Many aspiring songwriters find themselves at a crossroads: music creation versus lyric writing. Some musicians effortlessly craft melodies but stumble when it comes to words, while others are gifted poets who struggle to compose tunes. And then there are those who bravely attempt to conquer both realms.
(We apologize for the brief pause in our blog posts. Bronchitis decided to pay a visit, but thankfully, full health has been restored.)
In the realm of traditional verse-chorus song structures, songwriters essentially compose music for a few core sections: the verse, the chorus, and sometimes a bridge. Once the foundational melody and chord progressions are established for each of these parts, the musical architecture of the song takes shape. While fine-tuning and adjustments are always possible, the basic musical framework is in place.
However, when it comes to lyrics, the chorus often provides a solid starting point. The words for the chorus are usually set relatively early in the songwriting process. Although minor variations might occur, the lyrical content of each chorus repetition generally remains consistent.
It’s the verse lyric where the real work begins. The verse music is already composed, providing a melodic and rhythmic structure. But now, words must be crafted for multiple verses – typically two, three, or even more – each requiring unique content in addition to a bridge if the song includes one.
The complexity increases because each verse lyric must adhere to almost identical rhythmic patterns, stresses, and rhyme schemes to seamlessly integrate with the established verse melody. This ‘crossword puzzle’ aspect of songwriting demands meticulous word choices. Furthermore, these verses aren’t just sonic puzzles; they must also carry the narrative weight of the song, developing the story, portraying characters, and unfolding the situation.
Songwriting, as many discover, is far from a simple endeavor.
The same principle applies to AABA song forms, often referred to as ‘standards’ or songs from the Great American Songbook. The melody remains consistent across each ‘A’ section, but the lyrics (excluding the title, which often appears in the lyric) are almost entirely different for each A section. The ‘B’ section, or bridge, also introduces a significant amount of new lyrical content.
This structural approach often translates to a heavier workload on the lyric writing side, assuming that musical phrases come to you with relative ease.
Neither writing music nor writing lyrics is inherently easier or harder than the other in a vacuum. Most songwriters naturally gravitate towards one discipline or the other, finding more comfort and skill in either musical composition or lyrical expression. However, the structure of popular song forms often dictates that lyricists face a greater volume of writing within a single song.
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