How do you generate ideas for original lyrics?

Answer 1

I would recommend writing everything down that has been on your mind lately, whether it is about a relationship, your job, your family, random thoughts, questions you have been asking yourself, really anything.

Because there are potential song topics everywhere, and if you write down a lot of thoughts you might come up with a cool theme for a song or even some snippets for lyrics already just by writing down your thoughts and feelings :)

You could also start with fun titles, either inspired by movies, books, or poems (titles are not copyrightable), or some of your favorite movie quotes - maybe that inspires new lyrics as well!

There are a couple of fun strategies to come up with original lyrics, if you want to learn and explore more songwriting strategies - feel free to reach out 😊

Answer 2

Here's one of my favorite brainstorming strategies!

LYRICS BY LISTING

1. Use a random word generator to get a one-word suggestion
2. Begin listing any ideas that word evokes.
3. Look for a common thread or metaphor from that list: if you find something you connect to emotionally, then that's your song.

Example

The generator gave me the word "twin" and my free-write looked like this:

Twin flames, twin sisters, groups of two, two-by-two, Noah's ark, mirrors, The Parent Trap, The Shining, evil twins, Jekyll & Hyde, 1+1=2, gemini

After writing my list, I see a common thread: the duality of identity. I feel drawn to write about how the face people show the world isn't always how they truly feel inside.

Here are my starter lyrics:

I wake in the morning and put on my mask

The one with the sweet-as-pie smile

I step out the front door and silently bask

In being somebody else for a while

I am a liar,

I'm Jekyll & Hyde,

I'm someone and no one at all,

I am the truth

But I quietly hide

Because outside I feel far too small