We’re all SCARED and we don’t even know it…
The title may sound a little harsh… but it hits home on many levels.
After reading an email from a subscriber (BTW her name is Nicole - hello Nicole of you’re reading) I had to address something. This post is important for several things in life - not just songwriting. I hope you stay with me on this one - and I’d love to know your thoughts after you’ve read it.
Sometimes, in life we hold back because ‘lack of confidence’. We hold back because we’re afraid of embarrassment. Quite often, we get nervous and anxious. We dread to avoid disappointment. The bottom line is, we are SCARED. We have an innate reaction in our nano-second culture for the feeling of ‘fear’. This usually takes over ‘love and joy’ for the most part.
Have you ever been afraid to put down your DEEPEST emotions on paper and then presenting them to the world? I know I have. Have you ever you been afraid to write a song about something SO personal? So personal that you feel you’d feel embarrassed if you played it to your friends, family and the genera public?
Of course we all feel this way. But I’m going to say something now that may shock a lot of people…
You are HOLDING BACK your BEST work by doing this! Seriously. Take a good look at most of the mega successful artists/bands in the world (those who write their own stuff). They all have one thing in common… they’ve written songs with complete conviction. How? Because it’s personal. VERY personal sometimes. They weren’t afraid, so why should you be?
These artists have gone on to dominate the world with their music and their message. All because they put ASIDE their fear and just WENT for it. Do you recognize any of these faces?
v
Listen, I’m no exception. I too, have fears. All sorts, in fact. But I’m trying my very best day by day, to step OUT of this dreaded ‘comfort zone’ and GROW as an writer and as a person. And I do this by thinking about the fruitful results it will bring. Not the fear and the embarrassment.
If you’re going to play the role of a person who thinks from an ‘abundance, love and joy’ perspective then you’re going to create magic with your material. I can almost guarantee it. You’ll be fearless with your music and lyrics - you’ll write stuff that you LOVE.
And guess what? When you do this, OTHERS resonate with it. They relate to it. Because they believe that you’ve been there. The audience believe that your songs are the truth - and they resonate *with that truth*.
No ‘buts’ or ‘what ifs’. Listen, every single successful songwriter faces the battle of being belittled and is nearly AWAYS taken a shot at. The difference is they focus on the joy they bring to people with their music. NOT the frustrations or embarrassment. They focus on the joy and the connection - NOT the fear of failure.
And now you can do the same…
Shamir
May 6th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Well said, but knowing this doesn’t give me the courage to do anything about it. Nor does it equip me any better to overcome the problem.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Well to say the above is not true, you would be lying. Yes I am in that situation at present, just starting out to write songs, and I can relate to what you have said. The emotion is real and I have come to realise that you just need to believe in yourself and believe in the goal you had when you first thought you would like to write songs. I am not letting the emotion to get in the way of any lyric at present, just letting it all flow out. What you have written above just supports my belief that I can do this… Thanks.
Michael
May 6th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
So True So True,
i’m usually pretty good at not holding back with my lyrics, but i’ve been
trying to write a song about my sister who commited suicide in 1999.
every time i think about writing something i stop, I feel anything i write
will come out forced or not say the right thing, or not have the right melody. If i write about my sister it’s gotta be fucking great even if it’s simple i feel as though it’s gotta be as good as it can be. sensitve,smart,
with that beautiful melody. I feel like i need a Paul McCartney to help write
it so i don’t fuck it up. Anyway i’m sure i’ll take a stab at it one day.
i really enjoy your blogs/emails. Thanks Mike
May 6th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Yes I do believe there is an aspect of fear but in my situation I have a hard time connecting the right progression of words, with the progression of chords. Can you help?
May 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Believe in yourself? What does that mean anyway?
But in regards to your blog, I already knew that. I more suffer that with writing music, going ‘aww this riff is too crap, no-one will like it.’ Guess I just gotta go for it hey?
May 6th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I cant seem to get the words to match my melody.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I have a technique to overcome this: I use o watch films and TV series and other stuff like that, and then I imagine myself as one of the characters and I write according to the feelings I believe their felling at the moment x)
May 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Thank you, Shamir. Thank you. THANK YOU.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I understand what your saying, I need to focuse more and not let my present life and fear consume me so that I can focuse on music, I need to change my atmosphere you know? like create a space in my apartment that I can focuse. I have my desk with pro-tools and my computer but its still something missing. Thnak you for your blog, I just got an idea.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Michael, YES. You gotta go for it. What use is it if you don’t put your all into a song?
Gavin - whatever you focus on EXPANDS. If you focus on “oh, this is crap”… guess what, all you’ll get is more crap.
Paula, that’s great stuff. We should create an atmosphere where we feel limitless and free. This way we can truly write without pressure.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
i cant even get my lyrics right sometimes like its all up in my head but it just wont come out at all smh and i really want to write stuff down about how i feel…..
May 6th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
fear can be a good thing. i have so many emotions so many feelings so much love in my heart and soul that has been buried deep inside me for so long, that is took my wife leaving me and taking our son for me to realize that what i feel is gunuine and comes for the soul. i have never even tried to write my feelings and experieces down on paper until now and wow it just starts flowing like a river sometimes.now i write my thoughts down daily.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
In part, I agree - we are scared! Of rejection (which plays a HUGE role in the music business), of being misunderstood, & of being ridiculed - at the least! I also agree that these successful people who HAVE written this way, have benefitted from doing so! With me? So far? OK - let me go a step further! These stories that (to the songwriter) HAVE to be told are just that - stories! In usually a 3 to 3/12 minute ’summary’!
The ‘details’ have been skimmed over for the fact of length of the song, & MOST IMPORTANTLY, the ‘wording’ had to be grammatically correct. & ‘catchy’ to keep the audience listening! Writing a song, as any songwriter will tell you, takes work!
Sometimes a lot of it!!
The description of your 1st date with Hilda (or whoever) might be a milestone in YOUR mind- but BEFORE you ‘promote’ this to the world, ask yourself 1. do I REALLY want the whole world to KNOW about what happened, or why?, & 2. IF the answer is YES, then go on to ask yourself IF the publisher, producer, artist, A&R man, or whoever you are going to ‘pitch’ this to will even like it! Remember = this is a business to them, & you are no more than a Fuller Brush man trying to get them to buy a product - YOUR song!!! Ray Withrow, President of No Creek Music (ASCAP)
May 6th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
made me think a bit different now,(its all a matter of someone telling you talking to or hardly or not think it in your head), i think people/songwriters etc., need to be encouraged to feel confident as much. i never really wrote about love in general i had way other subjects to write about, but :))yeaa it made me think again about writing one, just couse of this page above, haha silly but yeah..
May 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I agree, I definately have this problem. Thanks for the encouraging advice
May 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I have tried this approach with the band I was recently kicked out of. My personal feelings and insights were not appreciated by the some members of the band. I got tired of working on everybody elses songs, and pulling teeth to get them to work on mine with the same effort (shades of George Harrison and Lennon-McCartney). I thought the songs were just bad, but people who have heard them say they’re good. So it is simply a matter of artist tastes. Not a problem. I’m going solo, and will use some friends as studio musicians to get my CD recorded. I do want to tell you that your e-mails have helped with my sonwriting a great deal. Thank you.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Well, I agree for the most part, but what am i supposed to do? How am i supposed to do it?
May 6th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Thank you Dan. I appreciate the feedback
May 6th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
First of all, thank you for a some great e-mails!
This made me think a bit, and i reckon that the songs that I like the most are the ones with a pretty personal subject (from the songwriters point of view). I have countless times re-written songs, to make them a bit less personal. I will from this moment on stop doing that.
Hello from Norway.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Instead of worrying about it, why ont just wonder about it?
What I have read of your words Shamir, I have found many things of interest. Keep it up!
Frank.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I feel it’s the fear of rejection that holds a lot of songwriters back. When I get a reply in the mail from some publisher I sent my music to, I’m almost afraid to open the envelope. But, I’ve learned that just because a certain publisher cannot use my song, doesn’t mean that another won’t, so I just keep going on to the next. After all, nothing ventured…nothing gained, right?
Love your e-mails, Shamir…very informative.
Marion
May 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Fantastic tips you give us, Shamir….. They really helped me a lot recently.
I am a post-grunge/alternative rock songwriter in a trio band, and I was writing a song I knew I could really turn into something if I had the tips I needed. And you helped me a lot. Not only that, but after I finished writing that song, you inspired me to keep on writing more songs, song after song….. Every time I create a new melody or phrase, I try to make something out of it.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
i have wrote a song about my personal life but now you have said that i will read/sing it to public/family
May 6th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Actually, 50% of d songs i write are derived fm m’ personal experience but i just sell them n they are fallen 4.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS. TOLD TO ME BY A SUCESSFUL WRITER WHO WROTE FOURTEEN YEARS BEFORE HAVING 5 CUTS BY GEORGE STRAIT. THIS HELPED ME MORE THAN ANY WORDS BECAUSE IT REASSURED ME IT IS OK TO TRY TO WRITE. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN IT. YOU CAN’T LEARN TO SWIM BUT NOT JUMPING IN THE WATER. EVERYONE IS NOT A PERFECT SWIMMER. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT BUT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF YOU DON’T GO FOR IT. ALSO THE MORE YOU SWING AT THE BALL THE BETTER YOU WILL GET. KEEP WRITING AND LOOK BACK A YEAR FROM NOW AND SEE THE IMPROVEMENT YOU HAVE MADE. BE REALISTIC AND IT CAN HAPPEN.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Hey! Yes! this is TRUE!
I have read about it in the book
“Discover your destiny with the monk who sold his ferari”
by
Robin S Sharma
It`s exactly what is writen there and also ralf waldo Amerson says about how we all conformed and not oroginal because we are NOT BEING OURSELVES honestly. WHY
BECAUSE OUR FEARS
I can undertand it and i think that also you need just to go for whatever and then examin it and see if you really like it.
Yes someties also you try to be in some “cool style” which is basically not yours
I agree that those fears…he says there:
“Behind your greatese fears there is teh life you have been dreaming about”
So yeah, i agree about i know about it form different spiritual and psychological resources. cool you said it
May 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Shamir…..and to all.
One cannot make the greatest omelette, without first breaking the eggs.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Hello Shamir,
There is a saying that “the easy way to fail is to have the FEAR of failure”. That means if one has the fear not to succeed in his/her song, definitely, he/she will fail. Naturally, we all fear at one time or the other. But the cure for Fear is Love. When we do something with Love there is always a way of coming out well with it. Whenever we write song let there be love put into it and not having fear of failure.
Thanks.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Shamir;
Thanks for all your enciteful emails. I have been writing songs for 46 years, ever since I was 12 years old. I started making up songs in my head as I delivered newspapers as a boy. It made the time fly away.
I started getting serious about songwriting in 1971. My early songs were pretty bad but they improved with time. In the late ’70’s my songwriting started to get pretty good and consistent.
I learned a very valuable secret called writing in the flow. Writing songs in the flow is amazing. The finished song is beautiful and I realize that I am just the conduit. I call it the conception to reception process. Songs written in the flow merely write themselves.
God has really blessed people who cqn write songs. Some songwriters like Paul Simon,Paul Williams and Bernie Taupin wite the words first then the music. Some songwriters like Paul McCartney, Elton John wirte the music first. I have the unique talent of having the complete song just flow into my head all at once. Sometimes it’s the chorus first, then the melody. But I usually write the whole song in about 15-20 minutes when I’m in the flow. It’s awesome!
I’ve found that I cannot just sit down and write a song just to be writing a song. That’s how the Tin Pan Alley songwriters like Neil Diamon got started. To me that would be torture writing.
The key is how do you get into the flow. Here is what works for me: Put on music you like to listen to and listen with headphones on. Crank up the volume just a little bit higher than you would normally listen to music at. As you liten to the music start singing along and you’ll soon feel yourself harmonizing. You’ll actually feel & hear the harmonizing ring in your ears and headphones. It’s a wonderful feeling. As you put everything out of your mind but the music you’ll feel yourself getting into a flow with what you’re listening to. The next thing you know your creative juices start to kick in and new song ideas (words & music) just begin to flow into your mind.
I have found that the only way I can write a song is when I’m in the flow. I have been at it so long I can now kick myself into the flow by hearing a song on the radio or from something I’m experiencing in my personal life.
Fear of rejection is not something I’m afraid of. If someone doesn’t like my song then that is there personal opinion not everyone elses. I look at it as some will, some won’t and there is always someone out there looking for a new song to jump inside their head and dance. I write songs because I love to write. I write to please myself and knowing that there are people who love listening to a new song.
Songwriting is magic. The magic of following your song from it’s conception in your mind, to its reception by having it recorded and then heard on the radio or performed live is something words can’t describe. You have to feel it to believe it.
I hope I’ve shared some things that other songwriters can take and use to make their own special kind of music. So, my fellow songwrites learn to write in the flow and create those awesome songs you’ve always wanted to do. Believe me they are inside you just waiting to flow out.
Paul
May 6th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
All you said is very true. What needs to be learned and dealt with is the general public is not as focused on you as you might think. Everybody is just as concerned about how they come across. Get your focus off of self and give others a chance see you. “Strut your stuff”. What a difference this will make.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
As you’ve seen from the responses, we are MANY who recognize our feelings in your text. So do I, but a couple of months ago, at the age of 65, I finally found the courage to let a professional musician ( who is also my relative, which possibly made it slightly easier) listen to a number of very personal songs I’ve written throughout the years, and just tried once or twice in my church - songs for those who, like me, find it hard to fit in among the overly convinced and seemingly always happy. And next year, some of the songs will be published! There is an ear for every song, but you have to sing it to be heard.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
here is something that will hopefully be of some help on this topic. i wrote this song for a movie i created about 911 if you read all the lyrics or listern to my words ,you will notice I change our whole society as we know it. there is a part in the song that a friend of mine took as major offense I could tell this really hurt her feelings so I went and made the change that I was not sure if I heard it on the news or if it was a dream and that put a smile on her face
i named ths song In God we Trust and you can hear it at http://www.myspace.com/dahduke or if your on you tube just type in dahduke your all welcome to send me a message or post your comments where my songs are at and id like to say if it was not for Shamir and his song writing tips i would have never made it this far
May 6th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Paul, thank you for your awesome story
It’s SO cool for you to share your history with us. Writing ‘in the flow’ is an incredibly powerful tip. I hope everybody reads that post!
Nora, you’re right. ‘Strut your stuff’ indeed! So many are afraid to. We don’t need to be.
Ingemar, wow. That’s very cool. When you push your songs out there, magic can happen
May 6th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I also believe this is true. It is amazing, how the truly great songs are where we connect to a person not the surface of them like liking the same colors but to something they never even really talk about to other people, its about finding our humanity.
I have been getting your blog for some time, and don’t or haven’t dedicated enough time to songwriting, I think about it all the time, and the time when i think of the best lyrics and music are when i am driving, but hey, i will keep going and stick at it. Thanks for your blog!
May 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Hi Shamir,
Is there a way we could have a “sharing space” on here, where we could post our songs for others to read and comment on? And maybe give each other some pointers, etc.
The reason I ask is this:
I once belonged to a website that allowed us to post our poetry and storied for others to review. Members would offer their thoughts as to whether they liked it and what they liked about it, and sometimes they even offered some constructive criticism or helpful comments that might improve the work. This experience has forever increased my confidence in my own writing. It taught me that whether or not others find my work to their liking, I like it. And that’s good enough. And if something I write is well received, then BONUS! That’s a huge stroke to the ego.
The critiques kind of work like a mental steering wheel. We learn what works and what doesn’t as to what it takes to get the approval we seek for our stuff. What will make a well received story, or poem–or song.
In my own experience, my family, my friends want to be supportive and encouraging, but a love for writing is not something we have in common, and asking them for a critique is like pulling teeth. A support group (critique group) with like-minded members would be an awesome thing for us. There is nothing so good for building self-esteem as a job well done.
Anyways, it was just a thought. I don’t know if it’s possible.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I appreciate the inspiration and encouragement I have received on this site,from everyone. I do believe that songwriting is like a multiple transit depot, were one can choose a particular form of transportation in order to get there. Each song or set of lyrics that I write is like calling a different taxi or taking a different vehicle to get there. One may call several cabs to get to different places or to the same place on different occasions. I have never been able to express all my feelings and thoughts in one song on a topic. If someone has been deeply hurt over a loss or bubbling up over a new found love, It’s quite fine to express it as you feel at that moment. Take another cab so to speak, and go back there again. Each time can be equally as meaningful, yet a completely brand new composition. I try to avoid expressing all my feelings and thoughts in one song because I simply can’t. There is no such thing as the perfect song. There are a lot of wonderful and great songs and a lot of places to pick up great tools to make them happen, and this is one of them………Thank you.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
hi Shamir,thanx for everything man.you are really helpful.you know you are right fear is very very dangerous in our lives.we lose important things in our lives because of it.it makes us to forget about ourselves and think about what others will say about us when we really be ourselves.i write songs about my personal issues but yiou know most of the times i don’t sing them out to my friends or family because i think they will see what i feel.thanx a lot for your advises you know i will let it flow all out.
i write songs,since 1998,but i did not sell any of my songs,i love writing,and now i’m inspired by you and even writing more and more songs.how do i sell them to publishers ,and other musicians?thanx anyway
May 6th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
hey people i am looking to conncet with other musicians in the world. I am from The Gambia. Pls contact me. zillgemz@yahoo.com .once again,Thank you Shamir. You ar the best.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I’d like to say this to Michael Carty:
My brother passed away, just a little over a year ago, after a year-long, excruciating, battle with cancer. I loved my brother dearly, but he and I had not had a good relationship all of our lives. One day, a few months before he discovered the cancer, something about his manner changed,and for the first time, we connected. I was thrilled. I was over-joyed.
After he had suffered with the cancer for some months and it became apparent that he was not going to beat it, I felt compelled to write my feelings in a poem. I wanted him to read them.
My sisters were against me letting him read the poem at that time. It addressed the fact that I was losing him. They felt I would be taking his hope away because he was still fighting so hard to beat it. So I didn’t send it.
Later, when he had all but wasted away and there was no doubt left, I sent him the poem in an email. He had become so weakened that he no longer read his emails; his wife would read them to him. She refused to read him my poem. She felt it was telling him he was going to die, and she was determined that he was not going to die because she was feeding him all the special foods and concoctions and it was just a matter of time before the cancer would leave his body. So she didn’t want him to hear that he was dying because he may give up hope.
On his death bed, a few days before he died, I asked him if he had ever heard my poem that I wrote for him. He whispered no, he didn’t remember any poem. So I asked if I could read it to him over the phone and he said yes, he’d like to hear it.
So I began to read the poem to him. And then my phone began to crackle and make weird noises and several times my brother said he had lost my voice, that the phone seemed to cut out. I had read the poem to him, but he had heard very little of it.
I gave up trying to have my brother hear my poem.
The day of his memorial, my poem was read out during the service by the minister. The mister was fantastic and read it exactly as I had written it. I could not have read it as well, myself. There were noises in the background of others responding to my poem. And in those noises, I found my acknowlegement of the emotion I felt and had shared. It was a release that I had not been able to get until that day.
Go ahead and write your song to your sister, Mike. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You may write this one and decide to write another one later, as well. Or more. Talk to her and tell her what you want to say, saying it just the way you would speak to her if you could actually see her in front of you. Let that emotion that’s been bottled up all this time flow out of you, just as naturally as you are thinking it. Get those thoughts down on paper, and not until you’ve written every last word you want to say, do you allow yourself to go back and begin to rewrite. Feel the emotion and capture those feelings in words. Just begin. It’s not about perfect. It’s about saying what’s in your heart.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I would like to thank Paul for his story.
Writing in the flow comes to me too, though if a song pops into my head I write the words down in a little book I carry at all times.
I seem to blank people when they are talking to me, as I am in the moment and cannot be disturbed, conceited, rude? hope not, but I hate having the tune in my head only for mundane reality to awaken me.
Shamir, I feel that I pull no punches with my lyrics and write from the heart, though some of my songs remain private to me at this time. I will share them when I am ready but they are the ones that matter most.
Thanks for your help
May 6th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
true
May 6th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Shamir,
thank you for this! Your 100% right, before I was scared and usually woudln’t put my exact emotions because I didn’t want people to get into my lyrics and ask me if that’s me I’m talking about, but it doesn’t matter. If it relates to someone and touched them, who cares what anybody asks me. At least they’re listening. Thanks Shamir!
I’ll be writing a little more in myself, just remembering that those songs are really “The Magic!”
Hope to hear more soon,
~TREVOR~
May 6th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hey, Shamir!
Thanks for all the songwriting tips. They have helped so much and made me a more direct writer.
I will try to convict the emotions i am most scared of in a song…
I am so nervous….. :-/
May 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I loved reading everyones stories. They were very inspiring. Thanks Shamir for sharing your secrets and thoughts with us. I am a beginner. I have yet to write a song. I used to make up songs when I was a child, but have not in my adulthood. My mind goes everywhere and it is very hard for me to concentrate on one story. Maybe I should write about that! HA
May 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I wrote my first full song the other day and we hopefully will play it with my band in a few weeks. I’m nervous and I don’t know if it’s all that good, but I had to overcome my fear to sing, so I will do this as well. THANK YOU for the article! it gives me courage and resolve. I sure don’t want to chicken out!
another thing… all these pop artists have written songs that weren’t all that great. That too inspires me.
Again, GREAT article!
May 6th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I, like others, have to admit that I have had the fear of letting out
certain personal feelings in my songwriting. Perhaps it would be a good
exercise to look closely at many of the popular songwriters to see how
they have expressed themselves. Maybe then I will feel less fearful in
holding back from what I may need to release. Thanks Shamir, for the
sharing.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
that was a great message you inspired me
May 6th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
thank you for those words!
my problem is not having any ideas but cannot bring em into song form or to an end.i wasted years with hundreds of (what i think…)great riffs,phrases,lyrics,hooks,melodies,etc…
cause i always try to reach the same level of emotion in my songs that i have when listening to my idols but everytime i fail.i dont know where the problem is or how to solve it?can somebody help me on this???thx for every post….max
May 6th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
You are totally right, feel the fear and do it anyway. inspirational message. Thank you
May 6th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Your spot on the money with that one. We all feel fear the beauty of it is that we all have the ability to over come it if we speak from our heart. You really do need to be your own best friend when you are writing song’s.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hey Shamir,
Your blog above helped me a little bit of understanding why i was trying to write songs like stories, instead of writing about my story. My problem though it actually getting them on paper. I have all the ideas and everything but have no way to start. Maybe I need a step by step? Tell me what u think.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Shamir this is my challenge make this into a motivarional song and send me my royalties most of the words\ideas came from you … add and subtract and send me a complete version best regards
Dave Gordon
We’re all SCARED and we don’t even know it…
We’re all SCARED and we don’t even know it
Time to break free or bravery we must show it
To ourselves we definitely owe it
Sometimes, in life we hold back because of ‘lack of confidence’
But failure is not a choice or a means of defense
Should we hold back because we’re afraid of embarrassment.
Should we dread the possibility of disappointment
Chorus:
We’re all SCARED and we don’t even know it
Time to break free or bravery we must show it
To ourselves we definitely owe it
We get anxious and even nervous
We look at our score sheet all we see is zeros
We have an innate reaction in our nano-second culture for the feeling of ‘fear’
This usually takes over ‘love and joy’ and from this we must steer clear
We are HOLDING BACK our BEST
With fear like this we‘ll never succeed and ace the test
We must put ASIDE all fears and be success BENT
We should get a blank sheet of paper on it all stresses, frustrations and emotions we then VENT
Chorus:
We’re all SCARED and we don’t even know it
Time to break free or bravery we must show it
To ourselves we definitely owe it
Among us there are few exceptions we all have fears
Stop wasting time shedding tears
In this cruel world Losers don’t get cheers
In this cruel world Losers get jeers
Step out in the field of life and start to sow
If we don’t sow nothing will grow
Evadnodrog_Muzik©
May 7th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Getting over the fear of vulnerability is such a huge hill to overcome. As an artist and songwriter, there is such a sense of becoming vulnerable to the crowd. Conquering that fear allows you to simultaneously connect with the audience, while telling your story. For the longest time I wouldn’t let anyone hear or read my lyrics for the very fear that others might belittle it. I eventually put myself out there and the outcome shocked me. People related so much to the words I written. I believe that some songs are meant just for yourself. There are some songs that are personal that can help or relate to others. I believe you have to get to the point where you find why you are writing and the purpose of it. You never know the ways your experiences, your failures, your triumphs, your moments of despair, etc. could help someone else or connect with someone else. So in summary, you have to become bold and determine if your song can be related to others. Even if it reaches one person, you never know how many others it could affect!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Ive known this about myself for a long time and I totally agree with you.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Great stuff, Shamir! Thanks for reminding. However, sometimes my problem is quite the opposite, and I wonder if others might share this: sometimes I spend so long and so much energy in digging for deeper feelings, my head becomes a mess. It’s as if I use my head so much more than my heart, trying to come up with something ’smart’ or ‘impressive’. I am aware of it, but feel that there’s not much I can do when it happens. (I am a psychotherapist by trade…now, you’ve think people like me KNOW about emotions, right? Sadly, when it comes to writing, it’s not always the case :-P)
May 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
im actually the opposite…i put out all my deepest feelings into my songs
May 7th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Thankyou so much for this post, you really put into simple terms a big issue that affects everyone. I have been reading your blogs for a while now, but I still don’t write songs very often at all. Why? Because I feel that everything I write has to be perfect straight away. I can’t stand it when a song I wrote doesn’t sound right, for whatever reason, and therefore give up really quickly. Your post today has made me really realise why I do this. I am afraid to try in case I don’t succeed. Hopefully, this realisation will help me in the future to just throw my self into writing, without fear. Thankyou again for your great advice.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I love not only reading the blog posting by Shamir, but also all the reinforcing responses in variations of ideas that are based on this subject. It is such a great way to get inspired and truly feel the subject matter on all commenting from their perspective and experience…
I feel that the fear factor in songwriting plagues me from time to time and sometimes, out of frustration - this causes me to face the fear and get out some fantastic ideas. I’ve noticed that when I’m trying to say very little - I will not say enough - and play around until it rythmically fits what I’m trying to musically put forth..and when I write to say alot - there are some profound statements that are highlighted in my writing to me that make ‘great lines in a song’ - so - it’s important to write without fear - because you can always rework your thoughts on paper - to the point of getting it just the way you want to say it…and when you perform it - it’s got the confidence to rock the airwaves into people’s hearts.
Keep strong and face your fears!
Lara Noble )*
May 7th, 2008 at 5:03 am
TO JAMES
Who can’t fit words to his melodies you need a colaborator email me at (terry_ford@hotmail.co.uk) i have just received an HONOURABLE mention for one of my lyrics in the songoftheyear competition, just email me and maybe we can work together. Terry Ford.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Shamir,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I totally agree. I recently begun songwriting and I was able to create love ballads from true life experiences. The lyrics flowed easily because I was able to express what I was feeling straight from my heart and didn’t hold back. I’m a writer not a singer so I don’t have the fear of performing my own work. The only fear I have is finding the right artist who can sing it with the same emotion I felt when writing it to get the message across to the listener.
BlackHeaven21@gmail.com
May 7th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Shamir,
I am like Sy, I can put all my emotions into my lyrics and I find it easy. Just close your eyes and recall your memories, and the words will flow out onto the paper. Keep up the good work, Terry.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Yes i do believe it Shamir there is fear in almost all of us.
The thing that is holding people from writing about themselves is fear and we have to overcome it by putting down in writing the things that you think it will embarass you and your fear will be over.
I have a problem with getting rhyming and progresion of words. Please sort me out.
Thanks for your mails.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I dont have issues with putting my feelings and emotions down on paper but I seem to be overcritical of myself because I dont let anyone hear my songs! I enjoy them though, Writing for me is a personal way of sharing my own thoughts and feelings with myself. They mean a lot to me personaly
May 7th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Bev, thank you for the wonderful post. I’m sure Paul will really appreciate it.
Shawn, perhaps you’re looking a little deeper than you should. Take an single emotional aspect and write the song - in truth. That’s the key, truth. People go through all sorts of things and if you can show that you you TOO go through the same stuff, (and write it with absolute conviction) then it’s bound to resonate with MANY people.
Evad, cool! Thanks for the song!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
That’s brilliant advice! I think it’s important to keep trying no matter what your inner critic says. If your first and most heartfelt desire is to write songs then you MUST be capable of it..Knowing that for a fact means you won’t mind how long it takes to uncover that capacity.
Keep on trying!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hey Shamir,
i loved this blog it gave me so much confidence!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Interesting and to the point. Personal experience can’t be traded for someone else’s role playing.I kow some lyrice I write, are hard to memorize even though I wrote them. If they involved a personal aspect, I wouldn’t have to memorize them. Id know them already.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I will not be afraid! Grammies- here I come!
May 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
i always write what i feel. well, usually, that is. there are times when i am scared to write down negative attitude. thanks!!!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
After I read this article realize that my DEEPEST fear is scaring me into the corner of the shadow and this article makes you tells your fear ‘ it’s time to get out and move on’
May 7th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
shamir i am actually facing this predicament right now,i have no confidence in the lyrics of the song i have been trying to write.somehow,reading this blog has helped.i am going to give it a shot
May 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Hi,
Thank you! that gives me a very productive perspective. What I see as soo attractive in songwriting is the magic and love. So I’m looking foreward to it…
PS suggestion for previous commenter to step over fear: you can verbalise the ‘abundance, love and joy’ perspective, and say/think it to yourself all the time, (as well as when sonwriting).
eg “I know how to create awesome songs”, “my songs bring such deep joy”, “I am alive to my life”, “I am loved and I am loving”, and “I’m safe.”
It does take discipline. I’ve done this kind of thing before and just found my whole life lightened-up.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Never feel ashamed to write about what you’ve experienced in life. Vunerability in music, can sometimes be magic. We are all human and we make mistakes. Your experiences in life can help someone who may have gone through the same thing. Be proud that you are in a place where you can sing about it because somethimes that is where your own personal healing can come from.
May 8th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Hi S,
That was nice. It sounds like a song to me:D Keep it up.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:28 am
For me, insight is the key here. Yes I might have read the above and agreed that it is true (confidence) is the answer, but stating this does not always make a difference to the way someone might feel or behave at the time, therefore it is a premature assumption to think that we might feel any difference now, but thought and all information has an effect on us all eventually especially if we absorb it and believe it…it will only make a difference to you if you believe and have faith in yourself until it becomes unthought..does your thoughts create your world? If not you can change this and make it happen in the future. It is also possible to perceive your universe through a negative structure of thought, before the positive structure comes into play…. good reading - Rebirthing in the New Age by Leonard Orr and Sondra Ray… Many thanks Shamir for your advice…love Nicole
May 8th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Thanx a lot for this post…It really encourages me!I learned that I am not the only one that has some fears sometimes…well..to say better many many times:-)
And the encouragement to write being honest..abt u and ur feelings…That’s powerful.Thank you.God bless abundantly!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:11 am
THERE ARE THINGS YOU WANT OUT THERE AND…WELL THINGS YOU
DON’T WANT OUT THERE AND SOMETIMES IT’S NOT FEAR, BUT RATHER
WHAT’S CALLED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:13 am
OH, SHAMIR, ONE MORE THING - NOT EVERYTHING YOU WRITE
HAS TO GO OUT. SOME THINGS AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH OR MEANT
TO. ONE INDUSTRY PERSON TOLD ME IN THE 70′S, THE RULE OF THE
FOLDER - OR MOST STAYS IN IT AND ONLY THE BEST STUFF GOES
OUT OF IT.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I have written many songs but I do not know how to get it to the right person
May 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Every great song expresses the writer’s feeling despite how personal. There’s no point being afraid of expressing your deepest emotion, but not everything is meant to be put out.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:15 am
i know im scared of practically everything, but my main problem is not writing the personal lyrics, its once i have written them i dont have enough courage to share them is there any way to solve that besides just doing it. i just need a first step to build up enough courage
May 10th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I don’t get shy i just dont but i just can’t turn the thoughts in my head into good lyrics…..can you help me plz shamir?
May 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I have the same problems like most of you have ,but I try to remind my self that this is a fun thing , a make you feel good happy thing
nothing to loose my dear friends nothing at all,
May 12th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Shamir,
It is the truth. Songs, poems, stories are sang and told from within the soul. The deepest emotions. From the most dreadful, darkest experiences to the most happy and joyous. The human race relates. That is the stuff songs are made from. It is fearful to allow those who are nearest to your heart catch glimpses of the most vulnerable pieces of your soul. However, we must all venture out onto that limb-even when it hangs out over a cliff that drops off into nothingness. Something comes from everything, even nothingness.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:27 am
For me the most difficult moment ist vhen i should send demo for someone or send the lyrics for the composer. Then i feel like i was dropping a child.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
great help but have you got any tips on how to become more confident???
if you do could you please email me.
By the way your songwriting emails are really really really helpful and I just want to say a massive thankyou!!!
Is there a way to become the best musician in the world?
thanks
May 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am
well this made me smile inside =]
truth is, i dont always have that inspiration, i normally get it when its totaly unexpected, just yesterday i was in school working and all of a sudden these amazing lyrics just sortof floated through my mind, so i wrote them down and now im working on them to make a new song
This made me think quite alot about song writing and i have a different view on it, which is a good thing!
The main reason I like writing is because i can express myself through the lyrics, and you have helped me alot!! thanks!!
Do emal me ;P
May 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
hi tnx so mch for that inspiring thoughts………we hav to be confident enaf
May 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Appreciate your blog, Shamir, enjoyed reading all the comments.
I have written many songs over my years but I rarely try to put music to them. I am content to sit back and stash them in a folder. Once every few years I look them over and can feel the experiences all over again.
I have no fear of exposing myself, no intention to try to use or sell the songs, but I do sometimes wonder what will ever become of them when I die.
The simple act of writing (ya, w/pen and paper) is the best fix for me.
best regards to all…
May 16th, 2008 at 1:12 am
You are definitly right and that is exactly how I feel, I mean I have started a bunch of songs but I never finish them because I think someone is gonna read them and laugh or tell me they suck but now that I have read this, I think I willl get out those songs and keep trying because you are right, I shouldn’t be afraid. Thank you so much for writing this it helped me a lot
May 16th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Thank you for the blog. I had a killer guitar riff and most of the music for a song done, but no words, which is weird because I usually start with words and fit a tune to it. You said to write about what I’m passionate about, and I took your advice. I walked around my town one day just thinking about lyrics I could get behind, and ended up with one of the very best songs I ever wrote. Thanks again.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Shamir,
Nice blog, I think this has been helpful and the emails are very informative. You can check out what I’ve done with your advice at http://www.myspace.com/criticalredub. Thanks again and keep it up!
May 18th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thank you very much. I have been reading ‘THINK AND GROW RICH’ by Napoleon Hill. This has helped me to overcome fear. I hope and believe that I will be great one day.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:57 am
i agree
the only people who will ever make it somewhere with anything, are the ones who put aside their fears, and try what no one has before; take a risk, put yourself out their. Find something new, and different.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:32 am
as usual its feel good to read about what u had always feel is peculiar to u as it affect others,more better to know that one need not fear at such…………………….samad from nigeria
October 12th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Shamir,
Thank you for your inspirational messages. I feel empowered by your words and will do my best to fearlessly write. I am not a song writer yet, but will be.
April 14th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Enjoyed your coverage of this engrossing idea. Noted and return for more good reading. Cheers.