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As an A&R rep at a music licensing company, I listened to many songs every week. Of those that are nearly there but not quite, it's the lyrics that often pose a problem: lyrics without a story, or too much cliché or no consistent theme. It's a myth that pop lyrics are meaningless. Pro songwriters spend alot of time on lyrics.
In those course you will learn how to craft lyrics like a professional songwriter and what errors to avoid. Specifically, we will look at
Wireframing: constructing a story progression to your lyrics
'Show, Don't Tell': the use of imagery
Metaphor
Intertextual Writing: taking inspiration from other works of art without ripping them off
Using the right language for your song's audience
The course begins by looking at some very effective lyrics, then asks you to craft your own. There are video and text exercises to complete and you will have a chance to get my feedback on your lyrics or to post them for group feedback which may just help you find cowriters!
Overview
Syllabus
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- Lyrics intro
- Wireframing: Avoid Rookie Mistakes and Create a Story Progression
- Story Progression: Example Folsom Prison Blues
- Story Progression: Example Chandelier
- Lyrical Economy: Example Big Yellow Taxi
- Lyrical Economy: Example Jolene
- Show Don't Tell: Example She's Leaving Home
- Show Don't Tell: Example Feel It Coming
- Metaphor: Example Hotel California
- Metaphor: Example Deep River
- Intertextual Writing
- The Right Language
- Lyrical Hooks
- Songforms and Lyric Writing
- Over to You: Rewrite One of Your Lyrics
- Two Lyrics on the Same Theme
- Write Lyrics to This Tune
- Declutter a Lyric
- Using Google to Write Lyrics
- Write a Pay Off Line
- Bonus: How to Become a Pro Songwriter by People Who've Done It
- Getting Feedback
