Nothing is worse than hearing great lines in a song that doesn’t “sing”. This happens a lot to lyricist-only songwriters who rely on others to provide the music.

What does it mean to have the song “sing”? Here’s the best definition: For the words to come easy to the melody of the song.

All songs should have a lyrical meter. A lyrical meter is the number of words and sylibles used per line. If the line before has only five words and eight sylibles but the line after has eight words and twelve sylibles, chances are, it won’t “come easy” to the melody of the song. It will have to be forced. Many times songwriters cram too much into a particular line trying to get their point across, or simply trying to tell more of the story. The results can be disastrous.

How is the best way to solve this? Read on …

The obvious answer would be to have fewer words in that particular line, but the technique is where many get lost – counting. No one writing a song wants to stop the creative flow by taking a break to count the words and the syllables, but it’s necessary, especially in the case of lyricist-only songwriters.

Keep in mind as well, your best line in the song could just be that really long line that stands out. If that’s the case, you need to add words and syilibles to the rest of the lines.

Remember, 4/4. That’s four beats, or 1,2,3,4. Like soldiers singing during a march “I don’t know what I’ve been told…”. That’s what’s you’re looking for. Evenness

The other thing lyricist only songwriters need to be is flexible with their musician friends.

Musicians/melody makers have a very difficult time coming up with unique music as it is, if your song doesn’t resemble a song in lyrical meter, you can’t expect it to resemble a song in melodical meter.

Be flexible enough to allow some changes to be made, and you will have a better song as a result.