Why Do We Write Poems Or Songs.

Peatle, it's about time someone asked this question. Not many of the great composers actually enjoyed much success during their lifetime or artists come to that. Then you have Lennon who's music and art will live forever. And there are so many other artistes since the 50s that will live on through their music or art, you my friend will be one I am sure.
As for what inspires me to write? That's a tough one. Listening to other people's music or words. observing life around me. What I see on the news. Add to that the fact that only playing what others have written so many times great as it may be....grates!

I've written so many songs about the love I share with Ann that it's a little embarrassing. But hey ho, it's not me that writes the songs it's my pen.

What an amazing idea for a discussion thread ... hat's off to ya, mate!

"I think I express myself through poetry and compose song  because its a bit of my internal theatre that hopefully will live on longer than me."  - Peatle Jville, 2017

This is a gem of a quote. I'm now going nuts with ideas to write a poem called "Internal Theatre", because you've absolutely hit the nail on the head with this. My poetry is purely selfish self-expression, driven by some inner need to put thoughts on paper in a form that's more interesting than simple writing. Poetry allows a person to express thoughts in phrases and imagery, without being bound by the confines of correct grammar. It's also a form of mental exorcism, so that tormenting ideas can be dealt with in some fashion, instead of driving me bonkers. As someone who suffers with a couple of mental disorders, this is essential for simple well-being. Poetry and music are some of the best things in life, and whether or not someone else enjoys what I create is almost irrelevant ... no anti-social disrespect intended. I write poetry and make music because I need  to.

I hope this isn't too personal / uncomfortable.

interesting as I never really thought about it my self until a few weeks ago.  I had made my first CD with the song Zelie that I wrote for my newest granddaughter, and gave the wife and daughter for mothers day. every one loved it including my first grand daughter who is four. now here is where the problem comes in, the wife tells me you need to write a song for your other grand kids. well that would mean three more songs. and that is where the why I write question comes in, I don't why or where they come from.if I sit down with a specific subject in mind to write a song you can forget it. now a certain line or phrase pops in my head and I can relate it to something bingo the song just kind of materializes. so I guess my answer to the question why I write is I don't  know.  a perfect example is I think is what seems to be the favorite of everyone when they ask me to play one of my songs. oil field trash. that first line "staring at the bottom the bottom of an empty glass "sat in my note book for a longtime. I always had visions of a song about drinking to much coming out of that line.but one night sitting at work looking through my note book I read the line and the second line just kind of popped in my head and the rest just kind of wrote itself. sure it came from experience but I did not sit down with the intention of writing a song about the oil field life. which gets back to where this started the wife does not understand why I just don't sit down and write three more songs for the other grand kids. i suppose if I could do that  I wouldn't be working in the oil field I might rich and famous song writer. ahh there is the answer I want to be rich and famous. there is probably a song in that somewhere. well now I am staring at the bottom of an empty glass so I will shut up now before I say something really stupid. as the others have said Peatle great conversation starter thanks for posting it

Great question, great answers. I think we all have something inside of us that needs to come out. A social statement, sorrow , joy, or a lasting meaningful memory. Most anything that impacts our lives and the need to tell the story. It may never be intended to be shared or maybe it does. If we were all given a subject to write about we would all have a different story or view on it. That is the mystery and the magic of the poem/song.
Someone who gave me a subject to write a song about. 4 years later she asked if I did anything with it. I said no, but then I started to work on it. In about 3-4 days it was complete. Nothing in 4 years would come to me about it. Then when it did come out it almost wrote it's self. The last 2 days was just rewording and cleaning it up. It didn't seem like a song but more of a poem. And a Poem it will stay. You can't rush the ideas or force them onto the page. They seem to come out when your mind is ready to put those thoughts in order.
I think so many good songs/poems have been overlooked by the mainstream because of publishers or recording companies. I 've seen so many good songs and poems put out here on Chordie. I wish there was an outlet for people here to be brought out to the mainstream. At least we all get to share in what our members put forth.
  I don't really know why I write. Maybe just to tell my story my way as I see it.

A fine example of observing what is going on around you. Thanks for sharing that. I'm sure we could all learn a great deal from watching, listening to and reading his work. He also has personality and a rapport with his audience. Great stuff.

Pam Ayres has been around since the 70's (I think) with her quirky poems, she first came to light on the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks which made Hughy Green a lot of money!

I actually wrote a "funny" poem or two, one about a dog named rat and another one about neighbours (not the TV show...yuk!" I'm sure they're still on Chordie somewhere? I think I'll go look for them.

Excellent thread. I think each of us has our own unique reason "why" we write. Here are some of the reasons why I write songs:

They say a "picture is worth a thousand words" but I also feel that a few well-written words can paint a picture.  What makes the written word special is that the "picture" we see in our minds when we hear the words is unique to each one of us.  The challenge of painting these pictures is what drives me to write songs. I have always had a fascination with words and language - combine that with growing up in the Appalachian foothills with its tradition of story telling and music and it just feels right (or should that be "just feels write") to make up/compose songs. The addition of music to the written word enhances the story being told.  Finding the best tempo, key and melody to support the lyrics (prosody) is a goal that I strive for but only achieve occasionally.  Its kind of like trying to solve a puzzle - and I enjoy working puzzles.

I also think each song has its own "why" I chose to write it.  I'll sometime read or hear a word or phrase that would make such a good hook that it just begs to have a song written. Other times I write songs to express feelings about various subjects.  I've also written songs as part of "projects"  such as a group of songs I wrote about the American Civil War or a series of songs I've written about my family - each generation getting its own song.

I also write songs to entertain my friends.  I'm a self - proclaimed "campfire picker" and enjoy sitting around a good fire with friends, playing music and swapping stories. Seeing their reactions to my songs is like watching them experience their first class V rapid when I've taken them in my raft on one of favorite whitewater runs or sharing a hot cup of morning coffee with them at a remote campsite and watching the sun come up. Every one has a different reaction (some positive/some negative) but I enjoy sharing the experience with them.

DE

Cheers TIG I will gather some of my words together for you sometime. My Dad died when I was twelve and his name was John.  One of my memories of him is when he came home he sometimes would start singing When Johnny  Comes Marching Home a song from American Civil War. I was with a friends grandson named Johnny and I told him about the Johnny Comes Marching Home song. He got a bit upset  at the song I thought it was my  bad singing. No it wasnt that,  he mistook  the gay lyrics to mean something else.

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
The old church bell will peal with joy
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.

Dirty Ed  I enjoyed your input here . One line in there of yours  I will hang onto is.
I also think each song has its own "why" I chose to write it. 
You would be excellent  company around a campfire. Campfire's  are great places to have fun while learning about  all sorts of things,
Thank you.
Here is an atttachment to  a song/ poem about some of my thoughts on poems and songwriting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZxTgupBT8U