Phil Wickham - How To Write A Worship Song | Teaching Moment

Summary

The transcript captures the creative process of songwriting from a spiritual perspective, emphasizing the importance of finding an 'anchor' or central idea inspired by moments of worship. The songwriter discusses the journey from inspiration to perspiration, detailing the iterative process of refining lyrics and melodies to convey a heartfelt message of faith and trust in God's goodness. The summary highlights the struggle and dedication required to transform a divine spark into a song that resonates with both the congregation and the songwriter's own spiritual journey.

Takeaways

• 🎵 The process of songwriting often involves a lot of work and deep thought, with only a small percentage of songs coming easily.
• 🌟 The 'anchor' of a song is a crucial starting point; it's the central idea or inspiration that the entire song is built around.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Discovering the anchor often comes from moments of genuine worship and meditation on God's attributes.
• 💡 The anchor can be a unique perspective or a fresh way of expressing an aspect of God's nature, which sparks a deep emotional response.
• 🔥 Having a clear vision of what the song is about helps in crafting the rest of the song, even if the melody or specific lyrics are not yet known.
• 📝 The songwriter compares song structure to a sentence, with the chorus as the subject, verses as verbs, and adjectives and adverbs as descriptors and modifiers.
• 💬 The importance of not forcing a song for the sake of it, but rather allowing it to flow naturally from a place of authenticity and inspiration.
• 🔄 The willingness to rewrite and revise is essential in the songwriting process, with the anchor idea being the guiding force through revisions.
• 🌱 The songwriter emphasizes the importance of being faithful to the moment of inspiration and working hard to bring the song to life.
• 🎥 Life experiences, such as holding a baby for the first time or watching a movie, can provide new perspectives and inspiration for songwriting.
• 🔗 The songwriter's role is to create something that not only deepens their own understanding but also helps others grasp new insights about God.

Q & A

What is the primary aspect a songwriter should focus on when starting to write a song?

The primary aspect a songwriter should focus on is finding an 'anchor,' which is the central idea or inspiration that the entire song will be built around.

How often does the songwriter find the songwriting process to be challenging?

The songwriter mentions that 19 times out of 20, they really work on songs, indicating that the process is often challenging and requires a lot of thought and effort.

What does the songwriter believe is the source of the best 'anchors' for a song?

The songwriter believes that the best 'anchors' come from moments of genuine worship and connection with God, where the focus is on pleasing the heart of the Father rather than creating a song for a specific purpose.

Why does the songwriter emphasize the importance of having a vision for the song before starting to write?

Having a vision for the song helps the songwriter to have a clear direction of what they want the song to convey, even though the specifics of the melody and lyrics may not yet be known.

What is the role of an 'anchor' in the songwriting process according to the transcript?

The 'anchor' serves as the foundational idea or inspiration that sparks the creation of the song, and it is something that the songwriter feels is special and worth exploring in depth.

How does the songwriter describe the process of finding an 'anchor' for a song?

The songwriter describes it as a process of meditation and marinating in a thought, trying to figure out the best way to express what they want to say.

What is the songwriter's approach to developing the verses and other parts of the song once they have the 'anchor'?

The songwriter compares song development to constructing a sentence, with the chorus as the subject, verses as verbs, and adjectives and adverbs as descriptors that build upon the central idea.

What is the songwriter's attitude towards rewriting and refining a song?

The songwriter is open to rewriting and refining a song, emphasizing that if the 'anchor' is strong and meaningful, it's worth the effort to perfect the song, even if it means starting over.

How does the songwriter use personal experiences or observations to inspire songwriting?

The songwriter draws inspiration from personal experiences, such as holding their first baby, or from observing and relating to characters in movies, using these experiences to connect with spiritual truths and create relatable songs.

What advice does the songwriter give for dealing with the challenge of writing verses that support the 'anchor'?

The songwriter advises not to be afraid of rewriting verses and to keep working on them until they effectively draw people into the central idea and help them understand why the song was written in the first place.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 The Art of Songwriting: Finding the Anchor 🎵

The speaker discusses the process of songwriting, emphasizing the importance of finding the 'anchor'—an initial idea or inspiration that forms the core of the song. This anchor often emerges from moments of worship or deep reflection on God's attributes. The speaker describes how they often meditate on this thought, allowing it to guide the song's development. They also mention the challenge of transforming this anchor into a complete song, requiring time and effort to ensure the message resonates with both themselves and their audience.

05:02

🌟 Embracing Inspiration: The Vital Role of the Anchor 🌟

This paragraph delves into the significance of inspiration in songwriting. The speaker recounts instances where songs were born from special moments, such as spontaneous worship or everyday experiences that trigger a profound connection with God. They stress the importance of being faithful to these moments of inspiration and the perseverance required to develop them into fully-fledged songs. The speaker also highlights the role of the anchor in providing direction for the song's message and structure, even when the melody or lyrics are not yet clear.

10:04

📝 Crafting the Song: From Anchor to Finished Piece 📝

The speaker continues the discussion on songwriting, focusing on the journey from the anchor to the completed song. They describe the iterative process of writing, rewriting, and refining verses to ensure they effectively support and expand upon the anchor. The speaker also touches on the collaborative aspect of songwriting, sharing experiences of working with others to develop songs that resonate with congregations. They encourage songwriters to be persistent, even when faced with the challenge of transforming an anchor into a compelling and meaningful song.

Keywords

💡Songwriting

Songwriting is the process of creating a song, which involves crafting lyrics and music to express an idea or emotion. In the video's theme, songwriting is portrayed as a deeply personal and spiritual journey, where the songwriter seeks to capture moments of divine inspiration and translate them into a song that can be shared with others. The script mentions the songwriter's process of 'marinating in a thought' and 'meditating on a thought' to find the best way to express what they want to say.

💡Anchor

In the context of the video, an 'anchor' refers to the central idea or concept that a song is built around. It is the initial spark or inspiration that the songwriter latches onto and uses as a foundation for the entire song. The script illustrates this with examples such as 'goodness lasts a lifetime' and 'I can count on you,' which serve as anchors that the songwriter then expands upon to develop the full song.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration in the video is depicted as the driving force behind the creation of a song. It is the moment of divine revelation or personal realization that gives the songwriter the initial idea for a song. The script describes how inspiration can come from moments of worship, from reading scripture, or even from everyday experiences, and how it is essential for the songwriter to be 'faithful with that moment of inspiration' to develop it into a complete song.

💡Worship

Worship, as discussed in the video, is a spiritual practice of showing reverence and adoration for a deity, often through music. The script highlights the importance of worship in the songwriting process, where moments of worship can lead to the discovery of the 'anchor' for a song. It is in these moments that the songwriter is not thinking about creating a song for a church service but is simply focused on pleasing the heart of God.

💡Chorus

The chorus in songwriting is the recurring part of the song that carries the main theme or message. In the video, the chorus is described as the 'subject' of the song, which all other elements work to support and develop. The script uses the example of a hypothetical song about God's goodness, where the chorus would be the central point that the verses and bridge build upon and expand.

💡Verses

Verses in a song provide the narrative or the details that support the main theme, which is typically presented in the chorus. The script mentions that verses are like the 'verbs' in a sentence, driving the song forward and explaining why the theme of the song is significant. They help to draw the listener into the message of the song and provide context for the chorus.

💡Bridge

A bridge in a song is a section that offers a contrasting idea or a different perspective on the song's theme. In the video, the bridge is likened to 'adverbs' in a sentence, providing a different way to express the main idea. The script suggests that the bridge can be a powerful tool to reinforce the song's message and to offer a new angle on the theme before returning to the chorus.

💡Meditation

Meditation in the context of the video refers to the songwriter's process of deeply contemplating a thought or idea to find the essence of what they want to express in a song. It is a reflective practice that helps the songwriter to 'marinate' in the idea and discover its depth and significance. The script describes how meditation on a thought can lead to the discovery of the song's 'anchor'.

💡Praise

Praise in the video is a form of worship that expresses admiration and thanks to God. The script mentions an instance where the songwriter's church requested an upbeat praise song, illustrating how the theme of praise can serve as an anchor for a song. Praise is a central aspect of worship and songwriting, reflecting the songwriter's desire to honor and glorify God.

💡Goodness

Goodness, as a keyword in the video, represents the divine attribute of God that the songwriter is exploring and expressing through song. It is used as an example of an 'anchor' that the songwriter meditates on and builds a song around. The script discusses how the goodness of God is a theme that can be approached from various angles, such as the goodness that lasts a lifetime, and how this can inspire a song that points others to understand and experience God's goodness.

Highlights

The importance of having a clear vision and 'anchor' for a song to build around, which is essential for the songwriting process.

The process of 'marinating in a thought' and meditating on an idea to find the best way to express it in a song.

The value of capturing inspiration during moments of worship, which can lead to the creation of meaningful song anchors.

The concept of an 'anchor' as the initial idea or inspiration that sparks a song and sets its direction.

The struggle of writing songs that come easily versus those that require more work and thought.

The role of personal experiences and emotions in shaping the lyrics and message of a song.

The idea that sometimes the best song ideas come from spontaneous moments of worship rather than forced creation.

The comparison of songwriting to sentence structure, with the chorus as the subject and verses and bridges adding depth.

The necessity of rewriting and refining lyrics to ensure they effectively communicate the intended message.

The significance of the songwriting process in helping the songwriter and congregation connect with the divine.

The challenge of maintaining authenticity in songwriting, ensuring that the lyrics resonate with personal experiences.

The transformative power of music in expressing and sharing spiritual revelations with others.

The importance of being open to inspiration from various sources, including moments in nature or everyday life.

The process of identifying and developing the 'anchor' of a song from a moment of worship or personal reflection.

The role of feedback in the songwriting process, helping to refine and improve the song's message and impact.

The idea that songwriting is a journey of discovery, where the songwriter explores new aspects of faith and spirituality.

The comparison of songwriting to a physical journey, where the songwriter navigates through various ideas and emotions.

The emphasis on the importance of persistence in songwriting, even when faced with challenges and revisions.

The transformative effect of music on the songwriter's own faith and understanding of spiritual concepts.

The power of music to encapsulate and convey the depth of spiritual experiences and emotions.

Transcripts

when I first start writing a song you

know I what I'm looking for and what I

think is so helpful

even more than so helpful almost needed

to really chase after a song because

sometimes they come easy other times

they take a lot of work and I would say

19 times out of 20 I really work on

songs I really I really think through it

and give it a lot of time to process

I've actually found

I mean I've written some songs in the

room from start to finish with some

people that have gone on to live outside

of that room but more often than not my

strengths I think is really and kind of

marinating in a thought

meditating on a thought really trying to

figure out man what's what what is the

best way to say what I want to say and

to to come chase after that you need to

have a vision of what you want to say

first and so I call I call the thing you

start a song with is I can anchor you

know the thing that the thing that you

build the whole song around the little

idea that has come to you that you think

man there's something so special there's

an angle there's an angle of some aspect

about God or some way we could say we

love you that I've never really sung

about before or some reason it sparks in

my heart so I'm gonna chase that down

and so first we're gonna talk about like

kind of uncovering that anchor and how

you find it and so often when Brian

would say this too cuz he sends me a

little voice memos and and mp3s once in

a while of just moments that are

happening in worship and I think some of

the best times those anchors come when

you're just in that moment of

worshipping God pleasing the heart of

the father and you're not you're not

trying to come up you're not thinking

what would my church sing and just

trying to shine a barf out like the best

idea you can you know but what I find is

that the anchor it's almost like the

inspiration of the song

come out of moments for me that I am

like the the prime a reason why I'm

singing out that or why it's being

created is because the what was to just

bless the father's heart and as like an

example of that would be like okay like

you know this this would be maybe things

that don't end up making their way all

the way to being a songs like okay my

church said they needed upbeat songs and

so they wanted a praise song and so okay

I'll see it's gonna be called praise him

forever you know and we're gonna like it

just feels like stale you know it's just

in and it never really gets finished

because there wasn't something that like

my heart remembered oh yeah like that's

when I felt like the presence of God and

I was just talking to him and he was

responding to me and there's something

really special that happened in my heart

and it could have been like when you're

singing to him like sometimes I get on

my piano and I'm just just say Lord like

like can you can you throw out the idea

that these are this song is for a record

of them can you help me not think about

this is gonna be for a record from my

church and I just want to I just want to

worship you in this moment and it might

be 30 minutes of just reading the

scripture once in a while and how your

goodness your anger there's just a

moment but goodness lasts a lifetime

it's awesome thank you Lord and there's

and so I'm gonna sing in and it's just

like you know

thank you for your goodness it lasts my

whole life you know I can chew yeah can

you just start meditating when that

means Oh to last a lifetime like my

whole life I can count on your goodness

I can count on you I can count on your

goodness man that could be a title and

then maybe maybe you even think I count

on you goodness that could be title of a

song and you just and maybe maybe in

your heart right then it just you were

not counting on his goodness and

something about where you're at and in

that moment with a truth you fell upon

like it's almost like you know there's

nothing new Under the Sun there's

nothing kind of new we can sing but at

the same time there's a million infinite

new things we can sing about this God

who is infinite and he just once in a

while

lets us just kind of maybe maybe each

aspect of him is like a gym you know in

every little angle like if you can't

turn it a little bit like the light

reflects on it a whole different way and

so you've always known about maybe the

cross or let's go back to his goodness

you are oh he's known about his goodness

and you some songs about his goodness

and your church loves singing about his

goodness you think we have all the songs

we need about his goodness but then all

of a sudden you come across a verse it

talks about his goodness lasts a

lifetime

and you've been going through maybe a

situation where you just like you you

haven't been trusting in his goodness

and you just kind of connect this truth

with your moment and all of a sudden and

and not that you're doing all this for

the inker but all of a sudden if you

have eyes to see and you're looking at

your life like a songwriter all of a

sudden like this anchor is born for a

song because on this truth of God and a

little bit of different way than you've

ever thought you know like that man you

goodness lasts a lifetime I can count on

it I can count on it you know it's the

same man count on you count on your

goodness somewhere in there and you get

you kept you get just anchor and that

anchor you kind of with that you cast a

vision and I have a real clear direction

of kind of what you want the song to be

about you have no idea what the melody

is you have no idea what the what lyrics

you're gonna say other than something

surrounding this idea of being able to

count on the goodness of God you know

and and so that so sometimes it's like

well I'm gonna write this song it's just

lit my heart on fire and it's written

other times I just remember my count on

your goodness remember that for an idea

you know and maybe also some like count

on you I can trust in you in every

moment everything like your goodness is

there it's following me whatever it is

you know you kind of throw out some

phrases and I forget about it

sometimes for a year and then it come

after but at first but that if that

anchor is it came from somewhere special

I believe at some point it was meant to

come to you and and and you need to be

faithful with that moment of inspiration

to go through all the perspiration to

bring it to life you know I found

there's a moment inspiration that

doesn't come all the time but sometimes

in worship even some happen I mean

probably this morning I'm not sure what

was playing and all what isn't

but I know yesterday there was a cure

for times we started singing stuff that

that hadn't been written yet

and maybe it was just for that time you

know but maybe we'll go here the YouTube

or something watch the YouTube later and

be like well like that was cool there

should be a song about that you know and

and so as songwriters we get to look

through go through life and see

situations like you know maybe those you

who can relate or you will relate one

day like and the first time you hold

your first baby and you just this is a

whole new thing you know and it and it

widens your your ability to experience

God because of widens your own

experience you know or or maybe you're

sitting and you're watching Lord of the

Rings and you just so pumped about Frodo

font I mean he is he is just he's made

it you know against all odds he made it

man against them all and you're like I

just like when the goodness wins in the

end and God's gonna so he just like for

some reason all these things kind of

come together in your heart like I don't

know why but when Gandalf said none

shall pass man I just saw I just saw God

in that like protecting me you know it's

like so nerdy but like man I'm gonna

sing about how he sees kids he's above

me and below me and nothing's gonna

penetrate his love for me you know

whatever it is just like you know in

your hearts

wow there's not as songwriters you go

you go from just being a believer who's

like wow God thank you I can't wait to

go to church and and worship on that new

foundation you know the fresh revelation

of you but a song one we get to say well

how god I can't wait to make something

that that will point other people and

help other people understand what I just

understood for the first time what I

just saw in a new way the first time and

so all that being said man Karen on your

goodness and so so there's that that

anchor of a song that I don't is that

really can't be manufactured in my mind

and that and that you got to be on the

lookout for but once you have that

you've got somewhere to start and you I

find if I have a vision and sometimes

even a title of a song it helps me

so much as I'm crafting the rest of the

song and I think of songs sometimes I

wonder to a fault

you know cuz it doesn't always need to

be like this but I think of songs almost

like it's just like if you think of a

sentence a sentence has a verse a

subject may be some adverbs made some

adjectives but it all goes together to

create a complete thought

right and that's kind of what I think of

a song you know like like that you have

the subject which is the chorus in it

and it is what the song is about it is

what you're leading up to it is what

everything else in that sentence is

trying to talk about you know and then

you have like the verses which are like

maybe the verbs you know and then

adjectives and and those are kind of

describing what the chorus is doing and

where it's going and why you want to

sing it and then there's like the

adverbs that are like the bridge that

kind of say what the court of everything

else is doing in a different way you

know but if there's an idea that it's a

complete thought you know that one word

builds on the next that one line builds

on the next that that there's not a

wasted moment that there's not a wasted

lyric but it all kind of builds to

making you under making them you but

also even more so your congregation the

people you're leading that song for -

making them understand why you wanted to

write that song in the first place like

to bring them to the place of like they

feel like they've they're catching on to

that anchor for the first time you know

and so if you're talking about God's

goodness family I'm gonna write a really

bad song right now but just kind of show

you

so maybe the goodness it's really simple

but like

I'm purely on you goodness

or can it are you good

I counted on your goodness me

[Music]

it's your lucky day

I carried on

your goodness

something like that you know that's just

the counter your goodness you know and

so it's all like man we're like that's

cool to sing but man now we got a we got

a make that's great to talk a counter

yeah we are but man you with the vs. and

now you're gonna you're gonna draw

people in to why it is amazing that we

can count on his goodness

now you're gonna explain to them why

when we hit that chorus like we can sing

this like and then sometimes that takes

a lot of effort for me sometimes I write

I mean verses can take I write there's a

song we even put me and Bryan Bryan will

work on a new songs song we play at the

end of the service and has some cool

moments you know that you've probably

been a lot of songs week and even since

then we can't got off stage for like the

course is cool the bridge is cool but

those verses are need to change you know

and and they're changed and now we're LA

and we worked on and I think we gotta

you know but maybe they might be need to

be written again and don't be afraid of

doing that because you just you you if

you have an anchor that you really

believe in it's worth the fight you know

and I'm telling you like I mean I like

men songs that are actually on records

in the end well there's quite a few over

the years you know that I've kind of

made it into the light of day and it's

still suck can be such a battle you know

and I can't second guess is that even

worthwhile to sing about but I'm telling

you if there's something your heart that

sparked even from an idea you know like

chase it chase it chase it rewrite it

show it to people telling they'll tell

you I loved I hated everything so for

this it's like why it's like they'll

tell you why you're right I'll erase

everything and start over from this and

now it's a totally different title but

it still got the same you know you just

chase and chase and chase but

can it on you you know ma'am I guess

when my mind immediately just goes to

him

in the battle you you know you just

start thinking through it why would I

count on your getting this guy like

Wyatt over you show me you're good

giving me the cross you tell me that I'm

free I know I'm like if I believe the

lies that are going on inside I'm not

good enough for and Your goodness him

man that maybe this is the declaration

I will believe the lies in

you know just singing

I won't believe the lies anymore

[Music]

but you said it I'm your child you it on

your chart just I mean that is not a

good song but you're kind of you're kind

of going for I would believe the lies

anymore

yeah or in the end in the store maybe

like oh that's bad I gotta wanna do it

but what it what is there any more like

a county goodness man you with me in the

way huh wow you did you to great things

the same God did great things back to

the Old Testament like you're doing it

now the same God is silence the Lions

are you silencing the lies against me

the same guy part of the way is it doing

it possible

you know I believe with you that all

things are possible I believe

our sewer here

Rico even though I can see

[Music]

it's like hey there's something there

you know it's like we're doing it now

it's like that is it you are still doing

that I'm gonna good I'm gonna count you

know because I've seen what you've done

in the past man that's a cool idea I see

what you did you're past faithfulness

I'm trying to get past faithfulness

pushes me into trusting in the future

you know so what I've seen you don't

like I don't know how to phrase it but

that's I know that's gonna be the second

verse like your past faithfulness

propels me to trust you with my future I

mean that sounds like a bridge you know

not like those lyrics but something in

there it's like like like the God who

has done great things of the past is

gonna God is doing great things in the

present and if promise as I was you know

you you know it's all on a on a document

on your iPad and you're working it out

and you're hashing it out and you're

figuring how it all works and then you

rewrite it and then you rewrite it and

then it's like maybe this is something

my church we want to sing