Page 62 - Song Maps - A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics - Simon Hawkins

"Overcomer" by Mandisa is a superb Problem/Declaration song...and a great song to work out to, partly because of the tempo and partly because of the message! V1 starts with the problem, ("Staring at a stop sign / nothing going right.") The Pre-Chorus introduces God's purpose is greater before the Chorus blasts out the message and title ("You're an overcomer"). V2 turns to sympathize that everyone's been there, and He wants you to know. The Bridge tops it off with the Biblical truth that He wants you to know you're an overcomer. Great work.
"We Are" by Kari Jobe and written by my good friend James Tealy (and co-writers Chuck Butler and Hillary McBride). It's another great example of Problem/Declaration with a darker V1 ("Every secret, every shame") that gradually lifts with Pre-1 to a soaring, killer declaratory Chorus ("We are..."). V2 is a classic response ("We are called, tell the world) before returning to the high of the declaratory Chorus. Lovely writing, James.
Other CCM examples include "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot Problem set up ("Everyone is looking at you"), Declaration ("Dare you to move"), Response (fallout, resistance, tension), "Forgiveness" by Matthew West (Double 1st Verse, Chorus is a prayer), "How He Loves" by David Crowder (simple, anthemic Chorus, V1 repeated sets the problem, Chorus is the declaration, Bridge is my response).
Southern Gospel
"Over and Over" by Jeff and Sheri Easter and written by two of my wonderful co-writers, Sue C Smith and Belinda Lee Smith, is another great example of Problem/Declaration, with V1 setting up several examples of needing to trust God. The Chorus then declares how God is faithful over and over again (note the nice repetition, which highlights the title and makes it more of a declaration than simply a response). V2 is the real response ("no hesitation that God will do what He says") before some lovely crafting to get us back to the Chorus.
Worship
"Holy" by Matt Redman–a double V1 followed by a simple declarative Chorus, with V2 articulating our response ("our eyes will look on your glorious face"). The Bridge summarizing the meaning of much of the rest of the lyric ("You're all You say You are...").
Other examples include "Cornerstone" and "Oceans" from Hillsong.
Musical
"Thank You For The Music" from the musical Mamma Mia–V1 sets up the problem ("I'm nothing special" except "when I sing"). The Chorus resounds in gratitude "Thank you for the music and giving it to me." V2 is a response to that, asking "How did it all start?" followed by the Bridge asking what it means ("I've been so lucky, what a joy"). I love Amanda Sayfried's version.
Jazz
"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" by George Benson–V1 really sets up the problem nicely ("If I had to live my life without you") before the Pre-Chorus turns that around ("I don't want to live without you") and the declaratory Chorus ("Nothing's..."). V2 is the response to the Chorus ("If the road is not so easy") with a nice simile thrown in ("like a guiding star"). Nice work by writers Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser, penning an Adult Contemporary song turned into jazz by Benson.
Exercise
If you have a copy of the Song Maps Workbook, this would be a good time to complete Exercise #3 –