Writing Lyrics

I assume you are reading this because you are an aspiring songwiter, so perhaps you already have some experience of lyric writing..

Anyway, here are some pointers.

The hardest part of any writing (a book, an article, a song or whatever) is the start. You need an idea.

Is your song going to be a love song? a song about an event? a song of celebration?

Have you heard a phrase somewhere that you thought, “That would work in a song!”

If none of these apply, you need to do some thinking and come up with a subject. If I am really stuck, I pick up a newspaper or magazine and glance at the headlines - and see if anything comes to mind. Sometimes a word in a headline just triggers a thought.

Another thing you need to think about is the sub-structure of your song. For example, will every line rhyme? Will alternate lines rhyme? Wlll no lines rhyme. Is the rhythm of the words and phrases important. Listen to songs and see how different strructures have been used. Probably the commonest is a four line verse or chorus where the ends of the second and fourth lines do rhyme. (This is known as the ‘rhyming scheme’.)

Remember, any chorus will be repeated, perhaps several times,.so take greater care over your chorus if you have one. The chorus is what should ‘hook’ your listeners. The rhyming scheme for your chorus might be different from that of the verses. In fact it is a good idea to make it different as it adds variety and interest to the song.

Write one verse and say it to yourself over a few times. Does it ‘scan’. (i.e. are the lines of the right length to fit your intended rhythm). When you come to write following verses, the rhythm should be the same as your original verse to maintain consistency. It helps the listener to follow the song and to learn the words. As with sub-structure, the chorus may have a different rhythm - and will therefore scan differently.

The song may also have other elements - a pre-chorus or a bridge for example.

A pre-chorus might have been part of the chorus but you might want to change the words slightly each time it is sung before the main chorus.

A bridge is a contrasting element - probably a different structure, rhyming scheme and scan - to add drama or variety, perhaps to give a ‘twist’ such as a change of emotion. It breaks the song up for the listener making it more interesting. Listen to lots of songs and identify the verses, choruses and any pre-chorus or bridge. One common ‘bridge’ is to have an instrumental/solo, again to break up the simple repetitive pattern of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, etc. So, when you write down the structure of your song, you may put ‘guitar solo’ instead of ‘bridge’.

Finish the lyrics and put the song away for a day or two. Then take a look at it and see if it works’. Could you improve how it rhymes, how the words scan, how it is structured, or anything else. If so, have another session and make those improvements.

You now have a song.

Are you proud of it? It may not be the best song in the world (it won’t be) but its yours. If you feel brave enough, show it to someone else and ask their opinion. Ask them to be honest. After all, you want to improve, don’t you.

Your second song should be better!