Songs are a unique form of communication, often addressing complicated feelings that can’t easily be summed up in just one word. In song, people can slow down and pin-point key triggers and pain points to help make sense of what’s happening inside them. And they can also find meaning and hope in the words and melodies of other people’s struggles, gaining a better understanding of themselves and others.
Some songs are written to express specific emotions and ideas, while others have a more general or abstract theme. For example, the popular folk song ‘Danny Boy’ is about the loss of a loved one. Other songs are more functional, such as sea shanties, which were sung on sailing ships and used repetitive rhythms to coordinate sailors’ work (pulling ropes, anchoring, putting up or taking down sails etc). The song structure of a song may be very simple, such as an intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro.
A verse is a section of a song that builds up the story contained within its lyrics over the course of several lines. Verses typically use a rhyme scheme and are of a similar length, though some vary in their melody or rhythm from verse to verse. A’refrain’ is a line from a verse that is repeated, and often includes the song title/hook. A chorus is a distinct section that is usually of a higher musical and emotional intensity than the verse, and is usually repeated, both musically and lyrically.