LYRIC CHEAT SHEET (LCS)
Lesson 5: The Hook
Action Points:
Professional Songwriters like Chapoell Roan or Dave Grohl understand the importance of hooks. One single line is all you need to capture the attention and make your song more memorable.
You do this by creating a single line that’s:
- …clear and simple.
- …captures every idea of your song in one statement
- …and that’s suited to be repeated all over your song.
Then you sick this hook into your chorus and repeat as often as you can. This what most songwriter don't manage to do, and you can use to your advantage!
Songs That Use This Concept:
Thank u, next by Ariana Grande
[Verse 1]
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex
Explanation
These lines are a perfect example of a hook: short, clear, and easily memorable, repeating the phrase “thank you, next” to drive home the core message. The simplicity and repetition make it stick in your head, delivering the song’s main idea in a way that’s easy to sing along to and instantly recognizable. This use of an unforgettable, repeatable line is exactly how professionals craft hooks that turn songs into hits.
Chlorine by Twenty One Pilots
[Chorus]
Sippin' on straight chlorine
Let the vibe slide over me
This beat is a chemical,
beat is a chemical
When I leave, don't save my seat
I'll be back when it's all complete
The moment is medical,
moment is medical
Explanation
These lines use extremely clear and repetitive language, centering around the phrase “sippin’ on straight chlorine,” which acts as the song’s unmistakable hook. The repetition of key phrases in the chorus drills the main idea into the listener’s mind, making it catchy and instantly recognizable. This approach—placing a simple, memorable line at the heart of the chorus and repeating it—follows core hook-writing techniques, ensuring the song is both easy to remember and uniquely branded.
Hard Times by Paramore
[Chorus]
Hard times
Gonna make you wonder why you even try
Hard times
Gonna take you down and laugh when you cry These lives
And I still don't know how I even survive
Hard times, hard times
Explanation
These lines use the hook “hard times” as a clear, simple, and memorable phrase that repeats throughout the chorus, making it instantly recognizable and singable. The hook distills the song’s main idea into a single statement that can be repeated again and again without losing impact. Placing the hook at both the start and throughout the chorus ensures it catches the listener’s attention and sticks in their mind, just as described in the technique for effective hooks.
Come As You Are by Nirvana
[Verse 1]
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old memoria….
Explanation
These lines are bold and direct, using intense imagery and charged, emotional language (“cut my life into pieces,” “suffocation, no breathing”) to capture a sense of desperation. The lyrics do not hold back; instead, they amplify the pain and emotional crisis to the absolute maximum. By dramatizing the feelings with raw honesty and vivid details, they push the emotion to 200%.
Inertia by Boston Manor
[Chorus]
Because you go where I go
Inertia
We both made our mark
Inertia I
've been gone so long
But you are still my home
Explanation
These lines center the song around the simple, powerful word “Inertia,” repeating it as both a theme and a hook, making it instantly memorable. The phrase “you go where I go” reinforces this, creating a chorus that’s easy to recall and emotionally sticky. By repeating these key lines, the song anchors its message and feeling, showing how repetition and simplicity are used for a strong hook.
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