5 Simple Songwriting Exercises to Transform Your Lyrics

[@BJ-fj6jw]

"I get stuck in your rain." STOP! That's so beautiful!

[@htws]

If it inspires you, feel free to use it :) Just make sure to build on it, and make it your own!

[@vineethkumar6750]

May I know the meaning of that sentence. I didn't quite get it

[@dickrichard626]

​@Nobddy "western" writing 😅

[@placebo5466]

your love is like a storm i get stuck in your rain waiting on a feeling but all you give me is pain

[@Liliana203]

Riiiight😊

[@musicfineline6035]

I wrote a song, tell me how is it? Verse 1: "Girl, I'm feeling empty, like a hollow soul Tryna find the pieces of me, that I lost control I've been trying hard to get my life back on track But it's hard to see myself, when I'm slipping back" Chorus: "Oh, I'm searching for a light, in this darkest night A guiding star, to lead me back to the light I'm trying to find my way, through the pain and the strife To get back to the person, I used to be in life" Verse 2: "Memories keep haunting me, like a ghost in my mind Reminding me of what I lost, and the love that I left behind I'm trying to move on, but it's hard to let go When the memories of you, are all that I know" Chorus: "Oh, I'm searching for a light, in this darkest night A guiding star, to lead me back to the light I'm trying to find my way, through the pain and the strife To get back to the person, I used to be in life" Bridge: "But still I hold on, to the thread of my heart The spark within me, that sets my soul apart It's the fire that fuels me, to rise above the pain And learn to love again, like I did before the shame" Chorus: "Oh, I'm searching for a light, in this darkest night A guiding star, to lead me back to the light I'm trying to find my way, through the pain and the strife To get back to the person, I used to be in life"

[@arielgorski8986]

Amazing

[@_Reem_2008]

Very good

[@lululush.ieミ]

This is amazing

[@HaydennB]

ChatGPT

[@dopeljones]

Another great example of contrast is the song "running" by ibejii. With lyrics like Hell may turn cold, like a lava stone but my heart for you will never. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@GK-hs5wz]

An oxymoron even in that case

[@dperez611]

1) metaphors 2) upgrading verbs. Example you don't need to say the dog bark loudly as loudly is implied. She walk into the room."call to action" Automatically just cross out any adjectives or adverbs.that are inside the lyrics there might be some that are needed. Underlined every verb that is used. And pick one verb for one section. 3)Use specific imagery. Find a way to paint a picture instead of just saying sunday afternoon. 4) Contrast. 2 opposite ideas. Good/bad Hot/cold. 5) Last line pivot. The surprising element at the end.

[@reenabharti4903]

Tell me how's this I gave my all, to u, can't u see Couldn't believe it all, that u, were truly mean I gave my soul, i gave my heart, i gave my everything in love But what i got, am all alone, cursing u for having a heart of stone Still ive been missing you, calling u with my sreams And ive been loving u, kissing you, in my dreams I gave my all, to u, can't u see Couldn't believe it all, that u, were truly mean I gave my hours,I gave you flowers, on every Sunday with a ride to the sea I dont think u remember we wished to be together, and talk all night lying under a tree So tell me how forgetful, u wanna be, u wanna be Looks like u don't remember, even me I gave my all, to u, can't u see Couldn't believe it all, that u, were truly mean I wish I could show you my heart full of scars and Damn pain I wish you could be mine for once, but forgot that's not part of game The game u played, was fun for you, but for me it was, all tame But you don't know how hurt i feel, coz you want understand the same I gave my all, to u, can't u see Couldn't believe it all, that u, were truly mean You know you know how much I have loved you baby, you know you know that how much I had to pay you know you know I'll never forget you lady, But this is all i have to say I gave my all, to u, can't u see Couldn't believe it all, that u, were truly mean

[@Sxlly-to1pe]

Is this good? "You may ruin my life, but you will never take my heart You may run away to not to admit that deep down, You don't like the truth that you drowned me in your storm"

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

Nice one. I would change the verb tenses and avoid using the “may” intensifier: “You ruined my life but you won’t take my heart”, “You’ll run away from me without admitting it deep down”, “You won’t/wouldn’t face the truth that you drowned me in your storm”.

[@zalananevem]

this channel gives so much value with such great editing/story-telling.. i'm kinda speechless. most of the times other channels just keep bsing, beating around the bush and don't provide any actual value in much longer videos then yours, but your content is full of it and you don't waste any of our viewers time. how did i not find this channel earlier? i'm so grateful that i arrived here now. incredible work, keep up the quality content! i instantly subscribed.❤‍🔥

[@randolphvillamer]

I should've thanked you before, but here it is. 30+ years of writing (radio and landlines then) At least I know now that your channel proves that music transcends time. Thank you

[@transformationgeneration]

Lyrics and melody are my strong point. They come so simple for me. My trick is "don't make them too difficult, make them clever". I am always complimented on my lyrics by nonplayer friends and my , melodies by my musician friends. But I live in the Midwest. There's no-ne hearing me beyond those folks.

[@Buzzoit]

I’d listen to your music

[@garyloss2878]

I would like to check out some of your songs.

[@transformationgeneration]

@@garyloss2878 I appreciate that Gary (I'm Gary too). Here is my song, Daddy, what is Peace? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHOqhJ54j7uoo7c

[@rmp5s]

I'm basically the polar opposite. The music and recording side of things? No problem. The poetry side of things? Nooooooope. I've got ideas and song maps for DAYS but I'm faaaaaaaar too literal to really be good at that side of things. 🤣 We should do a little collaboration!! Sounds like we are opposite sides of the same coin, op!!

[@transformationgeneration]

@@rmp5s 😀

[@Balluna]

My notes: 1. metaphors & describe them further. then pick out some parts 2. upgrade verbs & cross out adverbs/ adjectives 3. imagery is important (showing>telling) 4. contrasts - opposing things are spotlighting 5. power positions - 1st and last lines of every section are most important (last line pivot - surprise!) all songs that were mentioned: 2:53 School Night - Ani Difranco 4:01 Golden - Jill Scott 4:03 Circle Games - Joni Mitchell 4:05 She burns - Foy Vance 4:07 Take me to church - Hozier 5:46 Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers 6:49 Nothing - Bruno Major 8:23 The Bed Song - Amanda Palmer 12:54 River - Johnny Mitchell

[@windmonarch]

Anger is a storm - metaphor The clouds of your mind gather, darkening in your eyes. Your words are lightening, striking out at the nearest touch point - your voice swells and spills, and I harden like ice. My dark glances rumble on the horizon of our days. - extended metaphor 👏👏👏👏👏

[@moon_skeloton19-plays-on-ps4]

I have runaway stuck in my head was listenin' to the ocean I saw a face in the sand But when I picked it up Then it vanished away from my hands, dah I had a dream, I was seven Climbin' my way in a tree I saw a piece of Heaven Waitin' in patience for me, dah And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? Nobody knows, nobody knows And I was dancing in the rain I felt alive and I can't complain But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I can't take it anymore I was painting a picture The picture was a painting of you And for a moment I thought you were here But then again, it wasn't true, dah And all this time I have been lyin' Oh, lyin' in secret to myself I've been putting sorrow on the farthest place on my shelf La-di-da And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? Nobody knows, nobody knows And I was dancing in the rain I felt alive and I can't complain But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I can't take it anymore But I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I kept runnin' for a soft place to fall And I was runnin' far away Would I run off the world someday? But no, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home Take me home where I belong I got no other place to go No, take me home, home where I belong, no, no No, take me home, home where I belong, oh, oh, oh No, take me home, home where I belong, no, no No, take me home, home where I belong I can't take it anymore

[@nicholasheal5925]

0:39 1. EXTENDING METAPHORES 4:08 2. UPGRADING VERBS 7:37 3. USE SPECIFIC IMAGERY THAT WORKS HARD 10:48 4. CONTRAST 11:48 5. POWER POSITIONS

[@const71]

many of these ideas apply to screenwriting ... so cool :)

[@SouhailEntertainment]

Introduction and Overview - 00:00:00 Extending Metaphors - 00:00:32 Upgrading Verbs - 00:04:14 Use Specific Imagery that Works Hard - 00:07:34 Contrasts - 00:10:43 Power Positions - 00:11:56

[@jeaniemarinella4746]

Thank you so much! I often have some anxiety around writing the lyrics to my music causing me to avoid the process but this actually motivated me to get started!

[@michelle-psl4441]

The tap's been on a while and the water's beginning to clear. Thank you Keppie & Bennie for all the wonderful tips and exercises to help clean the pipes!

[@charleshyde3337]

Woah that song with the skyscraper and falling out the 25th floor saying her goodbye, gave me GOOSEBUMPS sooo beautiful

[@halhamilton3234]

Just found your channel. I am starting to write and I am learning so much. Great content.

[@htws]

Welcome aboard!

[@BJ-fj6jw]

Keppie how do you do that??? "Anger is a storm". It's magical how you conjured this extended metaphor. I get (slowly) how you arrived at this because you kindly explain, but it's so entertaining and awesome how it seems to effortlessly roll out of your creativity. It is inspiring. 1:42 into your video... cant wait to watch the rest!

[@whatabouttheearth]

You're gonna have a brain hemorrhage if you hear 'Lungs' or 'Flying Shoes' by Townes Van Zandt or any of Leonard Cohen well known ones 😂

[@patchrockit]

I'm old now. I recorded two songs I wrote a long time ago and just uploaded them. Just 2 songs. I'd love to just get any feedback. Please don't troll me, and I know i'm not a great singer. Just poking around songwriting channels in hopes of constructive critiques.lyric changes/i can commission an actually good singer and a guitarist to actually play the two songs well. Lyrics are in the description area of the two videos. I'm not trying to get views, I have maybe 9 subscribers that are random people or bots. i don't know. Just reminiscing on times and found an old phone i recorded the 2 songs with a bit ago. Thanks all!

[@martoneill]

Brilliant as always- thank you!

[@aaronlarsen7447]

You are such a good teacher.Thank you. I absorb all the best teaching. Everything you say is useful.

[@joezagame5598]

Excellent video! This teacher knows her stuff!

[@iamseababy]

Any Nigerian here?? If you listen to victony you know he's a legend in using this technique.

[@Isabellaella-q3d]

Well I'm not from Nigeria but from Kenya and I'm a fan of victony

[@fanievanrooyen9851]

Oh wow!, I find your knowlege and ease of your expanations very engaging. Thank you. I am Afrikaans speaking - I was lost in a desert of phrase and expression, I now rest in charming pastures of appreciation.

[@labyrinthwomb]

I know you're mostly right about adverbs and adjectives... but I wouldn't go to an extreme. Think of these classic songs: Isn't she lovely Tiny dancer Psycho killer Brown-eyed girl Beautiful Boy American Girl Purple Haze Comfortably numb Born to be wild And the most classic of all: We are never ever ever getting back together - 4 adverbs in one line! ;P

[@labyrinthwomb]

Can't help it... More successful songs: Fast Car Killing me softly Despacito Single ladies Bad guy Just dance Used to be young Jaded High hopes

[@whatabouttheearth]

'Nobody Home' by Floyd for a highly noun based song

[@jimbeaux4988]

Have you done a video about how to check that you aren't copying off an old song? If not, could you do one?

[@МангустВадара]

Thank you so much! Great video and helpful exercises!

[@Tjsarx]

I really appreciate you. This is really good. And straight to the point. Grateful!

[@suites.74]

I have a question. Many songwriters write lyrics based on the phonetics, syllables and consonants first and then fit a story to it. Just making the words sound nice and using language as a phonetic instrument on the melody. Do you have any videos on how to make a story with these nonsense words that sound pleasing to the ear?

[@Friendship1nmillion]

( 1st like to your comment ) Maybe I am the Walrus by The Beatles 🤷 . Then again even though I've written songs ( & gotten some of them recorded ) I'm a student here , not 1 of the teachers . ♑️✍️🇳🇴🇦🇺

[@whatabouttheearth]

You don't know how to use metaphors? This is showing you a metaphoric creation process. She is merely showing how to derive metaphors to use on your own. This is really basic stuff. Listen for metaphors in 'Suzzane', 'Merriane', 'Hallelujah'by Leonard Cohen, or 'Lungs', 'Flying Shoes' by Townes Van Zandt

[@suites.74]

I am suggest a different video idea, one that talks about how certain words sound. @@whatabouttheearth

[@iamryan_inBits]

Another great video Keppie, thank you 🙏

[@jenniferzuiff8517]

This is one of the BEST videos I’ve ever seen on lyrics

[@MaBaKar]

Thanks, appreciate the tips!

[@nickyvanderlinden8203]

hey! im in the beginning stages of writing a song. This is quite helpful. Thank you so much.

[@gofrankurdi]

this was so helpful! Thank you so much! I'm considering your course now!

[@tonyharp2009]

I love your lessons!!

[@xraycreative741]

These 5 lessons shine in powerful simplicity. Thank you!

[@markwhittaker6321]

I really love your lessons and style. So helpful!! Thank you.

[@rifatahmed6214]

By far the greatest tutorial ever!

[@loganmorgan5145]

I really found the video helpful on my journey to make good lyrics. Thanks for your help.!

[@juliasmithoficial]

i absolutely LOVE this channel! thank you guys so much for the amazing tips! ❤

[@davidevans3175]

Anger cries a storm

[@RBReZe]

Very Useful Information. Thank you so much!😉

[@danmanley2525]

You already helped me. I've been writing for years and I read my work and hate when I can't convey my thoughts with out correct word imagery

[@GnatGames]

Honestly, I’m just starting

[@tamzinwatterott1134]

My favourite lyrics is the lyrics of Serve the Servants. My favourite song that has bad lyrics is probably something like hysteria-muse

[@mo2cubing]

6:26 "hardly" and "little" are one such adverb and adjective respectively, but they're easy to miss so I see your point.

[@clivebarnett9673]

Excellent and inspirational! You are passionate about this and it makes all the difference!

[@ViviH-o8w]

write like you are in a Jane Austen novel: be witty, concise, and get your point across without a textbook definition.

[@cmdrando]

amazing advice, and I love that you've given 5 actions to take...Makes it way less conceptual and more pragmatic. now, I'm off to do these exercises!

[@2011littlejohn1]

You think of a theme and then all the words should thus relate. Also use alliteration and assonance to complement and emphasize your phrases. But a really important thing is to make the musical structure complement the lyric. Cole Porter could do this. For example in his song Night and Day there is a line ''In the roaring traffics boom''. For the words ''in the roaring traffic's '' he uses a minor chord but for the last word ''boom'' he goes down a half tone to a major chord - to great effect. Your advice re adjectives and adverbs is exactly the same as I think Gertrude Stein said to Ernest Hemingway.

[@anitacoffey]

I'm loving the information here. Wow. I'm so excited to get started! Thank you. I'm subscribing!

[@Hoogste100]

You are the best !!❤

[@stestetsonmusic]

Word association is something I like to do

[@pedromejia157]

Hello there, Thank you. I appreciate the time and effort put into this. Great stuff

[@giorgiobenedetti4116]

Thanks so much for this extremely useful video. It helped me out a lot in the writing process! :)

[@MustafaBaabad]

Excellent lesson on song writing. Thank you. Cheers from Indonesia

[@SilverSim]

Great video, thank you so much ✨

[@MrVuvu]

Such good advice. I also get anxious with lyric writing in my music, which leads to avoidance. Everything you said reminds me of Sade's song Pearls. Thank you. New subscriber here.

[@LifewithRoche]

I knew something when i saw you.. Thats beautiful!!

[@QuincyKane]

This is very helpful; thanks for sharing!

[@SCAPIANOANDGUITAR]

Gteat video, I used to attend the Harriet Schock songwriting workshop in LA off and on for a few years. You brought back a lot of knowledge and added a lot as well.😊. Thank you.

[@frombeginnertoband7973]

This is a great tutorial - thanks v much 👊

[@KL-xv5gj]

Very practical and insightful advice. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@mattthegreeter9074]

Gord Downie had some unbelievable lyrics, "Nautical Disaster" is a good place to start! Matt Scannell from Vertical Horizon is a living masterclass as well. Check out the album Echoes from the Underground.

[@hansvanlavieren7027]

I love this. Very useful and helpful ❤

[@tracypattin3746]

I LOVE your channel! And YOU are fantastic. I'm inspired on my new songwriting journey. Thank you!

[@mazetoeden9334]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@PamelaKyeiBaffour]

I love this channel

[@NoahCrouse-l5y]

This helped so much. Been listening to hella tool and Maynard Keenan’s writing is just so genius I wanted to make music heavily inspired by them.

[@stgregorychildrenschoirgul3411]

I wish you could be my personal instructor. You are so good a teacher

[@brownin329]

Hi Keppie, do you have a video on how to match chord progressions to the metaphors in your lyrics to set a mood?

[@singsters9624]

Thanks for making this video it really helped and I liked and subscribed 😊

[@joannasandquist1599]

Our love was a death trap: you placed roses on bear traps and left my blood tracked in the snow. Oh I think you know.

[@franciscotamburri5146]

I love your content, you're an awesome teacher

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

Thank you⭐🌹⭐

[@Jiminsboost]

Thank you so much for this I am going to try the 5 metaphors

[@suzetteemberton4368]

This is concrete advice, with real examples, and it’s incredibly helpful. Thank you! I’m a composer wanting to learn how to write good lyrics, instead of just the music. I can use this!

[@hectorguzman8435]

I came here to get help too! I have an easiness of composing music but struggle with words for lyrics

[@samseitz9937]

If you’re looking for a case study is amazing lyric writing check out David Wilcox (American musician). His writing on the album how did you find me here is one of my all time favorites

[@guitaring1]

The Bed Song by Amanda Palmer should come with a warning. I don't remember the last time a song made me cry.

[@ileavecomments-g9m]

Thank you i’m learning so much from you ❤

[@nicostruppich]

“ Eating samosas that my neighbor dropped at my door” - oh yum, and now I’m distracted

[@htws]

Yeah - my neighbour's the best ;)

[@daisy.yannone]

i want to write a song for an audition but i don't know where to start, nor have the inspiration to do so. what do i do?

[@JammieDodger1080]

If you want to do it then you will do it. What do you want it to be about? Create a title capturing the essence of your message. Now free-write, free-writing involves you sitting down and removing any expectations of perfection by writing whatever comes to you, write about your song. Motivation isn’t something that just comes to you. We create our own motivation. Motivation is just momentum in motion.

[@izio4408]

This is amazing advice!!!!

[@cheribarkman1784]

Shallow pool of mediocrity is a great line . Lol

[@MrBosum]

😂

[@bugimonkmusic8749]

Oh yeah! Exactly what I thought, as soon as I heard her say it :-)

[@edwither8284]

🎉thank you,I have a hard time writing lyrics .

[@aspen-forest]

thank you so much! very helpful!

[@isaacwu4995]

Thank you

[@TulsaMikeFloydd]

Loved this one. BTW, “litttle” at about 5:48 is an adjective, no?

[@ghostbrains6]

Thanks!

[@juliojrart3142]

Beautiful🎉

[@diii0713]

Hey, if you're serious about honing your songwriting skills, take notes from the best. BTS's RM is dropping new music on May 24th with 'Right Place Wrong Person.' Trust me, his lyrics are pure gold. Tune in and soak up the mastery

[@vernardvanhoute]

great advice

[@FranklyCharlotte]

'School Night' - one of my favourite Ani songs. The guitar tuning is murder though but I figured it out - feeling chuffed.

[@faisholizzudin243]

I just listened Joni Mitchell, and the first picture is her

[@barrycoulter6951]

I felt i made headway on the last song i wrote (Desert) after a lesson of urs…. Now i see all of the imperfections in it after this lesson! Lol thanks for the insight!

[@aoeulhs]

Anyone here a fan of John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats? He's a very prolific songwriter and as a lyricist he's relentlessly astounding.

[@htws]

Well - I AM! ;)

[@Nancychosen]

Thanks alot

[@ConservatoryOzarks]

Wow thank you how useful 🎉

[@KosieRosie]

🤓☝️ akshully “anger is a storm” is a simile - point is still absolutely solid tho