Ok yes sure I’ve been singer songwriter for a very very very long time. Just decided to start playing an instrument in January. So you don’t have to play music, or study music in order to write song lyrics. But you should consider it completely different than poetry.
I use, what I call, the archeological method. I believe the lyrics are already written. All I need to do is dig them up. Some might call it… tapping into The Akashic Records. I don’t know if I believe in all that… But it’s fun to ponder.
I have two different strategies.
1 – Start with an idea.
2 – Start with a melody.
Starting with an idea is more like poetry. It’s harder to form it into a melody later on. I find when I write from idea that the vocal melodies are far more simplistic. Not a bad thing necessarily. And sometimes you really want to get a specific idea across. I also like simple melodies so it’s not a problem for me. Good for short songs.
Starting with a vocal melody is much different because you consider the way the words are to be sung. Starting with a melody is more hypnotic for the writer. Like a tune that you can’t get out of your head. Nothing forced here. Repeat it like a mantra over and over and over again, and you may find a feeling emerges, and from that feeling, words form magically in the perfect place of the melody that you meditated upon. It takes me much much longer to write in this way. Sometimes years for one song. And the songs tend to be very long in the 15minute range.
If you don’t know anything about music, you can still boink out a melody with a free online keyboard. Then just get that melody in your head and repeat it over and over and over again. Just say la la la la out loud to the same melody. Live with it for days, and watch what happens. You’ll start to get a feeling emerge. And like magic, a word or two will pop into the exact spot that the notes are played.
Some of those words will resonate strongly with the feeling that emerged. Decide if they are strong enough to carry the chorus idea of the song, or if they are supporting the chorus idea in the form of a verse, where the story is told about the idea.
Most importantly, just start throwing words at the wall. Don’t worry if anyone might like it. Have a melody for them in mind. And know that whatever you come up with today, you’ll more than likely laugh at simplicity in a few decades.
Also, different than poetry, I tend to write the words informally, in the manner I would actually sing them rather than with proper spelling.
Well I’m known to be less than perfect
And I’ve been known ta do a lil’ bit’ foolin’
But these tired old eyes, they be learnin’ the lesson life is schoolin’
Just show a little bit of compassion, and share a good word with a friend
That’s all these tired old eyes have left to send
You’ll notice the second line “lil’ bit’ foolin’” is different than the third line “little bit of”. I would sing each line as written, differently from each other. The silliness of one line helps emphasize the seriousness of the other. That’s one luxury that vocal lyrics have over poetry.
Good luck! Have fun! Don’t be discouraged by anyone!
Rhyme everything you can, take every single chance. You’re soon to form a plan, and teach your words to dance.
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