LyricsStop.com - Lyrics

How To Write Lyrics - An Introduction

Whether you are a beginning songwriter or a seasoned veteran writer, if you are searching for information and tools about how to write lyrics, this is a great place to start. Writing lyrics is more than just something to learn, or a skill you perform at a certain time - it's a way of life for those who are serious about it. There are many methods and formulas for how to write song lyrics, and they all can have some value. The important thing is to find the methods that best fit you and your genres. Some will write melody first, then add lyrics and others will write both together or lyrics only first. There really is no best way for how to write lyrics for songs, except the way that allows the writer to convey the emotions and meaning in a manner the listener can relate to. The logistics or rules for how to write good lyrics are well documented in many good resources. You will find many of them listed or reviewed all over the Internet. Anyone can learn the mechanics, but the biggest part of writing song lyrics is creating the idea for the song itself. You may not have much experience or even understand common song structure yet, but if you have great ideas you can be a great writer.

Writing song lyrics is not an exact science, though the many rules and traditional standards can make it seem like studying physics. The core and essence of any song is how it communicates. Why did our ancient ancestors begin to communicate thoughts, stories and feelings by mouthing words while changing vocal pitches? Why is that such a powerful way to communicate? Whatever all of the social and psychological reasons may be, history has proven that the art of the song is one of the most meaningful and memorable forms of human communication. Consider the difference in how you feel in reciting or hearing something like the pledge of allegiance, compared to hearing or singing a national anthem. So how is one to write a song lyrics message in such a way that is meaning and memorable? Write lyrics that trigger feelings. Listeners will relate those feelings to the lyrics and the words will mean more than just a clever twist of a phrase.

When you write song lyrics, make it personal. Even if the subject matter is not something you have direct experience in, use your own feelings and emotions in some related area to build an underlying story line. Even if a listener has no idea what the subplot might be, if you use your own life experience and emotions as a foundation for your word choices, they will feel the emotion and relate it to their own life. Conveying emotion should be the prime goal, no matter if you are learning how to write rap lyrics, or how to write lyrics for a country tear jerker. Emotion is king and the lyric writer should treat it like royalty!

Lyric writing is much like any other style of writing, the more time you spend working on it, the more you will grow as a writer. So what exactly are lyrics? Song lyrics can basically be thought of as singable poetry. The Oxford dictionary defines the word ‘lyric’ as 1) (of poetry) expressing the poet’s thoughts and feelings, usually briefly and in stanzas, song like (a lyric poem) 2) (lyrics) the words of a song. By using this definition, we can assume that the process of writing lyrics draws from some of the same techniques used in poetry.

Why write lyrics? This may seem like an odd question, there are literary hundreds of answers to this, but it is something you will need to ask yourself before you start. Is it because you have a story to tell, because you want to express a particular emotion to your audience? Some write purely for themselves, like a kind of personal therapy. Or perhaps it’s simply because the human voice is an important part of the style of music they are written for.

What do you want to say? Most lyrics are written with a message or some kind of effect in mind. You will need to have a clear idea of what you want out of the lyrics or you will run the risk of creating weak lyrics. Weak lyrics tend to resort to cliched, generic and boring phrases when they are written solely to ‘fit’ the tune. On the other hand, don’t be carried away with the message, make it a point for the lyrics to be somewhat cryptic. Do not ‘spoon feed’ your audience, plant the seed of your idea and let the audience come to their own conclusions.

As with all forms of creativity, lyrics are an expression of personal ideas, beliefs and themes. Lyric writing is just a matter of expressing these beliefs and feelings. As with most forms of writing, it is best to write about what you know. Because everybody has their own experiences, emotions and beliefs, it becomes hard to give an exact instruction on how to write, everyone has their own opinions on how it should be done. The most I can do in this series is give a guide about how to go about finding your own style by learning from the music that you listen to. This is a great way to learn, as many of the bands you listen to have learned, and draw influences, from other established artists.

It is important not to mistake alternate lyrics with cover songs. There are many ways to cover a song, you can alter the lyrics slightly to modernize it like in the Disturbed cover of Tears For Fear’s “Shout”. You can also alter the tune slightly as seen in Madonna’s version of Don MacLean’s “American Pie” or Sheryl Crow’s cover of Guns n Rose’s “Sweet Child o’ Mine” [also altered to change the voice from male to female]. You notice that the song in essence stays the same, both lyrically and melodically. For more examples of cover songs, see the reference to ‘Triple M’s Musical Challenge’ in Part 1 of this guide.

It is probably best when you first attempt to write alternate lyrics, to choose a song that you are familiar with. When choosing a song, try to pick a melody you know well. To start with, examine the lyrics, making note of patterns such as rhyme schemes and syllable count. What do I mean by this? Look for which line ends rhyme together and whether there is a pattern to it. Count the number of syllables in each line and see if there is any intentional design to them (note not all will have this, but it is important to take note of what is there.

What are you going to write about? You will need to have a clear idea of what you are going to write about. If you are going to write a parody, what topic are you going to use? Jot down any ideas and thoughts you could cover in the song, use something like the word association exercises in Part 1 of this series. If you decide to do a more serious song, jot down some ideas/words, etc that come to mind - this can help you when it comes to the writing of the lyrics.

Now I can’t tell you exactly how to go about the actual writing process. Everyone has their own style and methods, to be honest, I’m not exactly sure how I write, it just comes to me. I can however, give you some pointers to keep in mind when it comes to writing alternate lyrics.

Why use ghost songs

We all know that sampling is mainly used in rap, dance and techno music. Reasons for this vary, and I’m not entirely sure as to the exact reasoning for it. I don’t generally listen to these styles of music, I don’t write it, so I can’t honestly comment on that aspect of sampling. I can, however, tell you about the use of these techniques.

Many inexperienced songwriters make the mistake of trying to write lyrics without music. I can’t stress enough how important it is to work with a tune when writing lyrics. If you don’t work with a tune, it will show. The inability to play a musical instrument is no excuse, that is what ghost songs are for.

As I have stated in other parts of this guide, I cannot tell you word for word how to write lyrics. Everyone has their own writing style and methods that work for them. Experiment with your writing and find what works for you. What you will find in this section is some general tips that you may find helpful in the writing process. These tips can be applied to any writing style, whether you write the melody and lyric together or do each separately. By combining this guide with the Hints and Tips sections of other Parts in this series you will be well on your way to writing lyrics.

It doesn't really matter where in the lyric you start. Some start at the first verse and continue from there, others come up with a chorus or hook and work around that. There are even some people who start anywhere in the piece and work from there. Personally, I've written a couple of lyrics from the last verse back to the first and found that they work perfectly. Whatever you feel comfortable with and works for you is fine.

What is a Hook?

A hook is generally a catchy or repetitive section of a song. This can occur in both the melody and the lyric of a song. Lyrical hooks generally come into play as the chorus of a song but they can occur in other places of the song. Another type of lyrical hook that is not always used is the first line. It can be an opportunity to grab the listeners' attention, introduce the subject and help establish the mood of the song.

One of my favourite hooks is taken from Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' from the 8 Mile soundtrack. You notice that the hook not only applies to the song but also gives ties into the theme of the movie.

Keep it simple. A hook doesn't have to be complex to work. Songs written by The Beatles are a perfect example of this. In Paul McCartney's song "Band on the Run" he simply sang this phrase four times in a row, and it is still a popular song today. Look towards established bands like this and take note how they make use of hooks.

Don't focus so much on the hook that other parts of your lyric suffer. A hook is basically a starting point of your song, something that ties your lyric together. Every part of the song has to be worked together to make it as strong as possible.

The Draft

How do you know when a lyric is completed? As with how to go about the writing process, there are many views on how a lyric is finished. Some believe that there is somewhat special about a first draft - that it's the purest expression of what you have in mind. Others just keep writing until they have the number of verses and choruses they need, then stop.

It may be in your best interest to write more than what is needed, and pick out the "best bits" for the final version. Don't ignore a weak verse, play around with it or completely rework it, if you just settle for second best, it will be noticeable to the listener and can draw away from the intended impact of the piece. As with any form of writing, editing plays a major part in arriving to the final draft.

Writing song lyrics is an exercise in self-expression. When writing song lyrics, creativity and originality are instrumental in separating yourself from the scores of mediocre song writers. Apart from creativity, writing lyrics to songs requires a thorough understanding of music and its formal components. Strong lyrics are instrumental in grabbing the attention of the listeners and creating a fan base.

The foremost step involved in writing song lyrics is determining the audience and the styles of music they enjoy. This helps in setting the subject matter, permissible language and the content for the lyrics. The selection of a central, over-arching theme then determines the overall content of the song. The process of writing lyrics involves brainstorming idea which leads to composing the core information and points relevant to the lyrics' storyline. Some lyric writers write and refine their lyrics every day, which improves their lyrical content.

Writing song lyrics utilizes poetic devices like metaphors, rhymes, meter, and alliteration. Metaphors are creatively incorporated in the songs of lyric writers to convey imagery more powerfully to the listeners. Meter and rhyme are also significant elements to be considered when writing lyrics to songs because they set the rhythm of the song. Alliteration is an effective poetic device which is used in writing song lyrics to put greater emphasis on a certain verse or line within the song.

Achieving an appropriate level and style of rhyming is also essential when writing lyrics because when the lyrics rhyme too much they will seem childish. In contrast, too few rhymes may cause your lyrics to sound random and unpolished. The matching of lyrical content of the song with its melody and rhythm also needs to be considered in writing song lyrics as it contributes in making the song unique and catchy.

The process of writing song lyrics requires several sessions of consistent editing, which is instrumental in making the song more attractive and memorable. Experience and knowledge in writing lyrical content helps spike up the creativity level, which eventually results in the creation of a popular song. The combination of melody with words, chord progression, sounds and rhythms of the songs are some important aspects to be considered during the process of writing lyrics for songs and eventually leads up to the creation of a hit song. If you have thought of some lyrics and you want to achieve world recognition you need to follow all the aspects discussed above.

Lyrics mostly express the writer's personal feelings. Depending on the mood, the writer might complete a song in few minutes or may even take a month to be ready. Lyrics form the base of a song, and it is only good lyrics that enhance the quality of a song. An amateur writer may find lyric writing tips useful in honing his or her skills. These skills require practice to be improved upon.

Practice Writing Lyrics

If your lyrics are not satisfactory after the first draft, then there is no need to be disheartened. Many professional lyric writers rewrite their lyrics several times before finalizing their work. Be bold to experiment and do not give up on your talent, until you become an expert. Lyric writing tips can help you to better your craft. These tips can be your pathways to success.

Choose your Theme

Your lyrics should contain a theme to make the song unified and connected. Almost all lyric writing tips emphasize on a song's clear structure and its progression. The context might be based on unusual metaphors or real memories and conversations, but it should be made interesting. Images may be used to lift the mood instead of dull descriptions. The use of positive and negative elements can create a contrast in the theme, giving a desired impact. Lyrics may be different for different genres. However, it is important to relate to and identify with the theme.

Emphasizing the Right Syllables

Emphasis should be given on the right syllables in order to stress the hard and soft sounding syllables as they best suit the music. Syllables may be used in different numbers in different lines of a verse. That would, in a way, be quite interesting and engrossing. Though rhyming forms an important role it should not be placed just for the sake of rhyming. Lyric writing tips further discuss techniques that can make your lyrics dynamic with the inclusion of alliterations, similes, metaphors, and other literary devices.

Value your Emotions

Nevertheless, the technicalities in lyric writing tips suggest that you to write from your heart. A perfect blend of the technical guidelines with your genuine feeling can produce the magic in a song. Lyric writing tips can definitely help you to start working on your lyrics with extra zeal and passion. You can also request the assistance of expert lyric writing services that will give you valuable tips on lyric writing and even ghostwrite your songs based on your requirements.