| This is Part two of my Lyric Writing guide. Here you | | | | have a clear idea of what you are going to write |
| will learn how to accompany words by writing | | | | about. If you are going to write a parody, what topic |
| alternate lyrics. | | | | are you going to use? Jot down any ideas and |
| It is important not to mistake alternate lyrics with cover | | | | thoughts you could cover in the song, use something |
| songs. There are many ways to cover a song, you | | | | like the word association exercises in Part 1 of this |
| can alter the lyrics slightly to modernize it like in the | | | | series. If you decide to do a more serious song, jot |
| Disturbed cover of Tears For Fear’s | | | | down some ideas/words, etc that come to mind - this |
| “Shout”. You can also alter the tune | | | | can help you when it comes to the writing of the lyrics. |
| slightly as seen in Madonna’s version of Don | | | | Now I can’t tell you exactly how to go about |
| MacLean’s “American Pie” or | | | | the actual writing process. Everyone has their own |
| Sheryl Crow’s cover of Guns n Rose’s | | | | style and methods, to be honest, I’m not exactly |
| “Sweet Child o’ Mine” [also altered | | | | sure how I write, it just comes to me. I can however, |
| to change the voice from male to female]. You notice | | | | give you some pointers to keep in mind when it comes |
| that the song in essence stays the same, both lyrically | | | | to writing alternate lyrics. |
| and melodically. For more examples of cover songs, | | | | Hints and Tips |
| see the reference to ‘Triple M’s Musical | | | | # I mentioned earlier to take note of the syllable count. |
| Challenge’ in Part 1 of this guide. | | | | By keeping this count in mind you will be able to keep |
| What are they? | | | | pace with the original song. Keep a copy of the lyrics |
| Alternate lyrics use both the melodic and lyric | | | | close by for easy reference if it makes it easier for |
| arrangement of a pre-existing song. The | | | | you. I’ve noticed a couple of examples in my |
| ‘new’ lyrics are sung to the same | | | | travels have disregarded this, ending disastrously for |
| melody, and in the same manner as the original song. | | | | the song. The reason this happens is because the |
| This process is not only used by novices, there are a | | | | ‘beat’ [or syllable count] for the lyrics has |
| number of established artists that use this practice. | | | | been disrupted, throwing out the flow of the song. For |
| Why write alternate lyrics? | | | | example, if the original lyrics go: 7/8/7/7 and your |
| Many novices use this practice as a tool to help the | | | | alternate lyrics go 5/6/5/7; you can tell straight away |
| learning process of combining words with music. As | | | | that there is going to be some problems in the flow of |
| for established artists, well there are several reasons | | | | the ‘new’ song. This may take a little |
| why - some possible reasons are as follows. | | | | more time and planning in the writing of the lyrics, but if |
| * One of the most common forms of alternate lyrics | | | | you stick with the ‘format’ of the original |
| are parodies. Check out any of Weird Al | | | | song your lyrics will thank you for it. |
| Yankovic’s work. Some of his titles include | | | | There is an exception to every rule, and there is one |
| ‘Amish Paradise’ | | | | to this. You can sometimes get away with being one |
| (“Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio); | | | | syllable out either side of the actual count. Though you |
| ‘It’s all about the Pentiums’ | | | | need to be careful when doing this because it has a |
| (“It’s all about the | | | | chance of not working. This will not work for all songs, |
| Benjamin’s” by Sean Combs, Notorious | | | | so you will need to be careful when applying it. This |
| B.I.G, Sean Jacobs, et al); ‘Constipated’ | | | | technique can help give you a little more freedom to |
| (“Complicated” by Avril Lavinge). | | | | work with, however, I strongly suggest leaving this |
| * Alternate lyrics can be used to add a little | | | | technique until you are more familiar with lyric writing. |
| ‘flair’ to a live performance, or break the | | | | # If a lyric has a specific rhyme scheme, try and stick |
| monotony of playing the ‘same’ song | | | | with it. Just like poetry there are different styles that |
| every night whilst on tour. This can be seen in the | | | | are used. If a piece uses freestyle rhyme, you may be |
| Guns n Roses track “Don’t Cry” | | | | able to get away with using free verse for your lyrics. |
| [both versions can be found on the ‘Use Your | | | | # Try to stay away from the lines or phrases used in |
| Illusions’ albums]. | | | | the original song especially if you are doing something |
| * Perhaps too much was written in the original song | | | | drastic like converting rock influenced lyrics into that of |
| draft and the writer adapted the excess to make a | | | | say Christian lyrics. That in itself could be a very |
| ‘new’ track. Or possibly the writer was | | | | effective song [genre mixing is very popular these |
| unable to decide on a particular angle on the song, and | | | | days] but only if it is done correctly. Remember what |
| continued to alter the song until they found something | | | | you are writing about, I recently saw a piece that tried |
| they were happy with. This can be seen in the Staind | | | | to convert a piece about street racing into a Christian |
| song "Outside", you can find one of the original | | | | based song. This would have been very effective if |
| versions of this song through a simple search on the | | | | they didn’t use the same phrases that were in |
| ‘net. | | | | the original song that conflicted with what the author |
| Getting Started | | | | was trying to say. |
| It is probably best when you first attempt to write | | | | # You can, if you like, use a prompt from the original |
| alternate lyrics, to choose a song that you are familiar | | | | song if you are writing about a similar topic. As in the |
| with. When choosing a song, try to pick a melody you | | | | first examples given on types of alternate lyrics, both |
| know well. To start with, examine the lyrics, making | | | | the Guns n Roses and Staind songs mentioned, the |
| note of patterns such as rhyme schemes and syllable | | | | chorus’ stay the same and ties the two sets of |
| count. What do I mean by this? Look for which line | | | | lyrics together. You can use a line or two if you like to |
| ends rhyme together and whether there is a pattern | | | | ‘tie’ your piece to the original song and to |
| to it. Count the number of syllables in each line and see | | | | compliment to your ‘new’ song. |
| if there is any intentional design to them (note not all will | | | | * * * * * * * * * * |
| have this, but it is important to take note of what is | | | | By using alternate lyrics you are able to teach yourself |
| there). | | | | how to accompany words with music. Once you feel |
| * -- * Make sure you know the song well, listen to it | | | | comfortable with the accompanying of words and |
| 100 times if need be. You need to be able to not only | | | | music in this form, you can take a go at a little harder |
| call the melody to mind but also how the lyrics are | | | | technique found in the next Part 3 of this series, |
| placed and sung. | | | | Sampling and Ghost Songs. |
| What are you going to write about? You will need to | | | | |