Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison (26-Feb-2010) Paperback

by Pat Pattison

Genres: Music, Writing

Paperback

Reviews

[Loretta Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource and guide for writing powerful lyrics!

[Arend Jessurun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is apparently a bit of a classic and for good reason. Pat Pattison details quite a comprehensive methodology of the "writing" part of songwriting and points out common pitfalls and how to avoid them. I found tons of nuggets of songwriting wisdom as well as many helpful exercises. My favorite saying from the book is: "You can't tell unless you show first." I also really enjoyed the sections on object writing and poetic meter. I'd gladly recommend this book to any songwriter who wants to become more confident in their lyrics, with the following caveats.

At times, I found it hard to take the author seriously. He takes one too many opportunities to remind us that he has taught both Gillian Welch and John Mayer. I'd prefer he let his ideas speak for themselves. And some of his pedagogy is a little silly, like naming strong placements of lines "power positions" or likening the development of a song structure to a stack of boxes. They get at something true, but these concepts just don't hold up as well as his teachings on metaphor and point of view, for instance.

Elsewhere, I found his teaching a little too opinionated, like his dismissal of so-called "travelogues"—songs that feature tangentially related verses—which might include classics like "Castles Made of Sand" and "Suzanne." Would Pat really say those are bad lyrics? Granted, he admits, "Although the strategy can work, it isn't optimum." Here and occasionally elsewhere, Pat goes the way of too many other songwriting teachers who present their pet peeves as gospel and shame others' writing. Beginners, beware.

But the main reason I don't rate this five stars is because the book is a bit disorganized. Sometimes he spends too much ink on less common linguistic devices, like inner-line repetition. Sometimes he gets ahead of himself and starts talking about a concept he admittedly has reserved for another chapter (which I found disorienting when I wanted to take notes or revisit passages to reference). And I'm not sure we needed nearly a lengthy chapter on every possible rhyme-scheme/meter for a 3-line, 4-line, 5-line, and 6-line stanza.

Nevertheless, Pat Pattison is a great teacher. Do be aware that the author's own songwriting style tends toward country and pop, so take what you like and leave the rest.

[Daniil Arshinov · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Writing Better Lyrics" by Pat Pattison is a treasure trove for songwriters of every skill level. Pattison's professionalism is evident in his clear, readable writing, with practical exercises and biting critiques that dissect the process of writing lyrics into doable, everyday steps. He stresses storytelling, emotional connection, and powerful imagery, challenging readers to hone their lyrical skills. The book not only teaches about the mechanics of lyricism but inspires creativity and self-expression. If you're a new songwriter or a seasoned musician wanting to refine your craft, Pattison's suggestions are inspirational as well as useful, which is why this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to write great lyrics.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the excercises and tools that will help me express myself more effectively in the songs I write. This is now a reference book for me, one I will turn to often.

[Simone Sparrowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

must have for writers. with it i learned how to rhyme in English and got to know so many different rhyme types. want to reread it with new knowledge i got over the years