The Surprising Enemy of Good Songwriting

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There's a surprising enemy that lurks in the good intentions of songwriters chasing the 'universal' song lyric. In this video, I reveal what it is, as well as showing you why it hurts songs, and how to avoid it.
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[@MikeGervasi]

Another is "Self criticism". If left unchecked you'll toss every idea thinking "it's not good enough".

[@oliverstjohn2406]

While it wasn’t specific to the ‘enemy’ you were highlighting, I was surprised that you didn’t mention my absolute favourite thing about that Bruno lyric. “We’ll take off our phones and we’ll turn off our shoes” is absolute *genius* level writing. Our phones are so much an omnipresent feature of our lives now that we are in a sense naked without them. ‘Taking off our phones’ is suggesting a very comfortable intimacy. And then ‘turn off our shoes’ - to switch off the things which keep us going from place to place, to stop moving and simply be present. It’s such a simple switch of phrases, and yet it says SO much.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I think it’s being open to playfulness that enables this. You have to love poetry and playing with the English language. At first it may be a silly line for the demo, then you hear it in the car and go, “Damn, that’s genius!” Lol.

[@TheRtyfghcvb]

I just found this channel yesterday. 🤕 And I already feel selfish. Her knowledge of songwriting is simply a treasure I do not want to share with other songwriters! I feel selfish to the point I am jealous of those who found her before me. Getting knowledge and teachings like this for free? That too from a professor of Barklee??? This is too good to be true for me! Notebook in my hand and I am chewing my pencil. My eyes are glued to the screen as I binge-watch every second of her trade secrets being revealed!

[@amandaforshort]

I love The Postal Services lyrics, one of my favorites is Nothing Better rhyming "sutures" with "future"

[@Bero70]

Songwriting should always be addressed in contest of a style. Same as music: Jazz,Blues,Pop,Rock, Classic etc. One of the most famous songwriters in my country was asked to write 10 songs for another "more folk,country style and he did! All of his 10 songs are rejected and explained to him that it was to smart for the audience and he needs to dumb it down like 90 % if they would ever make 1 dollar from his songs. That was huge revelation for me watching that documentary and him explaining all shenanigan's of songwriting. Can you address this in one of your videos,and talk about it? How to wright good Slow Blues? How to wright great Country tune? Pop ? What about Rock? How to approach Jazz tunes like Autumn Leaves for example. You can make a whole series of you tube videos for specific genre . Thank you.

[@BrockBarr]

Tom Waits says if there's something to eat and drink in a song then he's happy.

[@Gabriel.A.L.]

😂😂😂

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

❤

[@Turtlpwr]

He also said “it’s better to have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy”. Truly a modern philosopher

[@0010Kev]

For me one of the most beautiful and descriptive song is the Beatles' "Across the Universe". John used such incredible imagery in the verses its just amazing. "Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box" ....you know EXACTLY what he's saying and your mind is filled with the imagery. It's one of my favorites.

[@paulcope834]

The death of creativity is intellectual thought and premeditated lyrics.

[@phatato]

Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been Lives in a dream Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door Who is it for?

[@bernhardkrickl3567]

The two singer/songwriters that do this the best imo are Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Bridgers. Pick any of Joni's albums and you'll find loads of examples. But also listen to Phoebe's album "Punisher". It has amazing lyrics! A bit enigmatic perhaps, but stunning and soul crushing. Just one example of a line that blew me away: "Someday I'm gonna look up from my phone and see my life".

[@LKDelahunty]

My university professor for English was helping me write poetry many years ago and I always remember him telling me to "show, don't tell" with my poetry. Instead of just telling the reader what I felt it thought I saw, to show why I feel that emotion or think that's what I see. I try to apply it to my poems now still, 20 years later lol

[@hughscully]

Great advice on using detail to reach through. You provide such good direction on this channel. Thanks! Here's a recent favorite of mine from Sarah Jarosz's "Maggie" from her album World on the Ground. Drive across the desert In a blue Ford Escape Hopefully this car will Live up to its name.

[@liamoconlocha3264]

Nail it! The average clichès thst are so worn out, they become soul detroying

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

My favorite Mayer lyric is “Maybe this mattress will spin on its axis And find me on yours” It’s silly at first, but fits the song perfectly. It ties back to “Just a great figure eight, or a tiny infinity?” as a song about going in circles mentally at the ‘Edge of Desire’.

[@nelsonnichols922]

A June bug flew from the warmth it once knew and I wished for once I weren’t right John Prine “Far From Me”

[@DerBara]

Very good. Never bothered with other people feeling my songs as i am able to feel them. I write for myself. Others seem to like it, but its all about me.

[@davidcox8838]

This is how everything worthwhile is written in literature, poetry and songs, show don't tell.

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

some of the best lyrics trigger mental imagery.. and that of course is from the details in the lyrics.. thanks for sharing your insight.

[@innerspearmusic]

Enemy #1 is actually: Only 24 hours in a day combined with bills and full time work/chores/maintenance/life lol!

[@PaulGreeneofficial]

naked as we came .. iron and wine... Awesome video thank you I literally have a song named Lost with Out you... .. but I like it... thanks again..

[@piggsquigg983]

love the variation on sensory writing, thank you so much! Will def be adding that to my rotation of exercises

[@starskystar]

Brilliant material here. Thanks for making this video!

[@guitaring1]

you're a fantastic teacher! thank you for the great video.

[@Gabriel.A.L.]

Love it! Yesterday i had a discussion with my mom about it 😂 It was a small part of a previous video and its soooo helpful.❤

[@MGCaverly]

I am humbled by the content on this channel. Great work folks.

[@corrina9171]

Wow! I just keep learning. Love it. Shows why some of my songs are working and a lot of my songs aren't. I can think of 2 songs off the top of my head. "Coming Back to Life" Pink Floyd and "Just be Held" Casting Crowns. Thank you and I am so glad I found you. Amazing stuff!

[@jasonplamer3147]

I wrote a song a few years back called "perfect is the enemy of good" (absolutely nothing to do with what your teaching here) but this was a great lesson...im amazed how yalls simple lessons are so profound, yall are great artists, teachers, writers, and as far as I can tell from your demos, great performers as well....always look forward to these videos

[@user-vg6jp5hi1g]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@fdom6776]

Show, don't tell. Great video. Thank you.

[@aka4146]

I think I have said this before but I'll say it again .Dam girl you are a great teacher.I wish I found you a long time ago.I have learned so much from you.Thank you

[@justinbeck4197]

Awesome advice...I wrote a whole new song I'm proud of before I even finished watching this

[@andrewward1663]

Love you guys!!!

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

greatest enemy of any writer: the fear that he/she might be accused of plagiarizing something he/she has read or has seen...

[@paulcope834]

No.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I disagree- The biggest enemy is the fear of sounding lame. Second- trying to be too original or sophisticated. Third- plagiarizing yourself lol.

[@juaninbits]

Only people who has the urgent need of being completely original and different have this fear

[@jadepatrick7644]

So incredibly helpful

[@chewkieroo123]

Thank you for your videos they really help me with my music

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Great exercise!! thanks :)

[@andrewhertzberg6889]

Body by Julia Jacklin. Amazing song built on very specific lyric detail. Emotional climax delivered with.. Eyes on the driver hands in my lap Heading to the city To get my body back Doesn’t hurt that the recording sounds like honey. Also a lesson in restraint -to me the song sounds like an avalanche of noise is about to break through at any moment, but it never does. Maybe a clue to how she has bottled up her own disgust and disappointment.

[@michelle-psl4441]

Another great video to reinforce good songwriting vs. my regular schlock.😉

[@pjalexandra]

yes. detail. works also in poetry, non-fiction personal essays--any form of writing.

[@littleworldmusic]

thanks! great ideas ;)

[@ThomasHope73]

Synchronicity II comes to mind as an atypical example.

[@DeafyDeaferson]

This is good. I better subscribe so I don't miss a thing!

[@helenlizzystewart4908]

So very helpful

[@joelazzara703]

One of my all time favourite songs Lightning Crashes by LIVE unbelievably paints a picture so relatable if you’ve been in this situation he sings. Great video guys from a fellow Aussie and I bought your Udemy course which I highly recommend to all ❤

[@corkycoreson1403]

In Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode To Billie Joe” from 1968. The opening line: “It was the 3rd of June another sleepy dusty delta day I was out choppin cotton and my brother was bailing hay” Look how much info is it that line!! We know the time of year, the weather, the location, they are poor, (or they wouldn’t be chopping cotton) and they are young. (Working brother and sister in a field) That’s a TON in a short few words. Later in the song they are talking about someone who just died and and papa said “Billie Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits please” look how much we know about Papa now. :)

[@zarcon85]

First example that instantly pops up in my mind is "Ballad of Dorothy Parker""...

[@cheribarkman1784]

Thank you.

[@stewartcampbell1786]

Surface of the Moon by Del Amitri: Snow in a soulless city covers up the cracks in the road As a wastrel buys her cigarettes and wipes her pretty nose Justin Curry is one of my favourite songwriters.

[@daltonhobson6982]

All this information is so good and I know if I could learn to use and understand it I would write great songs, but it takes work to get it to sink in . I got a small glimpse of it with your image writing test so I hope I can build on that. Thank you so much for all of your great help,we all can't afford Berkeley. P.S. I would give my right leg (because i need my arms to play guitar)to get avice from some one like John Mayer.

[@ChaunHorton]

What up nails !!!!!!😂😂😂 such great content thank you 🙏🏾 for sharing

[@samphelps856]

Thank you

[@leftright6940]

Starman and While my guitar gently weeps are great

[@baadtaste1337]

Great vid, but you need to balance the sound - your pops accompanying the points are too loud in comparison to the rest (try listening with headphones)

[@gerrithdutoit835]

Very informative! Any Bob Dylan song immediately comes to mind😊

[@Carlos_RodriguesS2]

Really awesome tips, i'm so stucked and sad about composing, theres years... She is very smart and eloquent, the only problem is that she speaks too fast, hold on your speed woman. ✌🏻

[@mickmack9333]

hi, think of generic things but disguised, thats the solution which takes you to a higher level, dont even try to satisfy universal expectations, doesnt get you anywhere deeper

[@matthewdonnan6142]

John Prine lyrics are loaded with specific details he had a wonderful way with words

[@musicforworldpeacerecords324]

The one song I have heard use this technique in the most effective way is "A Better Place To Be", by Harry Chapin

[@justinbeck4197]

Could you do one on EDM lyrics..as sometimes "universality" is kind of needed..and really personal stuff can be awkward in that context... but I love this advice

[@neilcurzon2452]

I've been writing with a friend for many years and I seem to be forever trying to explain this stuff as his lyrics are extremely generic to the point that there are probably less than 50 words that he ever uses. Thanks for explaining it so well. BTW I was wondering what you think about Kevin Morby's lyrics as I am quite taken by them but I think the unique way they are delivered helps.

[@gkgunn53]

Paul Simon"s "America" , You feel like you are on that Bus.

[@estarling8766]

True.

[@freddiekay]

I started out writing about personal experiences but the feedback was that “nobody” else has lived the way I have and it’s just not relatable at all to 99,99% of audiences so I was told to write more generic. I’m still trying to find the balance between “I wasn’t allowed by the state to attend school so I fixed tractors in a shed at 11 years old and only had violent interactions with other kids and also I was in maximum security facilities during all of my teenage years so now I’m socially awkward” And “It’s a brigh bright bright sunshiny day” I tried to go the metaphor route but with such wild and specific topics it just became a cringesalad. Still trying though!

[@pseudonymlifts2]

The whole thing you're trying to do with songwriting is make people feel something about something they didn't experience. There is no need to be generic, that's just a misconception by people trying (and usually failing badly) to appeal to 'mainstream' audiences. But there are so many incredibly popular songs about vivid, unusual experiences that completely trash that idea. I say write what you know. But understand that in order to make people understand it, you have to expose the emotion of it in some way that they can latch on to. It could be a raw, compelling vocal. It could be a poetic turn of phrase or a metaphor. It could be subtle twists and turns in your musical composition. It can be anything, that's where the art is.

[@freddiekay]

@@pseudonymlifts2 This is an incredibly nuanced and thoughtful comment and I agree. I was having a frustrating day when I wrote this. Thanks for your 2 cents.

[@happyguycmb2883]

By writing about your unique experiences, you give others the opportunity to experience that reality vicariously. Many people welcome input that will add to their vision of the world.

[@Jesse615]

I'm an old, and I have to put in a word for a very early influence for me: Bernie Taupin.

[@justinbeck4197]

Try most of the Amplied Heart record by Everything But The Girl

[@dariovega9772]

3:04 I actually prefer the verse you wrote

[@michaelneppel1748]

I want to buy the book “Songwriters on Songwriting”. Is Paul Zollo the author? Does anyone have a link?

[@musole7104]

It's fascinating that I have no trouble coming up with captivating choruses on a daily basis. However, I face difficulties when it comes to crafting the remaining sections of the song. This challenge often arises during my guitar practice sessions, especially when I'm experimenting with various chord progressions. While I can develop a song idea and a catchy chorus, I find myself hitting a creative roadblock when it's time to write the verses. It seems like my ideas abruptly run dry. I'm curious to know if others encounter a similar struggle. If you have any advice or techniques that could assist me in overcoming this hurdle, I would sincerely appreciate your insights.

[@douggrant1250]

I appreciate your comments, as I go through similar struggles. I guess I deal with it in two ways - one musical, the other lyrical. Musically, I try to find melodic and harmonic ideas that provide a good setup for the chorus. Lyrically, I give lot of thought to what the chorus is saying and then try to come up with verses that support its theme and/or provide meaningful context for it. In most cases it comes down to that four-letter word that ends in "k" - work :)

[@randyeveritt7673]

Danny O’Keefe said, “Your love is like a razor, my heart is just a scar.” ….”she laughs like breaking glass.”

[@lukeroberts3464]

The medieval and modern meaning of album, as a book of blank pages in which verses, autographs, sketches, photographs and the like are collected, derives from the Roman use. This in turn led to the modern meaning of an album as a collection of audio recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, audio tape or another medium. What origins the word album 💿 came from?

[@garra12]

Best tip for me. #1 We tend to mistake Universal for Generic. As an artist and songwriter, I have to say, the line between Generic and Universal is very thin as these days, there's a lot of music being put out by artists. However, I do believe if an artist or songwriter works hard enough to learn techniques of improving the level of the writing itself, it can make a lot of difference, especially for the craft. Thank you so much for helping us. 🙏

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

One of the best songwriters for this, IMO, is Bruce Springsteen. Read the lyrics of "The Fuse" and you'll see how easy it would have been to settle for the generic, and how masterfully he paints the scene. Another fantastic song for really painting a picture in this way is The Mutton Birds' "A Thing Well Made".

[@helenlizzystewart4908]

Don Mcglashan Lucky Stars is another good example

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

@@helenlizzystewart4908 Don's an excellent songwriter, with a delightfully skewed view fo the world in his lyrics.

[@jayj7340]

I actually feel like Lorde is really good at this too. So many of her songs just feel like a movie scene.

[@glennmaillard5972]

I prefer Cohen to Bruno I’m afraid, by about ten miles. Though, I guess, I’ve grown old and am not young anymore. Bruno’s words struck me as generic. But I guess most lyrics are when compared to Cohen.

[@CheshireCatFun]

Dawes - "All Your Favorite Bands"

[@AdamLimWeiHan]

"In my imagination, you're waiting lying on your side, with your hands between your thighs." - Alexander Turner, Arctic Monkeys

[@NewFalconerRecords]

I just listened to that song today.

[@innerspearmusic]

I notice this happening in my songs, I'll use phrases like "lately I've been" or "these things don't go my way" However, in the context of the song they seem to work in relation to other lines. What's the "fix" for this problem I could maybe try, without ruining my melodies and flow?

[@innerspearmusic]

Okay now that I've watched the whole video I have another question. I prefer songwriting that is more abstract, both as a listener and writer. A lyric about nothing (for example Radiohead or Wilco) is, for some reason, more compelling to me. I think I'll stick to my way :P

[@tommccarthy3052]

@@innerspearmusic Funny thing is the lyrics she praises at the start sound like garbage to me. I get her point about "generic" but those lyrics she used as an example of non-generic felt hopelessly contrived. Write what you want, write it your way. If it connects with someone great, if not, no big deal.

[@innerspearmusic]

@@tommccarthy3052 Right? I just wrote a song and the ambiguity was actually the point, and I think makes it a lot more compelling when the listener can interpret multiple ways, or especially in their own unique way. The best art is not literal, cut and dry, and to the point.

[@tommccarthy3052]

@@innerspearmusic Exactly...do what you do...I will say that one thing I've learned over the years is write, write, write but don't "fall in love" with everything you write. Edit yourself, be brutal if necessary...if a word or phrase doesn't "feel right" then it probably ain't. If you've got one good verse or chorus and the rest isn't there, then keep that and ditch the rest. My brother taught me a lot about meter and flow and always said that if there's a word in there that's "not working" and you can take it out without changing the context of what you are saying then take it out. And sometimes you just have to write for fun and not worry about the art of it - so to speak. But what do I know...I'm not a "professional"...I'm just a musician!

[@nicostruppich]

Tortilla chips are on my lips, And no one’s pressed against my hips

[@_JustMich_]

Yes, dying and cringing cos I’ve made these mistakes in songs I’ve released already 🤦‍♀️

[@xxcelr8rs]

It was how Hank sang it. Nintendo is not a song word.

[@Kqlqk-EdT]

tom waits' "in the neighborhood"....

[@lukeroberts3464]

Chapters in a book 📖.

[@love_it_to_death]

From the video banner I thought that you were going to say 'very long fingernails'.

[@marcosmena6403]

I don't necessarily agree, I think the song you gave as an example sounds just as good and conveys the idea in a good way too. As long as one is capable of expressing what one feels and transmitting there is no better or worse way. Thank you always for uploading these videos!! I appreciate it

[@peacemeal3196]

Nirvana- Sliver

[@polmorgan3533]

What do you think of this line it has both the cliched and original aspects - ' My life is dark without you, Darker than the inside of a thick black velvet bag lost in the forgotten midnight of a dead universe's aborted memory. ' ...

[@happyguycmb2883]

I'm just a listener, but the point of imagery is to create something that can be perceived by one of the senses. "Inside of a black velvet bag" can be. "Dead universe's aborted memory"--not so much. "My life is dark without you" is fairly cliché. What are you doing, saying, hearing, seeing, feeling that shows your darkness. As someone commented in these comments: Show, don't tell.

[@bjarnyg]

2:33 not sure if he's trying to be overly clever here, but TAKE OFF our phones and TURN OFF our shoes...?? not sure... what you think?

[@ADAMSIVES]

Keppie for Prime Minister!!

[@TheiaLeto]

Bees by The Ballroom Thieves.

[@lawrencerasmus]

In the morning she puts on her makeup , covering wrinkles that she tries to hide

[@jamesmungall6669]

How about “I was standing on the side of the road, rain falling on my shoes” for a detail that sums up an entire chapter in someone’s life (Tangled up in blue)

[@RosssRoyce]

I rather get moved by a song’s grace and strangeness rather than a “me too” universality. And this Major song you gave as an example truly disgusts me, and I don’t mean it as an insult because I like you and appreciate your advises. I mean it makes me cringe with disgust. Cohen to me is NOTHING like that, he is sensing infinity and the hopeless tiny instant our life is, he is the bladerunner’s “all these moments…tears in the rain…” this gives you the chills of the distant stars, pure grace, infinity, no smelly “me too s”.

[@stellabandante2727]

Why do you only make videos about lyrics? Do you just assume that the same three chords are enough music for anyone to deal with?

[@lukeroberts3464]

Overall, 34% of people enjoyed the book, compared to 27% who preferred the movie. Although 82% of those surveyed agreed that "screen adaptations help books come to life," 46% of people argued that film adaptations "would never be as good as the book." Almost 25% declared that movies even ruined the original book. ALBUM (Lat. albus, white), in ancient Rome, a board chalked or painted white, on which decrees, edicts and other public notices were inscribed in black. The Annales Maximi of the Pontifex Maximus, the annual edicts of the praetor, the lists of Roman and municipal senators (decuriones) and jurors (album indicum) were exhibited in this manner. In medieval and modern times album denotes a book of blank pages in which verses, autographs, sketches, photographs and the like are collected. It is also applied to the official list of matriculated students in a university, and to the roll in which a bishop inscribes the names of his clergy. In law, the word is the equivalent of mailles blanches, for rent paid in silver (“white”) money.

[@dxfifa]

to be honest those details are more cringe than generic lyrics in a lot of cases, especially the overly poetic 14 year old girl shit like Bruno Major, or the Lennon quote in the comments

[@mervynfrost]

brunos lyrics are inane and cliched... just like this post.

[@cheribarkman1784]

Thank you.

[@ELMENDORFX]

Thank you