Anatomy of a song.

by David
(Sweden)

Most songs follow the same principles and are based on quite short phrases of music that repeats.
You have an intro, verses, choruses and a bridge.

The intro could be short or long but it should set the listener in the right mood for the piece. A simple song requires a shorter intro than a more complex piece. Many times contrasts are fine to work with. Some songs don't have much of an intro, just a drum break or chords for a bar or two.

The verses should tell the story. It's fine to use simple language and every day terms, but don't be too specific. the best lyrics leave some room for the listeners interpretations. It's also fine to find topics to write about from your own lives, but don't think anyone is interested in hearing about your miserable life and bad luck. People want to recognize themselves in your words.

The choruses should basically consist of the message you're trying to say with the song. It's usually repeated in the same form throughout the song while the verses drive the story further. Musically the choruses should be catchy and contrast with the verses to make them stand out.

The bridge can often work as a variation of the previous theme and say the same thing in a different way with a slightly different melody or a different key.It can put the song/theme in a perspective.


When writing a song you only need to keep these parts in mind. Once you find a topic to write about and a mood for the piece then it's just a matter of connecting the dots and make it work. Personally I write several things at once. If I find that a certain chord progression don't work in the current song but sounds ok, then I'll use it for something else. The same goes with ideas for choruses etc. By having a bank of ideas you always have something to go back to and you never have to start with a blank piece of paper.

A title will either appear when you're writing or could be the starting point. But important to remember is that most songs by professional artists start with working titles and go through several stages of rewriting. The "demo" is often very different from the finished product.