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I'm a Moron When it Comes to Writing Lyrics

jeddak	Date: June 9, 2004 @ 9:16 AM I've tried and tried over the years, but I hate what I write. My mind seems to be in a prose rut. Even when I get inspired, and I think I have a great idea, it peters out after one verse. And the next day, even that seems awful. Does anyone have a favorite book that can help jump-start a frustrated, novice lyric writer? Ironically, I was an English major in college.
sqrlcub	Date: June 9, 2004 @ 10:37 AM Hmmm, that's a tough one. It really depends on what style you right in. If you like beat poetry I'd suggest Allan Ginsburg but some of his topics may be too steamy for you. Hmmm, maybe the best bet would be a big compilation of poetry throughout history like one of the Norton Anthologies of Poetry. Actually you can't really go wrong with that. Just really anything with a lot of poetry through the ages would be fine though. Something that you can take lyrical inspiration from. Other things, write how you feel and if it starts sounding too sing songy get out of Iambic Pentameter. I used to go through "exercises" where I would simply go through contrived meters (such as the following syllables per line: 9, 5, 7, 6, 9, 4, 7, 3) and try to put out complete thoughts within that. If you do it consistently and write 3 or so stanzas in those types of rhythms it sounds surprisingly fresh. If you put in some type of rhyme scheme into it it starts to codify the unusual rhythm. A book that has been recommended to me specificly for lyrics has been the Songwriters Idea Book. Personally I have only leafed through it but I can see where it would be good to take some inspiration from.
BluePaintCult	Date: June 10, 2004 @ 5:59 PM One simple way of making your lyrics go from cliche to creative is this simple thought process: Think of an idea, something, anything. Think of a way to say it cleverly, metaphorically, symbolically, etc. For example, here's an idea: She broke my heart by cheating on me twice, and I'm falling apart. Now think of a way to more cleverly say that, perhaps something like this, I'll improvise a few lines to cover the previously mentioned idea: Dual collapse on perpetual love came from "he's just a close friend" and once over again, but it's so hard to let go when you're all i've held onto. it's so hard to let you know that you're the last girl i'll sing to. won't you kill me a little bit faster? prolonging this only holds me closer to hell. (prolonging this only keeps me closer to you) There. Not that hard. Just think about what you're writing. That took me just a couple minutes. It's not so hard. Good luck! -Blake
thought-fox	Date: June 11, 2004 @ 1:28 PM OK. Number one, and most important rule for every writer: Always carry a note-book. (You can get pocket sized ones). Keep that notebook with you. Keep it by your bed too (often things will crop up in your mind in the middle of the night, and they are always gone by morning). Then you can jot down anything and everything that you hear/see that is a little bit odd, that makes you look twice or wonder. Write down questions that occur to you. Describe peope and scenes that are unusual. Write down snippets of overheard conversation. Become an avid people watcher. YOU ARE YOUR OWN GOLD MINE Think back to the most memorable experiences of your life and write down how you felt using similies and metaphors whenever you can. Say "it was like ...." A good metaphor can start you off on a whole train of thought. Get out your photo albums and write little imaginary letters to people you haven't seen for years. Pretend letter writing is an excellent way of getting a poem started - addressing someone as "you", you can spill out your feelings to them and it all be anonymous. Write to a god, write to an imagined perfect lover, write to someone you saw this morning in the street who you liked/disliked the look of. Write to your old teacher/headmaster with some home truths. Try to write images. Good lyrics and poetry always put images in the reader/listener's mind through the words. Listen really carefully to the lyrics of songs that have meant something to you and analyse the words for why they have done that to you. I have the Norton Anthology (I expect you already do if you were an English student) ... I don't recommend that. Get something that deals more with the present: 'Staying Alive - Real Poems for Unreal Times' edited by Neil Astley and published by Bloodaxe is just about as good as you can get for contemporary stuff. Good luck! (Get that notepad) Oh, and also, if you like a drink or similar, that can be really good for uninhibiting your creative writing (you just won't be able to read it the next day!)
ICF	Date: June 11, 2004 @ 2:22 PM I have exactly the same problem. My lyrics all come out the same - they're just cheesey teenage love songs, the lot of them. BluepaintCult - Thats a really good idea and probably what most people do but i have such a hard time of doing it! Any advice i would give is exactly what thought-fox just wrote some good tips there i will try that myself... i think i can afford a notebook too
DevonPowell	Date: June 11, 2004 @ 2:51 PM "Cheesey teenage love songs" denote a great deal of popular songs to this day... Keep writing... One day, I was blocked and decided in order to unblock myself I would go into a dictionary and pick out words I liked and make a poem from them. It was published in "The Avatar", a publication of my college (SMCM) back in 1993. Inspiration may seem cheesy, unartistic, even uninspired at times...but if you never write anything at all (or even something you might consider "bad"), you might miss something you really DO like. Just write it. *(insert Nike Swoosh here*)
Intergalacti...	Date: June 11, 2004 @ 4:49 PM A lot of my songs are quite emo but if I'm in an OK mood I'll take advantage of it and force myself to write something happier. Gettin back to learnin how to write. Theres nothin that can teach you really. Just listen to bands that are goin for the same style as yourself and its always easy to write about your emotions. If you've got an english major then use a lot of metaphors for your feelings in songs that comes off quite well sometimes. And of course are you writing poems or lyrics? If your writin lyrics for a song see if you can come up with a good riff or if you just happen to come up with somthin while screwing around. Just write a line that could go over that and go from there. Or work it the other way round if you hear one good line or think of one good line, write a riff for that. Good luck with it all let me know how you get on.
BedroomSessions	Date: June 11, 2004 @ 6:35 PM hmm without having read the above properly, so i may find myself repeating. something you write may sound stupid to you, but not so stupid to someone else. think of a theme which your music is representing and use your words to say what you want. its ok to repeat lyrics of verses!!
Woof	Date: June 12, 2004 @ 4:08 AM Well... if prose is in your mind and soul, writing the music to fit the prose sounds like a wonderful challenge to me, and it'd make for a nice break from the mainstream... just a suggestion...
synthsect	Date: June 12, 2004 @ 5:59 AM lsd helps
Tudris	Date: June 12, 2004 @ 12:22 PM The best way to write lyrics is just to free write what's on your mind. Don't think about the rhythm or the meter or the melody just yet.... just write it all out. And don't think you need to throw in a bunch of freaky double meanings or anything just because it's cool. If that's not your style, it will come out in the writing and sound very fake. People pick up on it. Like that stupid ass "staring down the barrel of a 45" song. Can't stand it. Anyways, just write what you are. You really can't go wrong that way. You might not appeal to everyone, but that's not what music is about, right?
lordDeaconGreen	Date: June 13, 2004 @ 12:51 AM Ya Know if ya can't write stop, U fuk'n losa. ( God they rritate me) who... (these crybabies) Hey U shouldn't B so stuff on them, they R only look'n for acceptence from their peer group. Some support. ( Hey they look'n for it all tha wrong way, they just need to do it) That a lot easoer said then done for instance, think about what kind of ideals U got to have running through ure minds. THose great ones dont come by cheep. U got to work for them.) Yeah ure right, I apoligize...Yeah Keep working for it, U''ll get it.
chrismacmanus	Date: June 14, 2004 @ 6:49 AM Thought-Fox has got the right idea, write everything down, small ideas can sometimes lead to good lyrics. even if you're out and about and haven't got a pen and paper at hand, I have heard of people calling their voicemail when they get an idea, or sometimes I save a text message in my inbox on my mobile (usually thought these are drunken thoughts that aren't as good looking the next day ) I sometimes like writing straight onto the computer, sometimes lyrics come a little easier to me that way, and they're easier to fix up as you go along. Keep it up, as DevonPowell said, most popular stuff these days is cheesey love songs.
alexamustang	Date: June 14, 2004 @ 2:10 PM sometimes i get lonely and text myself
ICF	Date: June 14, 2004 @ 2:21 PM Does that actually work i've never tried it...
sqrlcub	Date: June 14, 2004 @ 4:29 PM I think I need a translator for lorddeacongreen's comment. I must be getting old.
alexamustang	Date: June 14, 2004 @ 4:32 PM umm yeah. yeah it does i was thinking that about the translation, and im 18. dont worry! not understanding socially inadequate people is quite universal
Intergalacti...	Date: June 15, 2004 @ 10:48 AM Yeah I text myself when I've got a good idea and no notepad its saved my life lol. Remember songs don't have to rhyme
sqrlcub	Date: June 15, 2004 @ 1:58 PM LOL, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Writing regularly even if you know it is crap is also a good way to break out of the mold. The more often you write the better it will become.
ICF	Date: June 15, 2004 @ 2:34 PM Yeah im workin on that theory - I figure the more i write the better it should get but its doin the reverse!! hehe never mind BTW you dont actually need to send a text to yourself just save it in the outbox, i do that...
BedroomSessions	Date: June 15, 2004 @ 5:07 PM you can leave messages on your own answering machine as well from your mobile phone
figfarmer	Date: June 15, 2004 @ 7:04 PM I think you can't write what you don't read. I read poetry from the time I was a baby and had a gal friend that forced me to read lyrics. I think that is what did it. Also, you can't write if you can't write. If ur rittin lokes lik this then fuk off an doan bodder writtin.
Woof	Date: June 16, 2004 @ 12:44 AM Some time back, I couldn't put a lyric together, if my life depended on it... so I did a lot of soundscapes with spoken word or phrases for the vocals... Then one day, an actual song just popped into my head: Was ist los I am here. All this dancing No more beer. I'm a tourist In this land. Vacation did not go as planned. Indigestion In distress. All these peppers I made a mess. And the homeland Calls to me. Oh, how I miss My Germany. I've been writing (hopefully better) lyrics ever since. It was just a matter of getting into the music, and letting intuition take its' course. For what it's worth...
figfarmer	Date: June 16, 2004 @ 9:20 AM Lovely Woof.
Woof	Date: June 17, 2004 @ 2:45 AM
100thmonk	Date: June 17, 2004 @ 10:38 AM try this on for size.. these tricks seldom fail to get rid of blockages for me... first off, try refraining from the usage of i, me or any other personal pronouns you can. second try to refrain from using the word is or any form of isness. this usuall will help to get your personality out of the way and is quaranteed to get some interesting results. good luck.
billhudson	Date: June 17, 2004 @ 12:00 PM Well there are no rules as such I think. But what Fox said, "You are your own gold mine"., is true. For myself I write in the morning. I have many songs laying around the office. I work at them and pick one up read it change a few things and go on to the next one. I try to keep it fresh, thats the key. Sometimes just one line sticks in my head. I have no idea where it comes from but I can't get rid of the thing. Like for the song, Gauguin's Dream. That frist line I had for about two years. So I keep chipping away at each one. Then the song with stand on it's own. Still Pickin' Bill H.
YaBoyDrew	Date: June 17, 2004 @ 6:55 PM well that can be a problem lol
jess1561	Date: June 19, 2004 @ 5:39 PM actually it's good to write whenever the need hits you... I do that all the time I'll be sitting the and I need and ... But hell, it's preety damn hard to write when the muses aren't around so call them! ... ...
ps-I-forgot	Date: June 21, 2004 @ 11:44 AM You remind me of my father who is also an english major. My dad has incredible grammar skills and is an excellent writer, but he's too self-conscious to take chances when he writes, so we'll never know how good of a writer he could have been. Just keep writing and writing until you start finding your voice. Finding a good song lyric is a lot like hunting or fishing. You're not necessarily gonna say the right thing all the time but unless you get something down, you'll be in that rut. Whatever you do, just stay away from the cliches. And it's always a good idea to go for walks as it trains your mind to write in your head by inwardly describing or composing what it is you see around you. But don't give up. Many great writers didn't even begin their writing until they were in their late 30s or early 40s, so keep that in mind. And good luck! tones
thought-fox	Date: June 21, 2004 @ 6:12 PM There are such comments in this thread! Ps-I-forgot speaks wisely when he says go for walks. It's such a great way to get into your inner self and lines seem to pop into your head from nowhere in that kind of solitude. Wordsworth wrote nearly all his work whilst out walking (and somehow remembered it!) 100thmonk says some really interesting things about personal pronouns and staying away from certain sounds. That's obviously something that has to be taken into account with singing as opposed to writing. Figfarmer also makes a really important point: you must read. You must read and read and read and listen and listen and listen. Try the solitude thing, (after doing all the people watching) things will start to gel in your mind. But do it in a good outdoor way, don't lock yourself away too much, that can get depressing! Driving the car is another good one for me. Sometimes I have to pull up in a layby to write a note. Sometimes I use a pocket-size dictaphone.
thought-fox	Date: June 24, 2004 @ 8:44 AM Do you think Jeddak's still here?
chrismacmanus	Date: June 24, 2004 @ 9:26 AM maybe he's busy being inspired by all us nice people
jeddak	Date: June 24, 2004 @ 2:23 PM Hey, leave me alone, I've been trying to write lyrics! Seriously, thanks for all the ideas and advice, folks. This kind of community spirit is what makes dmusic so cool.
BedroomSessions	Date: June 24, 2004 @ 6:08 PM i hear its popular to sing about killing black people and stephen hawking. but then what do i know
ryanwilliams	Date: June 27, 2004 @ 5:02 AM sqrlcub - the first Ginsberg I ever read was "Please Master" - what an introduction! I agree about carrying a notebook around. More often than not the lyrics I get come with a melody of some kind, so I usually send myself voicemail so I can recall it later. I had a very big musical dry-spell occur during a period where I got so caught up with trying to write music that would "sell" that I couldn't come up with anything productive. Make sure you always write for YOU first. I also have two other major artistic outlets besides writing/music (photography and acting) and when i find myself stuck on any one of them, I turn to the others for creative outlet. It's easier to keep the creativity going than it is to try and force it to happen (and beat yourself up if it doesn't) so try shifting to another hobby/job/outlet/whatever for a bit. Often I'll rebound from that with a good deal of fervor and zeal, and even if it ends with me writing shit, at least I feel better about it.
Soul-Persona	Date: July 11, 2004 @ 4:14 AM You know what else works? Write down just what you always WANT to say to someone, but never do for fear of... whatever. If it doesn't sound exactly right, change it. Also, using verbs and adjectives before nouns is a good tip. Rewriting the first or second half of a cliche hook generally works too, basically anything unpredictable that isn't too unweildy. Some of the best lyrics, I think, are too the Radiohead song "Creep" 'But I'm a creep... I'm a weirdo... What the hell am I doing here?' 'I want a perfect body... I want a perfect soul..." I like them because they're not literal -he actually doesn't think HE is a creep or a weirdo, but it gets the message across so well because that is something that a girl would say to a guy. Quoting people and leaving room for interpretation. Another thing that I like to do is address something without defining it: "This is the device that weakens me, and those are the eyes that bring me to my knees" (mine, copywrite and all, by the way) Anyway, much luck! -Iris
CrazyPoet	Date: July 28, 2004 @ 1:04 PM If people can't write... why do they insist on keeping on trying when there are so many talented poets out there? Sometimes you should keep your "poetry" locked up and read it in a thousand years to have a good laugh at how awful you were. Scuba-diving is for scuba-divers, poetry is for poets.
EricTheJohnson	Date: July 29, 2004 @ 3:43 AM I think that writing is for the writer and if others like it it is incidental. I think that all of my lyrics have the maturity level of a stunted 13 year old, yet some people (who I respect) like them. So what the heck do I know? I read a John Irving book "piggy sneed" or something like that, and he wrote a whole chapter on writing. What I took away from that is that the most important part of writing is the rewriting. I do this with everything now, from this posting to school papers to songs, it has made an improvement. For myself I quit trying to be so very clever (becuse I'm not as smart as I thought I was) and just started to be honest. It is so much better to have something straight forword be bad than something that I thought was so clever be bad (and misunderstood). I try to write about me and use "I" alot. I am not a good writer for others but it really helps my brain to organize and it can be very good for my emotions. The only qualification I have to make any kind of comment is that I get A's on all the papers that I write. That doesn't mean anything at all. I am a voratious reader and I will say that all of the poetry and prose that I love has an element of honesty and true experience of our common human plight. (I wish that this had spellcheck)
Generation	Date: September 30, 2004 @ 4:48 PM Write what you know, express your inner feelings on any subject that is in your experience. Emotion is the base in which all the artistic pigment is mixed to the color of the artists own spirit. If art is the objective. If fame and fortune are the goals, talent, heart, and/or spirit are not pre-requisites, just paraphrase various teenage sex-fantasies in the current pop format, whatever it happens to be that year. A writer, or poet writes because that persons nature demands it. Any artist follows their muse with perseverance, and extreme dedication throughout their life, whether they are recognized by the mainstream or not. History of the arts bear witness to this fact.
AnatomizingA...	Date: September 30, 2004 @ 6:51 PM Sometimes I just write down whats going on in my life or what I'm feeling, then make it all make sense later after I've gotten all of it out. Other times, it just comes to me. Like some one else said, it can come in the middle of the night. I guess it is kinda hard and frustrating if you can't get it the way you want it to sound, but write for fun or pleasure and be proud of them, because some one out there is going to love them either way.