Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let you. So you have to get up and make it into something, and then you're allowed to sleep. It's always in the middle of the night, or you're half-awake or tired, when your critical faculties are switched off. So letting go is what the whole game is. Every time you try to put your finger on it, it slips away. You turn on the lights and the cockroaches run away. You can never grasp them...

Summary

This quote explains the process and intensity of songwriting. The songwriter compares the act to being possessed by a demon that takes hold of their creative mind. The song consumes their thoughts, refusing to let them sleep until it is brought to life. The inspiration often strikes during the late hours or in a state of half-consciousness when the critical mind is dormant. The key to success is throwing inhibitions aside and surrendering to the creative process. However, attempting to rationalize or understand the essence of the song is futile, as it slips away like elusive cockroaches in the light.

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