Writing a song part 2: Lyrics

Lyrics is a different story. You really don’t need to have any knowledge, except a decent grasp of the language you speak. For awhile, I just felt hopeless in terms of writing lyrics. Anything related to being creative with the English language, like stories, essays, and poems, was not my thing. Despite me being the lead singer, we started out with the other band members writing some of the lyrics. Any lyrics I wrote were poorly written and required the others to slightly modify them. I wasn’t offended; I felt that they needed work.

To me, the key to lyrics is to not try too hard. Just let the mind flow and write. Write a lot. Try different ways to write. Rhymes. Short lines. Long lines. A narration. A conversation. Be realistic. Be over-the-top. Be explicit. Be vague. The point is to have a lot of variety. Over time, you will have a lot to work with. Some of it not so good, but some definitely with potential. You’ll also get better with time! I seem to find less throwaway material nowadays.

You want to make sure you can put something down wherever you are. I keep a book as well as a private WordPress post where I can write my thoughts and ideas down. Feeling creative at the office? Open up that Notepad! Have a crazy story pop up in your head while on the train? Save a text on your phone! Woken up by such a spectacular dream you need to make sure you remember it? Keep that pen and paper by your side(though this has never happened to me. Once I am sleeping, I am OUT. By the time I come to, I don’t remember any dreams too well)!

You will never know when inspiration comes. Always be ready. Write, write, write!

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