Writing Good Lyrics

1. WRITING GOOD LYRICS Have you ever been to a party or reception and come across someone that just won't stop talking? And the things he's saying are not the things you're even remotely interested in. And he drones on and on, and all you can think about is how to get away? And the poor guy doesn't even realize that he's being that way?! Well, sadly, that probably describes many budding songwriters' lyrics. If your lyrics are about you, or something that's happened to you, it's only going to interest a listener if they can picture themselves in that situation. In other words, on some level, song lyrics have to resonate with the listener. They have to be able to imagine that they are singing that song. Without that crucial step, your song lyric is no better than the guy at the reception who won't stop talking about things that just don't interest you. So here are some quick-tips for writing lyrics: i- Stick to topics that everyone can relate to. Songs about love work really well, because who hasn't been there? Two other topics that resonate with people: social issues and family. ii- Unless your mission is to set poems to music, avoid trying to be overly poetic. It often comes off sounding a bit corny. Find basic ways of conveying your thoughts and feelings. iii- Be focussed and concise with your lyrics. Find the most efficient way possible to say what you want to say. Wordy texts sound cumbersome, and distract from the flow. Remove unneccessary words. iv- Be creative without going overboard. v- When in doubt, use familiar, everyday language to convey your thoughts. vi- Relate a story, not just your emotions. Don't just tell the listener how you feel - tell them a story that they can relate to. That way, there's more of a chance the listener will feel that your story is their story, and they'll create their own emotions to suit it. When that happens... you've written a killer song! If you find that you get stuck in the lyric-phase of writing, the way out may be easier than you think. Just simplify your lyric, and you've probably gone a long way to solving the lyric-writing dilemma. Read more about writing good lyrics by visiting the Online Free Songwriting Course at