The seven truths of songwriting | Tom McRae | TEDxWhitehall

[Music]

[Music] as you’ve heard my name

as you’ve heard my name

as you’ve heard my name crane I’m a singer/songwriter

crane I’m a singer/songwriter

crane I’m a singer/songwriter I’m here to break up the talking with a

I’m here to break up the talking with a

I’m here to break up the talking with a bit of music to ease you into the second

bit of music to ease you into the second

bit of music to ease you into the second half of the day I’m going to play three

half of the day I’m going to play three

half of the day I’m going to play three of my songs if I can fit it in I’m also

of my songs if I can fit it in I’m also

of my songs if I can fit it in I’m also going to talk a little bit about my

going to talk a little bit about my

going to talk a little bit about my seven fundamental truths about

seven fundamental truths about

seven fundamental truths about songwriting it could have been a 127 but

songwriting it could have been a 127 but

songwriting it could have been a 127 but I’m going to try and fit seven in and

I’m going to try and fit seven in and

I’m going to try and fit seven in and I’m also going to try and lighten and

I’m also going to try and lighten and

I’m also going to try and lighten and lift the mood with my songs of misery

lift the mood with my songs of misery

lift the mood with my songs of misery despair and ultimately death

14 minutes to go

14 minutes to go [Music]

sky black with rain weekend away

sky black with rain weekend away [Music]

[Music]

[Music] standing at your door I’ll call your

standing at your door I’ll call your

standing at your door I’ll call your name call call again he’d left some time

name call call again he’d left some time

name call call again he’d left some time before

before

before [Music]

[Music]

[Music] lately lately so line

lately so line

lately so line I drove for miles my eyes on fire not

I drove for miles my eyes on fire not

I drove for miles my eyes on fire not knowing how to say cord in my head

knowing how to say cord in my head

knowing how to say cord in my head details left on set finding you that way

details left on set finding you that way

details left on set finding you that way [Music]

[Music]

[Music] ladies all I know

ladies all I know

ladies all I know [Music]

[Music]

[Music] sky white with snow day trip van huh

borrowed singh borrowed shoe life goes

borrowed singh borrowed shoe life goes on it’s true the lately I miss you blame

on it’s true the lately I miss you blame

on it’s true the lately I miss you blame these all I know

these all I know

these all I know [Music]

[Music]

[Music] lately is all I know

lately is all I know

lately is all I know [Music]

thank you so as I said I’m here to

thank you so as I said I’m here to lighten the mood

lighten the mood

lighten the mood I’m a singer-songwriter what that means

I’m a singer-songwriter what that means

I’m a singer-songwriter what that means is for the last 20 years I’ve made a

is for the last 20 years I’ve made a

is for the last 20 years I’ve made a living writing songs predominantly for

living writing songs predominantly for

living writing songs predominantly for myself mostly about misery despair and

myself mostly about misery despair and

myself mostly about misery despair and death but I’ve also written for other

death but I’ve also written for other

death but I’ve also written for other artists I’ve written for X Factor

artists I’ve written for X Factor

artists I’ve written for X Factor winners and X Factor losers I’ve written

winners and X Factor losers I’ve written

winners and X Factor losers I’ve written for rock legends I’ve written for people

for rock legends I’ve written for people

for rock legends I’ve written for people on their way up and people on their way

on their way up and people on their way

on their way up and people on their way down don’t ask me which I am I’ve also

down don’t ask me which I am I’ve also

down don’t ask me which I am I’ve also written for film and TV I’ve had my

written for film and TV I’ve had my

written for film and TV I’ve had my music used unsurprisingly in bleak

music used unsurprisingly in bleak

music used unsurprisingly in bleak Norwegian indie movies I’ve also written

Norwegian indie movies I’ve also written

Norwegian indie movies I’ve also written for kids TV shows in Belgium I’ve had my

for kids TV shows in Belgium I’ve had my

for kids TV shows in Belgium I’ve had my music used to sell you everything from

music used to sell you everything from

music used to sell you everything from perfumes to cars and the other year I

perfumes to cars and the other year I

perfumes to cars and the other year I just wrote a song from mattress advert

just wrote a song from mattress advert

just wrote a song from mattress advert which I am especially proud and I have

which I am especially proud and I have

which I am especially proud and I have one stated ambition whoever I’m working

one stated ambition whoever I’m working

one stated ambition whoever I’m working with if it’s for me or another artist as

with if it’s for me or another artist as

with if it’s for me or another artist as I’m trying to write a song I’m trying to

I’m trying to write a song I’m trying to

I’m trying to write a song I’m trying to find an ache I’m trying to find a moment

find an ache I’m trying to find a moment

find an ache I’m trying to find a moment I’m trying to in three and a half

I’m trying to in three and a half

I’m trying to in three and a half minutes break your heart and put it back

minutes break your heart and put it back

minutes break your heart and put it back together again that’s what I’m aiming

together again that’s what I’m aiming

together again that’s what I’m aiming for sometimes you end up selling

for sometimes you end up selling

for sometimes you end up selling mattresses but I’m also going to quickly

mattresses but I’m also going to quickly

mattresses but I’m also going to quickly try and fit in as many of my principles

try and fit in as many of my principles

try and fit in as many of my principles of songwriting my fundamental truths of

of songwriting my fundamental truths of

of songwriting my fundamental truths of songwriting the first fundamental truth

songwriting the first fundamental truth

songwriting the first fundamental truth of songwriting is that songwriting is

of songwriting is that songwriting is

of songwriting is that songwriting is really easy there are days when the time

really easy there are days when the time

really easy there are days when the time it takes you to sing a song can be the

it takes you to sing a song can be the

it takes you to sing a song can be the time it takes you to write that song

time it takes you to write that song

time it takes you to write that song those are the good days those are the

those are the good days those are the

those are the good days those are the days when this completely fully formed

days when this completely fully formed

days when this completely fully formed thing is handed to you as if by the

thing is handed to you as if by the

thing is handed to you as if by the Angels and it feels like you had nothing

Angels and it feels like you had nothing

Angels and it feels like you had nothing to do with it and you can’t claim any

to do with it and you can’t claim any

to do with it and you can’t claim any ownership or authorship of that song but

ownership or authorship of that song but

ownership or authorship of that song but it doesn’t stop you doing that because

it doesn’t stop you doing that because

it doesn’t stop you doing that because obviously your name needs to be on the

obviously your name needs to be on the

obviously your name needs to be on the royalty cheque so you say yes I wrote

royalty cheque so you say yes I wrote

royalty cheque so you say yes I wrote that song those are the good days so the

that song those are the good days so the

that song those are the good days so the fundamental first truth of songwriting

fundamental first truth of songwriting

fundamental first truth of songwriting is it’s really easy

is it’s really easy

is it’s really easy second fundamental truth about

second fundamental truth about

second fundamental truth about songwriting it’s really hard there are

songwriting it’s really hard there are

songwriting it’s really hard there are days when you’re working with other

days when you’re working with other

days when you’re working with other people and it feels like you’re climbing

people and it feels like you’re climbing

people and it feels like you’re climbing up Mount Everest and instead of having

up Mount Everest and instead of having

up Mount Everest and instead of having oxygen tanks strapped to your back

oxygen tanks strapped to your back

oxygen tanks strapped to your back you’ve got two very average wannabe

you’ve got two very average wannabe

you’ve got two very average wannabe starlets those are the hard days but

starlets those are the hard days but

starlets those are the hard days but there are rewards in those hard days as

there are rewards in those hard days as

there are rewards in those hard days as much as the easy days as long as you

much as the easy days as long as you

much as the easy days as long as you finish because that’s the third

finish because that’s the third

finish because that’s the third fundamental truth of songwriting is you

fundamental truth of songwriting is you

fundamental truth of songwriting is you have to finish it’s the same with any

have to finish it’s the same with any

have to finish it’s the same with any creative endeavor anything you’re making

creative endeavor anything you’re making

creative endeavor anything you’re making you have to finish it because if you

you have to finish it because if you

you have to finish it because if you don’t finish it it forever stays in your

don’t finish it it forever stays in your

don’t finish it it forever stays in your imagination in a state of flux and it’s

imagination in a state of flux and it’s

imagination in a state of flux and it’s all full of coiled potential this song

all full of coiled potential this song

all full of coiled potential this song that no one’s yet heard it could be the

that no one’s yet heard it could be the

that no one’s yet heard it could be the song that feeds the world that ends all

song that feeds the world that ends all

song that feeds the world that ends all wars that makes mankind finally love and

wars that makes mankind finally love and

wars that makes mankind finally love and appreciate each other can equally be a

appreciate each other can equally be a

appreciate each other can equally be a song that sells mattresses but unless

song that sells mattresses but unless

song that sells mattresses but unless you finish it you won’t know and the

you finish it you won’t know and the

you finish it you won’t know and the first rule I have with anyone who comes

first rule I have with anyone who comes

first rule I have with anyone who comes into the studio with me as we finish

into the studio with me as we finish

into the studio with me as we finish your song if it’s for me if it’s for you

your song if it’s for me if it’s for you

your song if it’s for me if it’s for you we finished that song sometimes I’ll get

we finished that song sometimes I’ll get

we finished that song sometimes I’ll get three artists in a day you get two hours

three artists in a day you get two hours

three artists in a day you get two hours with them you’ve finished the song

with them you’ve finished the song

with them you’ve finished the song because until you finish that song it’s

because until you finish that song it’s

because until you finish that song it’s always here just floating in a state of

always here just floating in a state of

always here just floating in a state of flux and if you don’t finish you will

flux and if you don’t finish you will

flux and if you don’t finish you will never learn and you’ll never be able to

never learn and you’ll never be able to

never learn and you’ll never be able to move on from that song I try and fit in

move on from that song I try and fit in

move on from that song I try and fit in another one now

another one now

another one now this is about being scared about growing

this is about being scared about growing

this is about being scared about growing old and dying and losing your loved one

I’ve exchanged every cell in my body

I’ve exchanged every cell in my body turned into someone new but I still see

turned into someone new but I still see

turned into someone new but I still see through the same eyes when I close them

through the same eyes when I close them

through the same eyes when I close them I see

I see

I see [Music]

[Music]

[Music] there’s nothing like donate in the

there’s nothing like donate in the

there’s nothing like donate in the morning so for the parts that are you’re

morning so for the parts that are you’re

morning so for the parts that are you’re an injury I’m gonna carry tea

an injury I’m gonna carry tea

an injury I’m gonna carry tea [Music]

[Music]

[Music] for the law

so let me grow me let me

so let me grow me let me grow old with you did I sleep and miss

grow old with you did I sleep and miss

grow old with you did I sleep and miss the board slipping into gray being angry

the board slipping into gray being angry

the board slipping into gray being angry and sad and fearful tired of living

love me bad decision sober worse ones

love me bad decision sober worse ones when I’m drunk think about decisions

when I’m drunk think about decisions

when I’m drunk think about decisions dearest one good ones in them

so let me

so let me [Music]

[Music]

[Music] let me grow me from now on we draw a lot

let me grow me from now on we draw a lot

let me grow me from now on we draw a lot Steve what the lines in our hands will

Steve what the lines in our hands will

Steve what the lines in our hands will decide you hold out for sunset dodge the

decide you hold out for sunset dodge the

decide you hold out for sunset dodge the lightning strikes

so thank you moving swiftly on a song

so thank you moving swiftly on a song about misery death and despair the next

about misery death and despair the next

about misery death and despair the next fundamental rule of songwriting is that

fundamental rule of songwriting is that

fundamental rule of songwriting is that all songwriters are murderers you can

all songwriters are murderers you can

all songwriters are murderers you can tell by looking at me the thing about

tell by looking at me the thing about

tell by looking at me the thing about being a murderer is you have to kill all

being a murderer is you have to kill all

being a murderer is you have to kill all the other potential songs in order to

the other potential songs in order to

the other potential songs in order to finish one when you write a song any

finish one when you write a song any

finish one when you write a song any creative endeavor it carries with it all

creative endeavor it carries with it all

creative endeavor it carries with it all the ghosts of all the other things it

the ghosts of all the other things it

the ghosts of all the other things it could be but you have to make a decision

could be but you have to make a decision

could be but you have to make a decision and you have to finish that song and

and you have to finish that song and

and you have to finish that song and that means killing all the other

that means killing all the other

that means killing all the other fantastic permutations you have to make

fantastic permutations you have to make

fantastic permutations you have to make a decision and they’re your colours to

a decision and they’re your colours to

a decision and they’re your colours to the mast and it’s scary and that’s why

the mast and it’s scary and that’s why

the mast and it’s scary and that’s why when you perform you sometimes have a

when you perform you sometimes have a

when you perform you sometimes have a haunted look because you’re remembering

haunted look because you’re remembering

haunted look because you’re remembering all the other ghosts of the song that

all the other ghosts of the song that

all the other ghosts of the song that that one could have been quickly moving

that one could have been quickly moving

that one could have been quickly moving on to the next fundamental truth of

on to the next fundamental truth of

on to the next fundamental truth of songwriting taste experience and craft

songwriting taste experience and craft

songwriting taste experience and craft all those things you’ve gathered over

all those things you’ve gathered over

all those things you’ve gathered over the years taste experienced in craft

the years taste experienced in craft

the years taste experienced in craft they are your fundamental enemy when it

they are your fundamental enemy when it

they are your fundamental enemy when it comes to songwriting they are the things

comes to songwriting they are the things

comes to songwriting they are the things that will sit on your shoulder and tell

that will sit on your shoulder and tell

that will sit on your shoulder and tell you don’t start the song you can never

you don’t start the song you can never

you don’t start the song you can never be Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan any of

be Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan any of

be Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan any of your heroes why bother why star taste

your heroes why bother why star taste

your heroes why bother why star taste craft and experience your worst enemies

craft and experience your worst enemies

craft and experience your worst enemies the next fundamental truth about

the next fundamental truth about

the next fundamental truth about songwriting taste craft and experience

songwriting taste craft and experience

songwriting taste craft and experience are your best friends when you’ve

are your best friends when you’ve

are your best friends when you’ve started a song when you’ve had the

started a song when you’ve had the

started a song when you’ve had the courage to dive in make a fool of

courage to dive in make a fool of

courage to dive in make a fool of yourself and feel vulnerable when you’ve

yourself and feel vulnerable when you’ve

yourself and feel vulnerable when you’ve got that first ache of an idea taste

got that first ache of an idea taste

got that first ache of an idea taste craft and experience will be the

craft and experience will be the

craft and experience will be the midwives that hold your hand through the

midwives that hold your hand through the

midwives that hold your hand through the process and help you deliver that song

process and help you deliver that song

process and help you deliver that song into the world and it might not be the

into the world and it might not be the

into the world and it might not be the best song in the world that ends or wars

best song in the world that ends or wars

best song in the world that ends or wars feeds the starving makes people love

feeds the starving makes people love

feeds the starving makes people love each other it might be a song that just

each other it might be a song that just

each other it might be a song that just sells mattresses but you need your taste

sells mattresses but you need your taste

sells mattresses but you need your taste and craft experience to get through they

and craft experience to get through they

and craft experience to get through they are both simultaneously your worst enemy

are both simultaneously your worst enemy

are both simultaneously your worst enemy and your best friend I’m going to try

and your best friend I’m going to try

and your best friend I’m going to try and fit in one last song

and fit in one last song

and fit in one last song [Music]

I still see the spa long gone now wreck

I still see the spa long gone now wreck over fire it’s time to face the fact

there’s no second we’re down with the

there’s no second we’re down with the dead now

forgotten and cold while I’m still

forgotten and cold while I’m still captain but the sinking ship gonna go

captain but the sinking ship gonna go

captain but the sinking ship gonna go down boy Sonali

down boy Sonali

down boy Sonali [Music]

[Music]

[Music] yeah

against home which brings me to the

against home which brings me to the final fundamental truth about

final fundamental truth about

final fundamental truth about songwriting you have to start the

songwriting you have to start the

songwriting you have to start the process with hope you have to carry on

process with hope you have to carry on

process with hope you have to carry on the process with hope you have to finish

the process with hope you have to finish

the process with hope you have to finish the song thinking that why not change

the song thinking that why not change

the song thinking that why not change the world but it might sell a few

the world but it might sell a few

the world but it might sell a few mattresses but you might get lucky and

mattresses but you might get lucky and

mattresses but you might get lucky and it might change the world

but without hope you’ll never start

but without hope you’ll never start without hope you’ll never finish even

without hope you’ll never finish even

without hope you’ll never finish even Paul McCartney wakes up thinking today’s

Paul McCartney wakes up thinking today’s

Paul McCartney wakes up thinking today’s the day I write a song better than

the day I write a song better than

the day I write a song better than yesterday

[Music]

[Music] it’s gonna be ok it’s gonna be ok it’s

it’s gonna be ok it’s gonna be ok it’s

it’s gonna be ok it’s gonna be ok it’s gonna be ok

gonna be ok

gonna be ok [Music]

[Music]

[Music] schooner vir okay got 20 seconds to help

schooner vir okay got 20 seconds to help

schooner vir okay got 20 seconds to help me out sing this schooner be okay

[Music]

[Music] it’s gonna be okay

thank you

thank you [Applause]