Songwriters and Dreams: When a Song Meets the Night

Have you ever woken up with a song humming in your head, feeling the urge to record it before it fades away? For many skilled songwriters, the subconscious mind seems to be a fertile ground for musical inspiration.

David Virgil’s Nightly Composers

David Virgil, a singer-songwriter from Bremerton, WA, is well-acquainted with these experiences. “I often wake up at night with a song in my head and can't go back to sleep until I either record it or write it down,” he shares. Virgil has written well over 150 songs and has registered more than half of them with BMI. His experiences are not unique among other songwriters. He mentions that several prominent artists he knows also experience similar phenomena. "It's a very common occurrence," he notes, "although I usually have either the lyrics or the music come to me, but never both at the same time."

The Creative Realm: Daydreams and Inspiration

David’s description of his creative process points to the importance of the 'creative realm'—a term he uses to describe his mental state whether awake or dreaming. For many songwriters, inspiration can strike at any time, even during awakening moments when the mind becomes particularly receptive.

Early Morning Lyrical Inspiration

The majority of songs Virgil has written were created during these early morning moments. “Waking before dawn, I often have lyrics come through while I’m still in a half-sleep state,” he explains. Writing these melodies and lyrics down then becomes a natural extension of the dream into the waking world.

A Hit Starring The Beatles

One of the most notable examples of a dream-turned-song is the story of "Yesterday" by The Beatles. While the song was not created during a dream, it serves as a testament to the power of inspiration, whether it originates in the waking or sleeping state.

John Lennon, a member of The Beatles, once revealed that he was inspired by a dream to write "Yesterday" in 1965. The song became a major hit and has been covered by countless artists around the world. The legacy of this dream-inspired song underscores the importance of nurturing the creative muse in any form.

Personal Insights into Writing in Dreams

Another songwriter, Geraldine Taylor, shares her experiences with dream-inspired songs. She mentions that a fellow band member from a group called The Centipedes recorded a dream-inspired song, and it surprisingly became a hit. The song in question was "Yesterday," although she clarifies that it was actually The Beatles who achieved this feat.

Further Examples of Dream Songs

Taylor also shares her own experiences, including a dream she had at 3 AM that led her to write down the lyrics of a reggae-flavored tune about a mysterious unseen Beast terrorizing a village. Though the song was not ideal for popular consumption, it showcases the wide range of themes that can arise from dream-based inspiration.

She further mentions that last summer, she had a series of dreams that she transcribed: “I woke up and transcribed a couple of Meters-style licks different dreams on different nights.” These melodies and lyrics have remained with her and are poised to become full songs in the future.

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Dreams for Songwriting

The stories of David Virgil, Geraldine Taylor, and others demonstrate that the line between reality and dreams can be blurred when it comes to the creative process. Whether you believe in the power of dreams or not, these stories serve as a reminder that inspiration is often waiting for you, both in the dream and awake states.

Songwriters and dreamers alike can take heart in the knowledge that sometimes, the most beautiful and meaningful music comes from the depths of the subconscious. So, the next time you find yourself jolted awake with a song in your head, consider it a gift and a challenge to capture the magic before it fades away.

Keywords: dream songs, songwriter inspiration, songwriting process