Lyrics: Writing Better Words for Your Songs

by Rikky Rooksby

Lyrics sheds light on all aspects of lyric writing for music and will make songwriters feel more confident and creative when they tackle lyrics. It's perfect for all those who don't like their own lyrics and find them difficult to write, experienced writers looking for a creative edge, and those offering lyrics to set to music in a partnership. Topics include channeling personal experiences into lyrics, overcoming writer's block, the right lyrics for a bridge, the separation between lyrics and poetry, exploring imagery and metaphor, avoiding clichés, and more. The book also offers tips on the various styles of lyrics, from protests, spirituals, and confessionals to narratives and comic songs.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2006

Reviews

[Dan Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for songwriters - worth it just to have the *amazing* 60 page taxonomy/sourcebook of hundreds of possible song subjects and the thousands of examples at the end; pushed into full five-star territory with insightful, useful interviews with songwriting royalty from Jerry Lieber to Chuck D, Andy Partidge to Aimee Mann. And the rest of the sections are also quite actionable.

This is exactly the kind of book you can pick up when you’re starting your writing session for the day and nothing comes to mind immediately- flip to a random page, and pick something. Go write!