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LEVEL UP Y
LEVEL UP YOUR LYRICSOUR LYRICS

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ou’ve finished your latest song lyric. It started off strong Remember, even the gods of guitar tune one string at a
Ybut now that it’s done, you’re wondering what you can time… well they have roadies, but you know what I mean!
do to save it? It’s not as good as you hoped… what can you Maybe, you only tie one shoelace at a time is a better
do to save it? analogy….

In this article, you’ll learn how to diagnose and improve a
draft of your song so you can level up your lyrics.

“The only kind of writing is rewriting,” Ernest
Hemmingway, from the Moveable Feast… to put it
another way: once you’ve written, it’s time to edit!

Successful songwriters polish their first draft, sometimes
working through several drafts of a song before they’re
satisfied. It’s perfectly normal to work through multiple
drafts before considering your song done.

How Do You Decide What To Change?
The first step is to identify what to fix... otherwise you’ll end
up tinkering randomly, improving nothing. It’s easier to
decide what and where to revise once you’ve figured out the
issues.

If the problems aren’t obvious to you, an effective strategy is
to read through your lyrics paying attention to only one lyric Diagnosing Lyric Problems
element at a time. For example, read aloud listening only for I prefer to start with the higher level, song details first,
awkward lyrics. Then examine the lyrics for weak imagery, otherwise your editing will only yield slight improvements.
before trying to identify overly predictable rhymes. Find If the story in your song is boring and lacks drama, there’s no
the most glaring problems before exploring alternatives to point fiddling with your rhymes. The listed elements and
improve the lyrics. questions are a starting point, not an exhaustive list.

Plan Your Songs As I evaluate and editing lyrics, I consider the song at three
I’ve learned the hard way that spending some time before levels:
diving into lyric writing saves time and reduces frustration
later. I edit and rewrite less when I’ve worked out the big The song as a whole,
picture before starting to write the details. You can avoid Connection and Contrast between song sections…how the
problems entirely instead of creating and then fixing them. song sections fit together, and
Each song section as a separate unit: verse,
How to Identify Lyric Problems pre-chorus, chorus and bridge.
Start with an intuitive gut check: What’s wrong with the song
lyric? What’s missing? What’s weak? To learn how to write differently for a verse,
Read the lyric aloud: where does it feel: awkward, boring or pre-chorus, chorus and bridge read Parts of a
wrong? Popular Song on my website
If you’re still uncertain, review the list of elements below and www.epicsongwriting.com
choose the most likely problems.
Write down a few elements to start your The Song
investigation. Starting with the entire song, ensure the story and the e
Edit for one element at a time… ignore everything else for motional journey are interesting. If either is weak, the song
now, but come back to them later. will be weak, regardless of what you adjust in the song
Identify the problem spots and move on instead of stopping sections.
to fix them now. Story - Does the story in the song make sense to a listener?
Repeat as necessary - when you’re ready, start diagnosing…. Story Development - Does the story develop through the

04 www.writeawaymag.co.uk