well written lyrics - what does it mean?

[Maya Clars]

What does "well-written lyrics" mean to you? What are the indicators of good lyrics?

If it's hard to answer, maybe just answer these questions:
1. Is it about complexity of words?
2. Is it about relatability of lyrics?

Waiting for your answers!

 

[Papanate]

What does "well-written lyrics" mean to you? What are the indicators of good lyrics?

If it's hard to answer, maybe just answer these questions:
1. Is it about complexity of words?
2. Is it about relatability of lyrics?

Well written lyrics for me can be summed up in a simple sentence - they take you somewhere - that's why I think Smoke On the Water are great lyrics -so is Mercy Street by Peter Gabriel.

 

[rob aylestone]

Putting my educator's hat on - I had this battle in the 90s with a colleague. The education words are Prosody - the way the words align with the music, and the accented beats. Stopping awkward phrasing is vital - syllables on downbeats - that kind of thing. Smoke on the Water is a brilliant Narrative - so was the Moon over Bourbon Street song we talked about recently. Story telling.

Then comes imagery. metaphors and contemporary language work here avoiding clichés. Hooks that work well also let people remember the words.
Last thing - avoid pointless words that clutter it up and make sure words chosen are strong and not weak.

I know all that and am totally unable to write lyrics, because I don't find words paint pictures for me.

 

[TalismanRich]

I know all that and am totally unable to write lyrics, because I don't find words paint pictures for me.

You took the words right out of my mouth (hey, that could be a song!)

I have not clue on how to respond, except to say that any lyrics I've written don't qualify! For some reason, I never mastered the turn of a phrase to make things interesting.

There are songs like "I Am The Walrus" that seem to make no sense, but are just great lyrics. Derived from Lewis Carroll's books, it depends on fleeting images, rhyming and meter, even made up words (Crabalocker fishwife). Once in a Life Time (Talking Heads), Give It Away (RHCP). Epic (Faith No More) There are many. It helps that there is also a melody to carry the words, even if they are almost meaningless.

180 degrees from that are people like Harry Chapin who crafted stories about people, both real and imagined. Listen to Sniper, based on a real event. A Better Place to Be. His songs paint movies with words. You can close your eyes and watch the scene happen!





I've always loved well written story songs like this.

It's one of things that I don't like about most hip-hop. The songs just becomes a barrage of rhymes, almost an assault, and in 90% of the cases, I can't even understand what it being said. Add in the lack of any melody, and the canned beats and the song just loses me.

 

[Steenamaroo]

What does "well-written lyrics" mean to you? What are the indicators of good lyrics?

If it's hard to answer, maybe just answer these questions:
1. Is it about complexity of words?
2. Is it about relatability of lyrics?

Waiting for your answers!

It depends on who is judging them and what that person wants.
If the goal is to tell a story but it's so obscure and abstract that it doesn't come across, they're probably not great lyrics
at least from the author's perspective.

A listener, though, might want lyrics to inspire them, or make them think, or evoke some emotional response.
They may think the same work is wonderful.

I guess you have to define good and identify to whom.

 

[Manslick]

If you want to reach a specific demographic like teen girls then say what they want to hear. Like. You don't have to be nice to be loved.

If you’re going for mature adult men then appeal to their ego. Like. I like it when you’re nice to me.