Story-Driven Songwriting From a 30+ Year, Award-Winning Songwriter
Great lyrics don’t impress people—they move them.
After more than 30 years of writing songs, performing them live, recording, and earning award-winning recognition, I’ve learned one simple truth: the lyrics that last aren’t the clever ones—they’re the honest ones.
If you want to write lyrics that connect, you need to think like a storyteller, not a poet. This guide shares practical lyric writing tips I’ve relied on for decades to turn real moments into songs people recognize themselves in.
Start With Truth, Not Wordplay
The strongest lyrics begin with something real—an emotion, a moment, or a thought you can’t ignore.
Early in my songwriting journey, I chased clever lines. Over time, and through years of writing and performing, I realized that truth always lands harder than technique.
Ask yourself:
What am I actually trying to say?
If you can answer that honestly, the words will follow.
Write Like You Speak
If a lyric doesn’t sound like something a real person would say, listeners feel it immediately.
Some of the most impactful, award-recognized songs I’ve written use simple, conversational language. That doesn’t mean careless—it means intentional.
Read your lyrics out loud. If you wouldn’t say it in a conversation, consider rewriting it.
Show the Story—Don’t Explain It
One of the most important lyric writing lessons I’ve learned over 30+ years is this:
Show the listener what happened. Don’t tell them how to feel.
Instead of:
- “I was lonely and afraid”
Try:
- “The house was quiet / even the clock stopped talking to me”
Specific details allow the listener to step inside the story.
Use Small Details to Tell Big Stories
Honest lyrics are built from specific moments.
A glance, a habit, a place, or an object can carry more emotional weight than a broad statement. When I’m writing, I look for the smallest detail that holds the biggest truth.
Listeners don’t connect to general ideas—they connect to scenes.
Let the Chorus Say What You Can’t in Conversation
Verses show the story.
The chorus delivers the emotional truth.
After decades of songwriting, I’ve learned that the best choruses feel like something the writer needed to say, not something they worked hard to craft.
Keep the chorus:
- Clear
- Direct
- Emotionally honest
- Easy to remember
If the listener only hears one part of the song, the chorus should tell them everything they need to know.
Write Imperfect First Drafts
Honest storytelling doesn’t come from perfect first drafts.
Some of my strongest lyrics started out messy, awkward, and unclear. The truth was there—it just needed refining.
Finish the song first.
Then rewrite with intention.
You can’t polish what doesn’t exist.
Cut Lines You Love if They Don’t Serve the Story
This is one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned—and one of the most important.
Sometimes the best line in a song is also the wrong one.
After years of writing and earning recognition for my work, I’ve learned that serving the story matters more than saving clever lines. If a lyric pulls attention away from the emotional center, it doesn’t belong—no matter how good it sounds.
Trust Your Life Experience
You don’t need a dramatic life to write compelling lyrics—you just need to pay attention.
Ordinary moments carry extraordinary truth if you let them. Over 30+ years of songwriting, I’ve found that the songs people respond to most are often about the quiet moments, not the big ones.
Your life is already enough.
Write for One Listener, Not Everyone
When you try to write for everyone, the lyrics get vague.
When you write for one person—real or imagined—the song becomes specific and honest.
Some of the most meaningful songs I’ve written came from imagining I was talking to one listener who needed to hear it.
Let the Song Sound Like You
After decades of songwriting, the greatest compliment I receive isn’t about clever lyrics—it’s when someone says, “That felt real.”
Honest lyrics come from trusting your voice.
Don’t chase trends.
Don’t imitate what’s popular.
Tell the story only you can tell.
Final Thoughts: Honest Lyrics Create Lasting Songs
Lyric writing isn’t about impressing people—it’s about connection.
After more than 30 years of songwriting and award-winning recognition, the songs that still matter to me are the ones that told the truth, even when it was uncomfortable.
If you write honestly, clearly, and with intention, your lyrics will find the people who need them.
That’s how real songs are born.
