The Difference Between Complex Lyrics and Complex Words

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You might be tempted to think of poetry and lyrics as being synonymous, in the sense that good lyrics might be good poetry. The key word there, however, is might. Most of the time, the best lyrics are not the kind you’d read out in a poetry recitation. The best lyrics are the ones that use simple, everyday words that average listeners can relate to.

That’s certainly not to say that lyrics can’t be pleasantly complex. It’s important to realize that there’s a difference between complex lyrics and complex words.

You’d be surprised how intricate a song lyric can be while still using common words that everyone uses in everyday speech. That’s because great lyrics, while using ordinary words, put those words together using poetic devices that give them the appearance of being greater than the sum of their parts.

So great lyrics make use of poetic devices such as:

1. Alliteration: stringing together words that start with the same sound. Example: “Six sets smoked on Saturdays…” (“Scrapbook” – Chicago X)
2. Metaphor: describing a person or situation by using something else with similar characteristics or traits, as a way of enhancing meaning. Example: “She was a goddess…”
3. Allegory: like metaphor, allegory uses basic symbolism to describe something else, but the description usually refers to something deeper. Example: “Love is a river, with many twists and turns. It can flow easily, or it can toss you aside without care…”
4. Simile: describing something by drawing a direct comparison, usually using “is like” in its description. Example: “His hand felt like a wet sponge when she reached out…”

There are, of course, many more ways that the English language can be manipulated to create good lyrics. But the most important point to be made here is that none of them require complex words. In fact, poetic devices do their best work by creating strong images through the use of simple words.

If you feel that your song lyrics aren’t making the connection to your audience that you’re hoping for, take a look not just at how you’re saying things, but the actual words you’re using. If they aren’t the words you’d hear in the checkout line at the local grocery store, you’re likely not speaking to your listeners in a meaningful way. The solution is usually to simplify.
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Written by Gary Ewer. Follow on Twitter.

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