The Art of Songwriting

Can you imagine the thousands, millions of songs written in a year? Even by people who don’t record and release them? Music is such an incredible thing; a great testimony to the fact that humankind has a purpose; that there is more to life than matter and chemicals and forces. Music has the ability like nothing else to reach down into the very inner being of man and draw out the very immaterial. It stirs in us a desire to grasp the intangible. It not only makes us feel and understand, it takes us to a level of communication and expression that we do not know in any other way. I believe that music was designed to connect people with their Maker.

Over the centuries, there have been loads of good songs written. BTW, does anybody else ever wonder if ever in all the course of history two music pieces have been written by two different people that sound exactly the same? If not, that’s just incredible! Cuz there are only so many notes, you know? Goes to show how little “chance” there is.

So there have been plenty of good songs written, but I like to notice patterns with particular songwriters. I think that every truly gifted songwriter has his personal touch, his unique song-writing style. In a song, a writer reveals the depths of his heart in a way he can’t do equally with ordinary words. Songs are meant to take people on a journey. That’s why I have disliked songs constructed of conversational sentences made to rhyme and set to music. That’s not to say creatively incorporating conversational phrases into songs is bad; I like it once in a while, especially in fun songs. Sometimes, I notice patterns in songs or hymns so that I can figure out who the author is just by hearing it. I have a more difficult time with modern songs written for record labels and with producers. That, I think, takes away somewhat from the creativity of songwriting.

Over the years, as I myself have been trying to perfect my own songwriting style, I have come to admire certain songwriters for the work they each especially produce. Songs that come from the depths of the heart, from the acquirement of wisdom, and the understanding and deep faith in Scripture and moreover the author of Scripture, are the kind that I am really attracted to. These writers are both old and new.

One of the first is Charles Wesley, the famous hymnist. His writing is remarkable; such works as Arise My Soul, Arise; O For a Thousand Tongues; And Can it Be; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus; Christ the Lord is Risen Today; O For a Heart to Praise My God; Jesus, Lover of My Soul; and Soldiers of Christ Arise. (List is long, I know, but they are all SO worth mentioning!) I’m sure you’ve heard of more than one of these hymns; perhaps you’ve noticed the sage, profound style of writing. Here’s some of my favorite exerpts:

A rise, my soul, arise;
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears:
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on His hands.

I now am reconciled;
God’s pard’ning voice I hear,
He owns me as His child,
I can no longer fear;
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

Hail, the heav’nborn Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild he lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.

Another great hymnist is Fanny Crosby. Author of the popular “Blessed Assurance” as well as “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” “To God Be the Glory,” and “Rescue the Perishing.” I find it so incredible that though she was blind from childhood, she had such deep insight. Take for example:

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

To God be the glory, the vict’ry is won;
Our praise to the Saviour has only begun;
In heav’n's radiant splendor we’ll join with the throng
And praise Him forever in jubilant song.

I have also admired the work of Matt Redman, author of hit worship songs such as “Blessed Be Your Name,” “The Heart of Worship,” “Better is One Day,” “All Over the World,” and “The Way of the Cross.” I love songs that creatively incorporate Scripture, either quotes or rephrases or related Scriptures compiled. When the understanding of a Scriptural topic is put into a whole, it is very powerful.

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
And blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s “all as it should be”
Blessed be You name
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

I love Psalms 27 and 84!

How lovely is Your dwelling place, Oh Lord Almighty
My soul longs and even faints for You
For here my heart is satisfied, within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask, and I would seek, to see Your beauty,
To find You in the place Your glory dwells

My heart and flesh cry out For You, the Living God
Your Spirit’s water to my soul
I’ve tasted, and I’ve seen, Come once again to me
I will draw near to You

There are also songs by worship leaders Paul Baloche and John Waller. Paul Baloche authored the famous, “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” as well as “Your Name,” and “Above All.” All these works are spectacular. When I heard John Waller’s song, “While I’m Waiting,” I was won over, and have never tired of the song.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

Other great songs by the same author are “Sacred Pages,” “Something Big,” “The Blessing,” and “Faith is Living.”

And as I’m sure the regular followers of this blog know, there is a church group that produces songs that I LOVE. Hillsong’s writers write not for albums, but for church. They write out of their personal devotion a lot of times. So I love it. An honest heart communicating with God in an expectant way, based not on human perception but on genuine seeking, flows out in song that touches the heart of God and the hearts of people. One of their writers I have grown particularly fond of is Mia Fieldes. She co-wrote one of my favorites, the hymn-like Saviour King. I love these lyrics:

Let now the weak say I have strength
By the Spirit of power
That raised Christ from the dead
Let now the poor stand and confess
That my portion is Him
And I’m more than blessed.

Let now our hearts burn with a flame
A fire consuming all for Your Son’s Holy name
And with the heavens we declare
You are our King

Others of her works include, “All for Love,” “The Deep of Your Grace,” “More Than,” “It’s Your Love,” and the song co-written with Lincoln Brewster that has played over airwaves worldwide, “The Power of Your Name.” The latter is truly powerful; indeed, it is the duty of God’s church to care for the widows and orphans, those stricken by poverty, and to reach them with the message of the Gospel. It’s not the job of the government!

And of course, another of Hillsong’s fabulous writers, Brooke Fraser Lighterwood. She penned the renowned hit “Lead Me to the Cross.” I remember when I first heard it, I thought, “We have been WAITING for this song to be written!” It hit exactly to the heart of it’s topic. Satisfaction guaranteed! However, I was first introduced to Brooke’s work with her song, “None But Jesus”– what a song!

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won’t refuse
Each new day, again I’ll choose

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

Since, I have continued to love her songs, among them “Hosanna,” “Lord of Lords,” “Soon,” “Desert Song,” and her latest Hillsong work, “Like Incense.”

Finally, I would like to note an artist I have literally grown up listening to, the country/pop artist Steven Curtis Chapman. His songwriting style, revealing a well-developed gift in the art as well as a heart on a journey of seeking God, is surely winning. From inspiring and moving pieces such as “More to This Life,” “His Eyes,” “For the Sake of the Call,” “Let Us Pray,” to the fun song with a moral like “See the Glory,” “Rubber Meets the Road,” “Declaration,” “Next Five Minutes,” to the story-telling “All Things New,” “God Follower,” “No Greater Love,” to the songs documenting personal walk with God, including “What Now,” “God is God,” “Yours,” and “Lord of the Dance.” I love the sound of his music; I LOVE the country acoustic sound. But one time he tried to rap. And let me tell you, he can’t. Just for the record. One of his latest songs, written for an upcoming VeggieTales movie, “It’s A Meaningful Life,” is called “Meant to Be.” I heard it, and loved it. It’s not only a great and inspiring message that turns one to his Maker, but reveals song-writing that is so good I believe God anointed the writer for the very purpose.

And it all comes down to that. Lots of folks have entered the music industry, producing or performing millions of songs. But are all of them truly called and anointed by God to create songs or to sing or play their instrument? Some are in it for this very reason. Others are in it for other reasons. Some, I think, God ordained before they were born to be great musicians or songwriters, but they ignored God and went on with the songwriting and music-making. Thus, they do not glorify the One who gave them their gifts. What we can learn from this is that God has a purpose for everybody, because He made everybody. His ultimate purpose is for them to have salvation through His Son and be conformed to His image, and He also has given everybody a “gift”; something that is unique to their liking and ability. We need to seek Him as to what it is, and ask for His wisdom in developing that gift to perfection. He will provide us with examples around us, and He will give us insight and make new discoveries.

Thus, I have listed particular songwriters whose work has been consistently inspiring to me. I have found that a lot of times, though not always, the greatest songwriters are those who aren’t the best musicians or vocalists, or even communicators. But they excel in bringing us this unique poetry; sometimes they write their own melody, other times someone else writes a melody for their lyrics. There are really a LOT of good songwriters and musicians that have inspired and influenced me, but the ones I mentioned are among the top-notch in my list.

While these writers I truly admire, they have not authored every single one of my favorite songs. Some of my favorites are written by authors unfamiliar to me, or by authors that wrote truly excellent material, but were not top-notch writers. Among my absolute favorites are the hymns “It Is Well,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “A Mighty Fortress,” and the more recent “Crucified With Christ,” “From the Inside Out,” “The Greatness of Our God.” I really love a LOT of songs, old and new and in between. But regarding the art of songwriting, there are a few that consistently write with a depth of heart and understanding, a true thirst for God, and a skillfully developed style that I personally, as an amateur songwriter, learn from. Of course, it’s always best to keep in mind not to write to mirror other’s work, but to develop the gift God has given and to let the deep meditations of the heart come forth in words and music. Sometimes songs come so flowingly, almost spontaneously, or after a long inside journey they literally flow out immediately in one time and one place. Others, we labor over for extended periods of time, striving for perfection. I believe both kinds can be from God and of God.

On an interesting note, I once wrote a composition that I hoped would turn out like a poem or song. I first wrote down what was in my heart just as it was, so I could look back over it and hopefully make a song out of it. It came out so easily, it was almost unbelievable. However, though it read like a poem, it didn’t rhyme, and it didn’t have a verse/chorus structure. But I found I could not perfect it; it said all it needed to say and couldn’t say it better. So I left it as it was. Then later I wondered, “I wonder if God gave this to me so that, although it doesn’t rhyme in English, it does in another language?” I seriously have NO IDEA. But when you think about it, it’s quite a thought! Could it be? If so, at least I know I can’t take credit for it!