Writing Song Lyrics

Writing song lyrics is one of the most important part of songwriting. I'd like to give you a little help for making your lyrics outstanding. If you can achieve that, you're half-way there!

Song Structures in Modern Popular Music

You song's structure may depend on a lot of things: how much you have to say, how long you want the song to be, the genre, etc. However, most songs on the charts follow a structure like these:

Verse 1 / Chorus / Verse 2 / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus

Verse 1 / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Verse 2 / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Bridge / Pre-Chorus /Chorus

There are some variations. For example, when writing song lyrics, some songwriters include an intro or an outro. Sometimes these are not even sung but spoken. You can also leave out a pre-chorus or two. Or add a third verse after the bridge. Or write a kind of reprise, a section at the end of the song, which has either a different melody or different lyrics than the other sections.

Don't put too many or long verses or choruses next to each other. The best songs contain a lot of contrasts. If your listeners have to listen to one kind of section for a long time, you'll lose them pretty quickly.

If you stick with the song structures above, you can't go wrong.

Where & How To Get Lyric Ideas


When you're writing song lyrics, the most important thing is that you carry with you some kind of a notebook at all times. It can be digital if you want. When you start writing songs regularly, you'll notice that titles and lyric ideas just start to pop up in your head in unexpected places. You'll always think that you'll still remember the words when you get home but 90% of the time you'll forget them, no matter how great they were. That's just the way it is. So trust me, carry a notebook or dictaphone with you.

If you need a great idea for a song, you don't have to go far. Before writing song lyrics, watch films and TV shows, read newspapers, news sites and books. While you're watching, try to catch a phrase or two that could make a good title.

When you are writing song lyrics, you can also try to coin some unexpected words together to make a theme or title. Either open a dictionary or go to a website like SongName.net which automatically generates song titles. Some don't make any sense but others are surprisingly good. Some examples it has just come up with: "Eternal Stories", "Kill You With Imitations" and "Circus of Regrets".

Theme


Most songs on the charts are about love. I guess about 99%. The songs deal with all aspects of love, from falling in love, through jealousy to break-up. If you want to get on the charts, you'll increase your chances with a love song. When writing song lyrics, try to pick a theme then find an angle that no-one has ever though of. The next most important thing is that you write from your heart. That way you'll make sure that you'll create something truly unique that nobody else could have written. But if there is a theme other than love that you are interested in, don't hold back. There are some popular songs about social issues, motivation, family relationships, religion, etc.

Title


A title should summarize what the song is about. It should also be unique, convey an unusual image or action. The best titles don't say it all though. When you hear them, they make you think about what the song could be about. Let's take Born This Way by Lady Gaga as an example. This title raises a lot of questions, like "born what way?" "born in a good or in a bad way"?

Titles that contain only one word can be especially powerful. But most consist of 2 to 5 words. More than that is too long. Don't worry if you choose a title that someone else has probably already chosen. Titles usually can't be copyrighted so if you write a completely different song from the other one with the same title, you'll be fine.

Make a Sketch


When you're writing song lyrics, a sketch will make your job much easier.

Once you have a great title and you know what the song is going to be about, it's advisable to make a sketch of your song. Decide what section you would like to include: verses, pre-choruses, choruses, bridge. Then take some notes about what every section should be about. This way you won't find yourself having written the whole story in the first verse and nothing to say in the second verse, the chorus and the bridge. A simple example for a sketch like this could be:

Verse 1: we see a man entering the bar, being lonely
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Verse 2: he starts up a conversation with a woman who doesn't want to talk to him
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely
Bridge: he can't take this anymore, he knows he has to change his life
Chorus: the man always goes home alone and lonely

You could also make a list of the expressions you might use in your song. Brainstorm some words and phrases then brainstorm even more that are somehow connected to those. This way you'll have a good list of words and phrases ready when you're working on the details.

Verse


The Verses (2 or 3 in most cases) tell you a story. In Verse 1 you usually introduce the scene, the characters and the vibe. Verse 2 (and maybe 3) then go on developing the situation. In each Verse, we get more and more new information. The Verses usually don't get repeated.

Pre-Chorus


The Pre-Chorus is basically a transition from the verses to the bridge. It's very popular nowadays, you can find it in almost all songs on the charts. Lyrically, the Pre-Chorus takes the listener from the verse into the Chorus.

Chorus


The Chorus is the section which is repeated several times (usually at least 3 times) throughout the song. In most cases, it stays the same. Sometimes there are little variations. The Chorus usually contains the title of the song, which is often repeated more than once. In most cases, the title is either at the beginning or at the end of the Chorus. This section summarizes the consequences or emotions of the song. It's the part your listeners are going to sing along to most often.


Bridge


The Bridge is often the most emotional part of the song. It usually introduces a different angle, an intense emotion or a punchline. The lyrics and the melody are different from any other section of the song. The Bridge doesn't get repeated.


Hook


Songwriting Hooks are images or phrases in your song (usually in the chorus) that immediately catch your attention the first time you hear them (if they're working well). It's the part the listeners will most easily recall.

Click Here for more information about Song Structure 

Rhyme


In most popular songs, there are plenty of rhymes. They are usually not perfect rhymes but that's not a problem. This way they sound more natural. Rhymes help listeners remember the song. They also give them a feeling of satisfaction. They are usually at the end of the lines but sometimes in the middle. How much rhyming you include in your song is your call. There can be too little or too much of them. When you find when your writing song lyrics that most of your lines end in some kind of a line, you can't go wrong.


Number of Syllables


Some songwriters take syllable-counting very seriously. For example, if the first line of their verse consists of 7 syllables, it has to be true for all lines. But most songwriters don't take it that seriously. You can even play with the number of syllables to make your song more interesting-sounding. The last line of the verse could be half the number of syllables as the other lines.


Images, Action Words and Phrases


When you are writing song lyrics, include several images, action words and phrases. Just describing a scene - as it is - is boring. Nobody wants to listen to a song which says "then the guy went up to the girl, he said he loved her, then the girl rejected him". It's essential that when writing song lyrics, you use some images, acton words or phrases in your title and lyrics to make them more attention grabbing. Think about titles like Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet". It's not only a great phrase but she also twisted it in an interesting way. Another great example could be from Christina Perri's song: "… running 'round leaving scars, collecting your jar of hearts…" How great does that sound?




How To Write Rap Lyrics


The information above is true about most genres of music. However, if you'd like to write rap lyrics, there are some differences you should be aware of. Click here to learn how to write rap lyrics.


The more of these little tricks you apply when writing song lyrics, the better chances your song has to get on the charts.

More on How To Write A Song 

Song Structure

Fortunately, song structure is something that's easy to understand. There aren't many types of it. You're probably already familiar with it to some extent. The more often you listen to chart-topping songs, the easier it is to internalize the successful formulas. For example, if you look at the current songs at the top of the charts, you'll find that most of them are between 3:30 and 4:30 long. Longer songs are not suitable for the radio.

Before you start writing your song, I recommend that you decide about the type of song structure you'd like to use. You can always change it later. But if you plan ahead, it's less likely that you'll get confused and tell the listeners everything you have to say in the first verse, then sit there thinking about what you should write in the second one. So do yourself a favor and make a sketch of your song.

What parts do songs consist of?

Verse

• There are usually 2 or 3 Verses in a hit song.
• The melody doesn't change (or sometimes it does but only a little).
• The words are different in each Verse.
• The role of the Verse is to tell you the story. In each Verse, you should add a bit more information about the characters and the story.
• At the end of the song, you might also include some kind of a punchline.
• It's very important that the Verse should flow logically. Your listeners don't know the background therefore all the information they get is what you write about. For example, don't include more than 2 or 3 characters because otherwise it's impossible to follow who is who in the story. So make sure that your Verses are clear. You could have a friend read it and check if he or she understands what your song is about.
• Verses are usually 8 to 16 bars long. All of them are the same length in most cases.
• Example: from "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag" to "'Cause there is a spark in you" in Firework by Katy Perry.

Pre-Chorus

• The Pre-Chorus is a transition between the Verse and the Chorus. More and more hit songs contain this section.
• They build emotional intensity and gradually increase the tension before the listeners get the "satisfaction" i.e. the Chorus.
• The melody in the Pre-Chorus has the same role. It builds anticipation.
• Pre-Choruses usually contain a rising melody line.
• 32% of today's top ten songs contain a Pre-Chorus.
• They are usually 1 to 4 lines long.
• Example: from "You just gotta ignite…" to "… like the 4th of July" in Firework by Katy Perry.

Chorus

• The Chorus is repeated 3 or 4 times throughout a song.
• In most cases, it contains the title.
• Usually, the Chorus melody is what makes people remember your song. Therefore it should be as catchy as you can make it.
• The melody doesn't change when you repeat the Chorus (maybe a little sometimes).
• The Chorus lyrics give the emotional summary of the song. If you read the Chorus in itself, it should be clear what the whole song is about.
• In the current top 10 songs, the first Chorus comes in at around 0:36.
• Choruses are usually 8 to 14 bars long.
• All of them are the same length in most cases.
• Example: from "'Cause baby you're a firework" to "You're gonna leave them falling down" in Firework by Katy Perry.

Bridge
• When you've repeated the Verse, the Pre-chorus and the Chorus two times, it would get boring to hear these sections all over again. That's why Bridges are created.
• Around two-thirds into the song, this is the section that has a different melody and different words from all the other sections.
• The Bridge is the emotional peak of the song that expresses the strongest feelings about the subject of your song.
• Example: from "Boom, boom, boom" to "And now it's time to let it through" in Firework by Katy Perry.


Hook
• A Hook can be one or two memorable lines in your songs.
• Most often, the title is the Hook or it's in the Hook.
• Your Hook should be as memorable as possible, it's a vital part of your hit song structure.
• Example: "Baby you're a firework" in Firework by Katy Perry.
• For more information on Hooks go to Songwriting Hooks.

Other possible parts of a song

Intro
• Some intros are instrumental. Others contain speech or singing.
• An intro is not a mandatory part of the song structure. Include one if you feel it's important for setting the tone of the song.
• About 73% of top 10 songs contain an intro.
• Don't forget that you shouldn't make the intro too long. Most intros are not longer than 15 seconds.
• Example: from 0:00 to 0:15 in Firework by Katy Perry.


Outro
• The outro can also be either instrumental or contain speech or singing.
• About 36% of top 10 songs include an outro in their song structure.
• Like the intros, they are not too long, about 18 seconds on the average.
• Example: from 5:07 to 5:25 in This I Love by Guns N' Roses.


Instrumental sections
• These days there are less and less purely instrumental sections in hit songs. People want "motion", they want to hear the singer and the story. Therefore few artists can afford to include a longer instrumental section.
• They are more common for some genres but not so much in popular music anymore.
• Only 5% of the current top 10 hit songs contain a solo.
• Example: from 1.28 to 1:47 in This I Love by Guns N' Roses.


Reprise
• I love when songwriters include a reprise in the song structure! :)
• Almost always, the melody is taken from the Chorus or the Verse and tweaked a little bit.
• In most cases, the lyrics are completely new and represent some kind changing of your mind, making a decision about the problem, etc.
• Reprises are not used that often but when you do them well, they can become the audience' favorite part in your song.
• Example: from 4:35 to 5:07 in This I Love by Guns N' Roses.

Current Hit Song Structures

✓ Verse / Chorus / Verse / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus: There can be some variations of this song structure, for example, some songs contain another Verse after the Bridge, two Choruses at the end or (rarely) a longer Outro. Example: Please Don't Leave Me by Pink.


✓ Verse / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Verse / Pre-Chorus / Chorus / Bridge / Chorus: This song structure is probably the most common nowadays. By adding a Pre-Chorus, you make the "ride" even more exciting for the listeners. This way, your can create more tension and therefore more satisfaction when the Chorus finally arrives. Example: Your Love Is My Drug by Kesha.

Transitions Between Sections

From Verse to Chorus
▪ You could write a line that transfers the listeners from the Verse into the Chorus so that the Chorus lyrics logically follow the contents of the Verse.
▪ The space between these sections should be as short as possible. Today's listeners don't like to wait around for the interesting parts. They expect instant gratification all the way through the song.
▪ You could also blur the transition from Verse to Chorus by starting the Chorus lyrics with a word or two when you're still in the Verse.


From the end of the Chorus to the Verse or the Bridge
▪ After the Chorus the listeners might expect a little pause. It can be instrumental only.
▪ This pause, however, shouldn't be long. It's almost never longer than 4 bars, most often it's 2 bars.
▪ However, in the current hit songs, sometimes there isn't any break at all. It's especially true for up-tempo songs.


Transition from the Bridge to Chorus (or rarely a third Verse)
▪ It's very important that you clearly set the Bridge apart from the section that follows it.
▪ If your Bridge was very intense and emotional, try starting the next part softly, so there is a lot of contrast between the sections.
▪ If your Bridge wasn't that emotionally intensive, make the Chorus as bold and loud as possible.

How Do You End A Song?

How you end your song is an important part of your song structure plan. You should decide about it well ahead. There are three main ways to end a song.• Fading out: It's when the song doesn't really "end" but rather the volume decreases more and more until you can barely hear it. This is a common and easy way of ending the song. Example: I Want To Know What Love Is by Mariah Carey


• Button ending: I prefer button ending over fading out. Why? Because it's much more satisfying to me. It's clear when the song is over. Example: Perfect by Pink.


• False ending: This is a very smart kind of ending. You end the song and don't end it at the same time. This kind of ending doesn't give the listener a feeling of complete satisfaction at the end of the song. It basically finishes the song it the middle of a section. This makes the listener want to start listening to the song all over again. Example: Wannabe by Spice Girls.

Analyzing Hit Song Structures

To learn more and master how to use hit song structures, I suggest that you analyze some of your favorite songs. Hit song analyses are the best way to find out what works.

More on How To Write A Song

Songwriting Rhymes

There are several types of songwriting rhymes. But should you use them? After all, this is the 21st century, right? Whether you use rhymes in your songs or not, it's absolutely your decision. However, there are a couple of reasons why you should consider including some in your lyrics:

Why should you use rhymes in your songs?

✓ Rhymes help listeners remember your song better
✓ Rhymes give a feeling of "satisfaction" to the ears
✓ A cleverly used rhyme emphasizes the message of the song (especially if the rhyme is in the hook)

Almost all songwriters use rhymes to some extent. Many take it very seriously and make sure that every line rhymes with another one. Some of them even count the number of syllables in each line. You don't have to go that far, but using at least a small number of songwriting rhymes is definitely beneficial. Lyrics are very similar to poems. And although you have other tools to emphasize different parts of your song, set the tempo, etc., I guess there isn't anybody who doesn't like a good-sounding and witty rhyme. However, don't go overboard. Too many rhymes (or too many perfect rhymes) can distract the listeners' attention from the message or melody of your song. You overall goal is to keep the lyrics conversational. This doesn't mean that you can't afford a little poetry here and there, though.

What kind of songwriting rhymes are there?
The most popular rhyme type in the current hits is undeniably the:


• Vowel Rhyme - (also called "near rhyme", "assonance") These are words in which the stressed vowel sound is the same but the consonants that follow them are different. For example: "kind" and "night", "why" and "goodbye", "net" and "bent", etc.


There is another songwriting rhyme that is less often used but is very popular in contemporary music. This rhyme type might be the most difficult to create but it sounds the most clever too:


• Internal Rhyme - The rhyming words occur within the line. For example: "Anybody I throw flames at gets a name it's a game" (from the song Ricky Ticky Tockby Eminem)


Less popular nowadays, and a little too predictable and old-fashioned is the:


• Perfect Rhyme - These are words that contain the same vowels followed by the same consonant. For example: "breaking" and "taking", "embrace" and "grace", etc.
There are some other, less often used rhyme types. These are most often used in poetry. These are: masculine, feminine, three, open and closed rhymes. If you would like to learn more about them, you may want to visit Wikipedia: Rhyme.


How do you find great songwriting rhymes?
There are several ways to find great rhymes. You could purchase a rhyming dictionary. The most popular one of these is The Complete Rhyming Dictionary. Or use an online rhyming dictionary, such as RhymeZone. But what I found to be the most helpful is Masterwriter 2.0. It's a piece of creative software for songwriters and lyricists used by many of the most successful songwriters. The software includes Word Families, Parts of Speech, Phrases, Rhymes, Pop-Culture, Dictionary and a Thesaurus. There are some famous songwriters who also use it, like David Foster, Gwen Stefani, Linda Perry and many more.

More on How To Write A Song 

Songwriting Hooks

What Are Songwriting Hooks?

They are images or phrases in your song (usually in the chorus) that immediately catch your attention the first time you hear them (if they're working well). A hook is something that will make your listeners remember your song. It's the part they will most easily recall. They're the line(s) that make your listeners have an earworm.

Sometimes there is more than one hook in a song. And since the business of songwriting is so competitive, you should make each line of your song as catchy as you can. Therefore some songs end up with several hooks in them.

How to Create A Songwriting Hook?

The words should sound natural and conversational. The best hooks contain images, phrases and action words that sound unusual in some way. Sometimes they contain or consist of a question or questions. They approach the theme of the song from a new, previously unheard-of angle. That's the lyric part.

To emphasize these key line(s), you should make them memorable with a great melody. Before the hook, try to build anticipation. And when you get there, there are several ways to make the hook stay in your listeners' ears: you can use higher notes, longer notes, interval jumps, repetition, unpredictable pause, or shift the starting point of the whole line, etc. The most important thing is that somehow you contrast your hook with the rest of your song.

A songwriting hook should cleverly summarize what your whole song is about. You can write a great hook only if you are completely clear about what your song is about. So before you start writing a song, sit down and define what it will be about. You could even make a sketch of your song, which makes it a lot easier for you to make it logical and cohesive.

Songwriting Hook Examples

Rihanna - Unfaithful: The most important hook is in the chorus. The songwriters built up anticipation with "And I know that" then start the hook itself "he knows I'm unfaithful and it kills him inside". This is a perfect example. The lyrics completely summarize what the whole song is about and the melody gradually rises which make the listeners' excitement stronger too.

Kesha - Blow: This song is similar. The build-up in the chorus is "This place's about to" then it starts the most important part of the song "Blow". And this word is emphasized by using an interval change, repetition, and production techniques.

More about How To Write A Song 

How To Write Rap Lyrics

To learn how to write rap lyrics, first let's take a look at the differences between "writing regular lyrics" and rap lyrics.

Although rhymes are important in every genre, they have an especially important role in rap. So familiarizing yourself with different types of rhymes is something your should definitely do.

Rich vocabulary is also important in most genres but in the rap or hip hop world it's even more so. By "rich vocabulary" we don't mean beautiful, literary words (although you can include some of those too). What we mean is that you should be familiar with as many words, idioms, slang words and expressions as possible.

It's also useful to be aware of where stress is in words because by stressing a word different ways, its meaning can change. Or you can find different rhymes based on where you stress a word - it doesn't always have to be a perfect rhyme. You can make it sound perfect by moving the stress to different places. The most successful rap and hip hop artists are aware and masters of such tricks.

How do they get their amazing wealth of vocabulary from? I've seen an interview with Eminem where he said that he used to read the dictionary. You read it right - READ the dictionary. He said he's always loved words and wanted to know all of them. So he spent endless hours studying words to learn how to write rap lyrics. When he was and is writing a song, he wants all the words that exist to be at this disposal. Although I'm sure he doesn't know "all the words", he's done a great job at enriching his vocabulary!

Eminem also said that he scribbles down new song and lyric ideas on pieces of paper, napkins or anything else all the time. Then he went on to show a shoe box full of pieces of paper with ideas on them. You should do the same. You never know when a new idea hits you. Have something to capture it with all the time. When you write rap lyrics, you'll probably use some of them. Or when you feel stuck, you can always refer to your earlier ideas for inspiration.

While learning how to write rap lyrics, you might also want to get an audio recorder to rap your lyrics to. Record yourself then listen to the recording. It might not be a pleasant experience (most people hate their own voice) but it's an essential part of the learning process.

So here is a possible way of how to write rap lyrics:

• Immerse yourself in and study rap / hip hop. Listen to and possibly memorize the lyrics of your favorite songs.

• Think of a title and a subject of your new rap song.
• Plan the song structure (Verses, Choruses, Bridge, etc.)
• Write the Chorus first and summarize your message in it with as much passion as you can.
• Finish the lyrics by writing the Verses (the story of the song), the Bridge (the emotional peak) and maybe a Pre-Chorus to increase energy between the Verse and the Chorus.
• Write a basic beat to your lyrics. By the way, you can write the beats before the lyrics too.
• Record yourself perform the song.
• Rewrite what needs to be rewritten. (A song usually has to be rewritten at least a dozen times before we can call it "finished".)


Learning how to write rap songs might take a little time. But the more time you spend with it, the sooner you'll reach your goals. If rap is very important to you, you'll learn how to write rap lyrics in no time!


More about Writing Song Lyrics