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.