Real-World Tips for Writing Songs That Actually Mean Something
WHILLY BERMUDEZ
Introduction: This Isn’t for Everybody
Songwriting isn’t magic.
It’s not random inspiration.
And it’s definitely not just rhyming words until something sticks.
This is for the real ones — the people who actually care about meaning, structure, emotion, and truth. The ones who want their songs to feel intentional, not accidental. The ones who know that just because something rhymes doesn’t mean it works.
A good song is not chaos.
A good song is controlled emotion.
You can break rules — but only after you understand them. This article isn’t about formulas that make you famous overnight. It’s about writing songs that make sense, hit hard, and last.
1. Most Things Should Rhyme — But Not Everything
Rhyme gives music order.
It creates expectation, flow, and satisfaction for the listener.
But here’s the truth most people miss:
Rhyming everything weakens the song.
Your core lines should rhyme:
- Hooks
- Chorus endings
- Verse punchlines
But descriptive thoughts, emotional setup lines, or moments of reflection don’t always need to rhyme. Sometimes forcing a rhyme ruins the meaning.
Bad songwriting sounds like this:
“I miss you late at night / holding on so tight / staring at the light / hoping you’re alright”
It rhymes — but it says nothing new.
Good songwriting sounds like:
“I miss you late at night
when the room feels too honest
and I don’t know where to put my hands”
Only one line might rhyme — but every line means something.
Rule:
Rhyme should serve meaning, not replace it.
2. Words Can’t Be Random — Even When They Sound Cool
This is a big one.
A lot of writers think:
“If it sounds good, it works.”
That’s false.
If your words don’t logically connect, the listener feels it — even if they can’t explain why.
Random imagery breaks immersion.
Bad example:
“Broken clocks and purple skies
dancing shadows tell me lies”
Sounds poetic. Means nothing.
Good example:
“The clock stopped working months ago
but I still wake up late every night”
Every image supports the thought.
Ask yourself:
- Why is this image here?
- What does it explain emotionally?
- Could this line exist without the song?
If the answer is “because it sounds cool,” rewrite it.
3. Every Song Needs a Point — Even Vibes
Even “vibe” songs have a point of view.
Your song should answer at least one of these:
- What happened?
- What do I feel?
- What changed?
- What do I want now?
If your song can’t answer one, it’s unfinished.
A song doesn’t need a moral — but it needs direction.
Bad songwriting wanders.
Good songwriting moves.
Think of a song like a short movie:
- Beginning: context
- Middle: tension or reflection
- End: realization, release, or unresolved truth
Even unresolved songs are intentional.
4. Emotion Beats Vocabulary Every Time
You don’t need big words.
You need honest ones.
Listeners don’t connect to intelligence — they connect to recognition.
Bad:
“My cognitive dissonance fractures the paradigm”
Good:
“I know you’re bad for me
and I still pick up the phone”
Simple. Human. Real.
If a line sounds impressive but doesn’t feel true, it doesn’t belong.
5. Say Less — Mean More
One of the biggest mistakes in songwriting is over-explaining.
You don’t need to tell the listener everything.
You need to tell them enough to feel it.
Instead of:
“I was hurt because you lied and that made me feel betrayed and lonely”
Try:
“You said my name like it was nothing
and I finally understood”
Let the listener fill in the gaps.
Trust your audience.
6. Repetition Is Power — When It’s Earned
Repetition isn’t laziness.
It’s emphasis.
But repeating a weak idea makes the song weaker.
A chorus should repeat:
- A feeling
- A question
- A truth
- A conflict
Not just words.
If your chorus changes nothing emotionally, it’s not ready.
Ask:
- Why does this line deserve to be repeated?
- Does it hit harder each time?
7. Structure Saves You When Inspiration Doesn’t Show Up
Waiting for inspiration is how songs die unfinished.
Structure gives you something to lean on:
- Verse: detail
- Pre-chorus: tension
- Chorus: emotional summary
- Bridge: perspective shift
You can bend structure — but don’t ignore it.
Structure doesn’t kill creativity.
It focuses it.
8. The Bridge Is Where Truth Lives
The bridge isn’t extra.
It’s where the mask comes off.
A good bridge:
- Admits something
- Contradicts earlier lines
- Reveals regret
- Changes the angle
If your bridge sounds like another chorus, you missed the moment.
9. Melody Should Match Meaning
Sad lyrics over a happy melody can work — if it’s intentional.
But mismatch without purpose feels fake.
Ask:
- Would this melody still work if the words were read aloud?
- Does the melody support the emotion?
If the music feels disconnected from the message, fix it.
10. Write From Memory, Not Fantasy
You don’t need to be dramatic.
You need to be specific.
Specific details feel real:
- A street name
- A time of night
- A physical habit
- A silence
Fantasy fades.
Memory sticks.
11. If You Can’t Explain the Song, Neither Can the Listener
If someone asks:
“What’s this song about?”
You should be able to answer in one sentence.
Not a paragraph.
Not a theory.
If you can’t explain it, rewrite it.
12. Editing Is Part of Writing
First drafts lie.
Second drafts tell the truth.
Cut lines you love if they don’t serve the song.
Keep lines that hurt to write — those are usually the real ones.
Songwriting isn’t about ego.
It’s about connection.
13. Don’t Chase Trends — Chase Honesty
Trends expire.
Honesty doesn’t.
If you write what you actually feel, your sound will always be relevant to someone.
14. Finish Songs — Even Bad Ones
Unfinished songs teach nothing.
Finish them.
Learn.
Move on.
Quantity builds quality.
15. The Goal Isn’t Perfection — It’s Recognition
The best songs make someone say:
“That’s exactly how I feel.”
Not:
“That’s clever.”
Clever fades.
Truth stays.
By Whilly Bermudez
Final Thoughts: Write Like It Matters — Because It Does
Songwriting isn’t random.
It’s intentional emotion.
Your words matter.
Your structure matters.
Your honesty matters.
Write songs that make sense.
Write songs that feel lived-in.
Write songs that don’t waste the listener’s time.
This is songwriting for the real ones.
