Overcoming lyrical blocks?

Sorry if this doesn't go here, but it's related to a song I posted some time back. The thing is, the music came naturally, but when it comes to lyrics, I just can't write anything. I came up with a decent chorus for it though. It's only four lines long, and the problem is, it says all I really want to say. How does one come up with verses in a situation like this? This isn't the first time this has happened to me either. In fact, I haven't written full lyrics to a song in about ten years, though I've composed many pieces of music. Help?

So where does one go to 'enlist' lyrical aid? Keep in mind, I'm a hobbyist and can't use a paid service.

Well, what is the song about? Are the lyrics inconsequential to the music? If so, then all the words in the world won't make a difference (think: Louie, Louie).

Are you trying to tell a story? If so, is it yours, another's, or just made up?

I find a word and build around that. Or have a word in mind, and use it as a touchstone but never actually use it in the song.

And the number one thing: don't be afraid. Someone will always think it is stupid, while another may consider it genius.

Collaborate with someone who is good with words. 

You can ask around here...listen to the music of some of the people here. Look for someone who's writing you like and admire. PM that person and ask if they are interested. 

In addition to the Cakewalk forum there are many other sites and forums for writers and some are general whereas others are genre specific.

www.taxi.com is a songwriter site with lots of people looking for people to work with and write music.  they have  specific forums for writers.... songwriters nook, lyric lovers, collaboration corner, among others. 

Finding a good co-writer you can work with is a difficult thing...one who is open and willing to work hard.... when you find that one, or two, keep them close. 

another option is to simply google search "songwriter collaboration websites" and look through the results. 

We have some talented writers here so I'd start here. I found the lady I write with through this site, and quite a few musicians here can jump in to add instruments as well. 

And this is for a song you posted? What is the link to that song?

@Chappel
The original posting was http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2284460&high=Beautifull
Though quicker to view http://www.youtube.com/user/MusicByMetaphasic#p/u/5/S-5_aBN_Bro
@Heckxx
Wow. That's pretty good. Though keep in mind, the verse lyrics I posted weren't in order (or in the same verse) as posted, but merely a scratch-pad of things that initially came to mind.
@All
Though I posted links to the original above, I'm writing against a slightly modified arrangement and mix than what you hear there. Considering I've been working on this for FOUR months now, I am going to open this up to the good folk here. I am going to provide a bundled project with audio only (so that you don't have to have the same synths as me). Feel free to record your own vocals using your own melodies. Also, feel free to tweak, remove, add any effects you want. The audio tracks do not have any embedded effects. Further, to help you get a feel for the "tone" I am going for, I will include a single MIDI track for the chorus as originally written (midi only, no synth), to be viewed in staff notation. The last line in () is to have v-vocal greatly thin the vibrato and transitions, so it has a t-pain like effect.
I'm sorry I don't have a place to upload this big of a thing, except my own box.
Download http://www.ragingpenguin.com/music/Mixdown.zip, rename "zip" to "cwb" and open. You'll have to set Master output for your system, but it should expand and load correctly.

Serena, in my opinion, you just do the best you can. Not everyone can be poetic, and not every song needs that. Sometimes straight forward and to the point is good. How many songs today do we listen to...that we have no idea what the lyrics mean because they don't make sense to us? Some people will defend that as poetry. I call it "wtf does that mean?!" LOL! Two other things you can try that work great for me.

Once I come up with a topic or a hooky chorus, the song pretty much writes itself. When you have the topic, remember doing outlines in school? You probably hated them as much as I did. But, they can work wonders for lyric writing. Come up with your main topic, list all the sub-topics within the main, then elaborate on them in a bit more detail. Rhyme if you need to....don't if you don't want to.

One of the greatest tools I have ever used for helping me with words is Master Writer. It's a program that gives you everything you'd ever want right in one place. Rhymes, phrases, topics, thesaurus, synonyms, you name it, it has it. Having problems and need a phrase that rhymes with "please"? It will give you 5 pages of things that can fit. Multi-syllable words, like sounding words, it's just amazing. AND, it has a built in recorder in it so you can put your ideas down and do all your work in the same program to get your blueprint created. Then you can record into Sonar.

But don't stress about not being good at words. Those that people consider good lyricists, I usually have a problem with...it's always going to be subjective. Just because some one is weird or out there doesn't make them great...it makes them different and sometimes difficult to comprehend. I'm no great lyricist myself, but I do what I gotta do and usually don't have a problem. Think about topics that make you happy, make you sad, angry, fictional or way out there stuff...use your mind. Be sick if you need to...this is your chance to use your mind in any way you see fit without acting on something and ending up in prison. :) Don't be afraid to go out there. I wrote a song on my last album about a song and how it comes to me in my head. Also on that same album, we needed a bonus track for Japan. By the time we got to that particular tune, me and my writing partners were beat to hell and pretty much out of words and inspiration. But we had to give Japan that bonus track or we'd be in trouble since those are the rules when you release worldwide. Japan releases first and needs a track that doesn't end up on your Euro or US release.

So as we're sitting there looking at each other with this "I don't freakin' have a clue" look on our faces, my partner says "Danny...I got it...lets write a tune about being out of words!" I was like "huh...you're out of your tree!?" And at that moment, we started throwing phrases at each other and the tune was written in about 30 minutes and turned out to be one of the coolest tunes on the album called "What Can I Say". :) Anyway, best of luck to you...don't stress or get bummed out. Sometimes you can't get blood from a stone. If the inspiration isn't there, it just isn't there. But tools like Master Writer can really make a difference because you never get stuck while using that program. :)

-Danny

Thanks for the feedback guys. And James, considering what you said, the song Come Together comes to mind. I don't think anything in it made sense! In addition, I just mocked up four bars of the original composition, and surprisingly I think I know why I've been having a hard time. You're right, it was intended to have a very melancholy feel to it with a monotonic drone ala depeche mode. Below is my original concept piece. Anyway, when I went back and listened to it, I realised I was trying to impose a very specific style of vocals onto an otherwise missmatched piece of music. While the basic chord progression is the same, the overall feel of the original just made things jump out at me. I have to wonder now why I ever changed it?

http://www.ragingpenguin.com/music/original-concept.mp3

Serenarules


So where does one go to 'enlist' lyrical aid? Keep in mind, I'm a hobbyist and can't use a paid service.

I think the best lyrical aid is reading.  From the back of cereal boxes to the Iliad, read.  Another neat thing is to just note phrases.   Whenever you find yourself with a cliche while writing, just twist it around, change the nouns, make it mean the opposite. 
Mostly make it a kind of artsy playtime with words.
Get to be friends with words and they'll stand on their heads for you.

ps.  Only YOU can write the way YOU do.  Give it a chance.

RE: Mostly make it a kind of artsy playtime with words.

This is indeed a problem for me, I'll admit. I am an IT professional by trade, and have induldged in it since high school. My brain is wired to think in terms of what it succinct and correct, as opposed to the more abstract. I will make my best attempt this weekend, and hopefully arrive at a decent conclusion.

Too true. "Bypassing my head" would be a lot easier though if I had Sylars* ability to harvest the abilities of others. Heh. I like your quote by the way. I think moving past being afraid of looking rediculous might actually help.

*Reference to HEROES television series, if you weren't already aware.

Most people are not born to be natural songwriters and lyricists. It is something you can learn, and improve with time and effort... just like most other things we do. The more you do it, read about it, study it, and continue to do it..... you will get better.

You know, this has been one very helpful thread. I nearly didn't post it because everything else was an actual song. Thanks everybody.

I checked out Master Writer from Danny's recommendation.  The introductory video is great.  This is a serious piece of software for writing.  I'm using VersePerfect which is helpful, but nowhere near as robust as Master Writer.

guitartrek


I checked out Master Writer from Danny's recommendation.  The introductory video is great.  This is a serious piece of software for writing.  I'm using VersePerfect which is helpful, but nowhere near as robust as Master Writer.

I have and use Masterwriter, and yes, it really helps with the built in tools... If I need a word to rhyme with something I have in the preceding line... I can come up with a few off the top of my head, but, clicking on the rhyming tool in MW will display sometimes 36 pages of words that rhyme..... yeah...36+ pages for some words.... most have at least 2 to 4 pages.... that doesn't count the imperfect rhymes, and of course the rhyming phrases. They can easily take another couple of pages.... 


PLUS.... I believe it's only $200 now... it was selling for $300 at one time and BMI members got $100 off the list...  


AND, it has Songuard Service included. This is very handy for people who write a lot of music and need proof of creation and don't want to wait on the LOC or pay the cost of a copyright on everything.... I have many, many songs on it. It is really handy for protecting sketch ideas that you send to a collaborator. It's quick and easy and included. It takes about a minute to register the song on their secure server. 


I recommend MW to songwriters.