Is it kind? Is it necessary?.

Have been thinking about words.  I’ve heard that the 2 questions below are good ones to ask before saying ANYTHING.  In life-in-general, I agree. If I were to ask these 2 questions before speaking I’d probably spare myself a lot of conflict and a lot of gossipy nothingness that I tend to regret.

But what about as an artist?  What about the artist’s life-in-general?  Some would argue that art is not necessary (they’re wrong) and some would argue that art can be unkind (it can be).

A dear friend recently stumbled upon something written about him on the internet. It was hurtful and scathing and a little bit true.  It was a result of a lot of mistakes. It was a laundry list of complaints and written in the name of “art.”

Talking with him about it made me wonder about songs and the lyrics to songs. What makes a lyric art?  And what makes a lyric little more than a venting of personal frustrations and feelings?

I can’t help but think that every word – no matter the setting – should be justified and weighed to see if it will do damage.  I can’t help but think that artists have a unique call to be careful with words.  Is each one necessary?  Is each one kind?