Grooveshark

Songwriting is one of the most difficult tasks in the world. Conveying emotion via music is a risky gamble that can either express something perfectly or sound forced and trite. Being a good songwriter can mean the difference between being Bob Dylan and being Foghat.

I wont pretend to be qualified to tell you how to write a song. Most of my forays into songwriting have consisted of me shamelessly ripping off Tom Waits or Ryan Adams to the delight of no one. However, many musicians have weighed in on either their songwriting process, their inspiration, and their history of songwriting.

“I write songs to get them out of my head” -Neil Young

“If you don’t know what a song is about then it’s probably about sex” -Bruce Springsteen

“I’ve always said that songwriting is like masturbating - you have to have a private, quiet moment when no one’s around, which can be hard when you’re on the road. But once you’ve perfected the art, you’re ready to show the world.” -Jesse Malin

“I suppose in some ways I write in an old-fashioned way becuase I always have middle eights in my songs and not many people do that any more. It’s usually just a verse and chorus. Structure in really important. Some I’ve really had to work at, others came really quickly. Keeping the whole thing interesting - that’s what is all comes down to” -Paul Weller

“What I took back, because of my exposure to the Jewish music of the 30s and the 40s in my upbringing with my father, was that kind of theatrical songwriting. It was always a part of my character. This desire to make people laugh.” -Pete Townshend

“For me, songwriting is something like breathing: I just do it. But that doesn’t mean you’re fantastic.” -Adam Duritz

“Each song has its own secret that’s different from another song, and each has its own life. Sometimes it has to be teased out, whereas other times it might come fast. There are no laws about songwriting or producing. It depends on what you’re doing, not just who you’re doing.” -Mark Knopfler

“You can’t be creative when you’re completely happy.” -P!nk

“Learn how to surf and then write every song about it”- Jack Johnson(ok, maybe he didn’t say that)

Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It’s something I don’t feel like I really control. -Tracy Chapman

For me, songwriting is something I have to do ritually. I don’t just wait for inspiration; I try to write a little bit every day. -Sean Lennon

• Posted in All of The Rest