A song is a musical composition with vocals. Often performed at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies), songs typically use patterns of sound and silence to tell stories that are rooted in the world around us. From dolphins to birds to humans, all life on this planet tends to break into vibrant songs to communicate.
A verse is a melodic phrase that contains lyrics and is repeated throughout the song. The verse can be as simple as a bar or two of instrumental music and the story contained within the lyrics will usually unfold over multiple verses.
The chorus is the big payoff and climax of the song, it’s the part listeners will want to sing along with. The chorus can be as long or short as the verse and pre-chorus and it usually contains the lyrics of the song’s title.
The bridge is an optional song section, it’s the space in between the verse and the chorus and is usually different musically than the rest of the song. It’s a chance for the singer to take a breath before the chorus starts.
A refrain is a repeating melodic phrase similar to the chorus but much shorter and simpler. It’s the simplest way to convey the idea of a song without using the full lyrics of the song. Sometimes the same refrain is repeated after each chorus. The bridge can be any length of music and it is often used to introduce a key change in the musical structure.