Where Are You When A Song Idea Hits You?

I usually find if I try and write a song it doesn't work. When a song comes to me it usually happens at the most unexpected of times.  A few years back  i woke up in the middle of the night went to the piano hit record on my cell phone and recorded a song that came to me in a dream. Next day I actually I forgot about it until going through my phone and  I found I had this recording on there and thought hey I will put that on soundcloud which I did.. Very rare for me to get lyrics and music together usually I get one before the other.     I try and carry a pen and paper with me as most of my song ideas hit when I am out and about and there isn't a guitar or piano in sight.  Many of my song  ideas come from things people say when I am out.

The last one i wrote I was sitting in a restaurant.

Like Phill- I will see or hear something and say to myself that has the makings of a song.
I have all sorts of notes to myself on my phone.

As you know - most of my stuff revolves around emotions and life's happenstances.
I agree with Peatle - trying to write a song - ir really difficult and usually sub par or downright crappy.

Lastly - as Phill said - sometimes i just get a hord progression going from sitting on my porch and just relaxing - and some line pops in my head - and it just grows from there.
I suppose if I could actually sing or play well it would be a lot easier.

Great topic  Bill

Jim     

Some of my stuff comes from dreams. I once kept a notepad by my bed so if I woke up and the dream of the song was still intact, I'd quickly makes some notes, turn over and go back to sleep - hoping to get back into the dream if it was a good one, dreading getting back into it if it was a bad one.

Next morning, I'd wake up - remembering that I had written this down, open the notepad, look at it and say to myself, "What in the _____ is this_____????"

Only partially kidding. That would happen sometimes. Most of the other times I could get a verse or two written. I've only ever completed maybe two songs from dreams.

Bill     

Great topic, Bill ... as always!

I don't write songs, but have written hundreds of poems over the years. An inspiration for one usually hits me when I'm "coming down" from an extremely emotional episode of some kind. Some are good, and some aren't too bad, and some are crap that never sees the light of day. The two emotions which are most common in the writing process are gratitude and anger, bringing out the best or worst in my nature.

Regarding your preacher story, I once heard of a pastor who caused a man to nod off, and the preacher asked the person sitting next him to give him a nudge and wake him up. The reply was: "You put him to sleep; you wake him up!"