If you want to start with something that's true, one of the best songwriting mentors you can look to is Travis...
Songs Analyzed
Mary Gauthier “Between The Daylight And The Dark”
Mary Gauthier is known for her strong scenes and emotional context, and "Between The Daylight And The Dark" is no...
Lucinda Williams “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road”
Lucinda Williams is a songwriting super-shero. Yes, most successful women who have to deal with a male-dominated...
Jason Isbell “Cumberland Gap”
Having worked in the Cumberland Gap area back in the day, I'd drive up 25E through Tazewell TN, past the Mustang...
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings “The Way It Will Be”
If you've followed the folk and Americana genres, or read Pat Pattison's books on songwriting, you know who Gillian...
Brandi Carlile “The Eye”
I got a direct message through twitter asking about a Brandi Carlile song called "The Eye" (thanks Helen!). While I've...
Eric Church “Record Year”
We'll deconstruct Eric Church's "Record Year" to discover the songwriting devices that made this song a #1 on...
Chris Stapleton “Parachute”
"Parachute," written by Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers, is one of my favorite songs on Traveller. It delivers a...
Lori McKenna “The Bird & The Rifle”
Lori McKenna's "The Bird & The Rifle" is a lesson in song craft. And, she's a great example of how writing first...
Adele “Hello”
Written by Adele and producer Greg Kurstin, "Hello" focuses on a telephone conversation/voicemail. The song...
Aaron Watson “Bluebonnets”
How do you make a very personal moment a song that can connect with thousands and top the Texas Regional Radio Music...
Tyler Farr “A Guy Walks Into A Bar”
Cliches are well - cliche. They're predictable, boring, and not something your ears perk up for . . . except when done...
Song Themes: Same But Different
Listening to these two songs is a great way to hear how the song themes can be the same, but written in two very...
Dolly Parton Jolene Best Direct Address Ever?
Dolly Parton's "Jolene" was based on a young girl who approached her early on in her career. She had red hair, green...
Joni Mitchell “The Magdalene Laundries”
On her 1994 album Turbulent Indigo Joni Mitchell has one of the most descriptive, powerful songs you'll ever hear. She...
Song Outline Worksheet: Stripes
Brandy Clark's "Stripes" One of the things I'm not so good at is the song's story. I tend to get a little too focused...
‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ (II)
Part 2 of the post "Mama's Broken Heart" (I) Written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves Rhyme...
“Mama’s Broken Heart” (I)
Three terrific songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves took an age-old story line (mother /...