Someone Else's Song
Several years ago, back when I was writing new song lyrics about once a month, I had a moment when I just couldn't think of something original. (OK, so I had several moments like that, but if you've listened to today's popular music recently, you know that I'm not the only one, but I digress.) In that moment, as in this one, my mind was flooded with lyrics from other artists that I had grown to admire over the years. I became frustrated, but in that frustration, I penned some new lyrics anyway. I'm not sure what I did with them, but I do remember the beginning of the chorus:
"And so I'm stuck singing someone else's song
Because words to my own just can't be found."
Recently, I've realized that it's OK to not necessarily have my own words in any given moment. All modern Western music is confined to twelve chromatic pitches, only twelve notes in varying octaves to cover the works of every genre, every musician, and every song. Eventually, we're all going to join in one song. Even now, though, we're already repeating something that's somehow already been said.
In recent years, there have been many circumstances I've seen where I couldn't find my own words to speak into the lives of those going through hard times. However, whether through the verses of Scripture or the songs of Switchfoot, words that were meaningful and timely were able to flow.
We are all individually and uniquely skilled, gifted, and talented. Sometimes, though, someone else has already started the song we should be singing. When that happens, don't get frustrated and discredit your own gifts. Words to your own song will come soon enough, and the song that they're singing may just be the inspiration you need for it. Until that happens, though, join in the song and work together on it. You may just find that harmonizing someone else's song has just about as much meaning as finding your own.
"And so I'm stuck singing someone else's song
Because words to my own just can't be found."
Recently, I've realized that it's OK to not necessarily have my own words in any given moment. All modern Western music is confined to twelve chromatic pitches, only twelve notes in varying octaves to cover the works of every genre, every musician, and every song. Eventually, we're all going to join in one song. Even now, though, we're already repeating something that's somehow already been said.
In recent years, there have been many circumstances I've seen where I couldn't find my own words to speak into the lives of those going through hard times. However, whether through the verses of Scripture or the songs of Switchfoot, words that were meaningful and timely were able to flow.
We are all individually and uniquely skilled, gifted, and talented. Sometimes, though, someone else has already started the song we should be singing. When that happens, don't get frustrated and discredit your own gifts. Words to your own song will come soon enough, and the song that they're singing may just be the inspiration you need for it. Until that happens, though, join in the song and work together on it. You may just find that harmonizing someone else's song has just about as much meaning as finding your own.
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