How do I write good lyrics?

Question

I just... can't. I don't know why. I simply cannot do it. Any tips?

Answer 1

http://www.bored.com/bluesguide.com/index.htm

this is a great guide if you want to sing blues
;-)

Answer 2

First, define your goal. what are you trying to accomplish lyrically? Lyrics that convey drama? Hipness? Suspense? Once you know that, you can more effectly try to accomplish it.

Study lyrics you like, and figure out EXACTLY why you like them. Dont just decide "they are cool", define what makes them good. You will learn cool techniques that way.

For example, consider these lyrics:

She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket,
She wears a cross around her neck,
Yeah, the hair is from a little boy,
And the cross is someone she has not met.

Notice that the subject, line by line, alternates:
Line 1 = subject A (the hair)
Line 2 = subject B (the cross)
line 3 = subject A again
line 4 = subject B again

The natural way would have been to focus on subject A until done with it, then focus on subject B. But instead, The Black Crows made it more interesting by alternating subjects.

Learn to analyze lyrics like that, and you will become familiar with more techniques and be more creative.

Answer 3

Hey, you know what, that is a VERY good question! I have been wondering the same thing for a long time. I will share with you my experiences that have helped me, but like you I still feel lost at several points.

#1- think of what you would like your song to be about (love song, something that happened to you, a dark song about hate or greed, or a playful happy song) after you figure that out, think of some songs that YOU personally love. and compare the rythms and syntax to what you want to do; after all, there is no reason to re-invent the wheel when you can find a song about EVERYTHING knowdays.

#2 - if you are playing with a instrument, try to WRITE a poem, before you figure out a catchy riff or a chord progression. I have found that if you have a idea for a songs story, you can then make a simple chord progression, and humm with it to get your song flow. then you can change your words as you need using a theseruas or dictionary.

#2 - after you have a basis for your chord structure and your lyrics are somewhat figured out, you can then fine tune your transitions between your verse-bridge-chorus. if you play the guitar, use your sustained chords to transition, it works well.

also, remeber, every GREAT song has verse, bridge, chorus. but dont limit yourself to the in the box thereoy. think about stairway to heaven, it didnt have a chorus, or a bridge, and it won all time best song!

Good luck! If you really want to talk about this, I have also been wanting to talk with someone for a while about the same thing. you can email me = [e-mail] or you can MSN me [e-mail]

Answer 4

Just live your life and write it down on paper. THink about memories in your life- the hardships, the good times, about your life growin up.. or you could ryme about random things like your favorite cereal or about your dog. There's only one thing tho that if your missing it, you will never be able to write good lyrics. It's called passion and if you don't have a passion for it, then you'll never get it right.

Answer 5

Just think about what you wanna write about. Say for instance you wanna make a song about making love. What would you want to happen? Fantasize a little, then replace those innocent words with some creative rhyming words. Make it into a poem and make paragraphs, leaving spaces for chorus music inbetween paragraphs. I hope this is helpful. I know this is rhat I do.

Answer 6

write, don't think. put pen to paper and dont take it away for a few minutes at least. let you heart talk and dont go back and erase or revise unil the very end. write down each thought the second it pops into your head

or get a good muse

Answer 7

It depends on what your style is. Figure out who you are, get comfortable with it and visualize a story in your mind. Visualize your thoughts and words in action in your mind and you own emotional twist of events that tells your listeners exactly what is on your mind. Don’t worry about metaphors and proper grammar or words... Just write, write, write, and don’t stop writing..

Answer 8

it comes from inside if you cant think of any try writing in diffrent places that mean something to you thats where i do most of my writing and then you also need something to write about me my life sucks so i write about that you need to think of something that happened or is going to happen to you and write If still you cant write then you probly cant or try again later dont give up until you have tried many times and it still hasn't worked






hope it helps
good luck :)

Answer 9

Read old songs. Learn before create.

Answer 10

soul searching