it at our church. “I found it in the Psalms” is not utilized, it can help you not to return to the found that to be true. If anything, they sharpen
a strong enough reason to use an idea if it’s same scheme over and over again. It’s worth my focus on the meaning of a song and how
something Jesus would disagree with. How we a Google, and worth sitting down with your I’m serving it with poetry and formatting.
talk about our “enemies” is a huge part of that. previous songs to see which roads you’ve
traveled when it comes to rhyme.
A general truism when it comes to lyrics is that
But to the main point, we can resist these
they’re even “better felt than telt.” As with other
awkward, insensitive, and destructive uses One thing I really love as a poetic device is poetic forms, a lyric which feels good to speak
of metaphor, simile, and other poetic devices internal rhyme. That’s when - beyond the or sing is one which is instantly elevated in the
by trying to take on fewer ideas more deeply. general rhyme scheme - we’re using sound ears and minds of those who encounter it.
Instead of leaping from the shallows of one repetition and rhythm within lyrical phrases to Language has the capacity to be… delicious…
idea to the next, we can explore a single, fitting strengthen the whole. Hip Hop does this as in its own way. Wars are fought over it. Lovers
piece of imagery more intentionally, and with a focal point, but it’s great in melody-driven wooed.
greater density. music as well. It can make a song feel more transcended.
Mysteries
articulated.
Moments
memorable and special, even before someone
There are, of course, other pitfalls and obstacles
knows the words by heart.
As Hugo Weaving so gloriously delivers in the
when it comes to songwriting. Many of the
film V For Vendetta: “Words offer the means
devices and phrases we cling to belie a broader Alliteration can be beautiful in a lyric. In The to meaning, and for those who will listen,
problem of not ensuring we have something Beatles’ “Let It Be,” Paul sings, “Whisper the enunciation of truth.” It’s as strong of a
to say before we go ahead and write lyrics words of wisdom.” That repeated ‘w’ sound statement to Christian writers of sacred songs
anyway. But for the purpose of this column, we is powerful in lyrical form. Alliteration’s close as it is to anyone.
must move on. cousin consonance can also be effective, as consonant sounds in close proximity to each I often think of the songwriting caliber so evident
THE TOOLS OF THE ARTIST other can really seem to propel a lyric. (I just in Disney’s resurgence of the 1990’s.
A lot of the “grammar” of songwriting is used it in that previous sentence. Did you something we don’t do consciously. We don’t notice?)
“I can show you the world /
have to say, “I want to use this or that poetic
Shining, shimmering, splendid /
device here” in a clinical fashion, but when we Assonance is another device, and has to do Tell me, princess, now when did you last let
notice that our natural inclination was already with the repetition of vowel sounds within a your heart decide”
reaching to certain forms and sounds, it can lyric. When Rihanna sings, “Shine bright like be very empowering to know what those are, a diamond,” that ‘i’ sound carries the entire This opening line from “A Whole New World” is
and how to play to their strengths. These phrase, making it instantly memorable. powerful in part because it contains alliteration
devices can bolster lyrics in making them more
and internal rhyme right out of the gate.
memorable - distinguishing them from the Again, it’s not so much a matter of sitting These devices are formidable tools in crafting
profound “sameness” so many songs suffer down to write lyrics and saying, “I need to use memorable songs with beautiful form. They’re
from. alliteration in this song,” and then forcing it how a song that came out when I was a kid
somewhere. It’s more about noticing that you sticks with me to this day.
Rhyme schemes are a crucial thing to naturally were going a certain direction with understand. If you’ve never understood the a phrase, and then playing to that instinct - I hope some of these considerations serve you
difference between AABB, ABAB, ABCB, etc, tightening it up, accentuating it. Some will say well in your songwriting going forward.
you might be doing your songs a disservice. that these devices are too much about format When you can break down the format you’ve and too little about meaning, but I’ve never Kevin MacDougall
Worship leader, published and recorded songwriter,
musician, and podcast producer.
[email protected]
December 2019
Subscribe for Free...
35