As songwriters, we often find ourselves chasing originality like it’s some rare, mystical treasure buried beneath layers of chords and lyrics. We tinker with song structures, search for that one chord nobody’s ever used (good luck), or try to find the “newest” way to say something.
But here’s something I’ve come to believe after years of writing, recording, and listening deeply: The originality of the song doesn’t come from the song itself, it comes from the songwriter.
That might sound a little backwards at first, but let me explain.
Songs Don’t Write Themselves
Every song begins with a person, someone who’s feeling something, noticing something, reflecting on something. That person (you, me, whoever is writing the song) brings a whole world of experience, taste, instinct, and identity to the process.
That’s where the originality lies.
You could hand ten songwriters the exact same prompt or chord progression, and you’d get ten wildly different songs. Why? Because what makes each song unique is the filter it passes through: the songwriter’s voice, vision, and choices.
Perspective Is Everything
Let’s say you want to write a love song. That’s not exactly uncharted territory, right? But it’s how you approach it that makes it yours.
One writer might describe love like a burning fire. Another might describe it like a warm cup of tea on a cold morning. Same topic but a different perspective. And that’s what gives the song its originality.
Originality isn’t about avoiding familiar themes. It’s about exploring them through your own lens.
It’s Your Human Touch That Matters Most
We live in a world where AI can generate chord progressions, melody lines, and even lyrics. And sure, some of the results are impressive.
But something’s always missing. That human spark, the vulnerability, the unpredictability, the flawed brilliance of real expression.
A song becomes original the moment you pour yourself into it.
Your weird metaphors, your word choices, your rhythm, your phrasing. These things matter more than any plugin or production trick. They’re what make a song truly yours.
Same Song, Different Writer, Different Result
I’ve seen this firsthand in the studio. Two artists interpret the same basic song in completely different ways. One might turn it into an upbeat pop track, the other a stripped-back acoustic confession. Even the same lyrics can carry different meanings depending on who’s delivering them and how.
That’s not the song doing the work. That’s the songwriter.
Cliché Is About How, Not What
There’s a misconception that songs about love, loss, hope, or heartbreak are cliché. But these are human themes. What makes a song sound cliché is a lack of personal take, not the topic itself.
A love song becomes original when it’s your love story, told in your words, reflecting your truth.
Songwriting Is a Series of Choices
Writing a song is all about decisions. It’s all about what to say, how to say it, what to leave out. Every one of those choices adds to your song’s originality. And those choices? They don’t come from the song…
No, they come from you.
You get to decide what kind of story to tell, what kind of emotional tone to strike, what kind of imagery to use. That’s the artistry. That’s the originality.
So What Does This Mean For You (And Me)?
It means we can stop trying to reinvent the wheel every time we write. The truth is, the wheel isn’t the problem. It’s how you roll it that matters.
- Don’t stress about whether your song is “original” enough.
- Instead, focus on whether it’s honest, true, and you.
- That’s where the gold is.
And here’s the thing: if you bring your full self to your songwriting, the song will be original because there’s only one of you.
What do you think? Have you ever found yourself chasing originality in the wrong places? Let me know… I’d love to hear your take on this.
