Be careful not to bore listeners by simply pouring out fact after fact in your lyrics as you tell the song’s story. You have to choose words that paint a picture in their imagination so that you can reach them on an emotional level and make them feel what you’re feeling (or what the singer is feeling).
This aspect of the craft of successful songwriting is a major challenge because you have to skilfully use powerful devices such as metaphor, simile, personification and rhyme within the constraints of a clearly defined song structure and rhythm. And you only have three minutes or so in which to get some vivid colors onto your lyrical canvas to captivate the listener.
That’s why many top writers’ lyrical language is simpler and more down to earth— with short lyrical images and colorful descriptive phrases that are easily under- stood and can therefore immediately connect with the listener. Remember, as well as painting a picture for the listener you still need to get them to the all-important hook in the chorus within 45-60 seconds!
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