Songwriting Habit - What? Who? Where? & When?

When we are developing our lyrics for our songs there is a formula we can use to help establish a story that has meaning and a sense of time and place.

The following questions are useful when you are  working on your lyrics for your song. They are also good for creating consistency throughout your story.

Question 1. - What?

What is the song about? Is it about how you feel? Is it about how someone left you? Is it about love, loss, happiness?

Question 2. - Who?

Who is the song about?  Is it about you, him, her, us, them....?

Question 3. - Where?

Where is the song set? Is it in your home, on the beach, in the car, on a mountain, on a street.....?

Question 4. - When?

When is the song set? In other words, what sense of time. Is it set today, yesterday, when you were young, in the olden days.....or is it set in the future?

Here are some examples..

Maroon 5  - She will be loved

What? - about how he loves a girl

Who? - Her, She.

Where? - on the street, he is driving in his car

When? - high school

Ed Sheeran - Photograph

What? - about  love in a relationship

Who? - We & I ( a couple)

Where? - in a photograph, in a pocket, in a necklace...

When? - now

Asking these questions provide focus and consistency to your lyrics. Your song then, can develop a  good sense of story that gives a visual representation to the listener and an understanding that helps them to connect to your song.

Try it out and let us know how you go.