BBC


Songwriting Guides > Writing a song > Ideas Songwriting Guides
Writing a song Ideas

Where do great songwriters find their ideas? How is it that they can move us to tears with the simplest of lines? The best writers do this by writing about common subjects such as love, but take a new and fresh angle on the subject matter. This interests and entertains the listener, shedding new light on a familiar subject. It also includes the listener, talking about familiar things that they can relate to. For example:
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall
You say it best... when you say nothing at all

When You Say Nothing At All (Schlitz/Overstreet)
Don't censor yourself. If you have a strange or unusual idea for a song, use it.
Steve Hillier

This is a simple love song concerning two people devoted to each other. There's nothing remarkable in that, but the interesting angle is that words cannot communicate the depth of their love, which is best done by the things they do for each other. This is a sentiment we can all relate to but we rarely talk about it: a perfect idea for a song.

Gary Osborne Gary Osborne
Likes a walk on the beach when he needs to supply words to a song, "I just walk with the cans on until I get an idea."
Listen to the interview
Audio help

Richard Hawley Richard Hawley
Recalls an inspiring dream about John Lee Hooker and a raven and wonders, "Why can one person write a song and another make an omelette?"
Listen to the interview
Audio help Here are some tips to guide towards fresh ideas for your songs:

• Keep a notebook on you at all times. It's impossible to predict when inspiration will strike, and sometimes just as difficult to remember what you thought. Jot down simple notes as you go about your day for you to refer to when you next write a song.
• Keep a diary - sometimes your most difficult times will be your greatest source of inspiration.
• Don't censor yourself. If you have a strange or unusual idea for a song, use it. If you still feel that your song is too unusual when you've finished writing it you can change it at that point. Most times you won't want to.
• Many writers have been inspired by great works of fiction or art: 'Mona Lisa' by Nat King Cole, 'Romeo and Juliet' by Dire Straits and 'Wuthering Heights' by Kate Bush are three examples. Idea creation starts with inspiration so get some culture!
• If you want to write excellent songs, try immersing yourself in great music
• Some writers are inspired by the titles used in magazine articles. These are often snappy, and can make great starting points for songs.

Back to top

About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
 

Change Text Only Settings