which ways do you'all do it? I personally write my words first and then just twang about trying to find a sound that is sutible in mood and sound to what the song is about, but im interested in how other people do it, coz personally i find it hard to write the music first.

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Who would call their kid Bruce anyway???

I write the music first. Always.
I would never write a song to a text,
Why?
Because I dont really have anything that I want to express
with words. I do it with the guitar instead.
I write the song, the chord progression, where
the solos supposed to be etc, then I write the text.
Many people says to me; "You should write the text first,
dont you want to say something with your songs???"
Well first of all, no I actually dont, Im not RATM and
I will never be, I dont have anything important to say.
And second, if I had something to say, why would I
not be able to do that?
Just because I adjust the text after the song doesnt
mean I cant say what I want to say.
So thats the deal.

My way of handling lyrics is to not write them at all. I'm a decent writer when it comes to essays, but I absolutely suck at writing songs. I write songs with no words at all, or I hook up with other bands and just play guitar while they write words and sing. I can sing... made All State Choir, but I don't like to sing anymore, so I let someone else do it while I do what I like. As for which to write first, if you write both music and lyrics, just do what you're inspired to do. If you have some great words in your head, write them down and write music to it. If you come up with an outstanding riff/chord prog., then write words to go along with it. But remember, not all songs have to have words, and not all songs have to have music (and there's no order to which songs must be written). I like heavy, fast guitar when it comes to my musical tastes, but it's surprising how good some a capella choirs sound.

I also suck at writing lyrics... I tried to write poetry, and turn into lyrics, but then i discovered that i also suck at writing poetry that rhymes like a song. I just write riffs and songs on my guitar, then i ask a friend or girlfriend to help me write words that go with the riffs i write.

I would definatly say music with words. But when I write (which I just started writing) I would go words first. Mostly because of the fatct that im pretty new with playing guitar and I go good with power chords and thats about it.

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Rock on.

Whatever I come up with the inspiration for first.

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Fight the future.
http://www.nofx.com/forum/avatars/fool.gif

I made that mistake at first as well - used to write a lot of poetry in my "adolescant" stages... just figured that I could mix it up with a melody.

DON'T DO IT.

Song lkyrics are about as different as you can get. One - it is the hardest thing in the world to make feally amazing intellectual lyrics. Bob Dylan was reknowned fr that... but lyrics have a different inherent rhythm so if you get them muddled up you're started to play with fire... and that might have you tearing out your hair before long!

Good luck everyone.

P.

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*Lyrics - Wasted time between solos*
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