The music comes through me, and I let it come the way it comes

Hear now the words of Xavier Rudd, a minstrel of the earth and voice of its spirit, who declared: “The music comes through me, and I let it come the way it comes, and it shapes itself. I just hold space for it. I don’t intend to write it for a purpose, but it comes as it comes and am proud of the way it can support change because I believe strongly in what I sing about.” These words are not idle, nor are they casual, but they are a revelation of the sacred mystery of art—that the artist is not a master, but a vessel, and the song is not a possession, but a gift that flows through.

The origin of this truth is as old as time. The ancients spoke of the Muses, divine inspirers who whispered songs into the ears of poets and melodies into the hearts of musicians. They knew, as Rudd proclaims, that true music does not spring from calculation alone but from surrender—surrender to forces greater than the self. The bard, the prophet, the shaman, all understood that to create was first to listen, to open, to hold space for the unseen to pass through. Thus the artist becomes both humble and exalted: humble, because he knows the gift is not his alone; exalted, because he is chosen to carry it into the world.

Rudd’s words echo the tradition of folk singers and truth-tellers across history. Consider Bob Dylan, who once declared that his songs seemed to arrive fully formed, as though carried on the wind. He did not sit to write for a grand design; rather, he surrendered to what came, and his voice became the anthem of an age. Or think of the prophet Isaiah, who spoke not his own words but those given him in vision, words that shaped nations and endured for centuries. In each case, the power lay not in the intention of the individual, but in the willingness to let something greater shape itself through them.

But Rudd does not stop at inspiration; he speaks of change. Though he claims no preordained purpose in his writing, he finds strength in the way his music uplifts, challenges, and transforms. This too is the mark of true art: it does not preach, but it stirs. It does not dictate, but it awakens. A song born from authenticity carries fire into the hearts of others, igniting courage, compassion, and conviction. This is why he is proud—not for his own cleverness, but for the way the music serves as a vessel of transformation.

Consider the spiritual songs of the enslaved in America. These melodies were not written for fame or performance; they were born from survival, from grief, from hope. And yet, they became the soul of a people’s struggle, sustaining them through oppression and eventually fueling the fight for freedom. The singers may not have intended to craft tools of revolution, yet by singing with faith and truth, they created something eternal. So too, Rudd reminds us that when art is born from deep belief, it will inevitably support change.

Thus, O listener, the lesson shines clearly: do not always seek to control the fruit of your labor. Instead, hold space for what flows through you—whether it is music, words, visions, or deeds. Trust that what arises with honesty will carry its own power. You need not always assign it a purpose, for the truth woven into it will shape the hearts of those who encounter it. The greatest works of the world have often been born not from grand plans, but from surrender to inspiration.

Practical action lies before you. Create with openness, not with fear. When you feel a spark, do not dismiss it because it lacks a clear goal—honor it, nurture it, let it take form. Live with integrity in your beliefs, for when your life aligns with your truth, your creations will naturally carry the power to uplift others. In this way, your work—whether song, speech, or simple kindness—will become a force of change beyond your intent.

So remember the wisdom of Xavier Rudd: the music is not owned, but received; the artist does not command, but surrenders; and in this surrender lies power. Let the song flow through you, let the vision take shape, and trust that what is born in truth will shine forth to heal, to inspire, and to transform the world.