My #1 Secret To Get 10X Better At Songwriting!

[@gonzova]

Very nice video....I'll keep that in mind "show don't tell". Thank you ❤

[@bengill8408]

Thanks River. I've got a twelve year old son who plays guitar and is a big fan of your music. He will really enjoy these... Look after yourself in these difficult days.

[@rivershook]

Thanks so much for watching, stoked your son will like these!

[@JoseMolina-pi9xf]

Really interesting River, I have always identified a lot with some of your lyrics, such as New Ways to Fail, but this video helps to understand much better how you manage to make your lyrics reach so deeply for many people.

[@rivershook]

Thanks José, you're the best.

[@binkjermy4618]

Hey woah that was super cool. Now here’s my attempt at the last lyric My heart is haunted By a spirit so low.

[@rickypierce1028]

I love this! So glad youre doing these videos!

[@bjarnyg]

focusing on the lyrics more than the melody is always gonna hold you back. also, everybody writes about love...

[@rivershook]

@@bjarnyg melody matters, this video is specifically about writing better lyrics. You could compose the best melody of all time but if your lyrics are trash you didn't write a good song. I write a lot about love (country artist, comes with the territory) but I've released songs about betrayal, homelessness, substance abuse, self-liberation from religion, accepting your destiny, finding clarity and purpose, keeping going when the going gets tough, not taking bullshit, etc. And I write a lot of songs about love too, because it's complex and nuanced. And knowing that people will never run out of ways to write new songs about love gives me a little hope for humanity, honestly! Especially if someone is just getting started writing songs, writing about love is a great place to start. What do you like you write about?

[@bjarnyg]

@@rivershook i like to write about immigration, grooming gangs, abortion, gender madness, gun control and stuff like that. anything but love.

[@bjarnyg]

@@rivershook i like to write about nature, places, old traditions and true stories that touches me. i think your voice could fit one of my songs. but it's about... love😁

[@rivershook]

@@bjarnyg Very cool. I've been incorporating more nature into my songs the last few years and I think my writing is really benefiting from that!

[@thelethargics]

this is excellent

[@rivershook]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmatiatos7194]

Thank you! You just made me realize why I dislike my own writing so much that I just stopped trying. Flat as a piece of paper. I need to crinkle the paper. Today is a good day.

[@rivershook]

Crinkle it! Thanks so much for watching.

[@OfficialSidCrash]

This is really great advice from ya Revelations really took me on an emotional ride I felt a lot of emotions with the lyrics that record has became a big favorite of mine thanks for sharing your tips for songwriting definitely looking forward to the next video

[@rivershook]

Cheers Sid, thanks so much.

[@OfficialSidCrash]

@@rivershook your welcome

[@tacrae]

the wrinkles in the radio emit my tenured pain,/it's melody gives way to unforgettable and unclaimed/use-to-bes and looking-forwards have never been the same/since we said walking away was for the best/but for the rest of my life I won't forget that song we always sang. I stretched it out a bit, but you can still see the showing/telling :D

[@kentcrawford7080]

(Everything reminds me of you and it makes me sad) #1 the beauty around.. My heart Not the Same Distorted the colors red to Blackened Fills my soul with pain. #2 The beauty all around Remains Not the Same Now just broken colors From a love in vain Special thanks to my roommate for helping me with this.. challenge. Yikes.. I struggled with this to Nutshell it😂 I kind of go with the Neil Young approach I never hunt down the song I like it to come to me, also the Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys approach ,,a song will come like a rainbow and you catch it Sadly my brains only working at 40% right now... but I also enjoy your teaching of the empathy approach you discussed earlier, I also like the ..(thats crap) approach the rock band the Eagles did writing their lyrics they were getting a circle out in the middle of the desert and shoot off verses or line and if they all didn't agree would say that's crap😂..till the got it right..

[@AlexKerit]

My attempt: "Colors of certain hues Tick the nerves of what I've been through"

[@ScottWilliamson-w9l]

This is so cool! Although, after racking my brain for half a day to come up with a single lyric, I’ve decided I’m on the correct side of the stage. 😂 I will leave you with this: “I won’t back down.” -Tom Petty “I may readjust my stance if you have a compelling argument.” -Tom Reasonable

[@rivershook]

lol

[@OisinMcCole]

I opened the fridge and took out a beer Couldn't help but notice, you still weren't here

[@MrDarthHolden]

“All I hear in this house are echoes of you.”

[@rivershook]

Haunting! In the best way!

[@WillyPDX94]

Whiskey and a beer might make you disappear For a little while In a dark and noisy bar while somebody played guitar Dreamed I saw you

[@rickypierce1028]

2nd verse I would write ....Around every corner your memory waits for me

[@rivershook]

I really like this, very nice.

[@rickypierce1028]

@@rivershook Thank you!

[@jonnyhoekstra]

The old culvert just echoes me yelling by myself / And this bench is just for shitting pigeons now

[@mjbuffa28]

This is really well done! 🫡