The 2 Things Every Song Must Do (Do It Like Dylan)

[@SongTownUSA]

What songwriting topics would you like us to cover? Let us know below! ⬇ ⚡Check out our worldwide community of songwriters. (New Year. No Limits discount) 20% off this month at 👉 songtown.com/platinum-no-limit-january/

[@CharlieBernstein-j4q]

I get tired of hearing people insist that less is more. Sometimes less is more. Sometimes less is less. Sometimes more is more. So when is less really more, and when isn't it? How about talking about that? Thanks!

[@jasonyoungclaus5043]

He was so versatile as to be able to write something as surreal as "Desolation Row" but then also an epic narrative like "Hurricane" that lights a fire under your ass and makes you wonder if there is any justice in this world. His plaintive storytelling ballads are unmatched, I think my favorite is "Seven Curses," which was on the early Witmark Demos. So many lyrics that could stand alone as poems, only to be enriched by the music he set them to --- "Mississippi," "Blind Willie McTell," just when you think you've heard every brilliant Dylan song there's another one in a vault somewhere that you hadn't. The guy is a phenom. And for the record, his receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature didn't validate his writing --- if anything the fact that he accepted it gave more legitimacy to the Nobel Prize.

[@martydodson3774]

Well said. He's an inspiration to songwriters

[@douglasmcpherson1160]

In all forms of writing I like to think of each line as a stepping stone. Each should be a logical step forward along the path of the story. But they also need to be nice easy steps that are easy to follow. You don't want a sudden unexpected gap where you can't make the leap and fall into the void! Taylor Swift's Begin Again is a good example. The lines are not dramatic ("Took a deep breath in the mirror... turn the lock and put my headphones on") but as a sequence of stepping stones, they pull you in.

[@MountainBlade]

I wholeheartedly disagree. Not every song lyric needs to be a clear story or have an obvious meaning. It’s art, logic is not necessary, communicating genuine emotion/feeling is the key, and that might come out in lyrics that are not linear or “logical”.

[@michaelholland1189]

​@@MountainBladeyou're both right in my view. Maybe the vast majority of songs that sell and/or are known and loved fit the stepping stone concept but absolutely no need to do that to write a brilliant song

[@andersjeppsson8499]

@@MountainBladeagree but this channel is focusing on modern commercial top 40 writing and not Art in my humble opinion. Singing other peoples songs is taking on someone else’s emotion and is reproduction and not art. IMHO. Love the channel though for evolving my own songwriting ❤

[@revenantband1]

I was working with a composer once and the lyric that I wrote laid out the story but didn't resolve it. He wasn't happy about that but I told him that sometimes in songs like in life, there isn't resolution. And sometimes that's not bad because it gives the listener the chance to decide for themselves how THEY want to feel at the end. I told him to think of it as a cliffhanger like a TV show season finale, giving listeners a reason to hear the next song to see how things continued!

[@martydodson3774]

I often leave room for the listener to resolve it. Or I resolve it in another song.

[@richardridings1126]

I’d love it if you did a session on techniques for creating contrast.

[@Sunshine7978]

Not sure if you’re a SongTown member or not but I joined a few years ago and took the melody masterclass that Clay teaches. I’m a lyricist by nature but this class taught me so much and really showed a lot of methods for creating contrast in songs. And no, I’m not paid for this comment! 😂

[@TerryStephensonmusic]

another great video! Happy New Year songtown

[@SongTownUSA]

Thanks and happy new year to you too! CM

[@iuutoob]

1:35 The intro organ riff on Like a Rolling Stone - wasn't that an improv credited to Al Kooper in the new film?

[@SongTownUSA]

Yes! He’s spoken about it over the years in some cool interviews. CM

[@coastercook]

There is a whole story about that opening organ riff on Rolling Stone. It wasn't planned or written that way. Someone didn't show up and the guy just sat in. He said that he didn't even know how to turn on the organ and hoped that it was already on when he sat down because he knew Bob would only give him one chance to play on the track.

[@revenantband1]

Al Kooper was the organist. Had never played organ before! He went on to found Blood Sweat And Years and also produce Lynrd Skynyrd.

[@martydodson3774]

I love when the magic happens unplanned!

[@CharlieBernstein-j4q]

With Al Kooper on keys and Mike Bloomfield on guitar, the dumbest thing Dylan could've done would've been to tell them what to play. That's why he brought them in: so he wouldn't have to.

[@tonycampbell4982]

Good information 👍

[@SongTownUSA]

Write on Tony! CM

[@MagnumVideos]

Just found your channel. Great information. Subscribed.

[@SongTownUSA]

Welcome aboard! Write on! CM

[@bobwerber2984]

great. One of the best vids you guys have done. Tons of usable tips!

[@SongTownUSA]

thx! Write on! CM

[@martydodson3774]

Thank you

[@SeekerStardust]

1:50 love those lyrics

[@dlouisb]

Great ideas & thoughts as always

[@martydodson3774]

Thank you

[@Emondotcalm]

I remember the day when it suddenly dawned on me (and blew my mind) that the last word of every verse leads you into and rhymes with the word FEEL in the first line of the chorus... "How does it FEEL".... Absolutely genius!! Such as.... "About having to be scrounging your next MEAL"..... ..."And say do you want to make a DEAL"... "After he took from you everything he could STEAL" ...."you're invisible now you've got no secrets to CONCEAL... How does it FEEL?".... FEELS great to me Bob! Absolutely astonishing!

[@SongTownUSA]

He did a lot of little things like that in his songs that keep them interesting to this day. Write on! CM

[@kilgoretrout321]

And what's crazy about this song's recording is the syncopation in the way he sings, which gives every verse incredible momentum from line to line in what could have been a dense, wordy sounding song. Even though it's hard to perfectly sing along with, it's such a great rhythmic feel. Also, I want to say that Dylan was one of the rare songwriters who could write a strong third verse. Very rare for even one of the best 300 hit songs or whatever, to find more than two verses. They usually repeat the chorus another time if they don't have a bridge. And oftentimes, Dylan would have four or even five verses, and apparently notebooks full of a few dozen more for some songs.

[@SongTownUSA]

Great points! Write on! CM

[@prschuster]

Dylan is the best lyricist in pop music history. Lennon and McCartney is the best songwriting team for melody, harmony, changing keys and all around catchy tunes. I'm interested in fitting the music to the mood of the lyrics.

[@ili626]

I think the Beatles became as good or better lyricists.. much more efficient, like true poetry. Eleanor Rigby.. Girl.. Norwegian Wood.. I could go on and on. Dylan’s tunes could drop multiple verses, and it wouldn’t alter the essence of his songs much. Poetry is the right words in the right place.. And Dylan’s tunes are so fill of words, their placement becomes less precise.. you can change them, or gpt4 them.. The Beatles (and Paul Simon) are more precise, efficient and less likely to work in variation

[@prschuster]

@@ili626 I do envy Dylan for his poetic lyrics though. Few people can pull this off, but song lyrics work just fine when they are minimal and to the point. John is my favorite Beatle in this regard.

[@acoustically9201]

What insights would you say you've gained about life from listening to Bob's lyrics? While his lyrics are enigmatic and full of clever wordplay they offer little substance...save for Gotta Serve Somebody - an exception that proves the rule. Granted, offering a neatly packaged personal philosophy in a song is not necessary. It may be enough to let people enter some "other world" and for the imagination to run free for a few minutes. I'm ok with that.. but some consistent sense of perspective is necessary to be called a genius writer worthy of a Nobel Prize. TS Eliot's Wasteland his lyrics are not. Furthermore, I'd say Elvis Costello is wittier. Adam Duritz more insightful and a better story teller. Tom Waits better a setting a mood or a sense of place. Robert Smith more poetic. Paul Simon just all-round "better".

[@prschuster]

@@acoustically9201 I can't argue with any of your choices for great lyricists. There were some political messages in "Masters of War" and "Blowing in the Wind". The others that you mentioned are great songwriters too. I guess I was too quick to call Dylan the best. I would amend that statement now, and just say that he had some good lyrics.

[@steveb796]

I saw an interview with Niki Glaser today on her golden Globes monologue and her tact in general. She said she always opens with a quick 5-6 word joke to get people laughing right away and draw them in. Same principle as this discussion. We all hear the finished product but take for granted the craft that goes into its development.

[@SongTownUSA]

Yes! Write on! CM

[@thetexasbeachbum9929]

Bob gets the job done. Every song has a beginning, middle, and end.

[@SongTownUSA]

A master! CM

[@rumblinstone7332]

Helps a lot. Thanks.

[@SongTownUSA]

Glad it helped! Write on! CM

[@martydodson3774]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@Jammel-oz9ku]

I created an album of lyrics, But I am new to this and learning music from scratch. I have a couple questions: 1.-How and where do I register my lyrics? 2.-Should I learn and do everything related or look for other people that already know? 3.-How can I improve my lyrics to reinforce the message I'm trying to get across when I don't even know what type of music I'm creating. 4.-Would you guys be interested in collaborating to arrange lyrics properly and add music to complete one song on your channel? 5.-If yes, how can we make it happen? Thank you for sharing your content ❤

[@rexchiquine6049]

Move to Nashville and get serious,,, everything is here for you,,,

[@BlainScholin]

@@Jammel-oz9ku create the song, let someone else worry about the genre.

[@TravisTennies]

Good one! 🎉

[@RickMcCargar]

I lost them all when he passed away. I withdrew, and they slipped away...can't go home...I'm so alone.

[@chrischaney9223]

Thank you

[@SongTownUSA]

You’re very welcome!

[@John-Lorraine]

Have you ever used a phrase or word that you thought was over the heads of the listener and opted to change that word or pull the line from a song? I recently used "harkens back a return to the good ol' days" and my friend said that I should nix it. I'm just curious. I'm going to keep it because to me it is right.

[@SongTownUSA]

Really depends on the song, the genre, and the intended audience. These days I personally lean on conversational lyrics. CM

[@John-Lorraine]

@@SongTownUSA Thanks, Brother!

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

I would just say "takes me back to the good old days"

[@John-Lorraine]

@@Jeremy-hx7zj That is an option but with the melodic phrase in the first verse it would rub. Thanks for the response, Jeremy. Happy New Year and happy creating. Best of luck, JL

[@martydodson3774]

My kids are between 25-35. I don't use a word if they never would use it. So, if they don't say "harkens", I find a word that means the same but is in their vocabulary.

[@mike-u5x]

It's called SALES!!! It applies to EVERYTHING!! Not just songs!!! SALES!!😍

[@seanhayesmusic44]

Would be interesting for you guys to review songs you’ve never heard before live. Maybe your audience could suggest songs.

[@SongTownUSA]

We do that several times a year with guest publishers and pro writers. Check the live tab for past events and watch our community tab for future announcements. Write on! CM

[@seanhayesmusic44]

@ guess I should look back before my great ideas! Seen it done very well with guitar players. I’ll go back. Thanks

[@SongTownUSA]

Throw out ideas anytime!

[@ronnyskaar3737]

Happy New Year Clay and Marty. How does it feel? Dylan's great question 😂

[@SongTownUSA]

🤣

[@martydodson3774]

Happy New Year!

[@RickMcCargar]

She was just seventeen..and you know what I mean...Beatles.

[@BlainScholin]

I have a question. I’ve been writing songs since I was 14 or so. Some I’ve made demos of, playing all the instruments and vocals. Some sound good. WTF do I do with them, now? I imagine they would disappear on Spotify, or I Tunes, etc. I’m 73 now, not “the look” for a band. So what now?

[@slugtoenail]

Good question. What would make you happy?

[@dlouisb]

your next life might just begin with a SongTown membership

[@martydodson3774]

SongTown helps people get great songs heard. We have several members in their 70s that have had over 150 songs recorded since they joined SongTown. Not that we got all of those placements for them, but they took what they learned in SongTown and the connections they made here and turned them into placements.

[@homestudiohaven]

Pull them in and keep them there. Sounds easy enough. LOL - Thanks Jody

[@claymillsmusic]

It's a lifelong process :)

[@martydodson3774]

Ha. That's the secret sauce, isn't it? When it happens, it's magic!

[@CharlieBernstein-j4q]

Yup. Mickey Spillane said: "I write the first page so people will read my book. I write the last page so people will read my next book."

[@SongTownUSA]

Love that! CM

[@BlainScholin]

The key to having a great song is, obviously, is to ask Bob Dylan to write you one.

[@SongTownUSA]

🤣

[@BlainScholin]

@ I’m just saying it is a big step from learning to write, to Bob Dylan, maybe the very best. That man has made one hit wonder millionaires who covered just one of his hundreds of masterpieces. Nobody does it like Dylan. Some suit says, “Hey Bob, could you write me a diddy for my movie about Pat Garret and Billy the Kid? Who remembers that movie…who remembers the song!?!

[@martydodson3774]

Or to learn from him and become the next Bob Dylan!

[@wyndes]

@@BlainScholin I do.

[@BlainScholin]

@ or Jesse Welles?

[@shepherdlenthall3951]

Sure, I agree, hook them and keep them, but poetic and abstract elements can have their place (you dont need to be all 'white picket fence' to make it click. Because somebody did something half a century ago doesn't, to me, that it is antiquated - there is too much sameness in unchallenging or inconceptual lyric (mid song, at least), that leaves the cupboard pf available music increasingly bare (and algorithms dont help). Hook them, hopefully, keep them but don't undersetimate them. Dont sacrifice ground breaking art to land in a same, safe, space - as per Bowie: "Don't play to the gallery". Dylan never did.. Another good and useful video. M

[@SongTownUSA]

Yes! CM

[@SolaceEasy]

"Don McLean on..." VINCENT.

[@SongTownUSA]

Yes!

[@jimmystuckeysongs3859]

💯

[@rexchiquine6049]

Threw the bums a dime means you were once financially above it now you are beneath you could spare something,,, nothing quirky about it it's an establishing point,,,

[@revenantband1]

Here's a visual for you, based on an actual singer I knew.. Tell me if you want to see all of it: Wounded Heart Blinded by lightning Drenched by the rain Promised myself I'd never be here again. But look at me now. I'm back here again. Standing on a corner Flying a sign Asking perfect strangers for nicels and dimes. I'm not gonna lie Mister, I could sure use a beer I once knew an angel Met her right here. A small town girl on the streets of the city She grew up fast The street has no pity for a wounded heart For a wounded heart. I wish that she was here today Last week it was her birthday I wish that she was here playing pool and drinking beer but she's gone.

[@NoCoverCharge]

I love Dylan but Marty Robbins gunfighter ballads was way more important as far as songwriting !! One was a poet and one was a cowboy storyteller both equally important

[@martydodson3774]

They both have their place and value!

[@mikerozell3177]

Loving your videos! I’m a songwriter/guitarist trying to get my songs heard. My style has been compared to Tom Petty, Lou Reed and Mark Knopfler. Here’s a link to some of my demo songs. kzbin.info/aero/PLuxXSol10UsezJQB9RU8TetamDU457VV-&si=NpprU-OqKAMDiQGG

[@mrbigbosskojak]

Great info guys! What do you think of artists such as Katy perry, Sabrina Carpenter, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish etc in terms of lyrical quality?

[@martydodson3774]

I think all of them are great in their own way. I try to learn from any of their great songs!

[@mrbigbosskojak]

@@martydodson3774 exactly! I think their writers have been listening to country greats also. Great channel.

[@ili626]

I think the Beatles became as good or better lyricists.. much more efficient, like true poetry. Eleanor Rigby.. Norwegian Wood.. She Said She Said.. I could go on and on. Dylan’s tunes could drop multiple verses, and it wouldn’t alter the essence of his songs much. Poetry is the right words in the right place.. And Dylan’s tunes are so fill of words, their placement becomes less precise.. you can change them, or gpt4 them.. The Beatles (and Paul Simon) are more precise, efficient and less likely to work in variation

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

@@ili626 that's not always true. Dylan was precise and economical when he wanted to be. Sometimes poetry is about concision but sometimes it isn't. Anyway, I don't understand the obsession with comparison. I like how different artists do things differently.

[@codegreenstudio]

*Second* person.

[@MikeKelsoJr]

Dylan wouldn’t even get discovered today in the current music biz !!!! And you can disagree but im exactly correct in this music society !?

[@kevinbourque1037]

I didn't know George Bush was a song writer, thought he painted.