Mary Gauthier: Accessing Universal Truth and Generating Empathy in Song

Adult Group Class / Songwriting Program

This workshop is available as a one-off class or as part of Mary Gauthier Workshops: Songwriting Toolkit Series.

Universal truths are what make songs resonate. Emotional truths apply to everyone, regardless of cultural differences, age, race, gender, sexuality, political ideology, geographic location, etc. Songs that contain universal truths build bridges that connect people who may believe they have little in common, generating empathy even in these divided times. These are the songs that remind us we are not alone.

We humans are far more alike than different, and universal, emotional truths are true for everyone. They are central to the human condition. Deeper than the personal details of each of our stories and well beyond navel gazing, they remind us of who we are. They are embedded in the deeply personal parts of our self. They are closely held secrets, secrets we may even be keeping from ourselves. Songs are where we discover, then tell, these secrets.

Universal themes:
· Love
· Redemption
· Courage and Perseverance
· Coming of Age
· Revenge
· Good vs Evil
· Forgiveness

-As an example, I will play, then break down my song "Mercy Now". I will go into the backstory, tell how I wrote it, explain the universal truths inside the song, and discuss how I arrived at them.

Note: This will be a lecture class 60 minutes in length plus 30 minutes of Q and A. Open to all who are interested.

Grammy Nominated Mary Gauthier has been called a songwriter’s songwriter. She has released 9 studio albums over her twenty-five year music business career. She was named “One of America’s most admired artists across the US and around the world,” by The Wall Street Journal, who noted her “razor-sharp eye for detail and her commitment to unsentimental self-reflection.” A regular on Grand Ole Opry; her songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Boy George, Jimmy Buffett, Bettye Lavette, Bobby Bare, Kathy Mattea, Amy Helm, and many others.

Her newest release Rifles and Rosary Beads, is a record of songs she co-wrote with Veterans thru Songwriting With Soldiers, a non-profit program that pairs wounded veterans with songwriters. These songs tell the story of war and the effect it has had on Americans who’ve served, and their families. It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album, Record of the Year by the Americana Music Association, and the UK Americana Association named Mary International Artist of the Year. Her songs have appeared extensively in film and television, most recently on HBO TV’s Yellowstone and NBC’s Nashville.

Grouped with: Country & Traditional / Folk / Pop & Rock / Songwriting