Music as Conversation, Not Product
Why I Write Songs as Dialogue, Not Just Content
A Car Ride and a Question
Recently I was having a conversation with one of my daughters about how I write lyrics. She’s more of a pop music listener (she is a pre-teen after all), but even she prefers songs with some depth to them—or at least a sad story behind them.
She doesn’t have a phone, but she does have a playlist on mine. When we’re in the car together, she eagerly scrolls through her favorites. Her go-to tracks? Sympathy is a Knife by Charli XCX and By the Grace of God by Katy Perry. Thanks to Stranger Things, Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush and Master of Puppets by Metallica have also found their way onto her list. Yep, Metallica. She loves the song. Sometimes it’s the small things that make me happy.
One day, as we drove, she asked me about how I write songs. My answer was simple:
I can’t write a pop song to save my life.
My music has to be about something.
Finding My Voice
For years, I struggled with lyrics because I didn’t know how to listen for my own voice. I thought songs had to be written a certain way, and I often dismissed “pop music” as vacuous. (For some reason, the Bloodhound Gang always came to mind—don’t ask me why.)
But here’s the truth: a lot of pop music, and even the songs my daughter loves, are about something substantial. Still, when it comes to my writing, the words have to carry weight. They need to start a conversation, spark reflection, or serve as commentary on life and the world around me.
How Songs Begin for Me
When I sit down to write, it’s usually in the quiet, with no one around. Sometimes the mood or setting shapes the writing. For instance, I wrote Kingdom Come (demo linked here) late at night while Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy spun in the background. Did Zeppelin influence the lyrics? Probably not—outside of nudging me to pick up the 12-string guitar—but the atmosphere mattered.
Most of the time, I already have a tune. Something in that melody jogs a phrase or thought that’s been sitting in the back of my mind, and I build around it.
Albums as Conversations
Each of my albums reflects a larger dialogue I’m trying to have:
Make Something Happen Here wrestles with the COVID era, from social unrest to family.
Ghost Stories: Songs of Disorientation explores depression, doubt, and faith.
The third album I’ve just started recording centers on political protest.
Songs of Reorientation (already written) is a sequel to Ghost Stories.
A fifth album, mostly finished, challenges Christian Nationalism and calls for mercy and compassion from the American church.
And a sixth, still taking shape, is a concept record about a country slipping into authoritarianism and the hope of being rescued from it.
Do any of these sound like chart-topping hits? Probably not. But each is a conversation starter—set to some relatively catchy tunes.
Beyond Streams
Are these songs for everyone? The streaming numbers suggest no. If I were chasing numbers, I’d figure out how to write lighter, more “vacuous” songs—or at least a couple of them.
And honestly, there’s a place for that. We all need brain breaks, songs about singing in the shower or just feeling cool. Maybe one day I’ll write one of those. Until then, I’ll keep writing songs that matter to me, in the hope that others will find them when they need them most.
Join the Conversation
I see music as more than streams or playlists — it’s a dialogue. My songs may start from my own experiences or the ones I see going on in the world, but they’re really meant to connect with yours.
So I’d love to hear from you:
What songs have sparked meaningful conversations in your life?
Which artists or lyrics have made you stop and reflect?
Or, if you’re a writer or musician yourself, how do you approach making your art “about something”?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below or reply to this post — let’s keep the conversation going.
Remains of Time (aka announcements)
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 4 - Cargo Coffee East Madison, Wisconsin
Oct. 30 - Full Band performance at The Melody Inn, Indianapolis, Indiana
Nov. 14 - Uncommon Grounds, Chicago, Illinois
More details to come for those shows soon!
Finally, be sure to check out the Ghost Notes: Stories Behind the Sound podcast wherein I do a lyrical breakdown of my songs. I’m starting with Ghost Stories and working backwards into Make Something Happen Here. I released the latest episode, about the song O Help My Unbelief, to my patrons. So, yeah, check out my Patreon page. Join for as little as $5. That’s the cost of a grande fancy drink at Starbucks. You can’t even get a Venti for $5! So yeah, totally worth it.