Upgrading Your Lyrics Graham Kendrick worshipschooluk Why upgrade

Why upgrade? You have written a song. You feel it’s a good one, your

Don’t just write a song… …Take us on a journey of the imagination #worshipschooluk

Imagination… …Works faster than logic #worshipschooluk

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] In other words

The function of imagery… … is to generate a vibrant and graphic presentation of

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down

How is Watts doing it? See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] Nouns - evoking

Metaphor “A metaphor is a collision between ideas that don’t belong together” Pattison #worshipschooluk

Metaphor From the blunt: “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog” To the sublime:

When I survey the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my

See from his head, his hands and feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down

First, some downgrading… You are the greatest of all There’s nothing you cannot do

Why is B stronger than A? What devices can you recognise? A You are

Let’s sing together! You are the light of the world You came to seek

Why is B stronger than A? A You are the light of the world

More downgrading… Our God is greater Our God is stronger Our God is higher

Repetition/variation Our God is greater Our God is stronger God You are higher than

A bridge not far enough… (Bridge) Because our God is for us No one

Statements are static, questions demand a response (Bridge) And if our God is for

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a performance poem #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a performance poem How does it

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a short story #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a short story Is there a

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a movie #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a movie What visual images are

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a conversation #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a conversation Who is talking to

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a vocal warm up #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a vocal warm up Just sing

Check list - what is the song actually saying? Function - for whom/what context

Check list - 10 ‘R’s Repent – of the “That’ll do” attitude! Road test

Check list - 10 ‘R’s Rhymes – are they consistent/effective? Review - with the

Feed your mind and spirit Reading the scriptures Singing the scriptures (especially the psalms)

Reference materials… Rhyming dictionary Thesaurus Bible search/commentaries Old hymnals/hymnary. com Stories behind the hymns/songs

Recommended Book… Writing Better Lyrics by Pattison #worshipschooluk

Thanks For Listening! Upgrading Your Lyrics, Graham Kendrick #worshipschooluk

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Upgrading Your Lyrics Graham Kendrick #worshipschooluk

Why upgrade? You have written a song. You feel it’s a good one, your mother agrees and you can’t wait to use it. But is it a great song? The qualitative difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’ can sometimes seem quite small, so why not put in the extra work to give it the best chance of tipping over into the ‘greatness’ category. And even if it turns out to fall short of greatness you have probably increased its usefulness and longevity. #worshipschooluk

Don’t just write a song… …Take us on a journey of the imagination #worshipschooluk

Imagination… …Works faster than logic #worshipschooluk

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] In other words to create: imagery #worshipschooluk

The function of imagery… … is to generate a vibrant and graphic presentation of a scene that appeals to as many of the reader’s senses as possible. It aids the reader’s imagination to envision the characters and scenes clearly #worshipschooluk

See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e’er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown? #worshipschooluk

How is Watts doing it? See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e’er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown? #worshipschooluk

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] Nouns - evoking images of objects/colours/names/places #worshipschooluk

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] Nouns - evoking images of objects/colours/names/places Adjectives - shade or contrast meaning for extra definition #worshipschooluk

Tools to trigger the imagination [a few of the many available] Nouns - evoking images of objects/colours/names/places Adjectives - shade or contrast meaning for extra definition Verbs - doing/action/movement/something is happening! Story - narrative development/tension-release/surprise etc Metaphor - describing something as something else, ‘a collision between ideas that don’t belong together’ Pattison #worshipschooluk

How is Watts doing it? See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e’er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown? #worshipschooluk

Metaphor “A metaphor is a collision between ideas that don’t belong together” Pattison #worshipschooluk

Metaphor From the blunt: “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog” To the sublime: “Sorrow and low flow mingled down” #worshipschooluk

When I survey the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride #worshipschooluk

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood #worshipschooluk

See from his head, his hands and feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e’er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown? Where the whole realm of nature mine that were an offering far too small, love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Isaac Watts #worshipschooluk

First, some downgrading… You are the greatest of all There’s nothing you cannot do There’s no one like You We give you praise #worshipschooluk

Why is B stronger than A? What devices can you recognise? A You are the greatest of all There’s nothing you cannot do There’s no one like You We give you praise B Water You turned into wine Opened the eyes of the blind There’s no one like You None like You #worshipschooluk

Let’s sing together! You are the light of the world You came to seek and to save There’s no one like You Name above all #worshipschooluk

Why is B stronger than A? A You are the light of the world You came to seek and to save There’s no one like You Name above all B Into the darkness You shine Out of the ashes we rise There’s no one like You None like You #worshipschooluk

More downgrading… Our God is greater Our God is stronger Our God is higher than any other Our God is healer Awesome in power our God, our God #worshipschooluk

Repetition/variation Our God is greater Our God is stronger God You are higher than any other Our God is healer Awesome in power our God, our God #worshipschooluk

A bridge not far enough… (Bridge) Because our God is for us No one can ever stop us Because our God is with us Nothing can stand against #worshipschooluk

Statements are static, questions demand a response (Bridge) And if our God is for us Then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us Then what could stand against? #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a performance poem #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a performance poem How does it ‘read’ without music? #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a short story #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a short story Is there a beginning, middle, end, tension/release, conflict/resolution, revelation/response? #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a movie #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a movie What visual images are successfully conveyed, or could be? #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a conversation #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a conversation Who is talking to whom and when? #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a vocal warm up #worshipschooluk

Try a media ‘swap test’… If it was a vocal warm up Just sing the vowels and see how it feels #worshipschooluk

Check list - what is the song actually saying? Function - for whom/what context is the song intended? Orthodoxy – is it correct in what it asserts or implies? Emphasis – is it balanced? Substance – is it satisfying, like a good meal? Clarity – is it clearly understandable in the time it takes to sing it / does it say too little/does it try to say too much? #worshipschooluk

Check list - 10 ‘R’s Repent – of the “That’ll do” attitude! Road test – try it out and see what you learn Research the subject matter Rewrite – try several versions of lines/phrases/verses etc Replace language that is - overused/ clichéd/ archaic/ predictable /ambiguous/uses mixed metaphors/ etc. Relevance –try to use current words and concepts #worshipschooluk

Check list - 10 ‘R’s Rhymes – are they consistent/effective? Review - with the help of others Rearrange - try different structures, keys, tempos etc Relax! - come back to the unfinished song later, next week, next year! #worshipschooluk

Feed your mind and spirit Reading the scriptures Singing the scriptures (especially the psalms) Studying the scriptures Prayer including singing your prayers Read good literature, poetry and study good lyrics Love God, love people, love truth, love language #worshipschooluk

Reference materials… Rhyming dictionary Thesaurus Bible search/commentaries Old hymnals/hymnary. com Stories behind the hymns/songs #worshipschooluk

Recommended Book… Writing Better Lyrics by Pattison #worshipschooluk

Thanks For Listening! Upgrading Your Lyrics, Graham Kendrick #worshipschooluk