Singer and musician Chris de Burgh explains his process for writing songs.
For Chris de Burgh, the genesis of a song happens subconsciously. He needs to be feeling completely relaxed for inspiration to manifest..
And then I try to come up with words, I mumble a lot, I play the guitar or the piano.
From his 1975 album 'Spanish Train and Other Stories' onwards, Chris de Burgh’s songs are developed from vivid mental imagery.
Once the whole thing starts developing, then I start visualising everything in my mind.
Using his 1982 single ‘Don't Pay the Ferryman’ as an example, he explains the song appeared while he was strumming on his guitar,
I saw this guy pounding through the night to meet with his destiny.
In his mind Chris de Burgh created a dramatic picture of the ferryman, people in the undergrowth, dancing skeletons, and thunder and lightning which he translated into music and lyrics.
This episode of 'Video File' was broadcast on 4 February 1985. The presenter is Marty Whelan.
'Video File’ was a weekly 30-minute programme featuring a different musical artist. The presenter was Marty Whelan. In 1990 Gareth O’Callaghan took over as the presenter. The programme ran until 1991.
