Bands And Albums.

I have tried many times to write a truly meaningless song, but I just can't do it. There have been times that ppl just didn't quite get it, but that's been rare.

One time I thought I'd succeeded, only to have a nice lady explain to me what I'd written. That kinda irritated me, so I just gave up.

But then again, I've never hallucinated, either....maybe that has something to do with it.

Good topic! I really don't like the "cop out", either, but there is a fine line between allowing for audience interpretation and just trying to sell the song. When I write, I try to tell a story (usually), and I try to evoke some kind of emotions. I also keep in the back of my mind that some people are not going to understand the concept. I don't want to explain to them what the song means. A big part of the "artistic" value is what the listener gets from the song. What if, for example, someone really likes one of your songs, but only because they completely misunderstand the point of it. Are you going to tell them they are wrong-not only disappointing them, but losing a sale in the process?
I think that most songs have some kind of meaning, however, and I wouldn't want someone telling me what they think I want to hear...

This reminds me of the Police song "Every breath you take". It's a song about obsession, but a lot of folks played it at their weddings-because they thought it was about commitment. Should Sting have tore into those people and straightened them out, or should he have done what he did:

"Uh, okay."


I'm going to catch hell for mentioning Sting, I just know it.

I have heard people my whole life walking around or riding in their cars.
As they sing along with their favorite song I notice "hell they dont even know the freaking words" I have purchased sheet music of some of my favorite bands just to realize "hell I dont even know the right freaking words".
How can the general public ascetain the greater meaning if they dont even sing the right freaking words?
Years ago hada friend who would just dance around and sing to Aerosmith. Singing to the top of her lungs "You look like a lady".
I did not have the heart to tell her, Dude he's singing about a crossdresser.

For some people the lyrics are all important, for me the music is all important. I really don't care what people think of my lyrics as long as they enjoy the song and/or buy the CD we will make I don't care how the lyrics are interpreted. I appreciate good lyrics and if you're going to write some lyrics it definitely doesn't hurt if they have meaning for listeners. Really crappy lyrics can bring a musically great song down a little, but really great lyrics can't elevate a song that is really musically crappy. Just my two cents....

That was probably worth at least a nickle Bob.
Your insights are very pragmatic as usual.

For me it depends. Take for instance the song on my profile "Black Horse And A Cherry Tree". The song makes absolutely no sense to me. But something about it just grabs me. Probably the music, the beat. Maybe even the key that it is in is perfect for me. Who knows???? But on the other hand some songs I absolutely love are because of the lyrics BUT ONLY if the music behind them is something that is good also.

Hmm now that I think about it. Seems to me the music is first, the lyrics secondary. But the marriage of both is magic.

Could be a poll question:

What makes a song good?

Music?
Lyrics?
Voice?
Combination of all the above?

There are some songs that the singer is not all that great but the emotion behind him/her gives it that magical something that sells the song.

Damn getting deep here.

Really crappy lyrics can bring a musically great song down a little, but really great lyrics can't elevate a song that is really musically crappy. Just my two cents....

Then Bob Dylan's songs completely sucked in your opinion, eh?
I mean it was all bout the lyrics and the lil guitar and harmonica work was only secondary to the lyrics/singing.

I get what you're saying...the only thing I can add (and it might be away from the point a little) is this: When writing a song, HAVE A POINT!
I might not ever get the meaning of the song. Fine. But don't try to sell me a bunch of gibberish.
I remember, not long ago, a little guy who made it big. He was notorious for writing his lyrics while in the car going to the studio. And his lyrics, well, they were crap (imo). I never bought his CD's, and I didn't buy into the idea of him being a genius...but lots of people did. I'm not going to say who it was because I'll never hear the end of it, and too much time has already been wasted by people wanting to expound on his "talent".
If you plan to perform your songs in front of an audience, and you don't care enough to write legitimate lyrics, then why in the hell should that audience care about it?

Hey Andragon, although I'm not a big Bob Dylan fan, his music, although sounding rather simple, actually is pretty hard to pull off. The combination of guitar, harmonica (look ma no hands!) rack, and vocals hasn't been done by too many people so effectively. He came along at just the right time in our musical history. Dylan was an historical figure. Here was a guy who really doesn't sing that well (IMO), doesn't play guitar that well (IMO), doesn't play harmonica that well (IMO) BUT his lyics had very deep meaning for the times. When he was becoming popular music was very vocal oriented (do-op) in the early sixties. He was completely opposite of what was commercially popular at the time, almost a rebellious musician. We were going through a major civil rights movement and the beginning of the Vietnam conflict and Dylan was a huge voice for those objecting to injustices. Plus he was so different than Dion and the Belmonts, or the Platters, etc. No. I don't think Dylan's songs completely sucked. There's a LOT to Dylan's popularity that goes beyond the music.