Where do Songs Come From
I’ve been reading a book full of stories that come from the Irish verbal tradition of storytelling. And if you know any true Irish, you know how they love their stories. The inspiration and some actual phrases in this article of mine are taken from one such story written down in a book – Frank Delaney’s Ireland.
As a voice teacher, I love working with singer/songwriters. Being a songwriter myself I always marvel at the creative process. Where do the ideas and inspiration come from? Frank Delaney’s Ireland tells a great tale about where poets get their words. I’ve adapted this story for songwriters.
Many a creative person has been questioned, ‘how did you ever think of that?’ Very tough to answer with any clarity. In the Irish tradition of storytelling, there’s an answer to most everything as you will see.
No one actually writes a song. There’s no such action as writing a song. That’s not how songs become. Of course there is the physical process of writing the notes and lyrics on staff paper. But you can’t just grab a song from where it’s been living. You must wait for the song to arrive.
Songwriters, true songwriters, are merely very intense listeners who’ve learned to recognize when a song is dropping by. Then they copy down what the song’s telling them in their heads. After that, they craft what they’ve heard, write it down, perform it out and then they have a finished song.
The thing about true songwriters is – they never have to wait for a song to drop by. No sooner do they listen out than a song swoops down, whispers something in their ear, and they feel it flowing into their brain, through their bodies and into their instruments.
Songs are like angels. They visit often, but you have to be watching for them, and you must believe in them to benefit from their gifts. They are ready to give. Are you ready to receive?
The creative process, creative energy, inspiration, call it what you will, is a mystery. It is its’ own miracle. To me, there is nothing more exciting and life affirming than creativity. It’s why we live and why we grow and how we connect with others.
To everyone who has a beating heart: Honor your creativity. Keep listening!
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