Writing Can Be Therapeutic
The fastest song I ever wrote was about a guy.
I did not want to write a song, I wanted to vent. It took me less than ten minutes to write this song.
- How do we go back to our river Nile
Back when we told our funny jokes
How do I turn back the hands of time so I can kiss your lips again
oh tell me I ain’t asking pretty too late
Cause I have plans for you and me
Down the road, I have thought for a while I want to be your number one.
This would become the chorus of my third song(at the time I didn't consider myself a songwriter which I am now by the way. I just had the desire to write songs.) I was an undergraduate in my second year at the University of Benin, Edo State. I decided to flex my entrepreneurship muscle in the hostel by selling eggs. Eggs and noodles were a staple for female students, so why not? I was selling out fast until an unfortunate event happened. I sold bad eggs. I had just restocked that evening from my customer not knowing some of the eggs were bad.
Before long people started trooping to my room complaining about the eggs I had sold them. I was devastated. Pained even. I felt like a fraud. I took my books and stormed out of the room to go read somewhere as I had intended to do before the incident occurred.
I couldn’t read. How could I after I had just ruined the image of my business in the hostel? I could barely concentrate, I read one-page multiple times. All I wanted in that moment was to pour my heart out to the one person who’d understand and have the right words to say to me; my crush at the time. But we were not on talking terms and it was my fault.
I was angry and frustrated for a different reason now. I couldn’t say the things I wanted to say. I was burdened by all sorts of emotions. Before I knew it lyrics and melody began to collide in my head. That was my cue to leave the class where I was reading (not like I was reading anyway) Soon I felt my creative instinct bubble over. It was a splurge.
As I articulated my emotional state on paper I began to feel light. I felt energetic all of a sudden. My eyes blazed with eagerness. I was happy writing a sad song. I saw words and feelings form a perfect symphony. There was no longer a need for a third party.
