I love great lyrics.
Lyrics that help give a voice to emotions.
Lyrics that connect with you and help bring understanding.
Lyrics that become your confession when you can’t find what to say.
There’s just something about using words to skillfully express feeling and thought that I applaud.
There is truly nothing like well written prose that moves and meets people in a way that no sermon, dvd, or conversation ever will. And, what better story teller than music?
About a month ago someone told me the story behind the hymn ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ by Horatio Spafford. There’s this brilliant line in the first verse that says “When sorrows like sea billows roll…”.
Spafford it turns out, was a lawyer, who was ruined financially in the great Chicago fire and had planned to travel to Europe with his family, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While cross ing the Atlan tic, the ship sank after a collision with an o ther ship, and all four of Spaf ford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived, and as Spaf ford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed over the place where his daughters had perished.
Suddenly ‘When sorrows like sea billows roll’ was a lot more than a clever line, and ‘It is well with my soul’ was more than just a good chorus. This was his life. A confession in tragedy and a prayer in heartache. A song that more than 130 years after it was written is still resonating with those walking through their own valleys, sowing tears and believing in faith. It reminded me that songs always have a story, and that new chapters are added to the story for as long as it is sung.
So with that thought in mind, how do you craft great lyrics that give sound expression to your personal revelations, ideas and experiences? Sure, It’s great if you can use rhyme well, even better if you can avoid using cliches and lines that have been used before. In all honesty, one of the things that has been the most helpful to me in the quest to write great lyrics has been to approach songs like stories. Because stories connect with people, and help them to connect with God. After all, Jesus was the greatest storyteller. Confused? Let me explain.
First things first, a good story has a good theme. I often find that when I am writing I’ll get more than one great idea for a song. Maybe a lyric idea about God being a divine and completely personal Creator. Another perhaps about never actually having walked on water like Peter, but feeling like I’m ’stepping out of the boat’ in life . And maybe another about Jesus dragging a heavy cross up a lonely hill. Now, if I went ahead and put all these idea’s in one song, it might be a little hard to follow and end up leading people into a place of head scratching instead of worship. One of the things I think is really important for writers to remember is that putting all your best ideas into one song doesn’t necessarily make it your best song. Often, this can make it feel disjointed. Certainly; talk about an idea from more than one angle and flesh out your personal revelations. However, keep in mind that to have a solid theme running throughout will really help the overall lyrical flow of your song. A song like ‘Amazing Grace’ is a great example. Though it talks about different aspects of salvation and the Christian journey, it never strays from it’s theme- GRACE.
Something else that I find I often do, is to make sure that the song feels like it takes people on a journey. Not just musically, but also lyrically. Music in and of itself has this wonderful ability to take people somewhere, but I would hope, that in calling ourselves ‘writers’, we would never become lazy in our lyric writing or rely on the music to do all the work and just settle for words that ‘fit’. It’s second nature for me, once a song I’m working on is near completion, to read the lyrics over and over as though they were never going to have music put to them. One of the reasons I do this is to make sure that the lyrics are the best that they can be. We ought to write in such a way that if no one ever ended up hearing the tune that had been composed, the words alone would still strike a chord and lead people into all truth.
All good writers, somewhere along their own journey, have become great at pulling apart their own work. It’s one of the most important parts in the writing process. Being able to edit and re-edit is essential. Making sure you’re expressing exactly what you are trying to express and that it sings well with your melody is non-negotiable. Even double checking to make sure that the content of your song is doctrinally correct, and that there isn’t anything unclear or too cryptic, is a really good thing to habituate.
Every story has a beginning, middle and an end, and so should every song. Start your lyric at the beginning, take it somewhere, and end it well. Sounds simple, but it’s amazing how often we can forget the simple things.
Another thing that is true of every great writer that I have ever met is that great writers are great readers. I make a point of reading other peoples lyrics, poetry, thoughts, quotes, speeches etc. I think it helps to expand your thinking and it’s a great way of learning how to place words together, say things in fresh ways and use rhyme well. You are only ever as good as what you are reading, writing and listening to. What you put in will come out.
I used to think songwriting was something that was a gift or a natural talent, something you just had or didnt have. However, I keep being reminded even within my own songwriting community that perseverance is often the great decider in separating good songwriters, from standout ones. You just have to stay consistent, and when discouragement comes, STAY CONSISTENT. The greatest stories are yet to be told.
wow, great insight, mia! i find, myself, that i usually have several great themes or thoughts that aren’t necessarily cohesive in one song. perserverance is definitely key. thanks for the advice!
Your writing is amazing and I always look forward to your songs on new albums. Thank you for taking your time to share
WOW that was awesome.
I totally agree that what we put in is what will come out, reading, listening, and taking the time to be aware of situations and surroundings is absolutely vital! Thank you!
I saw mia yesterday at Hillsong BRISBANE and she was wonderful
She probably doesnt remember me but i honestly cant forget how beautiful and talented she is.
And i have searched everywhere for the song she was singing for us.
-I had a conversation with jesus today.
Thats one of a few songs that touched me.
God bless you Mia.
x
Right on
woah!!..blown away by the song ‘i had a conversation with Jesus..’
Thankyou for sharing your heart & your talent with us..
creative, inspirational, unique..
Thank you for this gem of wisdom in song writing. I have been writing songs for most of my short life, and even though no one really hears them, I know they are such a tool in my own worship and response to God. This is great to hear, and to have some more guidance in this area is such a blessing.
God bless you as you continue to tell His story and bless others!!!
This was a real big help. At times in my own writing I tend to get discourage when I feel my lyrics are too elementary… making me think that songwriting is more of a natural gift. But your blog reminded me that even a gift from God still needs to be nurtured and developed and with consistency it will come around. So thank you. Would you mind recommending some of the literature you read?
Great stuff!
This helps a lot. I often feel as if Im not good or talented enough but I agree that it is a learning experiance and process. If one keeps pressing on they will be rewarded. Of course it is only by Gods grace that we write anything. Never underestimate His Spirit to come through with His anointing either.
Thanks
I just translated your article. Hope some Spanish people can take advantage of it. Every sugestion is very welcome indeed (you can edit it at http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ASXkRLL4fivzZGNyazhwNGtfMTQzZnFuM21nZ2g&hl=en
LETRAS - MIA FIELDES
Me gustan las letras grandiosas.
Letras que ayudan a las emociones a tener voz.
Letras que se conectan contigo y te permiten entender.
Letras que devienen tu confesión cuando no sabes cómo decirlo.
Hay algo que aplaudo respecto a usar palabras para expresar con destreza sentimientos y pensamientos.
Sinceramente, no hay nada como la prosa bien escrita que mueve y se encuentra con la gente, en modos que nunca lo podrá hacer ni un sermón, DVD o conversación. Y, ¿qué mejor cuenta cuentos que la música?
Hace más o menos un mes atrás, alguien me contó la historia tras el himno “It Is Well With My Soul”, de Horatio Spattford, que tiene este brillante verso que dice: “Cuando las preocupaciones se despliegan como olas de mar…”.
Resulta que Spattford era un abogado que quedó arruinado financieramente en el gran incendio de Chicago, por lo que planeó viajar a Europa con su familia, a quienes envió antes que él, mientras terminaba de resolver unos negocios. Mientras cruzaban el atlántico, el barco se hundió después de chocar contra otro barco, y las 4 hijas de Spattford murieron. Su esposa Anna sobrevivió, y mientras Spattford iba en el viaje para ir a reconfortar a su esposa, le vino la inspiración para escribir estas palabras según el barco pasaba sobre el lugar en el que sus hijas habían muerto.
De repente, “Cuando las preocupaciones se despliegan como olas de mar”, dejaron de ser para mí simplemente una línea interesante, y “It is well with my soul” dejó de ser un simple buen coro. Esta era su vida. Una confesión en tragedia y una oración en dolor de corazón. Una canción que fue escrita hace más de 130 años y aún hoy resuena con los que van caminando por sus propios valles, sembrando lágrimas y creyendo en fe. Eso me recordó que las canciones siempre tienen una historia, y que nuevos capítulos le son añadidos en tanto sea cantada.
Así que con eso en mente, ¿cómo creamos grandiosas letras que den amplia expresión a tus revelaciones personales, ideas y experiencias? Claro, es grandioso si puedes usar bien la rima, incluso mejor si puedes evitar el uso de clichés y versos que ya han sido usados. Con toda honestidad, una de las cosas que más me ha ayudado en la búsqueda de buenas canciones ha sido ver las canciones como historias, pues las historias se conectan con la gente, y los ayudan a conectarse con Dios. Después de todo, Jesús fue el mejor cuenta cuentos de toda la historia. ¿Confundido? Déjame explicarte.
Primero lo primero. Una buena canción tiene un buen tema. A menudo encuentro que cuando estoy escribiendo se me ocurre más de una idea para la canción. Tal vez una idea de letra acerca de Dios como creador, divino y completamente personal. Otra tal vez del sentimiento de “salir del bote” en la vida, aún cuando uno no haya caminado en las aguas como Pedro. Y tal vez otra sobre llevar una cruz a la cima de la colina. Pero, si avanzara y pusiera todas estas ideas en una sola canción, sería un poco difícil seguir la canción, y tal vez la gente termine rascándose la cabeza en vez de alabar.
Una de las cosas que pienso que es muy importante que los escritores recuerden es que poner todas tus mejores ideas en una canción no la va a hacer necesariamente la mejor canción. A menudo, esto seguramente hará que se sienta desmembrada. Más bien, habla de una idea desde distintos puntos de vista y vístela con tus revelaciones personales. Sin embargo, ten en mente que mantener un tema sólido a través de la canción va a ayudar al flujo general de tu canción. Una canción como “Sublime Gracia” es un ejemplo muy bueno. Aunque habla de distintos aspectos de la salvación y del viaje como cristiano, nunca se desvía de su tema: LA GRACIA.
Otra cosa con la que me encuentro a menudo, es asegurándome de que la canción se sienta como que lleva a la gente por un viaje, no sólo musical, sino también de letra. La música en sí misma tiene la maravillosa habilidad de llevar a la gente a algún lugar, pero espero que así como nos llamamos “escritores”, nunca nos volvamos perezosos al escribir nuestras letras o dejar que la música haga todo el trabajo y sólo poner palabras que “cuadren”.
Mi segunda naturaleza es revisar una canción que he terminado, leer la letra una y otra vez como si nunca fuera a tener música. Una de las razones por las que hago esto es para asegurarme que las letras son lo mejor que pueden ser. Como escritores, deberíamos escribir de tal modo que si nadie llega a escuchar la melodía que hemos compuesto, las palabras por sí mismas puedan tocar alguna fibra y guiar a la gente a toda verdad.
Todos los buenos escritores, en alguna parte de su viaje, han llegado a ser muy buenos sacando adelante su propio trabajo. Es tal vez una de las partes más importantes del proceso de escritura. Tener la capacidad de editar y re-editar es esencial. Asegúrate de estar expresando exactamente lo que estás tratando de expresar y que se pueda cantar bien con tu melodía es algo imprescindible. Un buen hábito es revisar tu canción para asegurarte que el contenido doctrinal es correcto, y que no hay algo confuso o indescifrable.
Toda historia tiene un principio, un desarrollo y un final, y así debería ser tu canción. Comienza tu letra en el principio, llévala a algún lado, y termínala bien. Suena sencillo, pero es asombroso cómo olvidamos las cosas sencillas.
Otra cosa que es cierta, que he visto en cada buen escritor, es que son buenos lectores. Yo ganó al leer las letras, poesía, pensamientos, citas o discursos de otras personas. Creo que ayuda a expandir tu manera de pensar y es una buena manera de aprender a juntar las palabras, a decir las cosas frescamente, y a usar la rima bien. Ser bueno escribiendo dependerá de cuánto leas, escribas y oigas. Lo que metes, eso sale.
Tenía la costumbre de pensar que la composición era un don o un talento natural, algo que se tenía o no se tenía. Pero siempre me recuerdan en mi comunidad de compositores que la perseverancia es a menudo el gran elemento diferenciador a la hora de separar los buenos escritores y los que se van a destacar. Sólo tienes que permanecer consistente, y cuando el desánimo venga, PERMANECE CONSTANTE. Las mejores historias aún deben ser contadas.
you said to read other lyrics, poetry, speeches, etc.; do you have any recommendations of who’s material to read or just one specific thing?
Hey Mia that is awesome!! I am truly inspired to get stuck in.