How to write Lyrics

Pazz · 11-21-2004, 11:26 AM

Been really bored lately and I want to write some lyrics. The only problem is I can't fit things together and I don't know what to write about. I was just wondering how do you write your lyrics. Did you get inspred by some songs? And did you write them out or did you just use your computer?
Thanks

11-21-2004, 11:55 AM

it doesn't matter hwat oyu write them with.

There's no such thing as "how to write lyrics", it comes from the creativity. Some poeple are better at it then others, but you can't learn to write good lyrics.

KissMeIamSh*tFaced · 11-21-2004, 11:59 AM

Ouch moaner... you just crushed my hopes of becoming a good lyricist.

Dredg · 11-21-2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moaner

it doesn't matter hwat oyu write them with.

There's no such thing as "how to write lyrics", it comes from the creativity. Some poeple are better at it then others, but you can't learn to write good lyrics.

Hmm, I partially disagree. I agree that there's no such thing as 'how to write lyrics' but I think you can learn how to do it, just by doing it. I never used to be any good at it but I think of myself as quite compotent now having written a few songs.

Practice makes perfect

Trooper · 11-21-2004, 12:55 PM

Think of an experiance in your life.
A happy one, sad, angry or whatever then just write what you feel and think.
Doesn't have to be all in song just now just get some lines down, they don't have to fit just now.
Once you've got that start messing about with them and make it into a song.

At least that's how I do.

11-21-2004, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KissMeIamSh*tFaced

Ouch moaner... you just crushed my hopes of becoming a good lyricist.

haha

you and me both brother. I'm hopeless.

Trigger_003 · 11-21-2004, 02:43 PM

Don't worry if your first songs aren't as good as one of your fave artists, fact is, they won't be... unless you copy them :P

Practice is what comes in here. After trying around with different things, you'll come up with some techniques that suit you... just try not to make the mistake of forcing your rhyming... oops gotta go to school - cya later.

RushHourSoul · 11-21-2004, 03:27 PM

Most of the time you can get away with any lyrics if its sung good.

NoMoreHate · 11-21-2004, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pazz_10

Been really bored lately and I want to write some lyrics. The only problem is I can't fit things together and I don't know what to write about. I was just wondering how do you write your lyrics. Did you get inspred by some songs? And did you write them out or did you just use your computer?
Thanks

You might like to note that there is an entire board dedicated to songwriting just above the jam session. You might want to check out some of the lyrics there

11-21-2004, 04:22 PM

I listen to instrumentals, and write to those

Pazz · 11-21-2004, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMoreHate

You might like to note that there is an entire board dedicated to songwriting just above the jam session. You might want to check out some of the lyrics there

Woah! I didn't even notice that

Thanks!

The Digital Pimp · 11-22-2004, 01:03 AM

Use the stuff you learned in english!

You know, verbal devices. Many of them you will use intuitively already, but it's good to know that you know what you are doing, and the range of them available. These will help create images in your writing that will make you lyric writing more immersive. Here are some common ones:

-alliteration: multiple consonant sounds eg: "crushed cars" "a tale of trouble and torture"

-allusion: referring to something, eg: using "star crossed lovers" to talk about your girlfriend, is an allusion to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. "send in your Trojan horse" is of course an allusion to Troy in Greek mythology.

-onomatopoeia: using words of sounds eg: crash, bang, sizzle, hiss, pop, boom

-simile: comparing one thing to another: "the stars are like diamonds"

-metaphor: saying that something takes on the qualities of something else, much like a simile, except instead of saying something 'is like' something, it 'is'. eg: "the cat's eyes were jewels, gleaming in the darkness". "the window was etched with frost". "my fear is a prison"

-hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration: "tons of money"

-symbol: when an image is symbolic of a feeling/situation. A simple example is the cross, a symbol of Christianity. You could sing about a boiling kettle to symbolise your anger.

-parallel construction: beginning a sentence with the same opening words, an example is Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech

-personification: giving an non-human object human qualities: "the sun smiled on us" "the vines grasped my legs" "time stood still"

-pun: a play on words: "he's out at the inn!"

-satire: "The use of mockery, irony, or wit to attack or ridicule something, such as a habit, idea, or custom that is, or is considered to be, foolish or wrong. " Political lyrics often satirise.

-oxymoron: Using opposite words in a sentence: "thunderous silence" "heavy lightness"

NoMoreHate · 11-22-2004, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pazz_10

Woah! I didn't even notice that

Thanks!

You're most welcome. And good luck with the writing.

BassMan182 · 11-22-2004, 11:15 AM

asking how you write lyrics is asking how you paint a masterpiece. it takes work, and natural creativity.

***morrissey*** · 11-22-2004, 11:43 AM

rep ++ to the digital pimp - excellent post me lad.

The best advice I can give is:
a. Just keep practicing. Write and write, and though you will have tons of crap songs, hopefully a couple will be half-decent. But writing is the only way to improve... your writing.
b. Take constructive criticism well. If 100 people tell you that line A sucks, you should probably consider altering it. But also remember that as long as you are happy with the song, that is all that matters

.

KissMeIamSh*tFaced · 11-22-2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moaner

haha

you and me both brother. I'm hopeless.

Hahaha Cheers

The Spliggity Splot · 11-23-2004, 08:25 AM

Step 1: sit down
step 2: write lyrics

or grab a guitar, put a riff down, and shout out random stuff.

I do the latter

The Spliggity Splot · 11-23-2004, 08:30 AM

Oh, and don't use the word "pain" It's too cliche. No one cares about your "pain". Unless they're thinking about killing themselves and need an inspiration to die.

Edit: Sorry about the double post, I forgot how to edit

11-23-2004, 09:24 AM

And NEVER use the phrase "I wish I was dead". More cliched than black coal.

KissMeIamSh*tFaced · 11-23-2004, 04:02 PM

write stuff like this:

I fell down and scraped my knee
Because she broke up with me

haha

11-21-2004, 11:26 AM	#1
Pazz Hello? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,270	How to write Lyrics Been really bored lately and I want to write some lyrics. The only problem is I can't fit things together and I don't know what to write about. I was just wondering how do you write your lyrics. Did you get inspred by some songs? And did you write them out or did you just use your computer? Thanks

11-22-2004, 01:03 AM	#12
The Digital Pimp E-Gangsta Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,018	Use the stuff you learned in english! You know, verbal devices. Many of them you will use intuitively already, but it's good to know that you know what you are doing, and the range of them available. These will help create images in your writing that will make you lyric writing more immersive. Here are some common ones: -alliteration: multiple consonant sounds eg: "crushed cars" "a tale of trouble and torture" -allusion: referring to something, eg: using "star crossed lovers" to talk about your girlfriend, is an allusion to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. "send in your Trojan horse" is of course an allusion to Troy in Greek mythology. -onomatopoeia: using words of sounds eg: crash, bang, sizzle, hiss, pop, boom -simile: comparing one thing to another: "the stars are like diamonds" -metaphor: saying that something takes on the qualities of something else, much like a simile, except instead of saying something 'is like' something, it 'is'. eg: "the cat's eyes were jewels, gleaming in the darkness". "the window was etched with frost". "my fear is a prison" -hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration: "tons of money" -symbol: when an image is symbolic of a feeling/situation. A simple example is the cross, a symbol of Christianity. You could sing about a boiling kettle to symbolise your anger. -parallel construction: beginning a sentence with the same opening words, an example is Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech -personification: giving an non-human object human qualities: "the sun smiled on us" "the vines grasped my legs" "time stood still" -pun: a play on words: "he's out at the inn!" -satire: "The use of mockery, irony, or wit to attack or ridicule something, such as a habit, idea, or custom that is, or is considered to be, foolish or wrong. " Political lyrics often satirise. -oxymoron: Using opposite words in a sentence: "thunderous silence" "heavy lightness" Last edited by The Digital Pimp; 11-24-2004 at 12:10 AM.

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11-21-2004, 11:55 AM	#2
moaner Guest Posts: n/a	it doesn't matter hwat oyu write them with. There's no such thing as "how to write lyrics", it comes from the creativity. Some poeple are better at it then others, but you can't learn to write good lyrics.

11-21-2004, 11:59 AM	#3
KissMeIamSh*tFaced theinternetisawasteoftime Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,218	Ouch moaner... you just crushed my hopes of becoming a good lyricist.

11-21-2004, 12:55 PM	#5
Trooper Always Bring A Towel. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,647	Think of an experiance in your life. A happy one, sad, angry or whatever then just write what you feel and think. Doesn't have to be all in song just now just get some lines down, they don't have to fit just now. Once you've got that start messing about with them and make it into a song. At least that's how I do.

11-21-2004, 02:43 PM	#7
Trigger_003 "Trea the Tanned" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 3,379	Don't worry if your first songs aren't as good as one of your fave artists, fact is, they won't be... unless you copy them :P Practice is what comes in here. After trying around with different things, you'll come up with some techniques that suit you... just try not to make the mistake of forcing your rhyming... oops gotta go to school - cya later.

11-21-2004, 03:27 PM	#8
RushHourSoul prost! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 3,568	Most of the time you can get away with any lyrics if its sung good.

11-21-2004, 04:22 PM	#10
i am the robots Guest Posts: n/a	I listen to instrumentals, and write to those

11-22-2004, 11:15 AM	#14
BassMan182 www.soundfusions.co.uk Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: England Posts: 1,343	asking how you write lyrics is asking how you paint a masterpiece. it takes work, and natural creativity.

11-22-2004, 11:43 AM	#15
*morrissey* Pictoral Pontification Supermod Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I don't need luck Posts: 9,691	rep ++ to the digital pimp - excellent post me lad. The best advice I can give is: a. Just keep practicing. Write and write, and though you will have tons of crap songs, hopefully a couple will be half-decent. But writing is the only way to improve... your writing. b. Take constructive criticism well. If 100 people tell you that line A sucks, you should probably consider altering it. But also remember that as long as you are happy with the song, that is all that matters .

11-23-2004, 08:25 AM	#17
The Spliggity Splot All of the drugs she does Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,084	Step 1: sit down step 2: write lyrics or grab a guitar, put a riff down, and shout out random stuff. I do the latter

11-23-2004, 08:30 AM	#18
The Spliggity Splot All of the drugs she does Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,084	Oh, and don't use the word "pain" It's too cliche. No one cares about your "pain". Unless they're thinking about killing themselves and need an inspiration to die. Edit: Sorry about the double post, I forgot how to edit

11-23-2004, 09:24 AM	#19
moaner Guest Posts: n/a	And NEVER use the phrase "I wish I was dead". More cliched than black coal.

11-23-2004, 04:02 PM	#20
KissMeIamSh*tFaced theinternetisawasteoftime Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,218	write stuff like this: I fell down and scraped my knee Because she broke up with me haha