How do you make a song not sound like a poem?

Question

i recently joined a band and i have been trying to write a song but whenever i play it, it sounds cheesy and like a poem. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

add swear words

Answer 2

I have this issue all of the time. I write lyrics as poetry and then have to modify them to make them useable for songs. Here's what I do:

First - when I'm first writing, I keep a basic beat and structure in my head. When I'm writing, I try to have the words follow the beat and structure - as much as possible, but not so much that it totally stifles what i am writing.

When I create the melody (it sounds like you may be like me - lyrics first, then melody) I modify any parts of the lyrics that are too long or too wordy... things that would fit into a poem but not in a song. For example, in a poem, I used the word 'labyrinthine'. That was okay, but when I made it into a song, I changed the word to 'crooked'. Same meaning (basically) but it fit better into the structure of the verse. It also sounded less poem-like.

So again - 2 ways. Write a poem however you like it and then modify to fit an even, song-like structure. This takes major modifications, but can be done.

Or - write the words keeping some kind of basic structure in your mind as you write them, and then when you put it to a melody, you just make minor modifications so that it fits the structure and doesnt use language that is too complex for the structure and style.

Hope that helps. Dont compare songwriters who write music first to songwriters that write music and words together, to songwriters that write words first and then put to music. Each of these uses a different process. Find what is best for you and then figure out what tricks and tips you need to make it work.
This is a very individualized process. I quote Leonard Cohen: "if I could figure out where great songs come from, I'd go there more often".

Good luck.

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Answer 3

Poetry and lyrics are two different things. The two genres can kind of run into each other but it's best to TRY to keep them separate.

Lyrics are more rhyming: "Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went that lamb was sure to go.." (that's a lyric)

Poems take lyrical or prose ideas and make them more evocative of feeling and full of nuance: "The lamb belonged to Mary... I saw it standing in the snow... it was lost.. I could not tell it where to go..."

Anyway, that may not be a great example, but lyrics have more attention to rhythm in them. Poems pay more attention to the IDEA and making the reader FEEL something.

I hope this was helpful!

Answer 4

basic anatomy of a song:

Verse 1

Chorus

Verse 2

Chorus

Bridge

Chorus

Verse 3

Chorus


Write meaningful lyrics, catchy tunes and have a hook in there somewhere and BAM! you've got a song.

Answer 5

Just say 1 word. Like Pie. Name the song pie. Make ur band symbol a drawn picture of a pie.

I can see it now.

Pie!!!!! Pie PIe!!!!

Answer 6

do it slower, oor faster,, let your mind go and bleed it out,,, spill your guts,, record all versions,, play w/ you and you instument of choice, altho some lyrics just aint made to be shared,,,,,, good luck

Answer 7

add some really cool music to it . =]

Answer 8

RAP IT