Christian Songwriting: Lyric Writing - Rhyme

A song could be described as a poem set to music. There are other definitions, but this is the one that most aptly suits our, as it identifies the two major components of a contemporary song; namely, music and lyrics. When we talk about writing, we are not referring merely to the mechanical process of putting it down on paper, but the creative act which takes place primarily in the mind. Of course, this will then be recorded in some way, but that is beyond the scope of this book. We are concerned more with the function of our creative faculties; how to create an original piece of music and blend it with the lyrics.

In this first section, I want to examine the main ingredients of effective lyric writing, and right now we're looking specifically at the subject of rhyme. (Rhyme is also spelled rime which is not only simpler, but the preferred spelling as, according to Webster's Dictionary the spelling "rhyme" only evolved during the Seventeenth Century due to its association with rhythm.) Rhyme could be defined as a similarity in sound between two or more words or syllables, particularly when they occur at the ends of lines of verse. If this means nothing to you, please read on, and it should - I hope - make a little more sense.

Rhyme is almost an indispensable component of good songwriting. Certainly there are comparatively few songs written without it, and so I would like to take a look at exactly what it entails. (Throughout this section, I will give you the technical names of whatever we refer to so that you can continue your own private research. You will note that some of the techniques we examine might have several labels.)

Now read: Lyric Writing - Rhyme Position