LYRIC CHEAT SHEET (LCS)
Lesson 18: The Paper Read Method
Action Points:
Professional Songwriters pay great attention to how their lyrics get received. They focus on clear communication to get their point across. This is what you should always keep in mind when writing a song.
And to make sure your lyrics are as impactful and clear as possible, you can use the Paper-Read-Method:
Read your lyrics out loud to yourself and to others, and ask yourself if they are strong enough to stand on its own.
Often they don't. So rework them and make sure that your song's core message will gets understood. But this something most songwriter are too lazy to do and will give you an advantage. So give the Paper-Read-Method a try.
Songs That Use This Concept:
A-Team by Ed Sheeran
[Verse 1]
White lips, pale face
Breathin' in the snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, days end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men
Explanation
Ed Sheeran only talks about what he can pick up with his senses. His Observations paint the scene, and we get to image the girl he sings about.
Lose Your self by Eminem
[Verse 1]
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud…
Explanation
Eminem transports us into the world’s song. With his scene description, we can feel what the character is feeling.
Guess by Charli XCX
[Verse 1]
You wanna guess the colour of my underwear
You wanna know what I got going on down there
Is it pretty in pink or all see-through?
Is it showing off my brand-new lower-back tattoo?
Explanation
Charli XCX uses sensory information to catch us. Her sexual message grab our attention
Neon by John Mayer
[Verse 1]
When sky blue gets dark enough
To see the colors of the city lights
A trail of ruby red and diamond white
Hits her like a sunrise
Explanation
With only 4 lines, he paints the picture of the city’s skyline at night.
Short expression and small detail create the scene in our heads.
Often it’s enough to zoom in on one thing.
Cardigan by Taylor Swift
[Verse 1]
Vintage tee, brand new phone
High heels on cobblestones
When you are young, they assume you know nothing
Sequin smile, black lipstick
….
Explanation
Taylor Swift puts scene building first. Her use of sensory information transports us into her world.
Are You Sick Of Writer’s Block?
[CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA] [CTA]