How to Write Lyrics for Songs

One of the first questions most beginning songwriters have is whether to write a song’s lyrics or music first. Although there’s no set rule regarding which should come first, the easiest way for beginners to approach songwriting is to write a complete set of lyrics first, and then set those lyrics to music (see How to Write Melodies for Songs). Though lyric-writing may seem daunting at first, anyone can learn to write lyrics with a few basic techniques and plenty of practice. Following is an eight-step approach to help get you started. For the following example, assume that the song you’re writing has a series of verses and a chorus, but no bridge.

1. Pick a topic.
2. Choose a song form.
3. Choose a point of view.
4. Write an opening line.
5. Write the complete first verse.
6. Write the chorus.
7. Write the remaining verses.
8. Write the bridge (if applicable).

Pick a Topic

The first step is to choose a basic idea or feeling that you want to express. Then write lyrics that convey your message or emotion. It’s usually best to choose topics with some personal connection to you. Among the best sources of inspiration are:

• People: Think of a character from a novel or movie, a celebrity or political figure, a friend, or even a stranger, and then write a song about that person or one that tells your version of that person’s story.
• Places: Think of places that have made a strong impression on you, such as a specific landscape or location, and write a song that conveys the feelings that the place inspired in you.
• Things: Think of an object, animal, or any other thing that inspires you and write a song about it. Songs have been written about everything from cars to pets.
• Events: Write a song that tells your version of, or views on, a particular event, such as a crime, natural disaster, or historical event.

Choose a Song Form

Before you begin writing, you need to know the parts your song will contain. All the most common song forms include at least a verse and chorus, but whether you need to write lyrics for a bridge or prechorus depends on the specific song form you choose (see Song Structure and Forms).

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

Whichever form you choose, you’ll need to decide whether or not to write lyrics that rhyme. Modern pop songs often contain some element of rhyme but rarely conform to the strict rhyme schemes used in formal poetry. It’s up to you to decide which parts of the song, if any, should contain rhyme and when to include rhymes within those parts.

• Avoid rhyme for rhyme’s sake: Make sure the words you choose make sense in the song. Never let the need for a rhyme determine your word choice.
• Don’t rhyme every line: Mix up your rhyme scheme rather than rhyming the last word of every line. A less predictable pattern can make your lyrics and overall song more interesting to the listener.
• Stay away from overused rhymes: Pop songs are overloaded with worn-out rhymes, such as “love”/”above” and “fire”/”desire.” Make your lyrics more unique by using less predictable rhymes.
• Use rhyming dictionaries sparingly: Rhyming dictionaries allow you to search for a word and read a list of words that rhyme with that word. Though they can be helpful if you’re really stuck, rhyming dictionaries should be used as a last resort. If you rely too heavily on them, your rhymes may drive your lyrics, rather than vice versa.

Choose a Point of View

The impact of your lyrics can change dramatically depending on the point of view, or perspective, you use. There are three points of view you can use to write songs:

• First person: The singer sings the song from his or her perspective using the pronouns “I” and “we.” First person is the most personal point of view and is used in all genres of pop songs, from folk to rock to country.
• Third person: The singer sings the song as a narrator or storyteller using pronouns such as “he,” “she,” and “they.” These songs recount an event or tell a story about a person, written in third person.
• Second person (direct address): The singer addresses the song to someone directly, either with the pronoun “you” or with the person’s name. Second-person songs are often addressed to a general “you,” which can represent the audience or even all of humanity. John Lennon’s “Imagine” is a well-known example of a song written in second person.

The point of view you should choose depends on your subject matter and on how personal you’d like the song to be. If you’re unsure of which point of view to use, try writing two versions of the song, each from a different point of view, and then choose which one you prefer.

Write an Opening Line

An opening line is usually the first line of your first verse. Though you don’t need to write your song in order from start to finish, it’s helpful to begin by writing an opening line you like, as the opening sets the tone of the song and all the lyrics that follow. A compelling opening line should:

• Catch the listener’s attention: Use unique words or phrases rather than hackneyed openers such as “Let me tell you a story about…” or “There once was…”
• Set the overall tone of the song: Use words that convey the emotion or attitude that you want to use throughout the song. Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street,” which begins with the line “You’ve got a lot of nerve,” is a great example of an opening line that sets the tone of the song.

Write the Complete First Verse

Much like the paragraphs in an essay, each of your verses should have a specific purpose that the words you choose help to convey. For instance, if you’re writing a song about a romantic relationship gone bad—one of the most common song topics of all time—each verse you write should have a specific role in telling the story of the breakup. The purpose of the first verse is most often to set the scene by providing background details the listener needs to know in order to follow the song’s narrative. As you write your first verse:

• Be specific: Give the listener specific details about the situation at hand. Rather than say “I was at home all alone,” try saying something like “I was all alone in my bedroom, gazing out the window.” Specific details instantly make your song more interesting.
• Use everyday language: Use basic sentence structure and words that any listener finds familiar. Songs overloaded with imagery and poetic metaphors can alienate the listener.
• Get the point across: Once you’ve tried writing your first verse, read it back to make sure it serves its purpose within the framework of the rest of the song.

Avoiding Cliches

A cliché is a popular phrase that has been used so excessively that it’s lost its original power and uniqueness. As you write your first verse, focus on avoiding clichés entirely. If you identify a cliché, such as “You’re my everything,” replace it with an original phrase that conveys the same idea, such as “Without you, I have nothing.”

Following is a list of clichés that songwriters tend to use excessively. Do your best to avoid using them.

• “Actions speak louder than words”
• “Add insult to injury”
• “All hell broke loose”
• “Better late than never”
• “Bite the bullet”
• “Clear as a bell”
• “Dead and gone”
• “Do or die”
• “Drop in the bucket”
• “Eye for an eye”
• “Fallen from grace”
• “Fast and furious”
• “Few and far between”
• “Find it in your heart”
• “Head over heels”
• “Heart to heart”
• “It’s clear to see”
• “Kiss of death”
• “Live and learn”
• “Make the most of it”
• “Off the deep end”
• “Play with fire”
• “Practice what you preach”
• “Sink or swim”
• “True blue”
• “You’re my everything”

Write the Chorus

The chorus is usually the most important and memorable part of a song—the few lines of lyrics that sum up the song and stay with the listener. The chorus is also often the source of the song’s title. Don McLean’s “American Pie” and The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” are examples of songs whose titles come directly from their choruses. Keep these guidelines in mind as you write your first chorus:

• Follow the verse: Each verse and chorus should act as a mini-novel. The verse provides the background details that build the listener’s interest and suspense, and the chorus provides the climax that releases that tension. Songwriting introduces a tricky twist, though: your chorus must serve as the climax of each of your verses. To make this work, the chorus must express a general feeling or idea that applies to the overall message or mood of the song.
• Keep it short: Though some choruses are as long as verses, it’s best to limit your chorus to one or two lines at most. Some of the most memorable choruses, such as the one-line chorus of “God Bless America,” contain just a few words.
• Add interest: Though verses typically tell the song’s story or convey key details in a straightforward manner, the chorus is the place to add a bit of mystery to your songs. Ideally your chorus should intrigue the listener by using a surprising turn of phrase or raising an unanswered question.

Write The Remaining Verses

After the first verse, the typical song will have at least one middle verse and one last verse:

• Middle verse(s): The song’s middle verse or verses usually pick up where the first verse leaves off to fill in details about the song’s story or message.
• Last verse: The last verse of the song is like the final paragraph of a short story. The last verse should provide the details required to give the song closure.

For instance, if the first verse sets up a story of a woman who vanished from a small town, the middle verses might describe how people searched for her and where she actually went. The final verse might reveal what eventually happened to her or whether she ever returned to the town.

Write the Bridge

If the song form you’ve chosen includes a bridge, it’s often best to write the bridge last. Since the bridge serves as a break or departure from the song’s main musical and lyrical content, feel free to write bridge lyrics that don’t necessarily follow the order of the rest of the song. Songwriters often use the bridge to make a more general observation about the ideas or emotions raised by the lyrics in the verses and chorus. Sometimes bridge lyrics even contain a surprise lyrical twist, such as a change in point of view.