Propelled.

How do one go about writing a song? For me it's lyrics first. I get an idea or phrase in my head and a song follows. I'll sketch out the story or lyrical journey. Since I write rhythmically even in my advertising job, it's easy to pick a melody out of my words. Words are musical to me in and of themselves. My biggest challenge is getting the music out of my head and onto an instrument. I took a workshop from Jack Williams where he talked about knowing one's guitar (or whatever instrument)  intimately. His advice was to get to know where the notes on that instrument are so that you can pick out the melody that's in your head. Inspired by him I am working on my guitar. Inspired by my fellow songwriters I am working to craft better songs. My songs are simple but I want them to be bright and full and offer listeners something new, fun, imaginative and meaningful. I want them to come back and spend time with my songs. I was wondering what compelled me to be a songwriter at this time in my life and concluded that I am not compelled, but propelled to write songs. Propelled by the words and melody that bubble up from my soul and bounce around my head until I cry uncle, write them down and bring them out into the light. Once done I can relax until another idea catapults me upward into the vast universe of words and music to collect a new song and bring it home.

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