[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

My guitar playing has come really far, but my lyrics are still infantile. It is pissing me off.

Maybe I need to start remembering my dreams more.

[nicfit]

I like simple lyrics.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Simple worked for my previous stuff, it fit the textures of the songs, but that sort of stuff doesn't fit my newer stuff.

[touch me i'm sick]

what does your newer stuff sound like

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

lots of mathy riff wanking and fast rhythmic energetic stuff.

[pbradley]

Skip a night of sleeping and then jam when your in a half awake. A cup of coffee can help. It chases the self-consciousness away and allows the surreal lucidity of dreams to come.

Originally Posted by pbradley

Skip a night of sleeping and then jam when your in a half awake. A cup of coffee can help. It chases the self-consciousness away and allows the surreal lucidity of dreams to come.

What are you on about? Are you insane?

[Norma J]

Read everything from the greats to the not so greats. The word should then just flow from you. If not, then you probably haven't got it in you.

[atsonicpark]

I think people put too much emphasis on lyrics. I've never listened to a band for their lyrics, and I don't consider them important. You can do the indie thing and just thing of a few cool lines and repeat them over and over. That always works. Just please PLEASE don't try to make analogies in your lyrics -- everyone hates those.

I dunno, most of my lyrical couplets of late have just been nonsensical stream-of-conscious things; the first things I think, I put 'em down on paper. And then I take out/add words to fit the rhythm better. But then my lyrics end up being things like "Static inside, distort your sores, filling pus pores, chronic and/or lazy eyed whore: my idiosynchratic ego, my way with children, my distilled gridlock -- it makes me laugh." Again, not brilliant, but at least it's interesting and hopefully doesn't seem forced, since I didn't force any of my thoughts out. Sometimes, my lyrics will just be me copying lines from obscure books and putting them in the cut-up text generator (look it up) and arranging 'em that way.

I guess it all depends on how important you think lyrics are to your music; are people really going to pay attention and do you care what you're saying? That's all.

[luxinterior]

I don't know what kind of lyrics you prefer personally (your favorite lyricists, whatever). I like to write, but I don't believe in forcing it to happen (meaning, I'm not going to attempt poetry if I'm not feeling poetic, or try to tell a story that I know nothing about). I do try to write more often now, even though much of the time it's just a collection of my thoughts without any real poetic or lyrical slant. A lot of the time it's conversation, things that I feel the need to keep track of. I guess most people want their writing to be seen as cool or edgy or whatever, but there is something to be said for just trying to attempt something real first. The rest will follow, I believe. When I was taking a class on Hinduism at Loyola last year, the teacher always reiterated the point that you never really know what you think about something until you try to write it down. I've found this to be true with basically everything I've written. Every time I have to write something for school, I stress over the possibility of drawing a blank and not being able to come up with anything interesting to say. But once I sit down with a pen and paper, or at my computer, it just happens. Sometimes the breakthrough doesn't happen until the last paragraph, and then I have to go back through the previous parts and make them better, but that's just how it goes.

For me, when I'm writing from a very personal point of view, it isn't satisfying unless I've written stuff down that is difficult for me to admit to in the first place. Having an actual record of it--rather than it just floating around in my thoughts--is what makes me feel like I've succeeded. I mean, if you're ever sitting down to write, and you second guess yourself because the topic is "too personal," then you should do yourself a favor by writing about it anyway. Even if you never show it to anyone.

There's no point in writing a sad song if it isn't heartbreaking. There's no point in writing a happy song if it doesn't bear some resemblance to "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." Also, those are the only two emotions that exist.

EDIT: Maybe try different writing utensils. If you normally sit in front of your computer to write, pick up one of those giant Sharpies and a cereal box instead and see what happens.

[Norma J]

I think he cares about his lyrics, hence the thread. I think he believes his music has gone beyond highschool diary entries, and wants something little more literary to accompany the piece.

Edited: To Atsonicpark.

[Sheriff Rhys Chatham]

Listen to hip hop and read Allen Ginsberg;
worked for me.

[atsonicpark]

certainly, he cares about his lyrics, that's not what I said: I said, how important are lyrics to your music? what's his singing style? because he doesn't need to be overly critical of what he writes if it's going to be muffled, mumbled lyrics.

[SynthethicalY]

Like lux said write first and see what comes out. You can also just take a walk and take a small notepad and pens and write what comes to mind, that helped me out a lot. Definitely try various methods.

[h8kurdt]

Write,write, write, write.

Everyday write different lyrics. Eventually they'll get better. Look at Nick Cave, he stays in his study from 9-5 and writes all day. You think all the lyrics he writes are good from them sessions? Hell no. So like I say, just write everyday.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

I used to write 2-3 songs a day. I've just dry right now. It sort of goes that way for me. I have big bursts followed by long dry spells.

I sort of play my guitar and mumble nonsensical stuff. But the nonsensical stuff isn't turning into anything like usual.

[luxinterior]

Maybe instead of songwriting, try expressing yourself in another way. You don't have to use words. It might give you ideas that you can use in your songwriting later on. It's good to try something new every now and then, even if it doesn't become a hobby.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

I can be like Damo Suzuki!

This just reminded me- When thinking about my being at a loss for words, I realized that I can do something sort of different that I've done before. Having songs with very little vocals, and putting vocals just at that one point where in a pop song you'd expect to burst into an instrumental. But on the instrumental song burst into a vocal.

It works really well when done right. Probably the best song I had as The Spectral Presence worked on that concept. I had a song full of lyrics, but I just didn't like the way it worked with them. So I replaced them with one line about being at a lack of words.

I think the main problem is that I have the emotions of a wild animal. and would prefer to express them in grunts, growls, yelps, purrs, and roars.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by SpectralJulianIsNotDead

My guitar playing has come really far, but my lyrics are still infantile. It is pissing me off.

Maybe I need to start remembering my dreams more.

here is my advice. give it up! if your guitar playing is naturally progressive, and yet your lyrical skills are subpar (in yr opinion, who knows we might think it is golden) then give it up and focus on what you are best. by attaching yourself musically to the lyrical process which YOU feel is not working, you are stagnating your other musical abilities. continue with the guitar, and play the best you can play, originate what you can originate, and be the best you can. I myself gave up on lyrics a long time ago, because I am apparently not a poet, but I am indeed a talented guitar player of infinite styles. it took me years to realize that wasting time on lyrics and my guitar playing was stuck in one direction, and after I opened up my heart to my actual abilities at the guitar expaned. I left the one-sided world of distorted guitar music to the new realms of jazz, blues, jam band, dance music, and especially reggae.

and if you are meant to be a talented lyricist, the word will come when the pressure is off...