The Basic Essentials
For Proper Song/Lyric Writing

Though I, and others, may like the approach 
you are using for your song 'idea', 
you may need to properly format your lyrics.
It may need some work, to get it into the proper 
"meter", and / or rhyme scheme;
Though there is nothing wrong with "uniqueness",
because that is the main ingrediant for success;
you must concentrate on "patterns", for rhymes,
and sentence length.
The bold letters to the left, indicates the lines, where the last words,
or combonation of last words, rhyme with each other.
For example:

A   Your last words in the lines that end with "A", would rhyme
B   with each other, and "B" would rhyme with each other.
B   No one says that the structure must be "one-way";
A   But it must be consistant throughout the lyric.

A
A   This is an alternate rhyme scheme that is ok to use.
B
B

A   This scheme can be used, if you are using an 8 line verse;
A   then line 8 would rhyme with line 4...
A   but all the other lines would rhyme with each other.
B   You see... it does'nt matter, as long as you are consistant.





Another thing you need to focus on, is "meter".
"For example":
8
10
10
8
These numbers are indicative of a beat count.
Your lyrics should match the beat count "perfectly".
Because it is the beat count,that most established
"Lyric Writers" will tell you *is* the "meter", not 
"counting syllables", but... the truth be known, "that 
is all they can do, and that is factually what they do"; 
(because they are not "musicians" as well as writers.)

"Lyric Writers" have got to have a foundation to 
support a systemic "count / beat". And syllable counting 
is how they achieve this *expected* format which is an
industry necessity.
.
How they do it is as simple as the following examples:
1   2   3
I love pie = 3 beats,    1  2   3    4 
open the door = 4 beats (o-pen the door)
   1    2 3  4 
You're wonderful = 4 beats 
[notice however, that - "you are wonderful" =5 beats]

We just bend words to however we need to, to make them best 
work toward our goal.

See... it is simply a matter of counting syllables.
The reason you do this, is to make it easier to compose 
music for, and make it easier for people to remember.
But... As a Musician, I can tell you that;
"syllable counting, or the obvious meter, 
is not as relavent, as it is to non-musical writers".
The reason being, "Musicians can include a musical note,
for a beat, instead of a word". It's that simple.
But the guidelines for non-musical writers, are greatly 
benificial when composing the music for the lyric. Because 
when a lyric is done in a "proper" metered format, the 
writers beat / meter, is / should be obvious, and 
does'nt have to be found, or created. And that does save 
time composing the music.

I do, as a musician, step outside of the confines of the 
standard format. But I do try to limit myself to stay within.

Do not rewrite a lyric that you have. As this will not go 
over well with your spouse, you, or your audiance. I've done 
it. The original is always better. It has the "original" 
feeling. You must write a new lyric to appreciate the standard 
of the industry guidelines. It is more challanging. You will 
find that you have to work harder, to stay within the boundries 
of the standard format, but I'm telling you; you will appreciate 
the result of the challenge. It will not cost you a thing to 
take on this challenge, and learn from it. And you will become 
a better songwriter, writing (around) the standard format. 
AROUND - "Not limiting yourself, but staying as close to these 
guidelines as possible. But when possible, staying within the 
standard guidelines / format."

Personally speaking; the rhyme scheme needs to be your primary 
focus. You need it to be right. If you are going to use half 
rhymes in a song, that's fine. Just use half rhymes. If you want 
to use whole rhymes, that's better. But only use whole rhymes. 
Just speaking from experiance. That is the standard, but we know... 
you and I know we hear a mix of half and whole rhymes everyday 
on the radio. But keep these things I'm telling you in mind when 
writing your next lyric. Don't give up. Work through this 
challenge... you can do it, and you'll be glad you did.



Keep writing, keep posting, and keep an open mind.
T.J. James (Internationally Published BMI-Singer/SongWriter/Guitarist)

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