General Music Chat

Just curious about opinions on lyric writing styles. Some people don’t want any mystery, and want everything to be defined and explained so the “story” can be understood. Personally, I like to write something where the reader/listener can use their own imagination, even if the lyric is really about something specific, but they aren’t given enough information to know for sure.

This is a lyric I wrote about the missing Malaysian Airlines plane. By design, you wouldn’t know this for sure, but the idea is to just give something to think about and use imagination.


“Cries”

V
Journey finds a darker side
Should not be the last goodbye
Tragedy was in the cards
Witnessed only by the stars

Pre Ch
Did you ever know

Ch
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night no one could hear
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night……no one could hear

V
Taken from them, all the plans
Change of orders, new commands
Nothing we can do but wait
Some give up and some will pray

Pre Ch
Did you ever know

Ch
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night no one could hear
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night……no one could hear

Br
In a sky filled with many eyes
Where were all the warning signs
And we are searching……………………

Ch
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night no one could hear
Were you gone before the pain and fear
Or were there cries in the night……no one could hear

Lyrics don't need to be completely defined IF that's how you want them to be. People can read what they want into the song, or not.
Good lyrics, start recording!

Yeah good lyrics FB. You should post some music.

Lyrics or themes... I don't give it much thought myself... I'm usually just glad I came up with something... anything.
And looking and my lyrics... not much hidden in what's said.
But I do like clever lines, humor or twist in a song.

Firebird

Lyrics are good. Could you hear the music in your head? I'm guessing you could since lyrics are easily musical.

A method I use: I have a template with lyrics on one line in normal WP text, and above each line a category: music in blue, video in purple.

Then I just over-write the words 'music,' 'lyrics,' and 'video' as the song comes together.

Since I don't write music very well I just generally put chord sequences in the music column.

Good luck.

Talbot

Tough subject to right a song about.
Title grabs. Unfortunately you run into the total value of the song.

If you are looking for #1 hit, that won't happen. The media has hyped this to all degrees and will soon be forgotten. If you are aiming to make this an immortalized folk song... Think "Edmond Fitzgerald", or something similar.

Good writing practice though. Harry Chapin once told me he wrote hundreds of lyrics a year... He was happy when one turned into a song.

Good luck FB.

Just for shiits and giggles. We used to have Paperdog here before he was chased off. But we still have a YOD. He is not a master of lyrics that everyone will love...He writes for his specific audience BUT he is a master of incredible melodic prosody. I say that because he limits himself to his specific genre. Other than that I would hope he comments to help you find the answer you are looking for.

and another tip of the hat for some good lyrics.

as far as spelling things out.....i like a little bit of wiggle room to bring at least a little bit of filling in the blanks. i'd rather not have everything spelled out and defined to the Nth degree.

i believe there are a ridiculous number of great ever lasting tunes that are kind of up for grabs as to what exactly they're about.

hullo....Beatles anyone????

i spend a great deal of my listening time listening to brazilian, african, cuban music, and jazz. all those tell GREAT stories......and all w/o having everything spelled out.

paper dog was chased off? pretty sure i recall him leaving of his own accord.

possibly in an Accord?

MikeB - Thanks for looking, and the comments.

Jahva - Thanks……..and I do have some very amateurish songs on my profile and Soundclick, but I am just a music beginner, and trying to learn a bit from you dudes.

Mike T - Thanks – Yes, I usually get some music going pretty good in my head when writing a lyric, and I have found it to be a huge help now that I am tinkering with music. Interesting writing method you have. Whatever works!

GJ - Thanks for the comments – Yeah, any “hit” potential would come from how good the music was because the lyric isn’t specific enough to be obviously related to that lost plane.

Planet - Thanks very much – As far as everything spelled out, yes, there are sure hundreds of very successful songs that don’t do that.