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Every Creature: Written back in 2003. Simple. Catchy. Every congregation I’ve ever shared it with loves it, especially the “Jesus” part. I shared a recorded version of it here on the blog a little earlier this year. Well, here’s a live version from this past Sunday. Just me on the keys and some vocals joining in. A little pitchy in places, but I like it because it reminds me that I’m not perfect and that perfect worship has nothing to do with my perfection but everything to do with God’s perfection.

Hope you enjoy. If you’d like to use this song, feel free to and share with us how it goes over.

Every Creature from Jimmy Linville on Vimeo.

Recorded Sunday 8.03.09

To The Sky from Jimmy Linville on Vimeo.

This is a follow up post to Get Over It: There Is Nothing New Under The Sun

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecc. 1:9)

So you want to be an original songwriter, eh? Odds are slim to none that that’s not gonna happen. But don’t fret you can be, and should pursue being a UNIQUE songwriter.

What’s the difference?

Some would say semantics, but I think not.

ORIGINAL

Original means the first. I’m sure there is an original songwriter somewhere along the timeline of history. I mean somebody had to write the first song at least once in history, right?

But you might say, but rap music didn’t come around until the 20th century, somebody originated that, right? Sure, you can look at it that way. But that person did NOT originate the SONG. They are not the first person to write a song. They are not the first person to write poetry and put it to music. It’s ALL been done before.

I’m pretty sure that person isn’t you and it isn’t me, so let’s just move that notion out of the way.

UNIQUE

Being UNIQUE in songwriting is a far more realistic and attainable goal. Why?

Unique doesn’t mean being the first to do something. It means doing what you do in a way that carries your own personal flavor. It bears your mark. But what is YOUR mark? What is YOUR flavor?

It’s a combination of the things you have seen, heard, and experienced throughout your lifetime. It is the music and lyrics you’ve heard and sung. It’s a mashup of every influence, big and small, that played a part in shaping who you are.

GENRES/STYLE

You can “create” a new genre. You can even “originate” a new style of music. But honestly, if you look at the end result, I guarantee you that it’s just a UNIQUE expression of something that has come before. In reality, it’s not truly original. In a private response to the previous post about nothing being new under the sun, a person disagreed with me and agreed with me at the same time. The disagreement was over genres and styles of music.

They said that “rap rock” wasn’t heard of in the past, and someone did it and they are “original” because of it. I say no, they are just expressing a UNIQUE combination of styles (rap and rock) that have already come before.

Question:

• Was Elvis Presley original or unique?

I say UNIQUE. He definitely wasn’t original, even though we have this notion that he is the “King.” If you listen to him with open ears you can hear the MANY, MANY influences from his small town, southern upbringing. He just mashed them all up and expressed them uniquely.

UNIQUE SONGWRITING

So, when writing music. Don’t pursue originality. Like I said in the previous post, there is nothing new under the sun. What’s been said has been said again. Pursue UNIQUENESS. I truly believe that if you will just be who you are (allowing your influences to shape you) and do what you do, you will be effective.

Write what you write. But write intelligently. Music doesn’t move people because it’s original…and on a deeper level, it doesn’t move people because it’s unique.

For example, think about that rusty old “art” sculpture that every town has. I’m sure that 7.2 people think it’s nice and pretty, but seriously, what purpose does it actually serve. It is probably unique (but metal scultpure has been done before), but I bet it doesn’t move people because most people look at it and go…what is that even there for.

Music is the same way. Sure, you can throw the “but I just write to express myself” argument out there. I’m sure there are artists who create art only as an expression of their personal creativity. But let’s be honest, if it’s an expression of your personal creativity and you could care less if anyone else likes it, then why express it outwardly anyways? Why paint? Why sculpt? Why write songs?

We ALL know that artists make art (at least on some level) because they want to express their creativity to, for, and around others. It’s just the truth.

Music moves people because they can relate to it. There is something about it that they just inherently understand. That being said, if you ad lyrics that are trite and don’t make any connection on any level, then NOONE will connect to your music.

So say what you’ve got to say, but BE UNIQUE. Be you.

We’ve already got Tomlin, Crowder, and Redman running around in the modern worship arena. What we need is a little more YOU!

* Edit for clarity’s sake: I’m SPECIFICALLY talking about the actual WRITING of songs here, NOT genres and styles of music.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecc. 1:9)

When writing music for congregational worship, or for anything really, we have to acknowledge that anything and everything that we’re thinking about writing, be it music or lyrics, has already been done.

Creativity does not mean being 100% original.

Creativity means taking who you are, who and what you’ve been influenced by, and what God is giving you in the moment and shaping it into something that is of benefit to others.

Creativity isn’t about being original, it means creating something useful.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with trying to be original, as long as that’s not our overarching goal. If all I ever strive to be is original, then I’ll definitely be missing the mark. I would be leaving something so valuable behind: usefulness.

Think about this: God created you as a unique and wonderfully made individual, yet he used elements of your mom and your dad and their moms and dads and theirs and so on and so on. The end result isn’t a totally original piece of human art.

The end result is a mashup of everything that has come before you. Yet, you are still you, and only you.

When writing music, keep in mind that straight up copying is NOT what I’m talking about here. That is more like cloning, which is like playing God, and not advisable. What I’m talking about is the convergence of influences, training, heritage, individual preference, styles, and thoughts into an unique expression of song.

Just like the birth of a little boy or a little girl. All the different family traits and characteristics come together to make something familiar, yet so unique.

What’s wonderful about songwriting is that for thousands of years people have literally been writing about the same things: love, heartache, joy, sadness, friends, enemies, and so on. But just imagine how many different voicings we have of the same topics? A multitude.

Don’t get hung up on originality. Focus your writing in on USEFULNESS. How can the congregation benefit from this song. How will this song help them to see, hear, experience, and express the idea of the song?

If your song is the most original thing in the world, yet fails to help people express their worship in and through singing, then it is a dud. No matter how many other songwriters like it. No matter how many critics call it innovative and original.

Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. (Ecc. 1:10)

1) Serve them.

Make it your purpose and intention to serve them through every rehearsal, through every note sung, played, or written. When you “lead” worship, it’s not for you, it’s for GOD and for them. When you plan and sing songs that are singable, catchy, rich in truth, encouraging, moving, inspiring, and memorable you are serving them. Don’t view Sunday mornings as your personal “dive into the depths of abandoned worship” moment. View it as a moment to show them you love them by serving them [have your deep dive in moments in smaller groups or in your prayer/worship times during the week].

2) Teach them.

Take opportunities to teach about worship. I don’t mean a 12 point sermon on what worship is. I don’t mean an hour long teaching on Hebrew Words for worship. I mean teach them by your actions. Live a worship life before you ever speak on “what worship is.” THEN, take opportunities to share periodically about worship activities: clapping, singing, kneeling, lifting hands, etc.

3) Lead them.

Building on the above. People in your faith family need to SEE YOU worshiping. Obviously, Sunday mornings are a great time for them to see you worshiping through singing/playing. I’m talking about more than that. They should see you serving OUTSIDE of the music team. They should see you participating in the life of your church! They should see you at community events. They should see you serving (which IS worship).

4) Write for them.

Let them know you care by sharing your songwriting with them. I know sometimes it seems like it’s hard to compete with the quality production and songwriting coming from the latest modern worship chart toppers, but that’s not the point. The point is (from #1) that we serve them by writing for them. And when you do write something for them, don’t be afraid to tell them. When my congregation knows we’re singing a song I wrote it’s an opportunity for them to SEE that I love them and care about them enough to write FOR them.

5) Be transparent.

I fail in ALL of these areas. My worship team knows it. My closest friends know it. And now you do too. And you know what, the world doesn’t end when I admit my shortcomings. In fact, the world seems to make more sense when I SHARE my weaknesses and lock arms with those around me to tackle those areas. You don’t always have to appear to have it all together. Sometimes you need to cry in front of your people. Sometimes you need to laugh. Sometimes you need to say you had a hard week, and that you’re excited to come in and focus on Jesus WITH your people. Be real.