This article in The Atlantic is a Songwriting Masterclass from Wilco's Jeff Tweedy

This article in The Atlantic is a Songwriting Masterclass from Wilco's Jeff Tweedy:

"One of the primary ways I write lyrics is to sing and record vocal sounds without words, vowel and consonants that sound like language but don’t actually mean anything. I’ll even double vocal tracks of these sounds without words—I call them “mumble tracks.” A lot of times people will hear them and think I’m singing real lyrics there, but I’m not. I mix them low so you have to struggle to hear, but loud enough so you can get the sound you want and get the melody to come through. With this approach, you can work on a song and finish it without even having the lyrics done."

Lyrics are one of the toughest things for me, and there's a lot more in the article: It's worth a read:

Jeff Tweedy's Subconscious Songwriting - The Atlantic

I like to write lyrics first, with a set meter and the melody sort of writes itself based on the phrasing.

His thoughts regarding Johnston's lyrics don't really gel with his explanation of his own process or priorities.

I write and record the rhythm parts first....that is the "fun" part. Lyrics are the "work" part of the song for me. I used to try to write songs for Nashville or pop markets where we are told that lyrics are more important than the music. After giving that up, I started listening to the Rolling Stones or similar acts where the lyrics are not very good but NOBODY cares. I do still obsess over the right line.....