How do you write lyrics?

[rbnyc]

9. I have a few methods:

Usually I start by just singing syllables so that I can find the right melody without thinking about words and meaning. I let the melody and the kind of accidental sounds of the syllables suggest theme and language and then I choose words that match the syllables that evolved out of this process.

Sometimes I go through old journals and free-writing and rob good lines and re-work them and make them fit together.

Sometimes I take random words or word groups from my own writing, from books and magazines or whatever is handy and literally put them in a hat, draw them out and see how they come out, maybe changing a couple things here and there if the music demands it.


Most rarely, I actually have something I want to say, I write the verse and make it fit with the song.

I think you have the right idea of just playing it over and over and working through it. But, don't try to make it perfect. At a certain point, stop. You get better at writing songs by writing songs. Throw them over your shoulder.


Examples of each of my writing methods just because I rarely miss an excuse to post these old songs:

Evolving syllables:

Leaves

At the same time, I don't know how
No matter, here he is

I just wanted you to stand down
There are two ways

Leaves
Impossible
Is it that small?

Leaves
Impossible
Is it that small?

One more favor...

Leaves
Impossible
One more favor...

Is it that...

One more favor...

Leaves
Is it that impossible?
One more favor...

Leaves
Impossible
Is it that small?
One more favor...


Journal mining:

Damage Control

If you try to rescue that child,
She may say, “Why are you bothering?
You can’t drag a dead dog on a leash.
What? Do you love me or something?”

You may even be ashamed and then you know that you are her.

I don’t blame you if you don’t take it from me,
I know I treated you like a whore.
But aren’t you glad for that special perspective?
The deeper one end, the richer the other.
I loved you then and I love you now, mmmm, better.

If I could see you, I would set you up.


Random words:

One and One

One and One
A dark Room
That you should
You have shown
Hereafter
The paper
The same year
Was not far
The poor dear
A good time
Bow or breadth
Among Sons

I'll let it go, if you crawl
All of the sea foam wasted

And daughters
The nurses
Defeated
And a friend
Contracted
She managed
No longer another
One and One
A dark Room
That you should
You have shown

I'll let it go, if you crawl
All of the sea foam wasted

Preconceived idea:

Smokescreen

When I saw the smoke rise across the river, I saw a smokescreen rise.
Use it to cover the desperate agenda of hand that is closed on a time that is gone.

6,000 people killed twice, once on that Tuesday and once as we write
their names on the bombs that we drop on Kabul

When I saw the ash fall and smelled what I can't say, I saw a Trojan Horse made.
Stuff it with clutching and fear-informed measures
Of a dying self-righteous leftover regime.

6,000 people killed twice, once on that day and once as we use them
As a reason to hold 800 without bond.

When I saw Marc Roger Welles hung up with duct tape on the side of a payphone
and I knew that he was loved...

When I heard the choked voice of loss turned to sound byte
and I lost the heart to write...

When "United we stand" is a pizza box slogan and I wake up ten times a night.

There are 6,000 people killed twice, once on that Tuesday and once if we fear to say
this isn't justice and this isn't right.