The Humble Tool Every Songwriter Already Has
Who would have thought that the humble stone, found anywhere, could be the thing that would make such a delicious meal -a meal to be made and enjoyed together.
Feeling stuck with your songwriting? The tool you need has been there all along. Simple, powerful, and hiding in plain sight. Think of it as a treasure buried in the dirt, there the whole time, walked over a billion times without anyone noticing. A treasure that could fuel your creativity, sharpen your artistry, and deepen your communication. Something that could lift your songs -making them better, and extending their reach.
Once I started noticing it, I saw it everywhere — in every third song I listened to.
We often find ourselves stuck in a place where we think we’ve got nothing -no ideas, no spark, nothing.
But you DO have something. You have a stone. When all you have is a stone, you can make a delicious soup.
Can you see it in these examples:
A mighty fortress is our God, by Martin Luther,
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
…
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same;
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Issac Watts,
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song -by Gilbert and Sullivan
Love unrequited, robs me of me rest,
Love, hopeless love, my ardent soul encumbers,
Love, nightmare like, lies heavy of me chest,
And weaves itself into my midnight slumbers.
St Patrick’s prayer:
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Can you see it?
Yes, it is the ordinary, plain and simple, list.
Go back and read through those examples again — this time, feel the effect of the lists. Notice how they build momentum, create emphasis, and lodge themselves in your memory.
Your homework this week: Open your eyes and ears to the lists in songs. I would love to hear back from you. Why don’t you comment on this link and tell me of a list that you notice. Drop them in the comments — let's see what soup we can make together.