A song is a musical composition with lyrics, and can be performed in either a vocal or instrumental fashion. It can express a wide range of emotions and ideas, from celebration and joy to mourning and rage. It can also be a social statement, political argument or philosophical reflection, and its idioms often evolve to respond to changing cultural and technological conditions.
When it comes to writing a song, you should start by identifying what the overall mood will be. It will help you narrow down the options for the rest of the song. Does it need to be spirited and upbeat or melancholy and reflective? Once you have the mood nailed down you can begin to fill in the details. For example, you can decide if the song will include a bridge or an Outro that creates a sense of resolution and finality.
Once you have a basic structure settled on you can start thinking about the lyrical content and melody. For some songwriters this is the easiest part of the process, while others will struggle with putting together lyrics that capture what they are trying to say.
Most songs include a verse, chorus and bridge. A pre-chorus is usually a short introductory section that leads into the chorus, which is the main “meat and potatoes” of the song’s idea. It tends to be the most catchy and memorable part of the song. A bridge is a contrasting section that takes the song in a different direction before returning to the chorus.