.:Song Lyrics Creation Guide:.

~Calling All Lyrics Lovers~

I've written well over 500 song lyrics, probably closer to 600 now. So let’s just say I have a little more experience than most people you will meet. Conveying a story in writing is something that comes naturally to me but sometimes it’s hard for me to get all my thoughts out into a tiny song or poem. So I like to think of it as a fragment or piece of a grander thought; a small tie-in that can add a bit of extra spice, emotion, and depth to your story.

• THEME – your song doesn't necessarily need to fit into one certain genre. It can also be multiple genres; that's okay. But what it definitely should have is some kind of overall statement about it that can be identified by reading or listening to it. Maybe people will need to read it more than once to get the theme but a theme should always be present. Don't make it something so offbeat that you think nobody might get it. The theme should not seem all over the place, because, well, then it isn’t a theme! Themes are usually obvious but if you want to be a bit more vague or mysterious, that can be done too. Whatever you do, do well. If you can’t seem to narrow down your theme, maybe split your song into a few separate ones to break down the idea. That’s better than trying to stuff too many things into a song. Just let the ideas of the lyrics flow the way that they want to go to show the idea.
• MOOD – you don't have all the time in the world to create a mood like you do with a novel! Be very careful in your world selection when writing a song. If you can't think of the right word or phrase to put where you want, maybe come back to it later. Don’t force anything extra into your song, especially if it disrupts its momentum. Pretty much every line should have a reason for being there. Don’t throw stuff together sloppily, because a reader can usually tell. So many poems/songs are thrown together thoughtlessly which is I think what gives modern day young people a negative view on them. But lyrics don't have to be dead-sounding. Bring them to life! Make whatever mood you choose for your song seem natural but cool and attention-grabbing at the same time. The words should make the reader either think about or feel something direct. They should get something out of your song lyrics after seeing it. It does not gonna be something they will remember forever, but shouldn’t be something they forget immediately either.
• SUBJECT – your song should not be all over the place, again like with theme. It should have some known subject. It can be any number, any emotion, any person, any place, theme or time, etc. basically any kind of noun. This is similar to theme but it’s a more singled-out form of theme. It’s perfectly okay to have a mysterious song where the subject/theme isn’t made clear till the last line. As long as the reader gets it.
• PURPOSE – your song should have a clear reason for existing. There’s a clear difference in writing a song to be funny and not caring what you put down. I roll my eyes at supposed songs or poems that have no direction or meaning, even if their intent was to be serious. Humorous or not, calling it a “comedy” isn’t an excuse to write nonsense into a song. Stupid humor is unfortunately abundantly common these days but a true comedian is clever and quick with their comedy.  
• FLOW – your song shouldn’t seem jumpy, sporatic, or inconsistent. Even if you have a lot to say through your song, make sure it all ties together somehow so that people will understand why those lines are there. The thought process should be mostly follow-able, though lyrics with a song process that a reader can't entirely follow can make things pretty interesting. Just make sure you do not confuse people with it. If the song still flows but the thought process is a little weird, this can actually be a really successful way to get people’s attention and make them stop and think about something instead of just having them read it mindlessly.
• STRUCTURE – structure will vary song to song but the typical setup is verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, then last chorus. There’s a lot of freedom here but make sure to make the best of what to work with. There are so many possibilities. Maybe no bridge? Maybe two bridges? Maybe a special beginning to your song and/or a special ending? If you want to repeat lines make sure there’s a change in the music somehow. Don’t have a super long chorus in proportion to the bridge either. Even an amazing set of words can get watered down if one has to hear it over and over or for too long.
• STORYTELLING – your song should have some kind of dynamic and not be flat. Most of the best songs involve some kind of progression or change. The final chorus should be different somehow, whether it’s with the music or with the words, but usually with the words. I feel majorly let down whenever I read song lyrics where the last chorus is the same as the others. What was the point of this song and showing all of these emotions if nothing is accomplished by it? Nothing; then, it has no purpose. So, make sure there’s a story that changes by the end, no matter where you started.
• RHYME – this is what separates music from poetry. To me, a song really isn’t a song unless there is rhyme somewhere. Song lyrics ARE poems too, but where music is meant to be added. Adding rhyme adds a little more life. I always enjoy seeing cool rhymes of unusual words that work really well together. So don’t be a bore. Don’t pick all the predictable rhyming words. Don't throw in a word or phrase that doesn't really fit just to rhyme it either. People will roll their eyes. No matter how deep the message of your lyrics is, you will lose your reader in an instant with one lame rhyme! So be careful in your word choice. Sometimes it’s better to stop and think for a moment and wait to put the right words in. If you identify a better rhyming combination later, don't be afraid to edit!
• RHYTHM – songs should have some recognizable rhythm somewhere. Rhythm is about syllable count and where to put the accents of the words. So just because two lines rhyme and have the same amount of words doesn't mean they have rhythm. This part can get a bit tricky and if you struggle with it then I suggest observing several songs that have strong rhythm before composing your own.
• STANZAS – there are several different combinations that work well but overall it’s pretty simple. Try playing around with stanza combinations until you find one that suits the story flow of your song best. Don’t use the same stanza order every time if you plan to make many songs. Try not to be predictable but don't go so crazy that your idea doesn't work anymore either. Don't force a stanza where it’s not needed, or could sound repetitive. I will say this—it doesn't really sound like a song unless you have at least two choruses. They don't necessarily need to be identical; just something for the reader to tell that it is in fact a chorus!

~ANALYZING A SONG~

• Analysis: Tilly Enderson and Felicity Noda are in love. Felicity has been waiting a long time for Tilly to come and rescue her and in that time, she never gave up on him. She counted on him and he came through. It’s her thoughts of him. This is only part of a song; the ending. It’s the final chorus with an ending verse. I didn't want to put the whole thing but if you want to read it all you can check out my novel, Heartbeat Lost In Time: www.fictionpress.com/s/3241386…. You can find pictures of Tilly and Felicity in my gallery. The rhyme scheme pattern here is AABBBB then BBCCBB. The theme/subject is their love and her thoughts of him. The purpose is to show her feelings of him to you. With regards to rhythm, some of the lines could be swapped in place of each other and still fit the same way with the music. Granted, it wouldn’t make sense, but yeah it proves that the lines have a recognizable rhythm.

When the stars fade out in the pouring rain
And it seems your luck’s gone down again
You won’t let your smile be washed astray
Your laughter lights the way…
Your laughter lights the way…
Your laughter lights the way

Please keep shining, then so, I can find my way
You seem to know this road, but I am lost today…
It’s not uncommon that you fear you won’t be back…
And every time you leave I make my faith a fact…
The fights you have to face grow stronger every day
But you showed me the place where laughter lights the way

• NOTE: most of you may wonder, do I write music too for my song? Yes I do but it’s only in my head. I couldn’t really offer any musical advice to you. That’s why up at the top I specify song LYRICS not music. This guide is here to help my strong point—words—hopefully become yours! I hope I successfully helped you, whether you’re trying to produce a song for the first time, a poem for school, or just want to edit your old works. Thanks so much for reading!!