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Underground > Creation >

Lyrics

14:43 / 26.11.01

Most books on writing lyrics I have found have been from the perspective of "writing an impersonal song that Willie Nelson will pay you a lot of money for."

However, I did find one book called "Writing Creative Lyrics" (clearly having nothing to do with creative titles) that I actually liked. It had some great hints on ways to generate imagery that was personal, a worksheet method of finding words that you might want to hunt down rhymes for (considering words like musical keys--say, "power"--and looking for words in the key--such as avalanche, tide, Muhammed Ali-- and then finding the words in the key of those words, or something), and the usual craft-y stuff of meter and rhythm and verse structure. I don't remember the specifics, because I hadn't picked up the book for quite a while, but I've been feeling creative again.

So, of course, I can't find the stupid book.

Like the available books, most websites I can find are "write a song that your grandma and auntie will tap their toes to." Can someone suggest any that have a bit more meat to them, since I'm not in a position to buy a replacement copy? Or have any lyrical creation suggestions they'd like to share?

17:23 / 26.11.01

Don't know whether you'd find this helpful.

16:45 / 27.11.01

Willie tends to write his own, boy.

He even wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline.

I can't speak to all the rest of them posers passing for country western nowadays, but Willie's the real deal.

My coworker Bob used to teach a lyrics-writing class. I don't think he was into texts as much as just listening to good songs. Every good one had a twist or a turn somewhere in it.

Just asked him - no texts. Just do it.

The only book I ever used was a Capricorn Rhyming Dictionary.

15:51 / 30.11.01

Talking to Bob again today, he says the most important thing after the "twist" was to know when to let the music speak for itself.

They're playing Beatles on the radio here, and he pointed to that bent guitar note (Dweee-aoowwn!) in "You say goodbye, I say hello!"

He also said the only book he liked was Tunesmith by Jim Webb. Not just because it quotes one of his songs.

15:55 / 30.11.01

quote:Originally posted by grant:
Willie tends to write his own, boy.

Did he write that Taco Bell song?

Nelson Evergreen

22:20 / 01.12.01

Personally I find that the best way to write an absolute howler is to sit down with the best of intentions and a furrowed brow and force it. The good ones always pop up when I'm doing something menial enough for the brain to disengage and float away to gather up banging rhymes at it's own leisure.

'Never read a book about it in my life, to be honest; just sought out lots of great lyricists (Smokey Robinson, Morrissey, Tom Waits, Chuck D, Tricky, Jarvis Cocker, Jacques Brel, to name a few) and lapped them all up in the hope that something rubs off.

All very random and vague, yes. But it does the trick, especially if you're a lazy sod like me who can't cope with learning how to do something properly.

23:00 / 01.12.01

quote:Originally posted by grant:
Willie tends to write his own, boy.
I wasn't thinking. I mean, duh--I'm sorry, Mr. Nelson

Is a Capricorn Rhyming Dictionary just a rhyming dictionary, or does it have something special going for it? Like, I thought a thesaurus was one thing, but a Roget's Thesaurus is much more clever than just alphabetical synonyms.

14:10 / 03.12.01

quote:Originally posted by MJ-12:

Did he write that Taco Bell song?

AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGH!

quote:Originally posted by doubting thomas:
Is a Capricorn Rhyming Dictionary just a rhyming dictionary, or does it have something special going for it? Like, I thought a thesaurus was one thing, but a Roget's Thesaurus is much more clever than just alphabetical synonyms.

Well, it's basically just a rhyming dictionary, but it was compiled around the turn of the last century, so there are all sorts of odd words in it. Aspidistra. Strop.
For me, they're good for jogging out other words, or just making strange connections.

[ 03-12-2001: Message edited by: grant ]