A song is a piece of music with lyrics that tells a story. It can be complex, with multiple verses and refrains, or simple with one verse and a chorus. It usually combines melody and vocals, but composers have also written instrumental pieces, or songs without words (usually called instrumental compositions).
When most people think of a song, they think of a tune with lyrics that express an emotion or tell a story. Historically, some of the earliest recorded songs were in a form that closely resembles modern songwriting. Other song forms have been developed throughout history, including folk songs, popular songs and art songs.
The most important job of a song is to make the listener feel something. It could be a happy feeling, sad feeling, or energetic feeling. It could be a feeling that they can relate to, like love, loss or hope. It could be a feeling that they are part of, like the pride of being from their city or country.
Getting your listener to feel something is the key to making them remember your song. Often, the best way to do this is with a chorus. The chorus is the big payoff and climax of your song. It’s typically the biggest and most catchy part of your song, and is usually a repeated sentiment.
The first thing to do is create a song map, or blueprint, to give yourself a clear direction for your song. For example, your song map might describe broadly what Verse 1 is about, and how it will develop the idea of a particular feeling or situation in Verse 2. It might also help you to ensure that your verses tie into your choruses in a coherent manner, so that the song makes sense and has a clear storyline.