One night at home cell I was taken aback when my cell members all laughed out loud at me after I naively said to them, “It’s so easy to write a song.” When I indignantly asked why they were laughing they replied, “It might be easy for you, but most people can’t write songs.”
Which made me realise I had taken for granted the gift God had given me. For I can honestly say that I am not a natural song writer. I was an average English scholar at school and was never considered to be talented at writing. I did love to read, and I enjoyed analysing poems, but I never produced anything remarkable myself. So, when people tell me now how they enjoy the lyrics of my songs I can only smile happily, knowing that my inspiration is from above. To God be all the glory.
When God told me a few years ago that He wanted me to write songs I was a bit taken aback as this was not a gift I thought I had. I had never even considered it as an option. I thought God was going to supply me with a songwriter to write songs for me to sing. So, I said to Him, “Well, if this is of You then please inspire me and show me how”, which He proceeded to do.
I remember not long after that being in the kiddie non-fiction section of our small-town library when my eye caught the title on the spine of a thin book called “How to write songs”. I mean, really, what is this book doing in such a small, far-out place? I took it out and proceeded to devour it. I took notes and everything. I wish I could give the authors credit, but I can’t remember their names and the library has since fallen down (literally). So, this little book taught me all the basics for which I am eternally grateful. Praise God!
Then God began to give me songs. Usually it starts with me getting a mental picture with a simultaneous strong sense of the message. I feel it rise within me and then I let it brew, like rooibos tea boiling gently on a stove top. Nice and strong. No particular words, just a strong sense of what I feel God wants to say. Then, and only then, when I sit down to write, do I get the specific words.
I am always amazed at this. Its like a leap of faith. You just have to start, and then the words come, a heavenly download. And this is the crazy part. The words just flow and flow until I have written the whole song. That’s why I know it is of God. Of course, its not perfect, and I have to sometimes work on fitting the words into the rhythm and think of better ways to say a thing, but generally the main body of the song is there. Even with the fine tuning, I am so aware of the Holy Spirit helping me.
So, I can’t give any great advice to aspiring songwriters except to say that you must draw near to God. The songs are already in your spirit, they will be released as you take the time to JUST DO IT. Write!