Page 77 - Song Maps - A New System to Write Your Best Lyrics - Simon Hawkins

1. What is the main idea for your lyric? What word or phrase sums it up? From this, you can decide on your title and therefore the idea that you will assign to the Chorus.
2. In what role will your lyric start? What are they thinking, feeling, looking like? Are they happy, sad, emotional? Are they going somewhere? Show the listener what this person looks like. How does this person relate to your Chorus? This is your V1.
3. In what role will your lyric move to AFTER the big reveal of the title in the Chorus? Are they happier, sadder, more emotional? Have they arrived somewhere? Again, show the listener what this person looks like. How does this person return and relate to the Chorus again? This is your V2.
4. What is the payoff or conclusion? How does this relate to the character(s) highlighted in V1 and V2? What does this link mean? Then, how does this lead back into the Chorus? This is your Bridge.
Example of a Roles writable idea
Writable idea: "Time"
Verse 1 – Role 1
Teenage girl wakes up upset that her boyfriend wants to break up, she cries in her mother's arms, who says -
Chorus – Title
Just give it time Time is a healer
Verse 2 – Role 2
Her boyfriend thinks he loves her but he's too young to commit, praying he hears a voice saying...
Chorus
Just give it time Time is a healer
Bridge – Payoff
Give yourself time to get over it and to find 'the one'
Chorus
Just give it time Time is a healer
Example of a Roles lyric
Based on the writeable idea above, here's how the lyric could look for "Time."
Lyric: "Time"
Verse 1
Seventeen and she wakes up so sad