There are three tips I can suggest: always underwrite, always add tons of subtext, and always carry a notebook.
The first: you could try writing down words that you feel are loaded with meaning, just as a brainstorming exercise. Keep it in your notebook, refer to it when necessary. You may find that one word will unlock a whole song.
If you’ve conveyed you meaning with one word, don’t add to it – it’ll just be detracting. Try to write out the entire song in one sitting, and then do revisions if necessary (it often shows when you’ve written one verse and a chorus, and come back to it later. The language change can really jar). I’ve only written one successful song that I finished six months after I started.
The second: Don’t add references that few will understand, unless you’re like me and are writing one song intended for two totally different audiences.
Don’t feel you have to write the song as soon as you get an idea for the lyric. I often have an idea, put it to one side (write it down in the notebook), and then forget about it for months. I’ll research the subject either consciously or unconsciously, and then suddenly the song orgasms out in the space of half and hour sitting at the notebook (it may need two or three revisions, but I’ll have the blueprint). The long gestation means that the song will probably work on several levels, and usually the spontaneous nature of the writing will mean it won’t sound forced.
One thing I try is to imagine the song as a living being (whether it actually is or not is a subject I’m considering), with whom you can interact. This gives you a much more three dimensional perspective and will help choose words according to the beings personality.
When I redraft, I usually only edit or pick a word that more succinctly describes what I intend. I very rarely add layers of meaning in the drafting process: it’s more to chip away everything that detracts from the song. Very occasionally I’ll tweak a word so that it gives an array of different meaning.
If you’re just starting to get to grips with what you can do lyrically, don’t try to be prolific. Your own techniques and writing style will come given time, and the whole process will begin to come naturally. Having said that, don’t be afraid to try a number of ideas until you find the means that work best for you.
The third: Always carry a notebook, several different colour pens or pencils, and highlighters. Make sure you’re always reading both prose and poetry (doesn’t matter from where – I find newspapers, the internet and hip hop just as good as – or better than - anything else).
Oh: be honest. There is a case for dishonesty in poetry, but it’s much harder to achieve good results. |
