Everyone has had the magical feeling when they hear a song on the radio, or when they're at a friend's house, and the song really connects with them on a personal level. It's almost as if the song is totally the listener's, the singer personally seranading them.
Whether skipping to work on a sunny day, or crying, heartbroken into a pillow, music is the soundtrack to listener's lives..
How to Write Lyrics, Tip One: A good lyric will express the writer's feelings.
So, what's the best way to write lyrics that connect with other people? Write lyrics that mean something, of course! The thousands of people who enjoyed 'Comfortably Numb' are no less human that the song's author, David Gilmour.
If a song is written and it expresses the feelings of it's author, then anyone else who has felt the same way will identify with that song: this is a proven fact that has been born out by many records over the years: from 'Layla' to 'Dry Your Eyes.'
How to Write Lyrics, Tip Two: Why a lyricist should be inspired by the music.
Maynard James Keenan from the rock band Tool has said on various occasions that his lyrics are simply interpretations of the band's music. This is a great way to write lyrics: by simply listening to the music the band or the songwriter has created, the lyricist is presented with a springboard to potential lyrical topics: and it is essential for a song to be about something if it is to be any good.
How to Write Lyrics, Tip Three: Why a lyricist shouldn't ryhme all the time.
This is not to say that rhyme should never be used in lyric writing: rhyming can be a wonderful tool if used creatively:
'Well the whole damn place goes crazy twice/and it's once for the Devil and once for Christ/but the boss don't like these dizzy heights/we're busted in the blinding lights/of closing time.'
Taken from Leonard Cohen's wonderful 'Closing Time', this lyric is a great example of fantastic imagery, all within a very strict rhyme scheme.
However, there are two dangers of religiously sticking to rhymes: firstly, that the songwriter restrict hm or herself so much that they end up using language that would never be used in real life. In his marvellous book 'How to Write Songs on Guitar', Ricky Rooksby gives the great example of Neil Diamond's 'Play me', which contains the lyric:
'Songs she sang to me/Songs she brang to me.'
Why not use the phrase 'brought to me' like any normal human? Well, it doesn't rhyme with sang, of course.
The other main risk of rhyming is using cliches: there are thousands of songs already released that rhyme 'love' with 'dove' or 'above', and adding to them will only show use of a rhyming dictionary, with no indication of genuine creativity.
How to Write Lyrics, Tip Four: Ways for a lyricist to fuel their creativity.
On 'Bullet in a Bible', Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong said that he comes up with many of his favourite lyrics whilst out for walks, including the multi-million selling single 'Jesus of Suburbia'. A devout heavy-metal drummer used to watch non-stop horror films before he could even begin to think of any lyrics.
Others, such as the Beach Boy's legendary tunesmith Brian Wilson, have said that they have to maintain a steady discipline of proper diet and good exercise in order to enhance his creativity.
It is important for a lyricist to find out what gets ther creative juices flowing, and then important that they utilize this tool as often as possible.
How to Write Lyrics, Tip Five: A lyricist should maintain self-confidence.
If a lyricist is having one of those days where they feel like they can barely get a sentence together, it is vitally important that they get out of the room. Whether it's to go for a run, or just to get a Big Mac, it is essential to take a break when a break is needed.
As long as a lyricist is working and enhancing their craft, then good things will happen: two examples below, from two men who are widely regarded as having written some of the greatest songs ever, are comforting words for any songwriter who has burst into tears of frustration when presented with a blank page:
Paul McCartney has said that 'Yesterday' - at the last count the most covered song of all time - came to him in a dream. He simply woke up, and rushed to write it down.
The famous couplet of 'Where have you gone, Joe DiMagio?/A nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.' from 'Mrs Robinson' popped into Paul Simon's head one day, the iconic songwriter stating that he 'didn't know why, or where it came from.'
It is vital for a writer to have fun and enjoy their life: inspiration comes from interaction with the world!
Resources
These two marvellous books have provided no end of help and inspiration in my own songwriting, and I would recommend them to anybody:
'Song-Writers on Song-Writing.' contains interviews with about every famous song-writer you'd care to name, including Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. It is a constant source of inspiration.
How to Write Songs on Guitar' by Ricky Rooksby provides a huge, genuinely helpful guide to improving your songwriting, and is highly recommended. There is also a piano version for those ivory-tinklers amongst you!
