Joni Mitchell said, “I wish I had a river I could skate away on.”
Bob Dylan said, “Living on borrowed time without a thought for tomorrow.”
And Dave Matthews said, “The space between what’s wrong and right is where you’ll find me hiding, waiting for you.”
Song lyrics resonate with many people because they allow the listener to feel what can’t be expressed in just words, notes, bass lines or harmonies. It is the fusion of these elements, which, for a few minutes, take the listener to a transcendent place.
But few experience the process of creating a song from nothing but one’s own thoughts and feelings. Why is this process so beneficial and why do it?
Process Thoughts and Emotions Through Songwriting
A common way to cope with feelings is to ignore them, which can lead to depression, damaged relationships and denial. Like confiding in a close friend or talking to a therapist for an hour, songwriting provides a safe space to process thoughts and feelings.
Often, a person may not know how he/she feels about something until it's been discussed with others. Processing emotions through song without social pretenses or time restraint is non-threatening and stress relieving option.
Solidify A Memory or Experience Through Songwriting
The beauty of a song is that it can capture one specific moment in time. The writer is forced to recall every detail that happened in that situation, and thus relive those details every time he or she plays the song.
Mentally going back and recalling a moment in time as vividly as possible can be an uplifting way to remember a significant person or place. It can also be a healing way to acknowledge a hard experience or a lesson learned.
Uncover True Feelings Through Songwriting
Writing music allows the songwriter to feel without necessarily communicating an experience word-for-word. Sometimes simply playing a strong melody without words is more meaningful than adding any lyrics. Other times, the songwriter is alerted to how he or she truly feels about something as the song is being sung a ninth or tenth time.
Capture Snapshots of Life Through Songwriting
Some of the most meaningful lyrics arise from very mundane, everyday situations. Be it a casual exchange at a coffee shop or a friend’s pat on the shoulder, one moment can create a plethora of songwriting material.
An avid songwriter pays attention to the small complexities in a facial expression or the humor in a grumpy old man. A songwriter quickly learns that joy and depth can come from just about anywhere and that virtually anything can become a song.
Songwriting is More Than Words
As Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.” Writing songs results in something much different than journaling or poetry. The musical aspect of your thoughts takes you beyond words on a page into understanding the words of the heart.
Songwriting is a unique way to process life. Your song, however cliché, simple or nonsensical, gives you a context to express how you feel, the freedom to leave one thought open for as long as you like, and the chance to process more deeply the mundane yet meaningful moments of life.
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