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List of contents
Introduction
Part I Foundations
1. How important are lyrics in popular music? And who makes them important, the author, or the audience?
2. What should the popular lyric be discussing?
3. Meaning
4. Genre
5. Getting a reaction
6. The extra-verbal elements of music
7. Technology and creativity
Part II Speculations
8. Inspiration/the grind – Getting the ideas
9. Character
10. To rhyme or not to rhyme
11. Chord sequence
12. Marriage between words and music
13. Structure
14. Storytelling
15. Looking beyond.
About the author
Glenn Fosbraey is Associate Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Winchester, UK. He is the author of
Reading Eminem (2022), Viva Hate (2022), Coastal Environments in Popular Song (2022), co-author of Exploring the impact of performance on the music and lyrics of The Beatles (2024) and co-editor of Misogyny, toxic masculinity, and heteronormativity in post-2000 popular music (2021).Andrew Melrose is Professor of Writing at the University of Winchester, UK.
Summary
This book is unique in offering practical advice on writing song lyrics within a critically informed framework. Part I provides the theoretical underpinning, while Part II covers the creative process, pulling together all the best songwriting advice and offering practical exercises.
Fusing creative guidance with rigorous criticism, this is an essential companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of songwriting, creative writing and music. Lively and accessible, it is a one-stop shop for all aspiring songwriters.
