rhyming + writing a chorus

Q: I'm new to writing and have a couple of questions.

#1: Can you rhyme every line in a verse like a four line verse that ends in words like pain, rain, vain, train.

#2: Writing choruses. I write my verses and then struggle to find a chorus.


A: If you are new to songwriting, there is a great book I'd recommend you read, by Jason Blume, called "6 Steps to Songwriting Success". I think you will find it very helpful.

Question one - should you rhyme every line of a verse? Well, IMO, it would be better not to. Further than that, I would recommend thinking outside the 4 line box. I see many many lyrics by new writers that have 4-line verses with a 4-line chorus and a 4-line bridge. Experiment. (e.g. Have a 5-line verse that rhymes lines 3 and 5, married to a 4-line or 6-line chorus, and a 2-line bridge that rhymes both lines.) You could, have a chorus that rhymed every line - if the rhymes absolutely work for the song.

The reason I suggest you read Jason's book is you will learn about imperfect rhyme, alliteration, internal rhymes, etc. You need to know these things, otherwise you will find your writing hemmed in by the need to make perfect rhymes.

In addition, I suggested, say, a 5-line verse and a 6-line chorus because CONTRAST is extremely important in songwriting. I try to write the contrast into my lyrics so that they support the need for the music to have contrast.

Question two - how to write a chorus. Some people will tell you to write from a title. So if your title is "I lost you today" everything in the song needs to point to that title. The verses tell the story, and lead to the punchline of "I lost you today".

The KEY is to make sure that your chorus is the "conclusion" or the "payoff" or the "punchline" of the verses. Remember too, that a chorus can be simple and punchy. Sometimes they even repeat the same lines.

let's do an example, just off the top of my head... trying to be unique with your idea of the rhymes

V
pain, hammers my head
rain, soakin my hair
vain, that's what you are
train, goin' nowhere

C
you stopped me in my tracks
I didn't cop to that
til too late
you stopped me in my tracks
I couldn't walk away
til too late-
ev'ry time I took you back
you stopped me in my tracks

Might not be a hit song, but hope that example helps you to see what I mean by 'think outside the box' with structure and rhyme.