For over forty years I have enjoyed the process of intuitive songwriting.

What I mean by this is to spontaneously, in the moment, create a coherent song with lyrics, chords and melody.

When people hear these songs, very often their first reaction is one of disbelief. “How can it be spontaneous? It sounds so finished, so complete. Surely you must have spent hours composing this!”

Well, I understand their surprise. Yet this capacity for spontaneous songwriting, or ‘songmaking’ as I like to call it, is in everyone. A natural expression of the stream of feelings and thoughts which pours through our consciousness every minute of every day, channeling it through a musical rather than a spoken portal.

In my September article for this magazine, I described how I came upon this process. I also shared ways I introduce it as a creative possibility to others through the method I call ‘SongSourcing’.

As a guitarist, when creating a spontaneous song I often find it helpful to begin with a simple chord pattern on the instrument. Then, with the theme of the song clearly in mind, I let go of how to make it ‘perfect’, and trust the flow of imagination and musical energy.

In composing a new song this way, I have found the best source of inspiration is often found in responding to someone’s request or theme. To offer a message which can benefit their outlook, provide insight to their situation, or bring comfort and kindness to their heart.

In over 10,000 songs composed and recorded by responding to people’s life situations, I have noticed certain familiar themes appear over and over. Healing, acceptance, empowerment. Relationships, family, community. Liberation, enlightenment, peace of mind.

Long ago I realized that offering these ‘song portraits’ in a group setting is a wonderful way to share the music and the message with more people. This is because a song inspired by one person can easily be supportive, helpful or inspiring to someone else.

Since the pandemic began in early 2020, I offer these events on Zoom, open to anyone wishing to experience them.

Here I include lyrics of some songs recorded during a recent online event (March 27, 2021). A link to listen to the recording is also included. When listening to the recording, you will hear other instruments playing, and wonder how this is possible on a live Zoom call. In each of these instances, I orchestrated the original voice & guitar audio recording in the studio afterward.

Song 1

Kind To It All (We Belong to the Song)

Theme: How do we live in harmony and right relationship with others, in particular with those with different viewpoints than ourselves?
Song Recipient: Linda from Hampton, Virginia, USA.

Behind all the differences I see
There's a light that shines inside of you and me
Behind all the differences I see
There is a light that's always shining in you and me

And whatever we do is coming on back around
Whatever we do, we're not lost we are found
Whatever we do bringing us back around

O whatever we do is bringing us back
Whatever we do behind it all
Yes whatever we do is bringing us back around

And it can take a long, long time until we see
This light that shines inside, inside of you and me
But all the time it's waiting, all the time it's here
Every moment of every day, every day of the year
Every moment of every day of the year

And I would see with eyes of love
Beyond the walls that are made
Made inside the mind, made inside us all
Let me learn to be kind to it all

Let me learn to be kind to my heart and mind
Let me learn to be kind to it all
Every moment of every day in every kind of way
Let me learn to be kind to it all
Every moment of the day in every kind of way
Let me learn to be kind to it all

And in my heart I hear a song
And I know that I belong
To the one from where I came
We look different but at the heart we are the same
'Cause we belong to the music of this life
Yes, we belong to the song

We belong to the one
From which we all come from
Yes I know that we belong to the song.

Song 2

Every Good Thing

Theme: What is going to happen for me and my family? What does the future hold?
Song Recipient: Anna Maria from Germany.

Where do I go from here?
Where do I go where the sky is clear?
Where do I go when this life it opens?
Where do I go when my heart has spoken?

I would hear the song that the angel sings
I would hear the song that life it brings
I would hear the song of everything that's good for me
That's good for me, that's good for me.

Where do we go from here?
Where do we go right now?
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go right now?

I know that I would open up my heart
Open up my heart right now to you
I know that I would open up my heart
And trust that every good thing will come true
And trust that every good thing will come true And trust that every good thing
And trust the song that's here to sing
And trust that every good thing will be true

Song 3

Just As I Am

Theme: Being content with one's self, not needing to change in order to accept ourselves.
Song Recipient: Steph from West Coast, USA.

Nowhere to go, nothing to prove
Got everything I need and I'm in my groove
Got nowhere to go, I'm fine as I am
Everything I need, I understand it's true
It's shining from me to you

Nowhere to go, everything's fine
When I feel the love inside me
I know I'm, I'm already home
Just as I am, as I am I'm here
I'm home inside of me
Just as I am I am free
Just as I am I feel
Beautiful to be
Just as I am being me

Just as I am I'm good
Nothing else that I need
O nothing that I could do do I need to do
'Cause it's all here inside of me
I'm feeling fine the way I am
I'm feeling fine the way I feel
I'm good the way I am
And this goodness I know is real

Nothing else that I need to do
To prove that I am well
I am fine just being me
And I think, I think that you can tell
I'm fine as I am, I'm fine just to be

Song 4

A Greater Good

Song Recipient: Marion, Vancouver, BC Canada.
Theme: The miracle of life. Despite great challenges not only surviving but discovering gratitude for it all.

It's a miracle that we're here
It's a miracle, have no fear
There's a greater good in store for you and I
There's a greater good beyond this earth and sky
But it's right here now, it's right here now
It's right here now, it's right here now

No matter what is happening
There's something going on
No matter what is happening
Inside us there's a song
No matter what is happening
In truth we are all belong
And a greater good is here for you and I
Yes a greater good is shining from the sky
A greater good in you right now
A greater good in you coming through somehow

And we do not have to know
The way it's gonna take for us
No we do not have to know
The way things gonna shake for us
No we do not have to know
The reason for it now

Just need to let go and be grateful for this day
To let go and be grateful all the way
To let go and be grateful
For the way the sky it opens to our eyes
Let us realize that the time has come
To remember true, yes we are one, me and you

And a greater good is here and happening all the time
Yes a greater good is here, it's yours and it is mine
Yes a greater good is here and happening all the time

And we are grateful for all, all that comes our way
We're grateful for all that shows us where to play
We're grateful for all that lives inside of you and me
Yes we're grateful for the light that lets us see
The light that lets us see.

I hope you enjoy reading the lyrics, as well as listening to the music.