JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Just curious

I'm curious.

So I was writing a song/poem on a theme and did my usual thing.

I wrote the first rough verse and the second, knowing that both would need working on and other verses would need to be done and a chorus of course.

Then it happened, something that has happened before.

After a nights sleep, I woke up at 7 in the morning, and went outside for a smoke (yes I know) and my coffee.

I wasn't even thinking about the song and a complete 4 line verse just popped into my head all at once. I quickly wrote it down and then later in the day after a nap on the sofa, the same thing happened again. The thing is that both verses are spot on and need no changes.

Am I alone or do others get this sort of thing happen to them.

What makes you get those verses....

Just curious

God Bless Roy and Helen.

Once.

The song "Password to my heart" on my reverbnation page:

One Saturday I "woke up" still laying there coming back to consciousness and the words:

I've changed the password to my heart.
I'm gonna get me a brand new start.
You can't come in here anymore.

Was for a lack of better description, playing over my sleepy head.

I flew out of bed to the kitchen where I could write down what I heard.
Said "Thank you God", went to grab an acoustic and played if for my still groggy wife.
Who was like "Yeah ok, that's great sweetie....."

I wrote the rest over days and there we are for what it's worth.

:Ron

Hi Roy:

After more than 1000 songs written and recorded (including co-writes) I've had just about every possible combination of little epiphanies occur. The worst are the 2:00 AM flashes that require immediate attention... meaning: 1. Get out of bed. 2. Find Pen/Pencil and Paper. 3. Write it down before you forget it. 4. Go back to sleep if you can after putting the "idea on paper" and into someplace safe like your midnight idea clipboard... or a nail on the wall. (For recovery in the morning... or as soon a normal life will allow.)

For me, this always seems to occur before falling into "REM" (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. As I age... and believe me, I am aging fast... REM becomes a precious commodity... and I seldom get there. My nights are usually a series of twists and turns, trying to get comfortable. Much as I want to, I can't get comfortable on my back. (Sciatica seems to be the culprit.)

Back in the day... these song rendering ideas seemed to flow best when I was "in motion"... usually driving out in the countryside and more often on an interstate highway... high speed and repetitive thumping of the tires on pavement cracks seemed to "trigger the process."

As I age, the lyric and song idea normally dictate the direction the music will flow... but even there, nothing is constant. Sometimes the melody flies into my head and onto the page as if being directed by an unknown force. (That is a rare event, though... at least for me.)

Creativity is a gift and you must find it however it happens. A young mind is fertile ground for song production. At my peak, I could easily write more than a song a day. (Not all of them good.) Now, I struggle to complete ten a year. Perhaps that is due to improved knowledge of structure, and being more critical of my work on a broad front. In most cases, the melody is the most important because it will connect with the listener long before the lyrics get absorbed by them.

In the end... do whatever works best for you... just don't expect it to happen "on cue."

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. ----Dave

P. S.: Roy: Hope the "Project" is moving along nicely. Hugs to Helen.

I get stories that just come and I write it all down and I'm done. BUT melodies come when I sit down with chords and they just appear with me humming. I had a God Experience at 3 AM right here in this room when I couldn't sleep. Weird Stuff.

Most of my song ideas come just as I wake up. A verse or chorus just seems to come out of nowhere, I write it down and get back to it later and sometimes struggle to finish it, sometimes it flows with no struggle. Most of what I write now are Gospel songs, so I give God the credit for putting the idea in my mind.

Sometimes I'll hear someone say something in conversation, or read something that stands out as a good idea for a song. I read somewhere that songs are floating around in the air and if you are open and in tune, you can pluck them before they float away. Could be.

It is amazing how I have no control NOT to write it. Not sure why but I think it's all part of our plan...Stories and Great Song are the greatest force on the Planet...We need More...

Sometimes a song just comes to me in a rush. Sometimes I even dream a song. Other times it's a long process that requires months or even years of crafting to complete. However, that being said, the 'seed' of the song always comes as an inspiration. I rarely sit down and say "today I am going to write a song about rugby!" (or whatever). Sometimes I have a general idea of a theme I would like to cover but I usually wait for the inspiration to take me in a direction before I get serious about penning the song.