songwriting w/ lyrics

stevenQ · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 3

ok i have good music for this song but i want to lyrics in it. And i'm not the best at putting words together and making them sound catchy or good. So i'm wondering if anybody knows good techniques that would help me write a song with lyrics. Thanks. Smile

billywhitebread · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

write what you know....what you feel....what your experiences are...you'll never go wrong

Godslittlerosebud · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:25 am Post subject:

One thing you need is practice. And putting your stuff up for critique helps. Either in the songwriting section here, or over in this forum (I wouldn't mention it, but the other one is simply a whole lot busier. You'll get critiques faster there while you wait for critiques here. And the combined critiques are better than just at one forum. *smile*). But practice is definately the key. And if you still find you are really lousy, then you can always collaborate! Laughing

Also, here's a thread on another board with some tips. I've copied a few below.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 815 Location: Texas

Read a lot...fuel for the tank. Cool

PunkStar · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject:

markm2553 · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:45 am Post subject:

It has always been hard for me to just read someone’s words and decide if the song is any “good”. It is now easier that ever to record and post your song for others to hear, a critique can mean a lot more. Just got to be careful whose opinion you listen to…

Godslittlerosebud · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:18 am Post subject:

KY Ratshooter · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject:

depnding on the tempo and style, you might try putting the words to an old song to the new music you have created.

We have another thread about playing Amazing Grace to the music of house of the Rising Sun. Use the same concept.

I also sometimes take well know music and run it with the major key changed to a minor or 7th.

Simple things can have a startling effect on the mood of the song.

Lyrics is a matter of practice and inspiration. That is why songwriters say they work for a living! I have know writher to have a spark of inspiration and nearly kill themselves trying to get it down on paper before they loose it!

I've seen the loose it too. Very depressing sight.

George E · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:

This will not be a popular reply. I've said this in other forums, and taken a lot of heat for it. But, it's something I really believe in strongly.

God gave far more people the gifts needed to play songs than he gave the gifts to write songs. If you are inspired to write a song, great. Some of the greatest songs in the world were composed by people who only wrote one or two songs in their entire lives. And that's OK.

If coming up with song lyrics or a new tune is really difficult, don't let it get you down. There is as much worth in performing a song someone else wrote as an any other activity done for the glory of God.

Anyone who attempts to write a Christian song and isn't have much success with it should remember the struggling wheat farmer who asked God for a sign about what he should do. The farmer saw the letters PC appear in the clouds, and assumed in meant "preach Christ". He went to seminary, and was awful. He couldn't preach at all, he couldn't handle the course work, and he became totally dejected. The dean called him in one day, and asked him why he came to the seminary. The farmer told him about the letters in the clouds. "So that's it", said the dean, "what those letters probably meant were "plant corn".

I'm singling no one out with this free advice. If anyone is having no success at writing Christian songs, maybe some prayer and reflection is needed. Is one trying to write a song to please and praise God, or is one trying to write a song to get praise from other Christians about how good a composer one is?

I've written one song that I'll perform in a worship service. It's a version of the Nunc Dimittis that I wrote because it was the only liturgical song I needed that I couldn't find. But that doesn't stop me from performing and arranging the really great songs that others have written.

PunkStar · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject:

I'll agree with that. When I was in year 11 at school, I thought I wanted to write songs. But I never really got into it. I penned a few lyrics, but I only ever wrote one song I actually liked. Eventually I thought, "meh, I don't really care about this, and I don't like singing much either." So I put the book away and I'm realized I'm just happy to sit and bang out a few chords every now and then. Admitandly, music isn't my first choice of entertainment. Technology is my passion (which I why I decided not to study music and am studying programming).

I think the music industry today is great for getting people interested in music. But it focuses so much on artists writing new things that we don't have good role models encouraging the fact that you can be perfectly happy to play someone else's works.

The thing is, music can be downright complex to make. Especially if you want every song you write to be different (who wants an album that's all the same thing?). If you really love the creative process and can do that kind of thing, then go at it for all you have. But if that's not your passion, then remember that there is no dishonor in play other people's works or simply enjoying what you know.