The Story Song


Some writers like to actually write out an actual verse-like structure to drive their point home in the chorus, but others simply repeat a line or a pair of lines several times. Which do you feel, again, best serves the plot you are trying to create? In several popular tunes of the 60’s and 70’s, it was common to change a word, phrase or line of the chorus with each singing to further the plot (“Both Sides Now” and “Downtown” are two examples). No matter which method you go with, make sure it is the most attention-stealing, repeatable, listenable solution you can create for this particular tale—your chorus may be the last thing the industry honcho hears before that person hits the off button—give that rep a reason to want more, and make repeat the next button pushed, not stop and eject.

THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL

I’ve seen a lot of good songs fall apart at the very section where they should be humming along at full speed. At this point of the song, you should escalate the action you began in the first verse, you can allow the singer to reconsider the action of the beginning section, or you can introduce an intensifying element into your story. Try to not have too many things happening unless you’re trying to paint a word picture to further explain your main point, like Don Henley did in “Sunset Grill,” or Cheryl Crowe’s song about Santa Monica Boulevard. If possible, all of these should support your central theme. Many is the time I’ve looked over my tunes and thought the second verse was even more powerful than the first one—this is where it is a good idea to pass it among friends or some experts and see if you should reconsider your verse order or rearranging a few lines.

In general, it is always best throughout your tune if you try to show, not tell what is going on in your lyrics. Don’t say that “it’s spring,” try to describe spring—it’s sounds, smells, sights and textures. This will involve people even more in what you are doing, and will get them sucked more into your storyline. It never hurts to write good poetry, but if you feel being less descriptive best serves your purpose, by all means do so—many song lyrics that are more on the plain side do just fine and are pretty frequent in many

The copyright of the article The Story Song in Writing Music is owned by Cindy Lee Haddock. Permission to republish The Story Song in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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