemed to be more comfortable than me inside my skin
I threatened him with violence, and psychoactive meds
But all for naught, he settled down right there inside my head

He took a sheet of paper and drew a sailboat
We sailed the cold Atlantic, though we barely stayed afloat
We finally docked in Liverpool about the first of May
I was needful of a woman but we only stayed a day
Returning cross the ocean, he drank a sea of booze
And lit my dreams of mermaids with an alcoholic fuse

He filled my mind with crazy thoughts that no one could believe
With visions of the future only madmen could conceive
I quit my job and left my home and wandered off to find
A brand new suit of armor for the battles in my mind
Later that same day I crossed a line that wasn’t there
And ended up in solitary playin’ solitaire

Days and weeks and months went by without a breath of hope
I e-mailed my rabbi and I text-messaged the pope
The seasons changed like dirty sheets while I paced inside my cell
I walked most every mile from Elysium to hell
And then one day my guest announced that we were free to go
I asked where are we headed to he said hell if I know

Maybe someday I’ll wake up, on my own again
And learn to dodge the soul eaters that claim to be my friend
I’d like to go back home if I could only find the way
And tell my parasitic pal to stay the hell away
And then sweet lady, I’ll lay my head upon your gentle breast
And hope won’t think of me as an uninvited guest

Same. Our band recorded our first EP a few months ago and when we went in the studio I thought I had everything finished but ended up still tweaking things until the very last minute. I think it worked out well, definitely added more depth/layers to the songs. I think there is always something you can do to make a song better, just have to know when to stop and not over do or force anything in there.

As far as lyrics I usually get the music done and sing along to the music a few times improvising the lyrics then keep the best parts. Would be sort of like a rapper "freestyling" except that it's singing instead of rapping I guess. This has always worked best for me. I do write some things on paper but most of the lyrics are improvised while recording it.

I found out later that a lot of my favorite lyricists actually do the same thing, Beck, Tom Waits ect. It's like you tap into a stream of consciousness, or your own subconscious maybe, and the words flow through you without having to think.

I have got something I did recently,it's in a bad key for me,so the vocals are terrible, A friend is gonna,redo the vocals in a couple of weeks though.

Like you, I really don't know how to post it.

If anybody can give suggestions,I would appreciate it.

Here is an acoustic song I wrote a few months ago. The chorus is basically just singing la's and oh's so I won't type that out lol. I had just finished reading a biography about Edgar Allen Poe and had his life and death and the mysterious circumstances that surrounded his death on my mind. That accounts for the New England setting and some of the lyrics. Also just the overall sense that his life was cursed basically.

Out In New England

1st verse

Out In New England , encountered a demon, and he was a son of a gun
Said down in hell that there's not much to do but think over the evil you've done
Oh my god I feel so alone, Oh my god I feel so alone,
didn't appreciate your love until it was gone

2nd verse

Pulled into Boston, was sure I had lost him, was thankful my soul still in tow
I was confused, there were so many buildings, but so few places to go
Oh my god I wish it would snow, bury me deep underneath in my coat
The world will keep spinning, it's spiraling out of control

3rd verse

When I got to Delaware, fire was everywhere, monsters were screaming my name
They said come on son it is time to go home, you've only got yourself to blame
Oh my god I've seen so much pain, all that I love has been taken away,
I can't remember the last time I felt anything

Life Is Changing

Roadblocks, detours, stop signs, closed doors
Old wounds, open sores, everything scattered on the floor
Life is changing in every way
Nightfall swallows up the day/

We move in phases, freedom or cages
Endless mazes of sharpened razors
Life is changing in every way
Nightfall swallows up the day/

The fallen leaves, a baby breathes, an old man dies
But where are we, where are we
Life is changing on us all
Summer slowly gives into fall
We must make sure we heed the call/