From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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Rule #3: Use concrete details in your verses

Rule #3: Use concrete details in your verses

From the course: 20 Unofficial Rules of Songwriting

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Rule #3: Use concrete details in your verses

- Rule number three, use concrete details and imagery in your verses. It's these details that really help situate your listener and gets them into the story. I've also heard these details called "furniture". When it comes to really allowing a listener to get an image of your song, it's those details that are going to do that heavy lifting for you. In the song example that we've been referencing, even using simple words like butterflies and rainbows just helps the listener understand the message. We have a tendency as songwriters to think so much in emotional terms that we forget that details and imagery can do so much in that regard. When it comes to our Grammy award winning song example, I think the song Royals by Lorde does an incredible job of using details and imagery to really help the listener understand where they are. Give it a listen.

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