give me your honest opinions of the lyrics

    
give me your honest opinions of the lyrics    10:58 on Sunday, September 26, 2004          
(yalc2001@yahoo.com)
Posted by Archived posts

what`s up everybody? my name is clay and i`m 18 years old from austin texas. i just started a band and this is really what i want to do with my life but i just started and i`m looking for a few poiners or just honest advice on some of my lyrics. just tell me anything you think is wrong with them or that i could change to make them better or even if for some strange reason you actually like the lyrics. anyways here goes.


You pound your thoughts into my head
Until I wish that I was dead
You screw beliefs into my mind
That were better left behind
There’s nothing left that you can say
There’s nothing here to make me stay
I’m not your puppet anymore
It’s now or never through the door

No more faking who I’m not
It’s my life I’ll write my plot
Keep your propaganda to yourself
I sure as hell don’t need your help

I thought I told you stay away
I thought I made it plain as day
I’m not you and you aren’t me
I don’t need your therapy
Let me live as who I am
I’ll make my choices and be damned

No more faking who I’m not
It’s my life I’ll write my plot
Keep your propaganda to yourself
I sure as hell don’t need your help

I don’t regret the choices made
Only all those wasted days
Of hiding myself inside the shell
You created a living hell

No more faking who I’m not
It’s my life I’ll live my plot
Keep your propaganda to yourself
I sure as hell don’t need your help

well there they are. i know it sucks but really this is like the first song i`ve ever written. so like i said just tell me what you think and anything you think i could change to make it better. thanks for the help.


Re: give me your honest opinions of the lyrics    17:36 on Tuesday, September 28, 2004          
(Epsy)
Posted by Archived posts

Hi, I`m 18 too and I`m looking to be in a band. (random thoughts 0
Here`s my two cents anywyay..

It could work if you get the right melody, however, there are one or two things you might want to think about.
First, melody and balance.

No more faking who I’m not
It’s my life I’ll write my plot
Keep your propaganda to yourself
I sure as hell don’t need your help -i`m guessing this is your chorus.

This has to be memorable; it has to stand out somehow. You can do this in the music; a good example is Velvet Revolver`s Slither; they have a syncopated (offbeat) main riff for the verse whereas the chorus is brought out by huge block power chords. It sounds so big and heavy and its awsome. lol

Another thing you could try is altering the words a little. As it is now, the number of syllables in each line of text is similar to the verse. Why not try and vary?
For example;

No more faking who I’m not --- i`m gonna be me
It’s my life I’ll write my plot--- And there`s nothin for you to say
Keep your propaganda to yourself--- keep your lies
I sure as hell don’t need your help--- `cause i dont need em.

(I`m hearing this in my head as a kind of descending pattern maybe? Descending chords are weak but they do get a big emotional response out of the listener.)

(Thats really bad i know, but the best i can do off the top of my head. ) Also, you`ll notice I haven`t rhymed; it`s not compulsory. Sometimes it can feel forced and then it becomes more of a joke than a musical tool. Experiment with rhyme!!!

You have to bear in mind where each word is gonna fall in the beat. The first beat has the most impact then the second, these are where important words should go. Short phrases have more impact than long ones.

Also, think about repetition, maybe? It`s down to your discretion and personal preference, but it may break the verses up a little. (they are kinda long)

As to the words, I think you`re very specific. It leaves little for the listener to think about; try eliminating the
use of the pronoun `you`. For example, I`ll try re-writing some of the lyrics...

pounded thoughts forced into my head
until i wished for death they said
and screwed beliefs within my mind
thoughts i knew were best left behind

There’s nothing left for you to say
There’s nothing here so let me pay
my way across the river Styx
roads paved with blood and wasted wits

I’m your puppet never more
I`ll take my chances through the door

No regrets of choices made
Of far too many wasted years
hiding in this wasted shell
of love`s creation; living hell.

(doesn`t that make you think? lol)

A bit heavier than I`m used to and again it`s a little rough, but it`s an idea. Remember your music should reflect the mood you want your lyrics to convey.

My final piece of advice is this;

in the end, it`s up to you. You`ll get more experience as you write more music. Experiment with everything and find out what works for you. And most importantly, don`t take everyones` opinion too heavily; i`ve written a lot of stuff here which I have come across in my career as a musician, however, it`s only MY opinion and what I like is probably not the same as what you like. lol. That`s cool though.

It`s a good attempt though. May I ask for a more light hearted song in future And good luck with your band.


Re: give me your honest opinions of the lyrics    17:59 on Tuesday, September 28, 2004          
(clay)
Posted by Archived posts

thanks for the advice. yeah i think it rhymes a bit much and is a little too...well i guess basic. it just doesn`t vary too much. it was my first shot though so i`m still working on it. i think i`m going to go through and change some of the words, maybe have a different chorus, and maybe add a little length to it. as to the part about writing a lighter song i`ll see what i can do. i think that writing usually comes from your mood your personality and your experiences in life and based on those it is a lot easier for me to write darker songs. not that i wear all black and go to graveyards to write poetry or anything but i just don`t see myself writing about how much fun i had at the beach or some crap like that. thanks again for the help and i`ll probably post again once i`ve re worked it a little bit.


   




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