“Songwriting is like attempting to solve the NYT crossword during a therapy session.”

I came across this quote recently, from songwriter Jason Isbell. I had to think about it for a few seconds; at first it just seemed clever to me. Then its deeper resonance started to sink in.

It really is true that songwriting requires a combination, often simultaneous, of two very different mental/emotional functions. One is meticulous, craft- and detail oriented (the crossword puzzle). The other requires us to let our emotions loose and let the subconscious free-associate (therapy).

It’s a neat trick… when we can pull it off.

Art is where feeling meets form. Emotion needs a vessel. You can have delicious wine… but without something to contain it that doesn’t leak… what have you got? Liquid spilling onto the floor. On the other hand,  the most elegant wine glass in the world won’t make bad wine good.

I’ve noticed that most songwriters seem to be naturally better at one side or the other of this feeling/form equation.

Personally, I think I had a basic understanding of the nuts and bolts, of the technical, crossword part, way before I was able to access what made a song of mine come alive, feeling-wise. That had to develop before I started generating some songs that felt like they had some gravity, some real weight.

I’ve worked with many songwriters who have the opposite challenge. Their feelings are right there but they lack the craft to successfully embody those feelings in their songs.

These two aspects don’t exist or develop totally separately. Think about it like playing the piano – the left and right hands have to work independently and together at the same time. But sometimes one hand is weaker and needs special focus.

Most of us have more game in one area than the other. Good songwriting requires both. Fortunately, we can work on our weak spots. We can improve. It just takes time and attention.

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