Poetry and Music

I think poetry and music are very closely related indeed. I have tried, experimentally, a few times to make a poem in song form. It turned out okay, but I had no music for it. Anyway, good thread idea. I'll be back.

alright sounds good.


yeah i have trouble really understanding how some of htese great lyrical songs have been written.

I was once told that every song can be linked to a story in the bible. So I've thought about grabbing a bible and writing in metaphorical form a bible story, just haven't done it yet.

Hi CS-

I very rarely write lyrics, but this week I was inspired to write a song. I'm actually at a lost when putting my words and music together. Being a pianist, you would think it comes easy, but it doesn't. Have you thought about collaborating? In the past, it has been inspiring and educational for me.

Yeah, as of right now I'm collaborating with a freind and seeing what we can get.

I'm working the music even more now, it's just on the guitar so far, but I'm gunna put some more thought into everything else.

There has to be some kind of trick to writing wonderful lyrics....unless of course it is just repitition.

The trick is simple lyrics that sound good together and are intriguing. For example, from the song by Taking Back Sunday, There's no "I" in team:

Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's just what anyone would do
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's something unforgivable

Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve

Here's another from Taking Back Sunday, this time from the song, Set Phasers to Stun

Your famous last words started once your fingers hit the snooze
Just nine more minutes, please..
(And they) They all know where to find me
Every word that I said, what a big mistake
And the ones you left out are keeping me away

Well I will never make another promise (without you)
I will never make another promise (with you in mind)

So pace the stairs to your apartment
Like it's where you wanna be
(where you wanna be)
It's where you wanna be
(where you wanna be)

I'm sorry it took me so long
I'm sorry it took me so long (to come around)
I'm sorry it took me so long (to come around)

Well there's a secret I've been perfecting,
I swore I wouldn't but you let me
I'm comfortably confused
(and you...) You've gotten so removed
You know I, I could take the place of those pills
Ocean blue, paint it white
Now who ya gonna call tonight?

Well I will never make another promise (without you)
I will never make another promise (with you in mind)


Now, that was pretty good right? Taking Back Sunday is one band that is very good at writing lyrics. Another band you can take a look at is of course, Pink Floyd. Here's a peice of Speak to me/Breathe in the air:

Run, run rabbit run
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race toward an early grave.

Now, that was great, huh? Not quite as catchy, but undoubtedly more powerful. You could hear that a hundred times and still enjoy it. All of Roger Waters' lyrics have this powerful quality. He had an amazing ability to write poetry to adapt to music. He, in his early days, wrote his poetry in a little black book, and later he took his poems and adapted them to song. The best example of this is the entire album The Wall.

As to how Roger did what he did, well, I couldn't tell you. I've tried and it is indeed difficult. Where's Rockguitarist7? He writes songs.

Yeah the one thing about rock is simplicity. Keeping it simple and making it work is what rock is all about.

I may try and write some lyrics when I get off of this site.

Won't come out like Roger Waters', but hopefully they'll come out.

David Bowie - Life On Mars Lyrics

=============
It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It's on Amerikas tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?




I've always admired David Bowie's songs.
( Bob Dylan's lyrics too, of course. )


A tip a mate gave me, is to put together a few chords on an accustic guitar - and then hum what will eventually be the lyrics over the top (and practise until you can play it blindfolded). Eventually words start to come to you and fit into your playing.

If you can play A, D and E on the gituar, you can write a song.
(Bob's Blowing in the Wind is written over these three basic chords)

I think you're right to say keep it simple.

Good luck, CarbonSystem

Thanks, I'll try that humming trick today.