how to write lyrics for a song step by step guideline
While I am not an expert on the topic, I do have quite a bit of experience in this subject and would like to offer my advice.
The absolute FIRST thing you should do is learn about song structure. I cannot stress this enough; it’s incredibly important. If your song has no structure, there’s nothing making the listener want to listen to it again. You know how sometimes you listen to a song (good or bad) and it’s stuck in your head for the rest of the day? That was done on purpose. A common song structure that’s easy to work with is Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus. You can also add instrumentals here and there, especially before or after the bridge, before the first verse, and after the last chorus. Once you know about song structure, choose a general structure for your song. You can Google some basic ones if you don’t know any off the top of your head.
Now that you have your song structure, find a “hook” for your song. This is usually a word or phrase repeated in the chorus, maybe mentioned in the first verse, and it is usually the title of your song. This is what will help get your song ingrained into someone’s mind.
Once you have your hook, begin writing. Choose a topic, whether it be the sun outside, an emotion you’re feeling, or an event that took place in your life. There are several ways to write songs, but I believe rhyming can be the make or break between a song that flows nicely and one that doesn’t. Rhyme most of your phrases in one way or another and think up a melody that would work well with your lyrics. Try to make the syllable count for each lyric similar to the next unless you plan on purposely drawing out some syllables more than others.
As for the lyrics themselves, I do have a few general tips, but ultimately just try to make it come from the heart. As for the tips: use figurative language and imagery. Instead of “I am heartbroken” you can say something like “Shards are embedded in my heart.” Repeat your hook in the chorus a whole lot, and use the verses to progress your song. Verses have different lyrics while choruses should be the same throughout. Bridges should differentiate from the rest of the song. This is usually where it gets the most emotional or has a plot twist.
Just in case none of that made any sense whatsoever to you, I’ll write a song really quickly. Let’s name it… Sun.
Verse 1:
Drops of sun like liquid gold
Engulf my beating heart
If only I had been foretold
I would be torn apart
Chorus:
Like the sun in the sky
The sun, oh so bright
Like the sun, I can fly
Please hold me tight
Verse 2:
The moon once more greets me
In the night, the midnight air
The stars are all that I can see
No sun is shining here
Chorus:
Like the sun in the sky
The sun, oh so bright
Like the sun, I can fly
Please hold me tight
Bridge:
But just like the moon, I think I am cursed
To never truly see the sun
I thought that these drops were golden at first
But the sun offers not one
Chorus:
Like the sun in the sky
The sun, oh so bright
Like the sun, I can fly
Please hold me tight
So clearly, that wasn’t the best, but it helps you get a general idea of what I’m talking about. Keep writing and writing until you get the hang of it, and once you do, you can write songs in less than ten minutes (the example above is a testament to that). Good luck, and I hope this helped!
source: quora