Your Song Has To Go Somewhere - Part 1

Have you ever been confused by the advice to "take your song somewhere"? It sounds simple, yet leaves you wondering: where exactly can my song go?

If this is you, you're in the right place.

Today, I’ll introduce a concept that's visual and easy to understand, and that is easy to apply in your songwriting right away.

Think of songwriting like getting directions from Google Maps.

The first step is knowing where you’re starting from. Just as you need to activate your GPS to get directions, you need to pinpoint the starting place of your song.

In songwriting terms, this is the beginning of your song – the initial situation your main character finds themselves in.

Next, you need to determine the destination – where you want your song and its characters to end up.

This basic framework describes movement from one place to another.

But merely moving from A to B isn’t enough to make your song compelling.

So, what does it truly mean to take your song "somewhere"?

The starting place of your song is the initial state of your main character.

What is their particular situation?

What problem are they facing?

This problem could affect their body, mind, or emotions.

The most straightforward way to define this starting place is by focusing on the problem your main character faces.

Did their love break up with them?

Did they meet someone new?

Did they encounter an opportunity or a threat?

Identifying this problem hooks your audience. They’ll wonder what happens next because they can relate to facing challenges themselves.

Your song can’t just dwell on the problem. Ideally, you need to take your character and your audience to a better place where the problem is resolved (alternatively, to a worse place to tell a cautionary tale).

This transition from problem to resolution is what gives your song movement and makes it resonate with listeners.

To further simplify this process, consider the "Search Inference Framework," a concept initially used in artificial intelligence.

This framework helps to formalize the starting place and destination.

Initial State: The starting condition of your song's main character, where they face a specific challenge.

Goal State: The desired condition or outcome, where this challenge has been resolved.

By defining both the initial and goal states clearly, you set a path for your song that moves from problem to solution.

Shawn Coyne’s Human Need Gas Gauge is a powerful tool for songwriters. Think of human needs like the fuel in a gas tank – they can be fully satisfied (full tank) or completely unfulfilled (empty tank).

The degree to which these needs are met determines the intensity of the problem your song's main character faces.

Every human has universal needs such as survival, safety, love, esteem, self-actualization, and self-transcendence.

When you start your song, the main character's need is unfulfilled.

The narrative you craft in your lyrics should move the needle on this gas gauge towards either fulfillment or further depletion, depending on the story you wish to tell.

To create coherence, ensure that the problem and goal state connect through a single human need.

If your song starts with a struggle for survival, it should logically end with either restored health (closer to a full tank) or worsened circumstances (closer to an empty tank).

For example, in Gloria Gaynor’s "I Will Survive", the protagonist moves from being dependent on her partner (low esteem) to becoming a strong, independent survivor (high esteem).

Not all songs lead to positive outcomes. Some serve as warnings, showing the fatal consequences of certain actions.

For instance, Johnny Cash’s "Folsom Prison Blues" tells of a man’s regret and loss of freedom, emphasizing the gravity of his prior actions.

By understanding and applying these frameworks – knowing the starting place, defining the destination, and mapping through human needs – you can take your song somewhere meaningful.

As you write, keep in mind the journey from challenge to resolution and how it affects your audience's emotional experience.

Remember, the key to a compelling song is connection. Focus on the human needs that bridge the beginning and the end of your song, and you’ll craft songs that not only resonate but also inspire and move your listeners.