Songwriting is my absolute passion. In just a few minutes, a songwriter can pack a punch with emotions and information that a whole movie or play might miss. The clever use of words and melody can really hit you hard. And the sophisticated chords and beats can create a whole mood. It’s like a little musical masterpiece in a single package.
When I write songs, I imagine them as being brewed in a magical pot. I mix all the ingredients together and let them simmer until they’re ready. I keep tasting the pot and adding any extra flavours I think would make it better. I only pour out the song when I feel it’s perfectly brewed.
I use Logic Pro, a modern software that lets me hear my songs almost fully recorded. I can add guitar parts or other instruments to define the arrangement and decide if the song is worth pursuing. I like this new way of working. But I still believe that the most important parts of a song are the melody and lyrics. If they’re not captured well, the song won’t go anywhere.
When I was talking to one of my songwriting heroes, Gerry Rafferty, he agreed with me. He said that in a song, the melody is the language of the soul, while the lyrics are the actual language of the mind. Sometimes, a beautiful tune doesn’t need lyrics, and its emotional impact can be universal.
I had an amazing time listening to David Weiss, also known as David Was from the band Was (Not Was), on the podcast 80’sography. Mark Palawski interviewed David, and he shared his songwriting process. I totally connected with what he had to say. David believes that finding words that rhyme can lead to amazing new directions in songwriting. He even quoted Anatole France, saying, ‘Rhyme lights the way.’ David might have taken it a step further and said, ‘If the path is beautiful, let’s not ask where it leads.’ But he’s right on the money. Just by finding a word that rhymes with your ‘A’ line, you can open up your imagination and explore new ideas. It’s the most fun and rewarding part of creating art, but it can also be extremely frustrating.
I don’t usually collaborate with others, but in the early days of writing, I had a great time working with Ian Erving. We came up with some really good stuff together. When we were finishing up the album ‘Murder In The Rain,’ we tried to finish an unfinished song called ‘Bar Angel’ that we had started when we were teenagers. I suggested we use words from Cab Calloway’s ‘Hepster’s Dictionary.’ This guy was a total legend in the jazz world. It was like a treasure trove of slang words used by jazz musicians and in everyday conversations. ‘Slip me some skin, man,’ ‘Cool Cat,’ ‘Growling Gabriel.’ The Gabriel was a trumpet player. It was like we had a secret code or something. We managed to create a really amazing song using these clever words. It’s one of the most fun experiences I’ve had when writing a song.
Sometimes, a song just hits you when you’re driving home from work or walking home from a pub. I love walking and thinking, and I often come up with my best ideas when I’m doing it. Back in the 80s, I used to walk to work. If I had a good tune, I’d try to remember it all day and cook it up some more. Then, I’d record it when I got home to my bedroom and my tape machine. The songs I lost were the ones I couldn’t record when the idea first came to me. Nowadays, we have mobile phones in our pockets, and I can capture my ideas into a voice memo anytime I have one. This has been a game-changer for me, and I have a bunch of songs brewing.
I’m exploring new musical directions and have a lot more time to write. I’m trying to write something new every day. As you can see from this blog entry, it’s important to me. I’ve studied the thought and processes of my heroes and used their approaches to inspire me. If I can write and record as many things as I can before I die, at least I’ll have left something for others to explore, not just a boring epitaph on a gravestone. The songwriters I love are still sharing their magic from beyond the grave. I recently dug deep into Harry Nilsson’s work and found a new appreciation for the man with the amazing voice. Gerry Rafferty’s daughter Martha recently released ‘Rest In Blue,’ which is a fantastic completion of some of Gerry’s unfinished recordings. It shows that this man still has a lot of gold left in the cupboard.
If you’ve taken the time to read this article, I’d love for you to take it a step further. Find a quiet place and listen to your favourite songwriter’s songs again. Try to figure out what makes their music so special.
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