Writing Song Lyrics Off the Top Of Your Head
Oftentimes, while writing song lyrics, we’re stuck for coming up with just the right lyrics in a certain area of a song. We bang our heads against the wall in frustration thinking, “Why is it so difficult to come up with one measly line?” This really becomes a pain when the producer or band mate suddenly says during a recording, “Dude, that line isn’t working, we have to change it.”
What this means is in their opinion either the line doesn’t flow with the song, it’s weak, or it’s in a place where a killer line could really drive it home and make the song really special.
For most songwriters, the melody tends to be a little easier to construct because it usually happens without having to think too much; and therein lies the problem! While writing song lyrics, struggling to come up with that killer line, we usually over-think.
Next time you hit a snag for a certain lyrical phrase, line, or lines, put yourself on the right track by placing focus on these questions and outlining your idea before; what is the song about, what angle can I possibly add to this area that I already haven’t used, and in what direction do I want to take this song?
For example, if the singer has already expressed how happy they are in a relationship in the 1st verse, how they hope it continues in the 2nd, and now you’re having trouble coming up with a few lines in a bridge or perhaps a little phrase at the end of a breakdown, here’s what you can do?
Think of a natural progression as it applies in real life, instead of trying to come up with a forced, clever line that doesn’t fit the flavor of the song.
Off the top of my head, here are the ideas that come to me:
a). they may have had trouble in the relationship in the past but the singer is glad it’s all behind them now
b). the singer can’t imagine a life without the other person
etc., etc., the list is endless!
Once you have the idea, take the line or lines before and after the one you’re trying to create, and figure out the rhyme scheme.
For example, using the same example of the song idea above in perhaps an R&B/Pop Song (I’ll use – (a). they may have had trouble in the relationship in the past but the singer is glad it’s all behind them now), when we get to the bridge, here’s what it might look like:
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I know we’ve run into trouble
………………………………….
I wanna’ take you far away but close enough to make this last
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I’m looking for a killer line in between the other two lines to round this out. Logically, I’m thinking of the obvious idea that comes to me, which has something to do with “putting everything in the past”
So, taking that idea, I get:
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{Bridge}
Although we’ve been struck by trouble before
We’ve held strong and put it in the past
Hold on while I take you far, far away
I’ll keep you close enough to make this last
I’ll be your last…
{Final Chorus}
The words I changed and the line I added are in bold; notice how simple the lyrics are and how nicely the missing line fit into the group. Also notice how I changed some of the words to make the lines stronger and added another line at the end to make it shine!
Finally, remember some times the great line or phrase can come out of thin air. Indeed, some songwriters are masters at coming up with “great lines on the fly.” By using the tip in this article I have no doubt you’ll get better at this technique while writing song lyrics at a moment’s notice, and eventually you’ll be able to instinctively find the line you’re looking for, without having to think too much!
