For the Sake of a Song
Yesterday, I wrote, recorded and submitted a song to the ForSongSake February songwriting contest. Writers had to use the words “for song sake” in the title and lyrics.
I found my bluesy riff around 10 AM and found the main hook of the lyrics, the rhyming couplet, pretty early in the writing processes; but I couldn’t find a great direction or melody line to sing. I was kind of stumped with Ryan Adam’s “29” in my head.
Fortunately, Natalie and I had to leave for meeting noon, which forced me to step away from the song. When we returned home, I only had an hour and a half to finish my song before I had to leave again for an event in the evening. I revisited the possible melodies hiding in the Em7 riff, and once I found a pattern, it lead to the lyrical patterns.
Once I finished composing and writing, I only had about 10 minutes to record the song, so I used Garageband on my iPhone, playing the guitar and vocal separately.
Here’s a rough demo and lyrics “For the Sake of a Song.”
For the Sake of a Song
Shout, shout sister shout!
Break out of your ways
Dance till your dance betrays
Your heart is starting to look for love
Your heart is starting to look for love
Get up off of your seat
Clap your hands to the beat
Jump, jump for joy
Your heart is starting to look for love
Your heart is starting to look for love
Chorus:
We are not worried where the world
Where the world went wrong
I’m just singing and singing
For the sake of a song
For the sake of a song
Break free of your fear
Cheer on yourself cause you’re strong
Be who you want to be
Your heart is starting to look for love
Your heart is starting to look for love
Speak from the voice in your soul
Sing like you’re in control
Live like you want to live
Your heart is starting to look for love
Your heart is starting to look for love
