My messy lyric writing process

In this post I reveal how messy my lyric writing process is.

We all have a different journey to a finished lyric. By being open about my own messy process – I hope to re-assured you that your own struggles are perfectly valid – no matter how unusual they are.

To give you some context. I had written a song a few months ago called, ‘This Morning Show’. In the back of my mind I knew it needed another verse – but I was avoiding doing anything about it. Until a few weeks ago.

I’ll add the full lyric at the end of this post; in the meantime, here is finished final verse:

You touched me
and I hold your hand
I feel the heat of your breath
and I understand

It seems very simple; surely that wasn’t difficult to write? However – the route to those words was messy; more like overturning a scrabble board – than writing down some simple words that made sense.

I wrote the lyrics on my phone, which is why I still have a record of them. So here they are; complete nonsense – with all the typos intact.

For too long i wait
So you touch oyou hand
You speak with your kiss
This kiss will land
The sweetest breath

Tou ouched me, i held your hand still i feel The heat of your breath you understand
I loved you i said i do you shined so broght i know this morning show

hand hand
Still feel your skin – you my soul

breath
Upon skin

your memory still follows ke heart was cold say to
Completeyourcsll soul
The kind
O stoll feel yoirbreat To eatch you go

Stull feel your breath in my sukun

The final verse emerged from the nonsense above. Here is the full lyric.

This Morning Show

Love you
I say I do
You shine so bright I know
This morning show

Day comes
Strong is its fight
As the sun meets the moon 
on its way

And I pay 
As time makes its way
and I, call your name

You touched me
and I hold your hand
I feel the heat of your breath
and I understand

And I pay 
As time makes its way
And I, call your name

And I know
That this is true
That you, are my day

I loved you
I said I do
You shined so bright I know
This morning show

You shined so bright I know
This morning show

I hope that was re-assuring – in the context of your own struggles to write song lyrics. Writing lyrics may well be a messy process – but whatever way you use to get to the end – is always a good way.

Further study: Cliff Goldmacher has some good tips on editing and re-writing your lyrics.