There's Nothing New To Write About

Here's a little help for beginner Lyric Writers. You’ll probably hate me a little after reading this. But take a moment and think for just a sec... When you sit down with your pen in hand, you probably try to think of a song idea that no one has EVER written before – more often than not – and then get frustrated when you can’t think of anything, right?

Have you ever wondered why this happens?

It’s because there’s nothing new to write about. Yeah, It's true! The truth is the world has existed long before we got here – and music has existed for almost as long as people have been around.

...and it’s all been done, my friend!

Every situation you’re going through has been lived through by someone else. Every feeling you have has been experienced by other people. And every idea you’ll ever think of has been made into a song at least a dozen times. So you’re not going to think of anything new to write...sorry but it’ll never happen.

Now be honest...You want to write about an idea that’s totally new because you think "unique idea = great song". I don’t mean to turn your world upside-down (well, yeah I do), but songwriting is NOT about “thinking of new ideas” or impressing others...and most of the time "unique ideas" = "terrible songs".

I need you to check your ego before you begin your next lyrics project! Stop trying to outdo every writer before you – and every song before yours. That’s not what songwriting is about. Songwriting is not about you...not really. Songwriting is about giving people a way to 'connect' to other people through a COMMON idea, feeling or situation. That’s why unique ideas make terrible songs...because not many people can relate to them.

When you write lyrics, you build an "emotional bridge" people can walk across to meet each other - or meet you. And only when they can achieve that emotional connection do they thank you for writing the song. So "common (old) ideas = great songs".

"But how do you make an old idea into a new song that’s all your own?"

Well I have a funny magnet on my refrigerator that reads: "You’re unique...just like everyone else." It’s meant as a joke, but it’s 100% true. Here's the message, even though many have gone through what you’re going through – and have felt what you’re feeling – no one will ever see life through your eyes or explain it the way you can.

In a nutshell, songwriting can be summed up by asking yourself 1 question: "how can YOU tell the same story in YOUR voice; paint the same picture with YOUR hand?" So use an old idea to write your lyrics! I guarantee your songs will be unique each and every time you write.

Take care!
Joshua May

Comments

[BodaciousBob]

I like your thinking. Don't know if it's so much a lesson as a rant but i enjoyed reading it.

[bcrichesrock]

this actually helps a lot! and it explains why ideas are so hard to think of!

[Smithy boy 92]

Wow man. I found this really helpful. Seriously good job. Insiteful

[Kuhstoss]

Very true i will give you that. Well written, well taught, well explained, definitly a ten.

[Sheherazade]

hey, that's quite philosophical! I didn't expect to get to solve my "problem" (well, I don't have a big problem with writing songs, but it's also not that easy) on this way. I'm very impressed. Thanx!

[lilalia]

very interesting and well thought out. it helped me a lot. thankx :]

[Ingrez]

Your right I hate you...
Just kidding, this is very helpful and makes you look at things maybe the way you don't want to at first. In the end I think this helps alot. (I even just pretty much said what everyone else above said, but hey! isn't that what you just said? :P)

[lizzylizzy]

I well your 90% right because some people want to wright something but he they just don't have it in them.I mean they try but it simply doesn't go and even if they succeed to wright something it would most of the time suck.Anyway it's a good way of seeing it tough.

[ChucklesMginty]

So a song about a farmer, who eats a crisp, the crisp flies up and lands in his eye, and then he goes blind has been done? That's starting to sound like a pretty cool song..

Anyway, your words were very true, good job!

[freak_sho246]

This is a great lesson, this totally made me think about songwriting in a completely different way. I love this lesson!

[NYGuitarGuy]

Your right but im no better a songwriter then i was b4.

[fret_shredder_1]

I may not be a songwriter, but this was pretty friggan awsome. That was, is and will always be 100% true, and thats a fact of life.that will probably help many people write songs, and if i ever do, ill remember this.

[McFadin]

I've tried to write songs b4 but they always sound and are s***. I like ur way of looking at it, may b I'll try again...

[glasgowguitar]

is it better to do covers when starting a band and will songwriting eventually come

[K.I.A.]

Nice writing style, your rant was very engaging.

And I agree, music is supposed to make a connection of some kind, so it's best to use common emotions or thoughts.

[weorge]

i alreayd learnt thsi through experience my friend but u summed it up in a much better way than i could of. but jsut a word of warning ot everyone who takes the idea of old ideas =great song too far, avoid cliches they make the song sound cheesy, liek this guy sayd use your own style to express something.

[Haemoglobin]

100% the truth and it was great to read it. i think i'm not that frustrated now when i'm writing. thanks, man!

[surbus]

i dont think it was much of a lesson but i really like the way you think

[thegreen_guitar]

It doesn't seem like much of a lesson but there isn't really any other way of teaching it. Good Job!

[GreenSumDay41]

so a song about a banana that turns into a dogs whos best frind is a pie has already been done

[Cody.Guitarist]

I agree with this. Although someone may have written a song about a particular situation. I would never be the same as your situation and way of perceiving it. Very nice 10/10.

[Darkkon]

dude, theres a tiny bit of contradiction in there. oh well, your opinion is valid.

[hippiemetalguy]

mainly its not the idea or how it can be said its more how you want it to be said or veiwed. that mainly sums this up its an ok tid bit of knowledge for beginners but nothing to anyone whos been writing for more then maybe a few months.

[kylepianoman]

I was thinking you were just ranting on and on.

I dont' know why... but that last paragraph switched something in my brain, and I think it's going to help a lot in my songwriting endeavors thanks

[thExcomunicated]

nicely said dude!
It made me realise that i am trying to be the best and be unique in every song i write.
thnks man

[Monster13ohyea]

lies name one person who wrote a song about this lesson sucking on ug... it doesnt but WHO/./... only me....

[slapdaddyc]

i get million of ideas... i just dont know how to amplify more lyrics to em

[muttanz]

True
Thanks man, yeah actually I think most of thing have already done, the point is the way you can make feel the person.. The spirit of the music.

C ya!

[captcool]

Yeah man

[insatyrguitar]

If you can tell me who thought of the idea before of the 'Planetary Duality' album by The Faceless you will win the internet.

[njh31907]

this is so true im a song writer
but you are right i always try to over beat
the first part of the music
but you know what i still writing new things all the time :

[Shelbs1215]

That seems so obvious but for some reason it's not! What you said about songs is also true about your writing above...something that is not a new idea but feels new when someone else says it because each person experiences everything in a different way. That is great advice. Thanks for putting that out there!

[Tortugo]

I like this article and have been thinking this way for years. People don't see our experiences through our eyes..this is true. However, I think it's the subtle differences of everyone's situation plus the perception of it (like you said) that allow us to convey things in a different way as songwriters.

[opticeye69]

Totally agree!!

[::Luke::]

One of my friends use to say that quote all the time. I love it.

[LedDaveZeppelin]

That is why it is easier to write lyrics that don't mean anything at all.

[jrob816]

I mean, I think this is wrong. This isn't an argument, you are just saying this and hoping people will accept it as true because you wrote about it.

Just as every single experience on earth is new, a song can be written about it. Has a song already been written about the exact events of tomorrow? Has a song been written about how 27 people died on a space mission to Pluto? Nope.

Saying that there is nothing new to write about is a cop out for not being original.

[451F]

jrob816 wrote:

I mean, I think this is wrong. This isn't an argument, you are just saying this and hoping people will accept it as true because you wrote about it.

Just as every single experience on earth is new, a song can be written about it. Has a song already been written about the exact events of tomorrow? Has a song been written about how 27 people died on a space mission to Pluto? Nope.

Saying that there is nothing new to write about is a cop out for not being original.

Look, all songs fit into 3 broad categories:
1. Happy (major keys mainly)
A. Love songs
B. Isn't life great?
C. Success/celebration
2. Sad (minor keys)
A. Other love songs
B. Death
C. Failure
3. Either way (either key)
A. True events

Everything basically fits somewhere in there. Now your example of a song about a future true story may not have been done yet, but there are plenty of songs that have been done about things that have happened. I think the author was entirely justified in what he said. Specific events may not have been done yet, no, but something like it has.

[Ricky4635]

That is so true.

[guitalando]

yea...you're right!!!

I actually making a unique song but can't make one...thanks for this article I realize that that would be terrible..

[Xusutu]

451F wrote:

jrob816 wrote:

I mean, I think this is wrong. This isn't an argument, you are just saying this and hoping people will accept it as true because you wrote about it.

Just as every single experience on earth is new, a song can be written about it. Has a song already been written about the exact events of tomorrow? Has a song been written about how 27 people died on a space mission to Pluto? Nope.

Saying that there is nothing new to write about is a cop out for not being original.

Look, all songs fit into 3 broad categories:
1. Happy (major keys mainly)
A. Love songs
B. Isn't life great?
C. Success/celebration
2. Sad (minor keys)
A. Other love songs
B. Death
C. Failure
3. Either way (either key)
A. True events

Everything basically fits somewhere in there. Now your example of a song about a future true story may not have been done yet, but there are plenty of songs that have been done about things that have happened. I think the author was entirely justified in what he said. Specific events may not have been done yet, no, but something like it has.

Songs are more like...
1. Elation
2. Frustration
3. Love
4. Hate
5. Etc.
All (good)songs are based on an emotion or a specific feeling towards something that has happened.

[Xusutu]

By the way, good column, I already looked at things this way, but it's good to be reminded of it.

[r0kstar]

I have to agree with xusutu on this

[Mundus]

enjoyable reading nice few quotes as well, good idea towards song writing, sounds progressive. BodaciousBob true more of a rant btw...

[zeppelinisno.1]

well, you had a good point, but music changes almost every decade, and i want to bring back the 60's-80's because theres some really good songs and i dont want to copyright or people to be like "u stole the" or anything like that

[bamballam]

I think I am going to write a song about this article

[vigenharutyunya]

hmm a goot filosophy for begginners...

[dwightleach]

i see wat ur talkin about but only songs about a feeling or experince have been writen already
but music such as rock operas still can be written without being repetative

[dwightleach]

and to zeppelinisno.1
im with you man u should add the 50's to that

[sp00n man]

dude, ur funny, but right

[RomySays]

Dude there is nothing more true than this

[megadethed]

wow. Inspiration

[christian1894]

joa mopri cule basile

[xtrife]

brilliant

[jungle551]

very enlightening. I"m gonna go write a song now.

[WIREDTOTHEMOON]

dude this wasnt a lesson but more a totally true piece of philosophey. i loved it so remembor: im unique...just like everyone else...

[WIREDTOTHEMOON]

i'll write a song about this now. i Loved it it was totally head bangingly awesome...

[TheWannabe]

This pedantic revelation of yours isn't really that accurate,

It’s because there’s nothing new to write about. Yeah, It's true! The truth is the world has existed long before we got here – and music has existed for almost as long as people have been around.

...and it’s all been done, my friend!

Every situation you’re going through has been lived through by someone else. Every feeling you have has been experienced by other people. And every idea you’ll ever think of has been made into a song at least a dozen times. So you’re not going to think of anything new to write...sorry but it’ll never happen.

While this is true I think that being original counts as doing something without copying somebody elses work, and even though at least somebody has felt the same way we have before doesnt mean they were a poet or a writer. Also with all the styles and different languages I think that there will always be new ways to be original, not to mention the fact that different kind of emotions become more populer with time. New inventions and world events can be an original inspiration.

You should give more thought about the fact that the world hasnt ended and while music has existed for a very long time I cant imagine cavemen or Mozart singing about babes alcohol and drugs.

[\Onelove\]

good

[tands]

im going to disagree with this, unique songs are always better songs, people shouldnt give up on writting about unique subjects, Alot of great bands wont even sing about love/girls/sex/drugs etc. and they do amazing works

[yoshy69]

the points u point out r true, the problem is u sound like u bustin everyones chops, these lessons should encourage new writers to broaden there horizons and be creative, they dont need to be told that wat there gonna do has already been done wile that may be true this does nothin but discourage them from writin