I was just wondering what you guys like to start with when you're writing a song. Is it melody or lyrics? Verse or chorus? Chords or bass line?
"First comes the phone call" - Sammy Cahn
With me I think it varies from one song to another. With the song "Ask Me Another" that I posted to the feedback forum, I was thinking of writing in a more laid-back style than usual, and had a vague tune in mind, but couldn't think of a topic to write about. Then I noticed my poll card for the upcoming referendum, noticed that the word "referendum" nicely fitted the tune that I was thinking about, and progressed from there.
But it doesn't always work that way. There was one song I wrote recently where I'd already written the tune for something else, but it turned out to be unsuitable. There'd been something in the news about the creation of an English national anthem that week, so I took the topic of "England" and fitted some appropriate words to the tune. (I won't say more in case I spoil the song before I post it.)