Writing Lyrics

How to write lyrics As an aspiring songwriter myself, I am constantly listening to the albums of my favorite artists in the hopes that some inspiration strikes and I can someday write the lyrics to a song that people will listen to over and over again. And though I have not yet hit the jackpot in my own work, I think I have learned a few things about how the good songs get written. But first and foremost, I would say that the guidelines for writing good song lyrics very much depend on the genre in which you choose to write. The standards for good heavy metal song lyrics are going to be very different from what will be expected of a pop rock song and even more distinct from the lyrics in a country song. Of course, this is not always the case, but it is important to understand and to consider the stylistic differences in the genres before you start writing so that you can decide whether you want a standard sound or whether you want to go with your own unique creation. Here are some thoughts on writing lyrics in the different genres:

For Heavy Metal Songs:

Convey a singular thought, emotion, image, or idea and write lyrics that are somewhat short or punctuated

Stick with that one idea throughout the whole song and keep your lyrics very simple and unilateral. You might want to do something as basic as finding a catchy way to repeat that idea over and over rather than to dilute it with several other lyrics. This might make for a very repetitious song, but this idea seems very true to the already released heavy metal.

For Mainstream Rock-n-Roll (Pop Rock) Songs:

This is a much lighter and catchier sound than heavy metal. Here, you might want to draw inspiration from an event, person, place, or emotion in your life about which you can create a story. Conjure up the catalyst first, and then think of the story you want to tell or the emotion you want to convey and create it. Keep in mind that you want a beginning, middle, and end to your story so you want the idea or emotion to fit tightly within the standard song structures. Example: Use A (chorus) B (chorus) structure. Make verse A be the beginning of the story, the chorus be the major emotion, and verse B be the middle and end of the story. Repeat the structure using as many verses as it takes to tell your whole story or to convey your emotion. The lyric lines here are usually (not always) longer here than those in heavy metal songs and the words themselves are more elongated.

For Country Songs:

The rules here for lyrics are somewhat similar to those in the writing of pop-rock lyrics. Old country songs were very twangy and sad (sometimes sappy). Over the years, country songs have joined hands with the rock-n-roll genre and become both more mainstream and upbeat. My tip here:

If you want to write the old, twangy version of country, think of the saddest thing that has ever happened to you, write a story about it in your head, and follow the rules above to produce the final product.

If you have trouble connecting with the sad experiences of your past, you can always incorporate alcohol to reconnect with the weightiness of the experience. But, should you choose to do this, drink responsibly, do not drive drunk, and be sober when it comes time to write the song. I cannot emphasize enough here, though to drink moderately and responsibly.

Should you choose to write a more modern country song, see the tips for pop-rock songs.

Now genre aside, here are a few tips that apply to all the songs that you wish to write:

1. Keep your verses no more than 4-6 lines and your choruses the same

2. It is a good idea to have the lines rhyme. This rhyme can be a perfect rhyme, but can also be something close. Think creatively here; if you do, you would be surprised what can rhyme with what.

3. Remember that your lyrics will be set to music and can be stretched and manipulated accordingly. So, where you can't get a rhyme, you can use words with the same number of syllables or words that rhyme closely and make them work for you.

4. It is often the case that every other line of your verse or chorus should rhyme. This is not always true, but this element occurs frequently in lyrics.