If you do not know how to write song lyrics in a story, it
can be overwhelming to imagine where to begin. I often hear from my online
students how relieving it is to bring structure and instruments into the mix
when we delve into songwriting. Within the first four weeks, most students have
a lot of clarity about what a good song is, and how to craft it.
To get you started I'll outline some ideas here, and suggest
the online courses Lyric Writing: Writing From the Title, Commercial
Songwriting Techniques, and Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies for Further
Study. Here are some tips for how to write song lyrics in a story
Start with what you want to say.
The first tip when learning to write lyrics to a song is to
become familiar with journaling and using your senses. Taste, touch, sight,
sound, smell and motion are descriptors that help your listener get into the
experience of a small moment. A little moment is just a snapshot of life, a
scene where your song is set within.
Try to pick a small moment and write about it, using your
senses of taste, touch, sight, sound, smell and motion. Don't try to rhyme
forcely, and also don't write with a particular rhythmic pattern. just write
what ever coming to your mind.
Read songs by other artists (don't listen to the songs!)
Notice how repetitive, simple language and how clean and
clear the main message in the chorus is. What message do you want your listener
to take away knowing the song? This is your chorus. What small moment serves as
a great example of that key message? This is your first verse.
Focus on conversational quality.
The third trick to writing song lyrics is to write as you
speak. We do speak English, and we do write English, we tell stories from our
lives, and have meaningful conversations with friends. But for some reason as
soon as we start writing songs, we believe those skills are not enough. We
become obscenely abstract and poetic; We resist language to bring our rhymes to
the end of lines even when the material is no longer meant to be. We forget what
we're really trying to say, trying to give the song a breadth at first and
imply that DaVinci himself couldn't capture the Mona Lisa in expression. Why?
Because we almost failed high school English class? maybe. But keep in mind
that the most important quality of a great song is authenticity. If you're
sending the story to a small group of people who care about you and have a say
in what you have to say, write that way.
Long songs complicated problems.
Try writing a simple verse (like four or six lines) that
goes into the chorus with lots of repetition. Or, try starting a song with the
chorus. Simplicity is very hard to master, but also worth pursuing. The longer
a song is, the greater the potential for confusion.
Collaborate with good
songwriters as often as possible.
Soak up some of that good songwriting energy, and you'll
soon realize you have great ideas, too. You'll also soon realize how closely
the rhythm of the song is linked to the melodious rhythm, opening up a whole
new area for your melodies and lyrics.
Also Check-
FAQ about How to write song lyrics in a story ?
How do I write a story for a song?
Story writing and songwriting can be very different, so here
are some tips to help you turn your next crazy life event into a best-selling
hit.
How to turn a story into a song
Make lists. Lists will be your best friend.
Describe events in verses, and leave feelings for the
chorus.
Try to sing the story.
What is the structure of the song's lyrics?
A typical song structure consists of a verse, chorus and
bridge in the following arrangements: intro, verse - chorus - verse - chorus -
bridge - chorus - outro. This is known as the ABABCB structure, where A is the
verse, B is the chorus and C is the bridge.
How do you write
beginner songs?
Here's a basic step-by-step process that beginners can
follow to write songs:
Write a chorus melody using your instrument.
Decide on a song structure.
Write the verse using your instrument.
Create vocal melodies for the chorus and verses.
Write lyrics for those vocal tunes.
Add a bridge if desired.
Write intro and outro.
How do you structure a song?
The basic song structure consists of an intro, verse,
pre-chorus, chorus and bridge (many times, it's all tied together in an outro
as well). Below, consider this breakdown of the song building blocks.
Do all songs tell a story?
Not all songs follow story patterns or contain inspirational
messages. Some tunes can be common occurrences in our lives like DJ Jazzy
Jeff's "Summertime" with The Fresh Prince. Some may be retrospective
such as The Sound Ninja's "With Us" as it reflects current events in
the world.

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