Maybe I’ve written a Chorus… now what will the Verse be?  Or I have a Verse but not yet a strong sense of musical direction for the Chorus.  Or it feels like the song needs a Bridge… but that the Bridge could go almost anywhere…

Here are two questions I ask myself – one more oriented to music, the other to lyrics – in those moments when I’m not sure “What should come next in this song?”

1. (Music) What Haven’t I Done Yet In This Song?

This is at heart a simple idea: use Contrast.  If I’ve already written a section of the song that has a lot of short, rhythmic notes, try long notes in the next section.  If the melodic range is narrow, try widening it next.  If the previous melody is low, try going high…  Or vice versa.  If the previous section’s chords are major, try minor… or try something out of the key (in melody or harmony, or both).  If there are a bunch of chords in one part, slow down the harmonic movement in the next.  If the melody emphasizes a lot of downbeats… get off the downbeat!

I’m surprised at how often this simple question – What haven’t I done yet in this song? – leads me to something I can use.

2.  (Lyrics)  What Am I Really Trying To Say Here?

This is a question I got from an interview with author Barbara Kingsolver, who called it her most helpful writing prompt.  I, along with other writers to whom I’ve passed it on, have found it really useful as well.

Often I’m messing around with the lyric of a song and can’t figure out what a particular line, or next Verse, or whatever, should be.  And just asking myself, What am I really trying to say here? can cut through a lot of clutter and beating-around-the-bush in my head.

Along similar lines, I remember years ago sitting in a club with the great songwriter Doc Pomus, listening to a songwriter play his songs.  Doc turned to me and said, “He’s just not saying what he means.”  That pithy critique has stuck with me.

What Haven’t I Done Yet In This Song?

What Am I Really Trying To Say Here?