I started writing songs at 18.  Believe it when I say I was no prodigy.

My first song was called “I can see through you (like a window)” It was less than stellar.  Elvis Costello was a big influence at the time… and I loved how cynical and intelligent his lyrics were.  I possessed no such skill, yet… but had such a desire to GET good that through mimicking him and other writers, found my own voice, my own signature.

Now I doubt anyone would listen to one of my records and say ‘oh i’ll bet he was an Elvis Costello fan!’.  That’s how copying works.  Bach was a copyist before there were electronics, and would work through the night by candlelight to finish.  It’s no coincidence or sheer genius that he ended up being the greatest composer of all time.  So aware of the works of his day being a copyist, he was able to borrow, avoid and overall learn from the greats before him.

The library is where I started.  Each day i’d walk there and read, keeping a notebook and writing down lines that felt rhythmic or unique in a lyrical way to me.  I still have them in a trunk somewhere, and there are many… filled with lines from Anne Sexton to John Fante, Langston Hughes to Neil Young.  Anything was game as long as it opened up the window of creativity.  So with 46 years of experience, here’s a few tips for new songwriters.

1. Be agile.  Allow all your walls and floors to move.  Never get so married to an idea that you can’t bend it.  This is the greatest way to end up with little pieces that never see the light of day.
2.  Don’t try to re-invent the wheel.  In other words, don’t try something chordal or melodic, lyrically or structurally so outside the box, you find yourself outside of the realm of platforms in which to be heard.
3. Use anything and everything for inspiration.  I used to play a C on the piano with my middle 3 fingers… but quickly learned by changing bass notes on the left hand, a new universe of chords were possible.  Hits are usually made of interesting chords.  Not C-D-G.
4. Use cheats.  If your brain isn’t feeling too creative, open a book of poetry, other lyrics even, and let the single words and images provide you with some inspiration.  I.e., Bob Dylan from the album ’Street Legal’-
   “I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace
   Merchants and thieves, hungry for power
   My last deal gone down
   She’s smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born
   On midsummer’s eve near the tower”
   For me, the words that stand out here are marketplace, merchants, thieves, meadows, tower… but whatever may grab YOU is key.
   “In the marketplace, that’s when I saw your face – On a hot summer night in the city”
   See how I use the word marketplace and borrow ‘midsummer’ and made it ‘hot summer’ instead?

   It’s not rocket science, but when we’re blank for words, this technique can kick-start your thinking.

   Just don’t plagiarize.  Nobody likes that.
5. Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.  It’s not fun to watch someone look in a mirror, or to listen to an artist with a 1 minute intro.  They’re both masturbatory.  Stop it.  Become a good editor.  If you have a re-intro, make it half as long as the first.  Cut the solo in half.  Try starting the song on the lyric.  Where radio used to love intros so they could do their ID’s up until the vocal starts… nobody’s listening to radio anymore, so get on with the song.
6. If you’re not a natural hit melody maker, topline writer as they call it now, cowrite!  There’s a reason Robert Fripp is an exceptional musician but not a hit writer.  Melody isn’t his thing.  He’s into notes and difficulty.  Whole ‘nother skillset there.  McCartney is a walking topliner.
7. Stay away from trite.  Nobody wants to hear “You broke my heart, when you told us we’ll part”.  It’s not 1952.  Don’t do that.  Instead use false rhymes, new words, contemporary themes.  Study people, become a good listener and write down what you hear that grabs you.  You’ll be surprised how creative it gets when you start writing down anything/everything.
8. Write the song before you start zooming in on the track.  One way to lose sight of a well written song is trying to produce the track too soon.  Get off the DAW and stick with your piano or guitar until the song is realized.  Then, the possibilities are endless on where to put the beats and all the bells & whistles.
9. Sometimes that thing that makes us feel self-conscious is really our signature trying to find it’s way.  Lean into that.  If you sound like John Mayer or Adele, remember there’s already one of those.  Be brave enough to suck a little.  My bet is something original will start to emerge.
10. Know there are no rules.  Everything I’ve just stated is not an absolute.  Lennon was a great rule breaker, but he trusted his gut.  We’re not all blessed with the same killer instincts, and Lennon didn’t have as many hits as Max Martin or Dr. Luke… but if you have a unique enough idea that makes you feel something deeply when you sing or play it, then to hell with rules.