Writing Lyrics.

[Joebuddha]

I have to say that although I feel in retrospect that I have written some pretty good lyrics in the past, lyric writing has always been the most difficult part of songwriting for me. I can write an entire song, chords, riffs, melody, arrangement and even the solo in an hour or two. But then it could take me weeks of painstaking effort to write lyrics for that song.

I work much better in collaboration with another lyricist or singer, I'm great at titles and song topics. But once it comes to actually getting the story it out it takes me forever to get the words right.

[Isaac]

I've only recently started writing lyrics, and I've only got full sets for a few songs. I find that the first couple verse I write are always more flowing inspired, I have trouble sustaining the quality of the lyrics as I continue writing.


It's hard to write something that will flow with music, but still has something to say. Lyrics are a very important part of the music for me, so I try to make them something that won't make me cringe.


I don't want to hijack your thread Joe, but I think it'd be pretty cool if the Dino's posted cool lyrics that they've written, or topics they've written on. Maybe it would give us some inspiration?

[Joebuddha]

I used to say that I had to live a crazy life so I could have stuff to write about and truthfully since my life settled down about 7 years ago it is harder to write. When I was in and out of relationships in my 20's and my wife and I first got together and were living the Rock N Roll lifestyle it was easier.

But now I find myself writing about things like how much I love my daughter and the fact that nothing in NYC is the same anymore.

[maybeyes]

There are really two types of inspirations for lyrics: Personal experience and fantasy. While I can write from a fantasy perspective based on a movie, book, imaginations, etc, I find that I prefer to write from a personal experience perspective. So yeah I will write about the love I have for my children, but with teens I can also write about the emotional roller-coaster of life. Sometimes, I can do like you Joe and write the structure of the song fairly quickly, not sure as quick as you, and the lyrics take a while. Even when I write then quickly, they get tweeked for some time before I am happy with them. Some get down immediately, even when I am not satisfied so I don't loose the inspiration and thread. That way I can come back later to fix it up.

[inmyhands]

I was thinking about a child sitting in his room. He's scared because he hears his parents fighting again. He's beat down and hurts and needs an escape.


(In the voice of Kermit the Frog who happens to be sitting on a mushroom when he gains the scared child's attention).


Lyrics to "Whiskers, Wings and Tails" by R. Miller, (inmyhands).


Verse 1


Welcome to this place where flights of fantasy prevail

in this land of whiskers, wings and tails.

Sit beside a mushroom glowing pink and blue and green

Listen to the flying kittens sing.


Verse 2


What are real and what are not are blended till they bring

life into a simple childhood dream.

Apples change from red to blue and billy goats go moo

If you're sad this place was built for you.


Refrain 1


When you fall or sadness calls

and tears come to your eyes.

Fill your mind with thoughts of times

you came here and you'll find ...


Verse 3


That keeping dreams of cats with wings and turtles having fun

make the bad times turn away and run.

And in their place you'll find a space of sympathy and warmth

where you can stay until the sad times done.


Refrain 2


Cherry springs with fish that bring

a lemonade to you.

Unicorns with candy horns

that chase away the blues.


Verse 4


Welcome to this place where everything is as you please

in this land of stingless bumble bees

where every day's a piece of clay that you can mold into

just the kind of day that's right for you.

[mr_crowley]

I am don't pay much attention to lyrics if isn't a band I am very much into - probably becuase english isn't my mother tongue.


So my lyrics usually ends up very silly and cringeworthy. I do notice though that I automatically write different type of lyrics depending on what kind of song it is.

Heavy stuff usually ends up being about psychopaths, murders and alcoholics.

For more "pop-metal" stuff I tend to go with the clichés before even realizing..

And I usually start with some kind of title and work from there ...


Here I share some of my stuff - I am sure you will feel a lot better after reading this and got a laugh too


Dreaming your darkest dreams

When it all seems real

When it haunts you

When it taunts you

When it bringing you down on your knees


When you shut your eyes

When you lose your mind

When it's out of control

Drowning your soul



Turn around bitch I'm your backdoor lover

Always working undercover

C'mon baby don't be shy

I just want a slice of your pie



It's better to burn out than fade away

Come with me we hit the highway



:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:


Then I check out Poison's lyrics and don't feel very bad about my own

[Isaac]

Crowley, those lyrics sound exactly like a Ratt song, maybe less juvenile even...

[otcconan]

I heard Weird Al on NPR today and he said his Webster's Rhyming Dictionary is dogeared all to hell. Hehe.


I have never used one.


I try to tell a story, and my rhymes are often not exact; I might rhyme "pass" with "past" or somesuch. Close enough I think


One little verse I've always been kind of proud of comes from the Umlaut song, "Pain Elemental."


"Soon my time will come and all the pain will come to pass

All the work I've done will grow like evil blades of grass

Then and only then will even Satan come to kneel

And all the dogs of Hell will come to me and they will heel."


But, then again, my mom is a former school teacher and a scrabble champion so I've got somewhat of a vocabulary.

[Isaac]

The chorus for one of the songs I'm working on now is:


Time is ticking it's impressions in the sky

We watch it all fall away

Face it with a grin, or face it with a sigh

Fade into another day

[Agrippa]

I love a band with intelligent lyrics, and that´s a wide mark in my book. I actually feel that Bon Scott was a gifted lyricist.

Or


I like Neil Peart (From Permenant Waves and up).

Old Blue Oyster Cult lyrics were willingly weird, but often quite good imho, and very tongue in cheek:

"I got a whip, in my hand baby, and a Girl or a Husky, at leathers end, it´s allright, my baby knows it´s allright."

Or:

"She´d like to do it, with my big black dog, she just don´t know how to ask."


And I was reading Neil Youngs lyrics to his latest (LeNoise) the other day, and they were actually quite good.



My absolute fave lyricist is Steve Kilbey of The Church:


Deadman´s hand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHPbVyUkn3g

"On our way to crush a revolution

Wilderness and the burning bush

The Enemy seek our dissolution

All he needs is a little push

And we´ve all known hurt

And we´re all gonna find it here in this dirt".


Or this one:

Shadow Cabinet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaHDNCA_MBY


"She offered her chaos to me

Proffered herself languidly

The eldritch bitch must have muddled her spells

Tinges of Persia, I hope that it sells

Chemical nuptials and ringing the bells

It's heavenly I say

Then one winter morning you walk through the trees

But they cut them all down for the factories

Made this pretty cabinet and gave you the keys

It's hardly used I think


Must be thirsty, drink, drink, sink, forget

Must be empty inside the shadow cabinet"




God, I wish I could come up with word images like that.


In my own band I became the lyricist by default, much like I became the vocalist;

I was the least worst.

No, you don´t get to see any, cheeky bastards.