SONGWRITER'S SERIES 101
The Story Within Your Song
This is where the craft of songwriting is explored. Initially, I will write the lessons. As we evolve, other songwriters will post their advice. We will be quoting from books that we suggest you read. Some books will be directly related to songwriting. Other books will be related in ways your instructor finds applicable. Like today's selection. Each of your songwriting instructors will give information that is being applied to songwriting from our unique perspectives.
Let's kick this series off with ideas about what makes a song successful. Have you ever sat in front of a blank page and said to yourself, "I want to write a really good song?" You feel the emotions churning, the zone is close, and you want to catch all the ideas, words and melodies that are welling up. You are a songwriter and here comes a song.
When I'm inspired like this, a song is my way of purging a feeling, of getting a thought, idea or emotion onto paper. I'm in a mood and want to transform that experience into words. Often the lyric comes with a melodic beat. I hear music while I write the lyrics. When the music and lyric stop flowing, I look at what I've written and ask, "What is this song trying to say?"
Figuring out the message of my song -- is the beginning. I need to know what my song wants to say early on so I can develop each part of the song with the message always upfront. I've got the message, now I can dig in. Formatting and revision come after I have decided on the message.
Once the message is established, I ask, "Why would anyone want to sing this song?" Since I am a lyricist and not a performer, I know someone else will sing the words I write. At Songs2Share, our intent is to license our songs to other artists. So I write with other artists in mind. I will not add any kind of performance skill to carry the song. The song must stand on its own merits. There is a difference between writing a song to perform for oneself and writing a song for another artist to cover.
The main reason an artist will want to sing this song is because they connect with the message of the song. They understand what story the song is telling and want to share their interpretation with an audience.
Now we ask, "Why does an audience want to listen to this song?" The same reason the performer sings the song. There is a connection to the message, an understanding and a reminder of one's own life experience. A dynamic delivery rouses the audience's emotions. The audience wants more! This is a well crafted song.
A song is a story. It has a beginning, middle and an end. In a brief matter of minutes, the song takes the listener on a journey from here to there. When you consider the message of your song, you must consider whether an audience will want to go on that musical journey. What does this song journey do FOR the AUDIENCE? The song journey provides entertainment. But more than that, the song fulfills a promise. The performer has made a promise to the audience: "You have come to listen. I will give you what you want."
A story that clearly communicates its promise draws in an audience. Stories that fail to suggest their promise struggle to engage interest because people gravitate toward stories that promise to meet their particular needs.
A well designed story, then, is a vehicle that transports its audience to a resolution of human needs that is satisfying and fulfilling. When we find a particular story journey to be dramatically potent and pleasing -- one that promises to move us through desirable states of feelings, perceptions, or thoughts in a way that is more "true" than life (or life as we wish it to be) -- we desire to re-experience the same story journey again and again.
Knowing what needs a story fulfills for its audience creates a foundation for understanding the craft of storytelling. Learning that craft is at the very heart of the art of storytelling." 1
Some songs that have obvious stories are The Beatles Rocky Raccoon (redemption), Jerry Jeff Walker's Mr. Bojangles (affection), Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man (fun). But even a song like Arlen/Harburg's Over The Rainbow (longing) tells a story. Jewel's songs Hands (self esteem) and These Foolish Games (love's angst) give us information that is story. In Johnson's book he talks of courage, redemption, renewal, love and honor being at the heart of many stories. I suggest you read his first chapter to get a better understanding about why a story satisfies a human need.
What need is your song going to fulfill for your audience? How does your ride -- from the beginning, through the middle, to the end -- accomplish the goal of audience satisfaction? Check your song. Are you writing to please an audience or to please yourself? Ideally the answer is -- BOTH. Songwriting that makes us happy and satisfies our audience is our goal.
To achieve that goal, I must first get the message out of my head, my heart and soul, and put in on paper. Then it is shaped into a clear message without one unnecessary word. I read it again and again and listen to the mini story within. Does it look right, feel right, and sound right? I need to find one reason why this story will satisfy my audience.
When I believe my song will connect with the composer who writes the melody, the artist who will license the song and the audience who will listen to the song, it is ready for music. I make sure the message is clear, every word is necessary, the title is appropriate, and the song flows -- it feels right. As we mature as songwriters we start to "feel" when everything is right. It is a muscle we are developing. I feed my music muscle by listening to other songwriter's songs and reading good books on the craft of writing.
- Books are available through our Library System. If this book is not on shelf, you can request they order the book through the Inter-Library Loan System. I've received out of print books from several states away. This service is usually free.
- Next Lesson -- Song Concepts