Lyric-writing Tools

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Have you really used a dictionary when writing a song?

Yes, 'cause the only thing worse than being a pompous ass lyrically, is to be one who uses the wrong words (or the right ones incorrectly).

Mmmmm, defenestration generation... that's tasty. And hey, there goes the bathwater, too.

[erik]

I don't deny that a dictionary is a helpful book, I just think that it's weird to use the dictionary as you are writing a song to make sure that a word you already know will be used correctly. I mean, why wait until you are writing a song to learn the correct meaning? If you use a dictionary to look up words that you do not know yet while songwriting, I think that is weird too.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

So, err, you know all the words that you know?

Like, there isn't a single word that you've heard, or read, that not only did you not know the meaning of it, but it then sort of drifted into your subconscious until you were writing a lyric and all of a sudden it popped back out again and while it appears to fit in the line, you're sitting there wondering not only what the hell a "blastula" is, but how it's pronounced correctly as well?

And even worse, if it's a real word at all, or merely some interesting syllables strung together. Damn, be right back

Edit: a couple of minutes later... Phew. That'd work for Fantastic Voyage II: Adventures in Time, heh, but not the vampire/zombie motif I'm playing with. At least, not without a lot of exposition and shoehorning.

[erik]

That's so not at all how I write lyrics. I don't have words knocking at the front door of my unconscious, trying to get an interview for the job of being included in a song. I have a general theme that I want to address in a song, and I try to express it using the words that I know.

Blastula is a horrible word to put in a song.

[jb]

where is that thread erik started with all the ideas for songs?

[Rabid Garfunkel]

...Comparisons of writing styles...

Man, it ain't just for writing lyrics, all these words want to get the hell out of my head, meet new words, maybe start a little sentence together down in my mouth, take a little trip to someone else's ear for the weekend, &c.

For the record, I'm a compulsive reader - I can't not read a word that I see. Also for the record - I tend to work for printers as my default occupation. I see a lot of words, and prefer to read for pleasure in lieu of turning on the television when I have idle time. And my dictionary of choice is just too damned big to carry 24/7.

IMO, blastula is too horrible a word not to put in a song, an ear, a post

[Freudian Slip]

The, "Breaking Through Lyrical Writer's Block" thread? That was on Dumberella. No idea if the post files were archived anywhere.

[HeuristicsInc]

I've still got all the song ideas in my random idea script... I think I still link to it in my sig... ummm... I'll have to check after I hit "submit."
Anyway, I have all the ideas people posted. Except for the couple I didn't like
-bill

edit: yeah, it's there. click and get a random idea.

[Freudian Slip]

Thanks, Bill!-- <Grins>

Personally, I love dictionaries... as one of many favorite "toys". A dictionary as a songwriting “tool”? (Yep, C.Hack, working hard at keeping *that* title, hee. <winks> It's my own "special" way of presenting "vocal variety".) I would say that dictionaries have plenty of “practical applications”. (Then again-- I say LOTS of things...)

To check the validity of the original thought committed to paper.

To read through the entire definition and perhaps “improve” on the original thought.

To make sure that “memory serves you” (as opposed to having your brain served up by Hannibal Lechter...)

A dictionary--or a word, much like any given day, is right about as valuable as you make it.

[tonetripper]

I don't see any big deal with getting into a dictionary now and again. Good to check an idea of a word that may have erupted in your mind when pen is to paper and the meaning and/or spelling is slightly eluding you. No harm no foul. Education is good.

I, personally, write in the way that I want to hear and hope that poetic devices will be used or push for them in that lyric writing stage. Especially when writing to existing music. Rhyming dictionaries are cool when you really do feel stumped for whatever reason, but a lousy crutch. The silly thing about them is that the writers of them at times put in some non-existent word for kicks and giggles and you could feel purdy stupid if you use one (unless it's a joke eg. The rain in spain is feeling the hairbrain - huh?). Not saying that I have or anything, just can get you away from the initial concept. For that matter to get too far into the books can sometimes lose the headspace. I think better to write and then check spelling and meaning after there is some stream of thought solidified. That way the process doesn't get interfered with.

What device I use sometimes is to read some good poetry by someone like e. e. cummings or Leonard Cohen and the like. The inspiration that is gained is sometimes worth it. Obviously got to be careful not to get too influenced. Writing from the hip is a great way to get going. Screw rhyming devices and length of lines. Just write it and sometimes these devices will show themselves as you delve further into a piece.

[Caravan Ray]

Inventing your own words is fun - but difficult to do. You always need a dictionary then, just in case you invent a word that already exists.

The only time I've done it recently was in my "Waiting Takes Time" where I made a verb "coheses" out of the noun 'cohesion' (instead of the correct form 'coheres'), because I needed a word that rhymed with 'Jesus'.

Now I think of it - I used my dictionary a lot when I wrote that song - lot of big words I wouldn't normally use in that one.

[erik]

unless it's a joke

Harebrained would be a good word to use in a song.

[Plat]

Just writing to say I've updated my initial post to include the other stuff ya'll are mentioning, and I'll continue to do so.

Also, there's much talk of dictionary and thesaurus use, but I haven't seen much in terms of brand names. For those who prefer to expand their vocabulary, what outstanding (electronic, or physical) dictionary or thesaurus do you prefer to use over others?

[Caravan Ray]

Also, there's much talk of dictionary and thesaurus use, but I haven't seen much in terms of brand names. For those who prefer to expand their vocabulary, what outstanding (electronic, or physical) dictionary or thesaurus do you prefer to use over others?

The Oxford English Dictionary is the big daddy of them all - but I use the Macquarie Dictionary because it focusus on Australian usage. Obviously if you are American - you wouldn't use either of these.

[Poor June]

rarely do i use anything... but when i do... it's usually a websters dictionary... or if i hear somethin' that tickles my fancy that someone may have said or somethin'... but that's a rare thing 2...
depends on what i'm doin' with the song...

really i only spend like 5 or 10 minutes writing a song... maybe a bad thing O_o