Free’s bassist and songwriter recalls how the band’s biggest hit had its genesis in a less than successful live gig...
How I Wrote
ArticlesOrigin stories of chart-topping hits and cherished classics, as told by the songwriters themselves. In the process of interviewing 1000s of well-known performing artists, bands and behind-the-scenes songwriters, Songwriting has had the privilege of learning how these talented creators work and the circumstances that inspired some of their most successful songs.
Our series continues with the story of a song that’s been a hit somewhere in every decade since the 60s...
- 2 Nov 2013
- 0
In the first article in a new series, Songwriting gets the story behind the legendary British reggae band’s breakthrough single...
- 15 Sep 2013
- 1
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Interview: Laurence Jones
1

How I wrote 'Zombie' by The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan
2

Interview: Eddie Schwartz
3

How I wrote ''74-'75' by The Connells
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5 minutes with... Lawson's Andy Brown
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Shelf help: 33 of the best books for songwriters [March 2025]
6

How we wrote ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville
7

How I wrote 'Iris' by Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik
8

How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
9

How I wrote 'Walking In Memphis' by Marc Cohn
10

5 minutes with... Lawson's Andy Brown
1

How I wrote 'Zombie' by The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan
2

How we wrote ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville
3

How we wrote ‘Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst
4

Interview: Tom Basden
5

Lessons Learned: D:Ream
6

How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
7

How I wrote 'Iris' by Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik
8

How I wrote 'Mad World' by Tears For Fears' Roland Orzabal
9

How I wrote Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes' by Mike Batt
10

Songs Of The Year 2025
1

How I wrote 'Nothing Ever Happens' by Del Amitri's Justin Currie
2

How we wrote ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville
3

How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
4

Interview: Tom Basden
5

How I wrote 'Zombie' by The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan
6

How I wrote ''74-'75' by The Connells
7

How I wrote 'Iris' by Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik
8

How I wrote Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes' by Mike Batt
9

How I wrote 'Walking In Memphis' by Marc Cohn
10

How I wrote 'Luka' by Suzanne Vega
1

How we wrote ‘Beds Are Burning’ by Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst
2

Shelf help: 33 of the best books for songwriters [March 2025]
3

How I wrote 'Enola Gay' by OMD's Andy McCluskey
4

How I wrote 'Food For Thought' by UB40's Robin Campbell
5

16 song starters
6

How we wrote ‘Big In Japan’ by Alphaville
7

How I wrote Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes' by Mike Batt
8

How I wrote 'Zombie' by The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan
9

How I wrote 'Turning Japanese' by The Vapors' David Fenton
10





