Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Writing songs

Haha! I figured you might say something. :slightly_smiling_face: Yeah it appears that writing songs is something hard to explain.

1 Like

Try to find a good melody then fit the melody to a chord progression

Regarding lyrics think of a concept and then jot down lots of words that surround that concept which will give you options to work with

2 Likes

I go about it when inspiration hits somehow. This can happen in many ways; the important thing is keeping open to when that inspiring thought hits and doing something with it.

I’ve saved a title or line of lyrics for years, going back and thinking on it many times without much in results, then bang! a chord progression, melody, more words magically appear in my brain and it’s off to the races while that lasts.

saved one line for about ten years until a chorus popped into my head along with a rough chord progression and a verse…maybe 5 years later I had the other two verses in an afternoon while trying to finish it for a band I was in at the time.

woke up from a vivid dream once and started writing as fast as possible at 3am. By time it was light I had a full song written, chords melody & all.

My friend once said something and I said: “that would make a great song title! I’m gonna write that down.” I did and it sat around for several years on a legal pad I keep for these type of ideas. One day I ran across it and it hit me to write a story song in a style that Charley Waller (one of my heroes) might sing . Most of the chords came from the progression of an old Don Stover tune called Black Diamond and a Mr. Bogangles/Stray dogs &Alley Cats type feel.

So. each song can have it’s own way of “appearing”. To me, the trick is to be prepared for when inspiration hits, and keep a list of ideas handy to reference so possibly good ideas don’t get forgotten and go to waste.

3 Likes

Thought I’d share my newest original song, sung by my dad. Audio is pretty crummy, sorry - it’s just an iPad voice memo from a recent live performance! William Tyndale’s story has always inspired me, and I wanted to write a song that expresses appreciation for the gift of God’s Word in our language!

Lyrics-

I ride the streets of cobblestone, my bundle on my back
I work the night by candlelight alone
A pot of ink, a quill pen, a faded parchment stack
My treasures are too precious for this world

The common people of this land must have the Word of God
My mission burns within me like a flame
The boy who drives the plow must read the Scriptures in his tongue
I’m the translator, Tyndale is my name

(Chorus)
The Bible for the common folk, in the language that they speak
In English for the people, not just Latin for the priests
The young, the old, the rich, the poor, the simple and the wise
Lord, open the king of England’s eyes

A heretic they call me, religion I have fled
The church led by the state I cannot own
I’m hated by the masses and the king would like me dead
The faithful scattered Christians are my home
(Chorus)

They threw me in the dungeon, soon they’ll tie me to the stake
But they work I’ve done they never can destroy
Forever till the end of time it stands without mistake
The promises of everlasting joy

I dream of the day when every home will have this book
A centerpiece of wisdom where the families can look
I close my eyes and see this tattered paper full of words
A fire that sweeps the face of all the earth

(Chorus)

11 Likes

That is great, @Flatpickin_Libby. Thank God for Tyndale.

9 Likes

Thank you!

1 Like

Great lyrics! I would love to learn to write a song.

3 Likes