How to write song lyrics?

How to write song lyrics? For any musical performer who strives for self-expression, sooner or later the question arises of creating his own compositions – songs or instrumental compositions.

While instrumental music can be interpreted by people in any way they wish, the song is a universal means of conveying one’s thoughts to the listener in a more or less clear form. But often difficulties begin precisely when writing the text. After all, in order to evoke a response in the souls of fans, it should not be just rhymed lines! Of course, you can use someone’s poetry, help, or rely on capricious inspiration (what if!). But it’s always better to know how to write the lyrics of a song correctly.

There should always be an idea first!

In order not to be accused of banal songs, it is always necessary that in each of them a certain idea is conveyed to the listener. And it could become:

1. an important event in society that has received great condemnation or admiration from the mass of people;
2. lyrical experiences (ideal for creating love songs and lyrical ballads);
3. a fictional event in your favorite fantasy world;
4. “eternal” topics:

• confrontation between fathers and sons,
• relationship between a man and a woman
• freedom and slavery,
• life and death,
• God and religion.

Found an idea? So now brainstorming is needed! All thoughts and associations that can arise about it should be written down on paper and collected in one place. But it’s too early to put them into any specific form. It is much more convenient to write everything down in plain text for further work.

It is also better if at this stage a working title is invented for the masterpiece being created. And several pre-selected name options will ultimately create more room for creativity.

Form: everything ingenious is simple!

If the arrangement for a future song has not yet been thought out, then it is best to make the form of the text universal, and therefore as simple as possible. It’s always worth starting with rhythm.

The simplest of poetic rhythms are the bipartite meters of iambic and trochee. The main advantage here is that mostly people who are capable of writing poetry unwittingly use them. This means that you don’t have to specially select words that are suitable for the location of the stress. Moreover, verses in bipartite meter are easier to perceive by ear and can fit the vast majority of melodies.

One should strive for simplicity when determining the length of a line of verse. The most optimal of them are those in which there are 3-4 meaningful words between punctuation marks. For ease of perception, such lines in the middle do not have to be broken up by rhyming. But if the text is written to ready-made music, then when choosing its form, in order to avoid dissonance, it is worth starting from the given rhythm and melody.

In addition, if you want to add more interesting features to the syllable and rhythm of the song or invent some form of your own, then you don’t need to limit yourself. After all, the main difference between the lyrics of a song and any poem is that it can be anything! But at the same time, you need to firmly understand that not all text decisions can ultimately be accepted by fans. At this point the preparatory stages are completed. And right now, writing song lyrics becomes a truly creative process.

Highlighting the main thing and placing accents

It is possible that at this moment the inspiration called upon by the long and productive process of creation will come to the rescue and help. But if all the conditions are created, but there is no muse, then you just need to start by highlighting the main thing.

The most significant association, the most capacious semantic phrase and the most striking allegory previously invented – this is what you need to choose as a basis. It is this idea that should become the key to the repeated refrain or chorus. It can also be reflected in the title of the song.

Couplets, if they are planned, are best thought out after, thus polishing the text semantically and placing the necessary accents. And make other modifications as needed until you are completely satisfied with the finished result.

Of course, you don’t have to think too much about how to write the lyrics of a song, but rely on chance and inspiration, because there is no completely universal algorithm. But, in any case, following the recommendations outlined, you can always get a thoughtful, interesting and competent song text.

PS Just don’t think that writing lyrics for a song is very difficult and somehow “abstruse and nerdy.” The song pours out from the heart, the melodies are created by our soul. Watch this video, and at the same time you will relax and be encouraged – after all, everything is much simpler than we imagine!