Buy used copies at Amazon.com
You Can Write Song Lyrics
by TERRY COX
How does nothing turn into something that sounds like a song?
Imagine painting pictures with words that make your audience feel something powerful before they can even think. Whether you're a beginner in the music business, a recording artist or musician aiming to put words to your own tunes, or a seasoned songwriter reaching for that next level -- this inspirational guide gives you the insider's advice to help open you up to a whole new world of self-expression – and the magic of “moving emotional mountains” in your audience!
To Illustrate the mechanics of song construction, title placement and other craft elements, the book uses examples of popular songs from a wide variety of styles and artists including Garth Brooks, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Brian McKnight, Marc Anthony, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Celine Dion and many others. The book is also packed with exercises, recommended reading and resources, as well as advice and inspiration from some of the great songwriters in the business. And whether your musical style draws from the hinterlands of time (!) or what's happening right now, the inspiration and practical advice in this book is timeless. By using You Can Write Song Lyrics as a quick crash course in lyric writing, you'll soon be transforming feelings into words, words into stories, and stories into songs.
by TERRY COX
How does nothing turn into something that sounds like a song?
Imagine painting pictures with words that make your audience feel something powerful before they can even think. Whether you're a beginner in the music business, a recording artist or musician aiming to put words to your own tunes, or a seasoned songwriter reaching for that next level -- this inspirational guide gives you the insider's advice to help open you up to a whole new world of self-expression – and the magic of “moving emotional mountains” in your audience!
To Illustrate the mechanics of song construction, title placement and other craft elements, the book uses examples of popular songs from a wide variety of styles and artists including Garth Brooks, Aerosmith, Sheryl Crow, Brian McKnight, Marc Anthony, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Celine Dion and many others. The book is also packed with exercises, recommended reading and resources, as well as advice and inspiration from some of the great songwriters in the business. And whether your musical style draws from the hinterlands of time (!) or what's happening right now, the inspiration and practical advice in this book is timeless. By using You Can Write Song Lyrics as a quick crash course in lyric writing, you'll soon be transforming feelings into words, words into stories, and stories into songs.
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YOU CAN WRITE SONG LYRICS has sold out two complete printings (15,000 copies) and is currently "out of print," but you can find used and a few new copies here at Amazon.com.
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Learn about the magic that gets you started and ways to conjure it....
How the 3 R's of lyric writing -- Rhyme, Rhythm & Repetition -- make words musical, singable & memorable, and what kinds of words turn your songs into pictures....
The ONE basic song construction that's used in almost all pop, rock, R&B, folk, country, gospel & u-name-it songs....
How the "Rule of 2" builds your song from top to bottom and keeps the energy going all the way to the last note.....
How to break the rules with originality and smart song-craft...
A few words about music that every lyric writer should know.....
Collaboration and the power of 2 or more gathered in the name of creativity...
What to do when you can't think of what to write....
Steps to take when you're ready to stick a little toe into the big time....
Purpose, Perspective, Perseverance & Professionalism:
How these can steer you and your talent through the maze of the music biz and help you to keep keeping on.
____________________________________________
Read excerpt from You Can Write Song Lyrics
How the 3 R's of lyric writing -- Rhyme, Rhythm & Repetition -- make words musical, singable & memorable, and what kinds of words turn your songs into pictures....
The ONE basic song construction that's used in almost all pop, rock, R&B, folk, country, gospel & u-name-it songs....
How the "Rule of 2" builds your song from top to bottom and keeps the energy going all the way to the last note.....
How to break the rules with originality and smart song-craft...
A few words about music that every lyric writer should know.....
Collaboration and the power of 2 or more gathered in the name of creativity...
What to do when you can't think of what to write....
Steps to take when you're ready to stick a little toe into the big time....
Purpose, Perspective, Perseverance & Professionalism:
How these can steer you and your talent through the maze of the music biz and help you to keep keeping on.
____________________________________________
Read excerpt from You Can Write Song Lyrics
Accolades from top songwriters...
ARNIE ROMAN (Celine Dion, Trisha Yearwood, Marc Anthony, etc.) This is a rare "how-to" book that is eloquent, practical, heartfelt, focused and illuminating! Terry brings great wisdom, experience and love to revealing the mysteries of the songwriting process. And she has managed to corral some of the biggest names in the business to lend their unique and probing insights to the art of constructing a song. A must read for any songwriter -- from fledgling to legend!
BILLY STEINBERG (Cyndi Lauper, Celine Dion, the Bangles, Madonna, Whitney Houston) Terry Cox has written a great book about songwriting. It is a perfect blend of technical and creative advice and an inspirational guide for anyone who wants to write songs -- words or music.
JORGEN ELOFSSON (Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Westlife, Boyzone, etc.) Wow! I've been writing songs for over 20 years -- now I know what I've been doing! Very inspiring, done with love & knowledge. Being a non-native writer of English lyrics, I agree that the heart can help you write things that the mind alone couldn't come up with, especially with language obstacles.
SHELLY PEIKEN (Christina Aguilera, Meredith Brooks, Brandy, etc.) Terry Cox reminds us that it's not just a craft we need to hone but a spiritual path we need to follow in order to write a song. In her research she has found that hitmakers all seem to have a couple of things in common - trust in inspiration and patience.
PETER ZIZZO (Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, M2M, etc.) What Terry has done here is open the vault not only to her own storehouse of knowledge, but to the larger true meanings and disciplines of song creation itself. Terry manages to break it all down to its spiritual and technical essences, making the art of lyric writing both tangible and manageable - no small feat!
TINA SHAFER (Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Wendy Moten, etc.) I couldn't put it down! Terry has put together an incredible 'story' here about the processes, pitfalls and payoffs of writing songs. Highly entertaining and accessible!
ANDY MARVEL (Celine Dion, Diana King, Vitamin C, Jon Secada, etc.) Terry Cox's book will help anyone from a first time beginner to the working professional. Thank you, Terry for creating a mini masterpiece. I recommend it for anyone who wants to write from their heart and get paid for it!
BILLY STEINBERG (Cyndi Lauper, Celine Dion, the Bangles, Madonna, Whitney Houston) Terry Cox has written a great book about songwriting. It is a perfect blend of technical and creative advice and an inspirational guide for anyone who wants to write songs -- words or music.
JORGEN ELOFSSON (Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Westlife, Boyzone, etc.) Wow! I've been writing songs for over 20 years -- now I know what I've been doing! Very inspiring, done with love & knowledge. Being a non-native writer of English lyrics, I agree that the heart can help you write things that the mind alone couldn't come up with, especially with language obstacles.
SHELLY PEIKEN (Christina Aguilera, Meredith Brooks, Brandy, etc.) Terry Cox reminds us that it's not just a craft we need to hone but a spiritual path we need to follow in order to write a song. In her research she has found that hitmakers all seem to have a couple of things in common - trust in inspiration and patience.
PETER ZIZZO (Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, M2M, etc.) What Terry has done here is open the vault not only to her own storehouse of knowledge, but to the larger true meanings and disciplines of song creation itself. Terry manages to break it all down to its spiritual and technical essences, making the art of lyric writing both tangible and manageable - no small feat!
TINA SHAFER (Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Wendy Moten, etc.) I couldn't put it down! Terry has put together an incredible 'story' here about the processes, pitfalls and payoffs of writing songs. Highly entertaining and accessible!
ANDY MARVEL (Celine Dion, Diana King, Vitamin C, Jon Secada, etc.) Terry Cox's book will help anyone from a first time beginner to the working professional. Thank you, Terry for creating a mini masterpiece. I recommend it for anyone who wants to write from their heart and get paid for it!
