LYRIC CHEAT SHEET (LCS)
Lesson 6: Repeated Resonance
Action Points:
Repetition is key for crafting memorable and successful songs.
Always remember: “What Gets Repeated Gets Remembered.”
So Focus on these things when working on your next song:
- Go some steps further and use more repetition in your songs.
- Craft a hook/chorus with as few words as possible, while still convey your core message.
- Find subtle way to incorporate repetition in every other song parts
This is all it takes, so let your imagination run wild. Craft the most infectious song you can!
Songs That Use This Concept:
Bury A Friend by Billie Eilish
[Verse2]
Step on the glass, staple your tongue (Ahh)
Bury a friend, try to wake up (Ah-ahh)
Cannibal class, killing the son (Ahh)
Bury a friend, I wanna end me
[Chorus]
I wanna end me
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna end me
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna
Explanation
These lines show repeated resonance by centering the chorus on the phrase “bury a friend” and echoing it with other short, haunting lines. The repetition of “bury a friend” and the direct, stark phrases make the song instantly memorable and emotionally impactful. By repeating both words and atmosphere, Billie Eilish creates an unmistakable hook and drives the song’s message deep into the listener’s mind, in line with L6: Repeated Resonance
Work by Rihanna
[Chorus]
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He said me haffi
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do me
Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
So me put in
Work, work, work, work, work, work
Explanation
These lines use extreme repetition of the word “work” to create a catchy, memorable hook that instantly lodges in the listener’s head. The chorus demonstrates repeated resonance by establishing a simple phrase and echoing it, making the whole song revolve around this single, recognizable idea. This unapologetic use of repetition is the key to why the chorus is so infectious and highlights the L6: Repeated Resonance technique.
Mr. Brightside by The Killers
[Verse1]
Comin' out of my cage and
I've been doin' just fine
Gotta, gotta be down
because I want it all
It started out with a kiss,
how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss,
it was only a kiss …
Explanation
These lines use repetition both in phrasing (“it was only a kiss, it was only a kiss”) and structure (the entire verse is mirrored in verse 2), creating a feeling that the narrator is stuck in an obsessive loop. The repeated imagery and ideas make the story stick, reinforcing the emotional distress and making the song instantly memorable. This echoing effect is a hallmark of L6: Repeated Resonance—driving home the hook and letting emotion snowball with each repetition
Believer by Imagine Dragons
[Chorus]
Pain! You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Pain! You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
Pain! Oh, let the bullets fly, oh, let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
Pain! You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Explanation
This chorus uses repetition as its driving force, centering nearly every line on the word “pain” and the phrase “you made me a believer.” The hook is repeated again and again, making the emotion and message impossible to forget. This is a textbook example of Repeated Resonance—using strategic repetition to make the key themes stick in the listener’s memory and give the song its unforgettable, anthemic quality.
Heathens by Twenty One Pilots
[Verse 1]
Welcome to the room of people who have rooms of people
That they loved one day, locked away
Just because we check the guns at the door
Doesn’t mean our brains will change from hand grenades
You’ll never know the psychopath sitting next to you
You’ll never know the murderer sitting next to you
You’ll think, “How’d I get here, sitting next to you?
…
Explanation
These lines use repeated phrases like “sitting next to you” and “you’ll never know” to create a hypnotic effect, making the message stick in the listener’s mind. The pattern of repetition not only builds tension but also gives the verse its unforgettable quality—a classic example of repeated resonance. This clever use of echoing words and ideas is the key to why the verse feels so memorable and impactful.
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