How to write a song

You may or may not remember in November how I posted my November resolutions. One of those was to write a song. Many a person has given me suggestions on what to make the song about, but I have still not written anything that I am happy with. So I thought I could use this post to explore the joys and sorrows of lyric writing, and hopefully receive some inspiration while I am at it.

The thing with song writing is that we all love the end result, the song. I love hearing good songs on the radio or on my iPod, and too often I am left thinking, "Why can't I write a song like that?". Especially when some lyrics seem so simple, yet so divine in the way they capture the exact thoughts in my mind. One song's chorus goes

"Too much to do, and there's not enough time. Not enough time."

This is one of my favourite songs at the moment, (Too Much To Do, by Sparkadia, if you were wondering) and although it is simple, it is a wonderful song to sing along to and get stuck in your head.

So I get to the point where I decide, I just need two lines for a chorus or maybe even less. it'll be easy to write a song then! But that isn't how it works out, well not for me anyway...

There are joys in song writing too though. You may have read my poem on rain, which with the help of a friend has been turned into a song. I have since played it in front of many friends and family, and it is always a joy listening to my brother humming along to a song that I wrote. But it seems my creative skills have stopped there...

I think my problem is that my mind is set on "having a time for everything". When I have time to sit down and think of some song lyrics, my mind is set on not giving anything, but at random intervals, I feel like everything and anything could fit into a song.

So, it seems if you found this post because of the title "How to write a song", you have definitely come to the wrong place. But I am never going to give up, and I hope you don't either.

The Psalmist wasn't necessarily talking about me then when he said "He is like a tree planted by streams of water ... Whatever he does prospers" but when I do write a song, I am sure it will be filled with what God has done for me, and how under him my life is fulfilled to the fullest.

Butterflies and more butterflies

Isn't it interesting that once you notice something, from then on you always seem to notice that thing where ever you go?

An example from me. The other day I was walking somewhere and a butterfly flew past my vision. It's orange and black wings caught my attention and I was forced to stop as it danced around me for some time. It surprised me a little because I hadn't seen (or noticed) a butterfly for a long time. It put a smile on my face, and I continued on.

From that day however, I have not stopped noticing butterflies everywhere. I saw two dancing together in the background as I had a conversation, found one sucking a flower with its straw like mouth, and discovered the "annoying insects" that flew in a group were just a group of butterflies. All of these findings kept reminding me of spring and the care free life that butterflies have.

It seems it applies to Gospel truths too. I often hear a sermon or read a bible passage that really challenges me, or reminds me to do something, and then throughout the week I am hit with opportunities to put what I learnt into practice, or to share what I learnt with others. For example I was reminded the other day that I should love the whole world (I posted about it here). The next day I stumbled across a website asking people to do a food drive in their neighborhood, which I am now organising; and I had the chance to give advice to a friend who didn't know who to love and who not to love.

It was great! It feels like God knows exactly what needs to be done to get something stuck in our brain. It is repetition, repetition, and more repetition! Hopefully, you feel the same way, and I pray that you will let God teach you something this week.