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Lyric writing

lukelogandennis

lukelogandennis

Nov 29, 2008
164
2
36
Murray, KY
#1
Hey TB! I was just working out some lyrics, because what else am I supposed to do at 4 am?

Anywho, I have a really hard some getting lyrics to fit in rhythm. And I always need somebodies help in getting them to fit in a song nicely. So, my question is, what are some techniques that you use when writing lyrics?:confused:

(hope this is in the right forum?)
 
#2
+1...Please people drop some tips on lyric writing, I'm finally about to take vocal duties for our band after 2 years of searching for the right singer...Keeping with the drums while singing is going to be tough but hardest of all is coming up with lyrics I won't hate in a couple of weeks...such a self-conscious thing lyrics...unless you're a moon/june/spoon kind of singer...
 
#4
I write all my bands lyrics and sing too, whilst playing the bass.

The way I usually do it is I get a phrase and an idea of what I want to say.

I think that's important - even before you have the complete lyric - write down in a sentence or two what it is you want to convey.

Then make everything you write work towards that. This stops you from drifting "off subject".

Sometimes if I can't get a line for every verse I just put spaces and sing lubba-lubba for a bit, get the shape of the song going. Afterwards I'll be riding my bike or on the train and I think of something then that will fit.

Staring at a blank sheet of paper never gives me much inspiration.

Reading books about the subject (or even another subject) can be a good source of non-cliched type words. It's amazing how you can find inspiration in any kind of writing. Novels, newspapers, comics, street signs or instruction manuals - anything! - who knows what can trigger of a good lyric.

A rhyming dictionary can help sometimes, but I tend not to rely too heavily on it, and you have to excerise some judgement, not just use a word because 'it rhymes'. If you can't get a rhyme try switching the words about a bit to get an alternative.

So if you're stuck on the line,

She wore a skirt it was orange..
and can't get a sensible rhyme for "orange"..
try
She had a tight orange skirt
so you can now follow it with
It was so bright it made my eyes hurt

(OK not great, but you get the idea ;) )
Internal rhymes can be good too: bright/tight.

But don't over-do it I guess.

Avoid cliches!

(this is not my list btw)

Let’s take a chance
Your heart is cold
In the morning light
Come back to me
Miss you tonight
Hot-blooded
Cold as ice
Came into my life
Walked in/out of the room
Hold me close
Want you, need you, love you
At the break of dawn
On/over the horizon
Like the stars above
A burning desire
Running to/away
Like a burning fire

Or comparing a relationship to the weather or the sea or mountains or valleys.

:rollno:

If you find yourself writing or singing those things STOP!!!
:scowl:

If I'd be embarrassed to speak a lyric, then I re-write it.
:o

Be prepared to make a good few revisions to the lyrics you write. Even a good "10 minute" lyric needs tweaking here and there.

Having someone else to work with can be helpful, just make sure it's the right person.

:hyper:
 
#5
IMO - lyrics tell a story. If you do not have a story to tell, good luck.

Three 4 line verses and one chorus. Chorus is the hook.

Verses - bring up a thought, discuss that thought and end that thought --- so a new thought can be brought forward in the next verse. You are telling a story, if you do not have a story to tell, wait until you do. Then write the song.

Know what you want to say in the first verse. The first thought you talk about,
Second verse (thought) comes right before the chorus, so the second verse builds on what was said in the first verse and leads into the chorus.
Third verse (thought) brings the story to a close.
The chorus is what you want them singing tomorrow.

Getting the lyric words to match the melody. One lyric word per melody note. Lit-tle takes two melody notes. We talk in phrases, write in phrases. A string of notes is noise, leave some air so the song can breath.

Have a story you want to tell. Then write about that story....
 
#9
Depends on which came first. If you matching new lyrics to existing melody, I sometime resort to counting syllables to match the note timing of the melody. Often dropping or adding a word or space or a breath (pause) will resolve the problem without re-writing the entire lyric line. Sometimes you just have to try to say the same thing with different phrases (longer or shorter). I think the best tip I ever got about writing was like anything else, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. Try to write something every day and you’ll begin to notice an improvement in your style.
 
#10
I'm with MalcomAmos on this. First step is to write all my ideas on a given subject down on paper. Don't try to rhyme them at this point or edit them in any way - you just want a free flow of ideas. Later you can sort out good from bad. Then look at how much info you have and you'll know right away if you have enough ideas to form three verses and a chorus (and possibly a bridge). If not, go on to a different subject. If you can't come up with enough info in the free form planning stage, you'll never have enough in the rhyming stage.
 
#11
You probably already know this, but I will state it anyway. When writing lyrics, it is best that the music is already composed.

What does the music say? Try writing lyrics from that.

As for the melody, just jam with it. I know REM, and I think U2 too, come up with the melodies for the vocals but just hollering. When the hollering sounds good, you got the melody. Black Sabbath did the method frequently as well.
 
#13
Swin said:
I once heard a musical genius say that they pick words by their sound rather than their meaning when writing lyrics...
Click to expand...

I was gonna say that Jon Anderson (YES) said bassically the same thing...

And if you ask 100 different people what some of Jon's lyrics mean you'll get 100 different answers....
 
#14
Thanks, good advice:

BritPicker said:
I write all my bands lyrics and sing too, whilst playing the bass.

The way I usually do it is I get a phrase and an idea of what I want to say.

I think that's important - even before you have the complete lyric - write down in a sentence or two what it is you want to convey.

Then make everything you write work towards that. This stops you from drifting "off subject".

Sometimes if I can't get a line for every verse I just put spaces and sing lubba-lubba for a bit, get the shape of the song going. Afterwards I'll be riding my bike or on the train and I think of something then that will fit.

Staring at a blank sheet of paper never gives me much inspiration.

Reading books about the subject (or even another subject) can be a good source of non-cliched type words. It's amazing how you can find inspiration in any kind of writing. Novels, newspapers, comics, street signs or instruction manuals - anything! - who knows what can trigger of a good lyric.

A rhyming dictionary can help sometimes, but I tend not to rely too heavily on it, and you have to excerise some judgement, not just use a word because 'it rhymes'. If you can't get a rhyme try switching the words about a bit to get an alternative.

So if you're stuck on the line,

She wore a skirt it was orange..
and can't get a sensible rhyme for "orange"..
try
She had a tight orange skirt
so you can now follow it with
It was so bright it made my eyes hurt

(OK not great, but you get the idea ;) )
Internal rhymes can be good too: bright/tight.

But don't over-do it I guess.

Avoid cliches!

(this is not my list btw)

Let’s take a chance
Your heart is cold
In the morning light
Come back to me
Miss you tonight
Hot-blooded
Cold as ice
Came into my life
Walked in/out of the room
Hold me close
Want you, need you, love you
At the break of dawn
On/over the horizon
Like the stars above
A burning desire
Running to/away
Like a burning fire

Or comparing a relationship to the weather or the sea or mountains or valleys.

:rollno:

If you find yourself writing or singing those things STOP!!!
:scowl:

If I'd be embarrassed to speak a lyric, then I re-write it.
:o

Be prepared to make a good few revisions to the lyrics you write. Even a good "10 minute" lyric needs tweaking here and there.

Having someone else to work with can be helpful, just make sure it's the right person.

:hyper:
Click to expand...
 
#16
GtenderG said:
I was gonna say that Jon Anderson (YES) said bassically the same thing...

And if you ask 100 different people what some of Jon's lyrics mean you'll get 100 different answers....
Click to expand...

Maynard's said the same in many interviews, even so far as to say the Lyics themselves are nothing without the music. What you have to say is important, but moreso I think is how it's heard..

I can't seem to write the same song with different people... I'll write a progression maybe a few lyrics to start, but when the band all works on it, i scrap just about all of them, the mood of the song on guitar, or just bass is completly different to how it starts to form with everything added in..
It becomes it's own beast.. It's not like im writing lyrics, just fitting them into the music, the same as I would a bassline..
 

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