Sarah's Scribbles by Sarah Andersen for February 06, 2016

The dead fish is never as lively as the one still in the stream.

Case in point: “Up All Night To Get Lucky” http://www.directlyrics.com/daft-punk-get-lucky-lyrics.html

…and often have no meaning at all.

Half the time I can’t understand the words being sung, which can be a good thing, of course, as Sarah points out.

Lyrics to trashy pop songs really are like that. Good lyrics are even better when you read them. Read lyricists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Hunter….

The song writer and the lyricist have to work together to get things just right. It’s difficult to do within the constrictions of modern pop music. Appropriate rhymes take a inspired talent to achieve, and a determination not to give in to near-rhymes. For well-constructed songs in the old style, listen to the various albums by William Bolcom and Joan Morris.

Now imagine WRITING lyrics.