Intro to Lyrics with Yeo
In this video...
Naarm/Melbourne based songwriter, musician and SongMakers Mentor Yeo shares how to start writing lyrics.
Check out Yeo’s music here.
Yeo uses Al Parkinson’s song The One That Got Away as an example – you can listen to it below.
Naarm/Melbourne based songwriter and SongMakers mentor, Al Parkinson performs her song The One That Got Away.
Lyric writing activities: a place to start
Lyrics often start with one good idea, but finding that first line can be tricky.
Try these collaborative activities to get the ball rolling:
Refine
Now that you’ve got some lyrics, let’s shape it.
- Combine ideas from the collaborative writing activities above or draw on your own lyrics
- Could some words be stronger or more specific?
- What happens if you switch from first person (“I/we”) to third person (“she/they”)?
- What story is your song telling? How can it expand over more verses?
Choose a Rhyme scheme
Rhyme can help shape the structure and feel of your lyrics.
A rhyme scheme is simply the pattern your rhymes follow — and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
Try one of these classic patterns:
RHYME SCHEME
AABB
First two lines rhyme;
last two lines rhyme
It’s a light relief from a bad habit (A)
It’s my mother’s cooking when I can’t have it (A)
It’s the last train home from a day trippin’ (B)
It’s the place I’ll go when I start slippin’ (B)
RHYME SCHEME
ABAB
First & third lines rhyme;
second & fourth rhyme
Gather round people, let me tell you a story (A)
An eight year long story of power and pride (B)
British Lord Vesty and Vincent Lingiari (A)
Were opposite men on opposite sides (B)
RHYME SCHEME
AAAA
All lines rhyme
Someone said they left together (A)
I ran out the door to get her (A)
She was holding hands with Trevor (A)
Not the greatest feeling ever (A)
MULTIPLE RHYME SCHEMES = MORE CONTRAST
Try using a different scheme in each section of the song to help them stand out.
Check out this example from Spacey Jane:
VERSE RHYME SCHEME
ABAB
I’m moving through the night (A)
My soul’s just a container (B)
I can’t tell you what I’ll write (A)
They’re words without paper (B)
CHORUS RHYME SCHEME
AAAA
And if it wasn’t for that time in the taxi (A)
When you called it out, you said it was anxiety (A)
Well you held me from the back of the front seat (A)
And you told me all the times that you lied to me (A)
BRIDGE RHYME SCHEME
ABCB
In my pants too short (A)
In my shame up to my knees (B)
In a wave of guilt I roll (C)
And in a hurricane I breathe (B)
