JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Write Real Songs from your LIFE

here's a recent article I ran in IFS

Write Real Songs from your LIFE
by Ande Rasmussen

Billie Beth Hanner Rasmussen, my father's mother, used to live in Kerrville Texas on Goat Creek Road with her sister, my great aunt, Edith Hanner Wait. Edith died in 1994. so Billie Beth lived alone for a while but then she felt like the house was too much so she moved from the house to an apartment in town. Then the apartment was too much so she moved from Kerrville to Austin to be closer to family. She smoked most of her life so she had emphesema. My wife and I helped move her from Kerrville to an assisted living center in Austin. I called her often and on many weekends we'd take her from there to our house or on trips, like we went to Fort Worth to see an art museum. She was a wonderful person, she always had a smile and good things to say, we played a lot of gin rummy. I asked her a lot of questions trying to hear the stories I hadn't heard before. In 1998 he pulse started slowing down so she got a pace maker, things were good for a while, but in 1999, didn't feel good and asked the doctor to turn off her pacemaker. He did. She hung on for a month but ended up passing away in July 1999.

My wife and I went to her nursing home room with boxes to clean it out and move her belongings away. We set aside the items she wanted to give to each relative. As I was working on this I thought, these are "the pieces of her past" later on I wrote it down in my journal, I also told Donna Aylor about it. She and I started working on the lyric. She's such an excellent lyric writer. I think we finished it that year but it might have been in 2000. We had trouble placing it with a melody writer but in the winter of 2003 we showed the lyric to Brock Goodwin. He liked it and agreed to work on it.

Earlier this week he sent me the demo. I got goose bumps all over my arms and legs as I listened to it for the first time.

I put it up on songramp.
http://songramp.com/ande

here's the page the song is on
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=13728

to listen
click on the speaker in the middle.

I put a blurb on the JPF mp3 reveiw board

Just Plain Folks
http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum21/HTML/002197.html

I sent it to one publisher in Nashville but I haven't heard back from her whether she wants to sign it or not.
Please drop by and have a listen.
I'd love to read your comments

I am so grateful to Donna Aylor and Brock Goodwin for helping me write this song. And most of all my Grandma Billie Beth Rasmussen for being it's inspiration.

------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/anderasmussen/myhomepage/profile.html
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders

I say write them from life. Anybody's life.
Would be a small data base if the average person only wrote from their own life experience.
Keep ya eyes open. See something and write it better.
Don't know a lot about what you want to write about? Lean something.
I would say most succesful writers are five minute experts on whateber they want to be.
The writing is the skill. The learning is the will.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

thanks graham

very well put



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Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/anderasmussen/myhomepage/profile.html
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders

Life songs are from the heart the heart is life!! WRITE ON !!

Ande,

I tried to play it but it came up and said Current Playlist Has No Files In It. I tried several times. Any idea what the problem is?

Brian

Hey Ande good luck with the tune..

I say the fun part can be to write about how you want your life to be..

Escpecially when life gets a little mundane and you need a mental escape..

Writing songs is THE Great Escape..

At least it is for me.. Keeps me dreaming.
Keeps me hoping...

DAvid

that's a beatiful life story. I congratulate you all. I hope the song does well.
As a writer in a free and open society, I feel it is vital to express yourself any way you can. If enough people like it, it will live. Whether you write from life's experience or make something up, the telling of the story is the important thing. I believe all stories relate to someone somewhere. And so, I write. From real life or fantasy. That is my Humble opinion. Paul Michael Tondreau

dear s. Dee, Brian, David W and Paul Michael,

thanks for dropping by
listening and writing your comments
excellent points
I really appreciate it

Brian for some reason my PC has the same problem inside of AOL. So i think it's a songramp/aol thing when you try to play a single song on songramp.com

the way to get a file to play is

1) go to windows explorer out side of AOL and play it there, it works on my PC or

2) inside of AOL click on play all
the first song on the list will play then the next ...
you can skip the ones you wanna skip
by moving the little button to the end of each song
till you get to the one you want

hope this helps good luck



------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/anderasmussen/myhomepage/profile.html
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders

I wanted to argue with this vehemently, until I remembered I also have my "life" song. "Where Are You Now" was written after a friend passed away. In many ways, it's almost a verbatim conversation I had with his wife, with a few elements I expanded on.

http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=JXMcg651%2FYY%3D

Having said that, if I was to only write from my life I would end up trotting out depressing, self-centred tripe (speaking for myself here, please don't throw any vegetables or furniture).

It's not the only way to write, or the only type of songs that should be written, thank God!

I really enjoy Missy Elliot and Beyonce, for example. Not examples of stellar songwriting as we know it, Jim. But the radio would be a sad place without them.

M
http://www.a-lyric.com

hi writie,

thanks for sharing.

I'm not saying we should only write songs from our own lives, but sometimes it can be what we need to do. It can be cathartic.

also there's nothing wrong with dittys
those happy catchy fluffy toe tapper make you wanna dance kinds of songs.

Like "Heaven" by Los Lonely Boys.
there's not a lot of lyrics,
they don't say much new but
it's got a feel good groove


------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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Los Lonely Boys are one of the best new groups of their style to ever come out. They really restore my faith in "real" musicians, and are just as fun to watch on stage as to listen to.

------------------
Chris

Subj: song story
Date: 9/23/04
12:22:49 PM Central Daylight Time
From: paul@buzzsawmusic.com

Hi Ande,

Hope you're doing well. I posted this today at Songjourney, but thought
I'd send you a copy as well, since I don't think I've seen you on that
site.

God Bless,
Paul

-----------------------------------

The Power Of A Song - Pieces of Her Past

When we moved into our office last year, we purchased a home in a
commercial zone with a friend who owns 10 restaurants in our area. His
team shares a small space in the building. Our company is doing well,
and the office is busy, and needless to say, running 10 restuarants
also keeps him busy, so we don't always have time to talk. In fact, I
hadn't seen him in a couple weeks, and happened to bump into him on the
golf course, 4 hours away from where we live, while we were on our
annual golf trip last weekend.

Anyway, last year he found out I was writing songs and asked to listen
to some of them, so I gave him a cd...he still tells me that he listens
on a regular basis to my music, and from time to time I give him songs
from other songwriters that I discover on the internet and what not.
(His big compliment to me was that he loves Skip Ewing and compared
some of my songs to his....made my day!) On Tuesday, I left a cd on his
desk with some songs that Brock Goodwin had sung, and written, or
co-written with other songwriters here as well. I didn't see him
yesterday, but today I saw him, and popped my head into his office to
just let him know I left a disc for him of some other songwriters music
that I thought he'd enjoy.

He pulled away from his computer, took off his glasses and said, "I
already listened....last night....you have no idea the timing of that
disc in my life." He then went on to tell me that his mother had been
given 3-6 months to live recently -- something I hadn't heard yet, in
all our business we hadn't even had the time to talk about it. He said,
"I put that cd in my car on the way home last night and had to pull
over because I was just crying. I got home and made my wife sit with me
while we listened to it another couple times, holding hands there on
the couch." He then told me that they had recently been going through
things in the attic that belonged to them....cribs from when their kids
were babies, wagons, clothes, etc...that he wanted to get rid of, but
that she had been saying she wanted to keep to hand down to their kids
and thier grandkids. He said, "I just leaned over and said 'Keep the
crib....keep the wagon...keep whatever you want to give to them.'"

My friend is on the board at the church we used to attend, which just
adds to his crazy, busy life, but he said, "it was just divine
intervention that you put that disc on my desk this week....I was
having 'one of those days' yesterday and that song was just what I
needed to hear. I realized 'what is work, what is all this business
compared to what's really important to me?"

He's now planning on trying to record his mother as soon as he can, to
get her to talk about her life, and to leave a message for his
grandkids down the road. (His own children are just in high school
now.) She's having a hard time speaking, but he really wants for her to
leave that behind if she can.

Needless to say, the story touched my heart this morning. I figured it
had to be shared with the writers of the song, and to other writers
here too. Brock, Donna, Ande - I've always thought this was a great
song...just thought you'd like to know how it touched the life of a
friend. And Brock, if you wondered about putting enough of yourself
into the demo...well, there you go.

Paul


------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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Good thread, Ande... and especially, thanks for posting that letter. Very moving! It made me go back and listen to 'Pieces of Her Past' again... which made me remember I've got plenty of people in my life I need to spend more time with.

thank you corey,

ande





------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/messages
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This topic brought back an amusing memory of one night at an open mic Buddy and I went to:

The first guy to go up sat on his stool, (took a while as he was drunk from trying to calm his nerves), and said that he writes songs about life, to which a guy next to us at the bar said" As opposed to what?

John Daubert


[This message has been edited by dhsongs (edited 03-31-2005).]

"As opposed to what?"

that's funny, I guess it would be opposed to transparent things like:
Contriving a song,
Writing about things we know nothing about, or faking emotions.



------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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Andy

Just want to say I listened and I loved the song . Very moving lyric and performance. All the best with shopping it.

My personal feeling about songs is that they must affect you in some way, make you want to laugh, cry, dance etc. but when a song speaks for millions of people like yours does you don't just have a hit, you have an enduring song.

By the way your job as a songwriter is to write from other people's life experiences and make them sound like your own. This is to ensure you never run out of material.

Rachel

thank you ria

ande





------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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Hello Ande. I am new to JPF. But let me tell you, After listening to this tune, i have a lump in my throat as big as an orange. I am a very emotional songwriter. This song is passionately beautiful. Every song i write comes from the depths of my soul and past experiences.

Whenever you can hear the lyrics of a song still ringing in your head long after you've played it, then you have something that will live on. I can't see this song not becoming a hit. I have a cd on cdbaby title "Ultimate Love For You". Even though it was completed two years ago, whenever i hear almost any of the tunes on it, tears start to flow and memories begin to flood back because i lived every word of a love that was lost. I hope to hear this song on the radio. Again, it is beautiful.

-Nate "Boomer"

I know that alot of my lyrics come from past experiences. I have one about the death of my husband, which I wrote three years after he died. Another is about the a relationship with an alcoholic. When I feel like I can't cope with something, I turn my feelings into a song. Feel much better afterwards.

I'm going to write unreal songs from my death!

John

What brought you to that grave decision John?
Could call the album Rhymes In Purgatory maybe.
Graham



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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Hey Graham!
Just was going with opposites on that one.

Grave decision!

yep. I noticed.
Laughed so much I had a coffin' fit John.
Graham


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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

DOH!

Does the DOH mean my pun was DOA John?
OMG.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

Ha!!!!

No, DOH!, (said real fast), is what the TV cartoon character Homer Simpson, (funny guy and show), says after something ironic or stupid on his part. Its like,,,,,,,Ah Man! Doh! has recently been included in Webster's Dictionary! NO kidding!

Oh Duh. I thought it was Duh John.
I don't think Homer invented it though. Been around a long time.
Duh that is. Never heard the Doh one.
never watch The Simpletons show.
Well I did once just to find out if I wanted to, and i didn't.
Thanks.
Graham

------------------
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm

thank you for sharing your emotion with me
I appreciate it

ande

Ande though it has been a few months since i"ve heard "Pieces....", i feel even stronger about the lyrical content after playing it again today. What a heart tugger. Have you heard any word about this song being published yet? If not, whoever has possession of it needs to take that massive amount of wax out of their ears and get to percolatin'!

God bless,
-Nate "Boomer"

we're pitching it a little, one indy artist has asked to record it but I don't know if she's gone into the studio. My cowriter, Brock is about to move to Nashville which could be good for the song. I believe if the right artist hears it at the right time in their life (when they are going through or just been through what the song is about.) they might insist on cutting the song.

We'll see. Thank you nate,

ande





------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande

http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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Still hoping we'll find an artist who'll cut this song
We've had several nibbles and almosts

Ande

Thats a hit song.Who is singing.

thank you
the singer is Brock Goodwin
from New Mexico
now living in Nashville

ande

Very heartfelt. Great job on vocals, lyrics and melody there. Hope your nibbles turn into a big bite! Two words that I thought might be stronger in your Chorus (although the lyric works fine as is) would be to replace

"I'll always have"

with

"I'll cherish so"

or

"I'll treasure so"

Just an idea there.

Best,
Lynn

female piano vocal of
Pieces of Her Past
http://www.songramp.com/mod/mps/viewtrack.php?trackid=67597
arrived today

HI ANDE,

Even Abstract writing is still life, Ande, I think you mean only write from your experiences in life, And I agree generally,

Dianne Warren writes from her vivid imagination, and yes that,s her Life.

"What Else" that bloke in the club was right

Split

Nice Thread Ande

That's funny, I wonder how many of you have any idea at all how many of my lyrics are from my real life?

People, they tell us to write what we know, but I live my work.

I believe it is okay to write songs inspired by your own life, but there is nothing wrong with writing songs inspired by the stories you see around you.

One difficulty with writing so personally - assuming one is aiming for the commercial market - is to be able to detach emotionally from the song so you can effectively support telling the story through form, structure, nuances of genre, etc. I write some stuff just for me, and other stuff for the market. Of course, they are all my babies, but the ones that mean the most to me I am unlikely to change.

Some people lead lives that are not very interesting!