Are Lyrics Poetry?
Not quite.
A great song is one of the hardest things to write. Hard as a novel, hard as a PhD dissertation. Maybe because it seems so easy.
A song is easy to write. Just spit out some words and set them to music. Or craft a tune and find words that fit.
If you wanted to write a song, you’re done. Congratulations. Put it out there.
You’ll find not many people will listen. And that doesn’t mean the song is bad. It just means there’s no room for the audience in it.
Most people like music, but they love songs. You’d think that would mean the lyrics are the reason. Yes and no.
Most people don’t really care about the lyrics of a song except for one thing: can they hear themselves inside of those words? Do those words belong to them?
You may have an agenda with your words. You may want to call out injustice. You may want people to hear how brilliant you are.
That has to intersect with someone else’s desire to live in the song. If someone feels the injustice you’re writing about, you win. If someone gets the exact message you’re putting out with your craft you win.
That’s rare.
Those huge hits? They often have very basic lyrics. Easy to sing.
That doesn’t mean the words are dumb. It just means they bring the song to life.
See, no one can sing a song without words. No one’s going to go “La la laaaa” to the tune of “Free Falling.” It would just feel awkward.
But put words on that tune, and then people have a way in. They can sing those words. Then they’re participating: “Yeah…I’m free falling right now!”
It’s like putting lights on a Christmas tree. It gives you a way to participate with the nature you’ve brought into your home. The tree is beautiful, and when you add those lights, you’ve joined with it.
Yes, lyrics can be poetic. Bob Dylan’s lyrics are. But anyone can sing along with his best songs, and they do. The words function in the song. They enhance the melody, give a reason for the chords to change the way they do. And if you can feel yourself in those words, you’re in that song.
You own it. It belongs to you. It’s about you.
If you’re just learning to write songs, it’s best to start with the music first if you can. Then the hard part is finding words that fit which are good enough for the wonderful music you’ve composed. The good news is the words don’t always have to be deep, meaningful, or even make sense all of the time.
On the other hand, if you’ve got something to say, if you want to write words first, your task is harder. You have to find music that would enable someone to live in your words. Of course it can be done, but just know what you’re up against.
My songs are my attempt to struggle with this beast, and if you want to point at them and say, “See? YOU CAN’T DO IT EITHER!” then have some fun at https://acole.net/songs.
Love you.