How to Write Country Lyrics
One of the best ways to cope with the loss of a wife, a job or a double-wide trailer is by pouring your grief into country lyrics. Writing songs can also be a fun way to express yourself and satisfy your creative impulses. It's even possible to make a living by writing lyrics for country music.
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Instructions
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Pick a subject matter. Think of great stories you've heard or people who've influenced you. One of the unique aspects of country song lyrics is how story-oriented they can be.
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Focus on the emotional aspect of your story's subject. For instance, songs about bitter break-ups have provided the foundations for countless country songs. However, instead of recounting specific actions and sequences of events, try and find a way to convey how the break-up feels.
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Keep your lines short. While lengthy sentences and advanced vocabulary might be important for other forms of creative writing, the most effective country songs use accessible, everyday language. Short syllables will allow notes to be held when sung, creating richer and more flowing melodies.
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Vary your phrasing and meter. Unlike the more rigid structure of poems like haikus and limericks, it's not crucial that your songs meet with an exact syllable structure. By keeping your lyrics conversational and limber, a talented singer will be able to infuse a greater degree of individuality into his performance of your song.
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Use simple rhymes. While a word like "morose" might accurately describe the feelings of a break-up, you'll have to struggle to rhyme the next line. Synonyms like "sad" or "blue" will lend themselves to easier rhymes.
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Pick a structure. The most common country songs use a pattern of verses and choruses. Advance your song's narrative through the verses while hammering home the emotional impact with a succinct, catchy chorus.
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Collaborate with a guitarist or pianist to write a basic musical accompaniment for your country lyrics. Most country songs are written in duple meter with similar harmonic progressions. By outlining a chord progression accompaniment, you'll give yourself the chance to hear how your lyrics can be phrased and reworked to make them easier to sing.
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Learn from the masters by reading song lyrics from country greats. Sites like Search Lyrics.org can help you research classic song lyrics for inspiration (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
Write what you know. Pick subject matter and stories with which you have an intimate connection. Sure, many country songs have been written about domestic abuse or poverty, but your lyrics might sound derivative or superficial if you're trying to write about a subject based on other artists' experiences rather than your own.
Song lyrics are meant to be heard, not read. No matter how impressive your words appear on the page, there's no guarantee that they'll sound good when sung in a smoky nightclub or rollicking roadhouse.
