Lyrical rut, lack of inspiration?

[decay-o-caster]

well first of all, why did you decide you're not allowed to write first person? seems like an artificial obstacle you've set for yourself.

[theblue1]

Is that, like, a rule you've made for yourself going forward?

Or was it just an experimental one-time discipline to break up what you feared might be bad habits?

If the former, my rule is, um, no rules.

If the latter, well, I'd try powering through just to see what you learn about yourself. If inspiration isn't forthcoming, prod it by finding some 'personal interest' type story from old newspapers or such, or maybe even an historical figure, that seems intriguing.

Another time-honored tradition is rewriting a classic story or myth. That tactic has generated a wealth of output. The time-tested classics can be done and redone. And when you recast Hamlet as a system analyst with a moral/existential dilemma or Odysseus as a long haul trucker you not only inherit a number of interesting ways to play with -- and against -- the original story, but, with a little luck, you look more hip and literate when the armchair crits recognize the archetypal shapes swimming beneath the surface of your story...

[Billly]

Originally Posted by decay-o-caster

well first of all, why did you decide you're not allowed to write first person? seems like an artificial obstacle you've set for yourself.

I've written a lot of my favorite songs in first person and I feel over use of it gives off a feeling of self absorbedness and close-mindedness

[Billly]

Originally Posted by theblue1

Is that, like, a rule you've made for yourself going forward?

Or was it just an experimental one-time discipline to break up what you feared might be bad habits?

If the former, my rule is, um, no rules.

If the latter, well, I'd try powering through just to see what you learn about yourself. If inspiration isn't forthcoming, prod it by finding some 'personal interest' type story from old newspapers or such, or maybe even an historical figure, that seems intriguing.

Another time-honored tradition is rewriting a classic story or myth. That tactic has generated a wealth of output. The time-tested classics can be done and redone. And when you recast Hamlet as a system analyst with a moral/existential dilemma or Odysseus as a long haul trucker you not only inherit a number of interesting ways to play with -- and against -- the original story, but, with a little luck, you look more hip and literate when the armchair crits recognize the archetypal shapes swimming beneath the surface of your story...

Thanks this has given me a couple of good ideas!

[danerius]

Originally Posted by Billly

Alright lately ive just had trouble writing lyrics. I think it started when I told myself not to write from a first person perspective but now I'm not entirely sure what I should write about, does anyone have any ways to get inspired or just pick a subject?

I prefer to separate the editing/rewriting from the creative ie. Have a phase where u just write whatever comes to mind. No rules. Leave it a bit and then edit/rewrite

In ur case. Write whatever about whoever, where ever. Leave it to marinate a while and then go back and change/edit/rewrite it to a non first person perspective

Hope that helps Regards /Bo

[Billly]

Originally Posted by danerius

I prefer to separate the editing/rewriting from the creative ie. Have a phase where u just write whatever comes to mind. No rules. Leave it a bit and then edit/rewrite

In ur case. Write whatever about whoever, where ever. Leave it to marinate a while and then go back and change/edit/rewrite it to a non first person perspective

Hope that helps Regards /Bo

Thanks this also helps

[donpakka]

I'm not entirely sure what I should write about, does anyone have any ways to get inspired or just pick a subject?

I'm currently teaching a songwriting class with a bunch of literary arts students (traditional writers). The first thing we do is start coming up with ideas for titles. I used to keep a small tape recorder for snippets and title ideas. Now I just use my phone. Either way, when you see something interesting, have a thought about something, etc... write it down.

Experiment with putting words together. Try the William S Burroughs Cut-Up method. Take a bunch of song titles, type or write them out and then cut up the individual words. Throw it all on the floor and pick up random bits and place them together.

You might also want to look into either Clement Wood's Rhyming Dictionary or pick up Masterwriter (mac/win).

[decay-o-caster]

Originally Posted by Billly

I've written a lot of my favorite songs in first person and I feel over use of it gives off a feeling of self absorbedness and close-mindedness

i dunno - not every song about 'me' is about me, of course. more important, though, is the sense of immediacy or urgency that comes from singing 'I' did/felt something, rather than 'he' did. 'i loved her' is generally more grabbing than 'he loved her' - unless you're using it to say something about the 'he' character, rather than about the love or the 'her' character.

i'll use third person (or even second person) when i'm trying to imply the existence of multiple actors in a story. but otherwise, why go out of your way to put another degree of separation between the listener and the emotional content of the song, especially when, as you imply, it is against your natural tendency as a songwriter?

[Billly]

Originally Posted by donpakka

I'm not entirely sure what I should write about, does anyone have any ways to get inspired or just pick a subject?

I'm currently teaching a songwriting class with a bunch of literary arts students (traditional writers). The first thing we do is start coming up with ideas for titles. I used to keep a small tape recorder for snippets and title ideas. Now I just use my phone. Either way, when you see something interesting, have a thought about something, etc... write it down.

Experiment with putting words together. Try the William S Burroughs Cut-Up method. Take a bunch of song titles, type or write them out and then cut up the individual words. Throw it all on the floor and pick up random bits and place them together.

You might also want to look into either Clement Wood's Rhyming Dictionary or pick up Masterwriter (mac/win).

that's an interesting method for sure

[Billly]

Originally Posted by decay-o-caster

i dunno - not every song about 'me' is about me, of course. more important, though, is the sense of immediacy or urgency that comes from singing 'I' did/felt something, rather than 'he' did. 'i loved her' is generally more grabbing than 'he loved her' - unless you're using it to say something about the 'he' character, rather than about the love or the 'her' character.

i'll use third person (or even second person) when i'm trying to imply the existence of multiple actors in a story. but otherwise, why go out of your way to put another degree of separation between the listener and the emotional content of the song, especially when, as you imply, it is against your natural tendency as a songwriter?

it's not always about me but it gets repetitive, you know what I'm saying?

[sameal]

you could always go through some life changing, traumatic shit. that will make you spill your guts so hard you might quit music all together!

but I'd hope there's a better way honest....

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by Billly

it's not always about me but it gets repetitive, you know what I'm saying?

Post a few of your old lyrics so we can see how repetitive your pronoun usage is. Maybe you can improve it while still remaining largely in the first person.

[Rockinrob]

Billly, John Lennon wrote A Day In The Life after reading a newspaper article. I understand what you are going through as I am a songwriter who has done the same thing. I don't think that writing in "first person" conveys that I am, for a lack of a better term, stuck on myself. That is the most obvious perspective as a songwriter to write from. Personal experience. It is a nice exercise though to try to write in "third person" he, she, they pronouns. It can actually free you up to be more creative because you can create a story line that does not necessarily have to be from personal experience. Write a story where you are just someone watching what is going on and aren't playing the lead role. Good luck.

[KatCraig]

This is a great thread! I'm trying to improve my songwriting skills and these are a lot of great ideas, so thanks

[Frank_Case]

Originally Posted by Billly

lately ive just had trouble writing lyrics. I think it started when I told myself not to write from a first person perspective

I once heard an interview given by one of the Beatles who said one very effective way they wrote was to deliberately write lyrics in the first person using both the words I and You. If you only use the word "I" then the song can become pretty monotonous. But as soon as you throw in the word "You" as well, then you have something interesting because then you can write about something good happening between I and you, or something bad between I and you, or a relationship starting to happen between us.... or a thousand other things. You get the idea.

[arasandvolodkas]

Another idea, write it in first person first on the 1st draft (yikes lots of firsts), then translate it into 2nd/3rd person. So say if the lyric was "I was shopping at the store, minding my own business", perhaps change it to something like "he was shopping at the store, minding his own business". Sorry, I realize that would be a terrible song... just to provide a quick example.

[brockorama]

Another way: Have first part be first person diatribe

2nd Part is why or where this !st person storyline is heading or resolving

3rd Part is a metaphor laced with 1 and 2 connatations

And the 4 is a flow to the break or change.

"I was looking the other way but ahead just the same"
"Feeling like where I was, could be the end of the game"
"But it was all on the line, and it was crossed and you were brave"
"Taking me to a new place , I didn't find until that day"

I just wrote that for example, but I use a handheld recorder to try and capture something special, even if just for a part of one line. Then I scrap the rest and build on that little piece. Happy writing