Songwriters On Songwriting: Bob Dylan
I wrote my first song when I was 14 years old. Over the years, I’ve composed hundreds of songs. It was that interest — music — that led me to take a year off from pursuing a doctorate and led me down the circuitous path that has been the rest of my life.
I don’t write songs nowadays, more focused on screenplays and writing about writing. But I can’t help but think at least some of who I am as a writer derives from all that time studying and composing songs.
Each day this week at this time, I will post insight from a songwriter about their craft in the hope their words may inspire you as a writer.
Today: Bob Dylan.
It is only natural to pattern yourself after someone. If I wanted to be a painter, I might think about trying to be like Van Gogh, or if I was an actor, act like Laurence Olivier. If I was an architect, there’s Frank Gehry. But you can’t just copy someone. If you like someone’s work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to. Anyone who wants to be a songwriter should listen to as much folk music as they can, study the form and structure of stuff that has been around for 100 years.
I love this advice. We can build on the inspiration of writers who have come before us. Whatever your favorite movies are, dig into them, analyze them, study the writing, and use that knowledge to infuse your creative efforts.
This is especially true if you have a specific genre you like to write. See everything. Read everything. Immerse yourself in that genre. Memes, tropes, patterns, dynamics. Learn it all. Then let it inspire you. More from Dylan on the subject:
You have to understand that I’m not a melodist. My songs are either based on old Protestant hymns or Carter Family songs or variations of the blues form. What happens is, I’ll take a song and simply start playing it in my head. That’s the way I meditate.
I wrote ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ in 10 minutes, just put words to an old spiritual, probably something I learned from Carter Family records. That’s the folk music tradition — you use what has been handed down. ‘The Times They Are A-Changing’ is probably from an old Scottish folk Song.
Learn from the masters. Then make what you write your own.
For more of the interview with Bob Dylan, go here.
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For more of the Songwriters On Songwriting series, go here.
