How to write song lyrics - 10 songwriting tips

Writing great song lyrics requires the fusion of imagination, emotion and clever language. There is no right or wrong way to write song lyrics. It is a personal process, everyone will have their own way of writing, however, these tips will certainly guide you on your correct path of writing a great song!.

Find inspiration

The first step of great lyric writing is to identify the message you want to send. You will need to be inspired and compelled to convey this message in order for the emotive and effective language to flow easily. Your can find inspiration from anywhere and it could be unexpected, so remain alert to your feelings and always have a method of recording imageries, thoughts, emotions or words which spontaneously appear in your head. These could be the key factor of your success.

The Hook

This is the hardest part to get right and is crucial to a great lyric. It is usually the most memorable section of the song. To resonate with the listener, it needs to be simple, direct and have words that people understand and relate to. It could be closely related to a well known phrase, without copying it. Something that rings true, both as a recognisable sentence and as an emotion that is close to the listener. For example 'You make me feel like a natural woman' by Carol King.

Be vivid and descriptive in your use of words

Paul Simon once said, 'start every song with a truth', meaning give your listener something to hold onto, a fact, a starting point in which to build a story. Take this truth and paint a picture. Imagine a scene or scenario and describe what you see. Use as many descriptive words as you can and tell a story that belongs to you and has characters and locations that mean something and can bring home that truth.

Show the audience what you mean

Try not to just blatantly tell the listener how you feel by listing emotions or moments in your life. This can be used sparingly, but it is better to think up interesting metaphors to tell the same story in a more compelling and original way. No one wants to hear the same lyrics over and over again.

Follow the rules of song structure

Read up on the basics of songwriting and understand how song structure is so important. First consider the first verse; it sets the scene and builds up tension, telling the story, bit-by-bit. You can introduce characters and locations here. The second verse should follow a similar pattern but have an alternative take on events. This can either come after the first verse, or after the chorus. The chorus is where the hook normally lives and should be repeatable and memorable. It should release the tension built up by the verse and serve answer any questions served up by the verse. This structure can repeat or you can add another part, the bridge, which may bring another element into the song. For example, a new character could enter the scene to disrupt the flow. Ultimately, it's upto you and not all songs follow the standard structure, but it's a great starting point.

Read books, magazines, articles and other song lyrics

Refine your vocabulary and learn new ways of writing by reading as much work by other writers as possible. This can only have a positive impact. It takes time and effort but will enhance your ability to connect with listeners and build a wider audience.

Find a rhythm to your rhymes

Using rhymes is a very familiar way to create catchy songs that are a pleasure to listen to. You can use the traditional method of rhyming at the end of each line, or every other line. This works exceptionally well and creates a standard rhythm. You can also play around with other structures, rhyming consecutive words or matching multiple words in one line to rhyme with their corresponding words in another. Check out Bruce Springsteen's 'Blinded by the Light' for an enormous amount of rhymes flowing throughout every line in the whole song.

Make sure your are words singable

Are you able to sing your lyrics in an easy way; do the letters and words you are using roll off the tongue well? This is an important consideration when writing lyrics. The singer needs to be able to sing it! For example, using words with lots of 'p's of 't's makes a mouthful for any vocalist. Getting the syllables and letters right is key to making a song good for the human voice. Get in touch with some singers who can guide you in the right direction - have a look for singers looking for lyricists.

Think about how your lyrics flow with the melody

If a melody exists for your lyrics already, then it's worth double-checking they fit together. You can refine the words to suit the melody accordingly, making sure the syllables flow correctly at the point in the melody when they occur.

Feedback and collaboration

Once you have a lyric you are happy with, send it to your friends, bandmates or collaborators and ask for constructive feedback. Areas of weakness can be identified and they might think of improvements you missed. Find songwriting collaborators to help you complete a song if you are having trouble finishing a song, or if you need someone to write the music to go with your song.

Be patient, keep writing and good luck!