by : T. Fennel Crenshaw

Forget all the formulas you've ever heard or read about on, "how to write lyrics." There are plenty of them. The "ABC formula", where you analyze whether line A rhymes with line C, and then line B against line A of the next verse or "free association", where you write what comes to mind and then arrange your song set to "verse-chorus-verse-bridge-verse-chorus"...whatever. The point is...there is no one formula for writing lyrics.

Lyric and song do not come from the soul and spirit of creation begging to be edited, crafted, shaped, and refined. Lyric and song come as raw, naked, emotion-in a flash of lightning or a stroke of silky elegance; pure, unadulterated, and bare. They are the simple words and melody of inspiration and dreams. Why then do most writers get so hung up on "how" they will write the finished product before they are even through with the whole of the creative process.

Well, it's a natural process, isn't it? The urge, the wanting to get the ideas down on paper, in some shape or form. Maybe not. Maybe it is the exact thing that hinders the creative process and makes it harder than it should be to write. What is so "natural" about taking fragile emotions and transposing their magic so they adhere to some rigid code, formula, pattern, or style? This is where the secret lies. The secret to being a "successful" songwriter.

One definition of a successful songwriter is someone who shapes their songs effectively so that others can make sense of them. A successful songwriter is one who receives something back from what is given- from those people that make a correlation between what they hear and what they live, or those connected strongly with kindred possibilities of what can one day be. For me, and I'm sure for most of us, making a connection, and making sense musically, is both the ultimate goal and the ultimate reward.

"Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup they slither while they pass they slip away across the universe Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting through my open mind possessing and caressing me..."

Let's look at some successful songwriters and examples of great ease in transition from initial inspiration to finished form without considering a pattern or rhyming sequence. Take John Lennon's, "Across the Universe". Read his words without considering the melody.

A perfect example of forgetting format (sure, there is a verse-chorus-verse-chorus, etc. pattern) and remembering the "why" the song exists in the first place. Note there is not one line of rhyme in the whole song...it does not need to rhyme. The purpose and creative genesis shines through. John Lennon's lyrics are an example of ignoring form and rhyme, and serves as a reminder to get creative first...then write the song later.

Now look at Tim Rice and his beautiful lyrics to "Music Of The Night", from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom Of The Opera". "Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation darkness wakes and stirs imagination silently the senses abandon their defenses helpless to resist the notes I write, for I compose the music of the night."

Can we tell which came first...images of the Phantom in haunting twilight begging his love to understand the pain of loneliness or Tim Rice's concern for rhyming pattern?

How could Time Rice have ever written this beautiful rhyme without first creating the scene in his imagination (with the help of Andrew Webber's incredible melody) and letting his emotions pour forth, freely...without thought of HOW he was going to capture it?

The point I am trying to make is yes, how you present lyric and melody is important; how it flows, rhymes or doesn't rhyme, etc. But not as important as first creating the raw emotion to work with initially, or allowing the creative forces to move through you - without interference of rules and limiting notions of set patterns. That all comes much later in the creative process of writing lyrics.

A good way to free yourself from all restrictions, surrender to the creative genesis found inside, and write from the force that moves you to create with passion is to use a simple technique I call "free-basing." (No! not smoking crack cocaine...but abandoning myself in unfettered thoughts and ideas centered on a base subject.) First, take some colored markers and a piece of paper and in the center of the paper write the theme, one word idea, goal of the piece, or working title, and then circle it.

Now, let your imagination roam. I use meditation before hand to quiet the noise inside my head so as to be more open to the genesis...you may want to have music playing softly in the back-ground (or glaringly loud) whatever works for you as a ritual for creating. Begin to freely write down anything that comes to mind (without hesitation) and connect it back to the center circle with a line. Change colors as often as you change ideas. Really let go and write down all the thoughts you have...you never know which one will be the key to unlocking others. When you are through (and it may be hours later) you will have a springboard of pure ideas to think about...and a nice piece of abstract art ready to frame!

Now take your piece of artwork and begin to write down thoughts, sentences, or phrases based on the words you came up with. Make these sentences short or as long as you like...forget grammar and syntax...be as limitless with this as you were with the "free-basing". Don't start writing finished lyrics or song just yet...the bread is still in the oven rising...take it out too soon and it will not feed as many as if you had waited. With your page of phrases and thoughts finished, now you can begin to shape your lyrics. Pick out the two best summations or lines from your page and let these be the basis for your beginning...what you are going to say...how you are going to connect with others.

Remember how I told you at the beginning to forget all the formulas you've ever heard or written about on... "How to write lyrics"? Now you can go back, pick your favorite, the one that works best for your situation at hand, and begin to write with definition, true creative genesis, and with whatever rhyming pattern you want. Words, like people, have a conception, birth, incubation, infancy, adolescence, and maturation process-each must take its course in time. Each stage has its own unique joys and frustrations that move us along the way to becoming better writers. Consider each season carefully, live each day passionately, and take one word at a time

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