Ok, which came first..the chicken or the egg?   Wouldn't we need either 2 chickens or 2 eggs first?  And hopefully one egg or chicken is a rooster to keep it all going?  If this whole process had happened the wrong way, would we have ever even heard of The Colonel?  Or Frank Perdue?  What would we be using for Buffalo wings?  Actual Buffalo?  Is this all just a big dream I'm having and all of you don't really exist?  Well, I can tell you that I don't know, and I don't even think I want to know.

Well it's really not that mind-boggling with songwriting....you are "the Creator" and you can do it whatever way works for you.  I've done it all ways. There was even a time that I thought you HAD to write the music first, so I did it that way...Then when I was still impressionable someone told me that you should write the lyrics first. This really confused me and I thought "I've written all my songs the wrong way." "I hope the copyright office doesn't find out."

Now that I've quit trying to write the way someone that doesn't really write tells me to write, I've relaxed and do it my way. You fall into that groove that feels good.  When you've found your groove and are comfortable and confidant you too will be able to write lines like: "If I was bovine, I'd aim to please...just chewing my cud, making you cheese" like in my song "If I Was A Cow, I'd Be Mad Too."  Now, there's something to strive for.  Your mother will be so proud of you.

Maybe I've been too negative in the past telling you to do it your own way and don't pay attention to what others say.   I'm not saying you can't get advice from others from listening to their music or reading articles about how they write songs....maybe that will be your answer and you'll try it different and it will work.  But the people that say: Develop your hook, write chorus, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, blah blah blah blah blah...well, they make me mad when they play expert. YOU are the only expert on your songs.  Personally, I'm tired of hearing so many guys imitating John Mayer and some many gals imitating whoever they imitate. (it was always Joni in my younger days..I don't pay much attention any more)  We all go through our phase of writing songs that sound like something our songwriting hero would write.  Step out on your own now.

Don't worry about what Genre you fit into, or having a HOOK line that sticks in your mind forever...If you're a songwriter, you're already crazy enough...you don't need more things floating around in your head.