Writing the Historical Event Song

I am sitting here reeling from the events on the East Coast today, and in the middle of a maelstrom of online chats and emails from music friends and family who know people in the affected cities. Not only is our nation mourning, but condolences are pouring in from pals overseas, and it hurts to watch as their stock markets are taking a horrid plunge, as well. True, it’s enough to make any musician reach for their favorite tools and try to chronicle these events, somehow, and that is a good way to mourn and work out those frustrations. I have very mixed feelings about publishing music on subjects like this, though. You could, and are probably guaranteed a hit. Here are a few pros and cons for and against writing about tragedies like these….

MAKING MONEY FROM PAIN

Well, if you were to take the proceeds from sales and donate it to a fund for the victims, that wouldn’t be bad, but that’s just my opinion. Holding a concert or songwriter’s forum featuring songs on the subject to raise funds, food, blood, clothing or household items for the affected people would also be a good way to help out. I, personally, would feel really badly about taking any personal gain from such events, though—there are so many that could benefit if songwriters would pitch in, though. Rather than dwelling on the tragedy, though, might it not be better to do something more positive, and write something about triumphs of the human spirit we see in such horrid events? There is so much emotional wreckage after a national disaster—anything that would be uplifting after such a time would be so much more helpful than dwelling on the tragedy, and would help alleviate the mass depression felt after such an occurrence. To be honest, though, most of the songwriters I chatted with online today were more concerned about friends and family living in or visiting the affected areas, and not on songwriting. Being there, and being supportive for each other means more for many people than any song could. In my opinion, this is a great time for songwriters to take that wonderful creativity, passion, and ability to listen and connect with an audience to reach out and help those in need.

THE BARD’S DUTY

True, there is a time when a songwriter feels compelled to chronicle an event, and this is a great way to let out our frustrations and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. I do encourage all musicians to pick up your pen or guitar or go to the piano or whatever and work out your feelings. We all need to vent at a time like this, and will all do it in our own way. This is a great, positive outlet for all those negative emotions, and is very healing for anyone who practices it. Don’t just sit and stew about it, get it out of your system. Get together with those you are close to, and other musicians if you like and form a discussion group on the topic. Do some co-writing, or just talk about your feelings on the subject—if you come up with some good tunes, or at least some good lyrics, at least something positive came of it, whether it ever gets pitched to the industry or not. There will be millions of stories to tell in a disaster like this, and thousands of songs to write. If nothing else, it will become a historical page in your life, and give you something concrete to look back on, just like the notes from your classmates in your senior year annual. Perhaps it should stay private, but, if you show it to others and it is healing, not reopening the wounds from the event, you can help others just by privately sharing it somehow.

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