Need help with my old nemesis ... the bridge!

[swdaze]

Hi lovers,

Trying something new, writing a song for a sub instead of just choosing one. Technically its a rewrite, wish I kept the original lyrics they were horrid, started out as a sappy teen pop song but now moving it to acoustic pop with two possible subs. Chords are the same and one line remains from the original (It must be love) but the melody and all other lyrics are new.

I am having trouble with the bridge which I think it needs directly after the second chorus, I can't get it started, I have a few ideas musically but no idea where to start lyrically. My old stand by would be have the solo start over the bridge music but I feel like I could hurt my forward chances if I go that route and feel like the song is right there just need a suggestion or two to kick start the final push.

Thanks and of course any and all other comments are welcomed,

Geo

L O V E Geo 2015

Never in my life was I so compelled consumed by the urge of a story to tell
Put pen to paper try to get it all down bare my soul and write this song
It’s hard to express what I’m going through everything’s changed this is all so new
Why’d I do the things I’ve done one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love

Never before have I felt this way never lost for words with so much to say
Never was the one to loss their mind but I found out things are different this time
It all points back to a simple truth girl everything changed when I met you
Now you’re all I’m thinking of one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love.

I didn’t have to think just jumped right in strange as it seems I remember when
This could’ve been further from my mind I was out there looking for a good time
I would’ve done what I’m about to do but everything’s changed since I met you
I know in my heart girl you’re the one and I wanna be part of this thing called love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love.

[Laserpunk]

My two penn'orth
If I were wrtitng this song, I would
a) swap verse 2 and verse 1
b) change the word 'sweet' for something more dynamic
c) repeat lines 3 and 4 of the present verse two in verse 1 instead of the much weaker lines 3 and 4 that are in verse 1 at present. Then I would have a refrain. (It works in Wonderwall and the One I Love)
d) use the last two lines of your present verse 3 as your bridge. Cut the first two lines. (Cutting usually strengthens, while adding extra usually weakens)
e) I would not use 'of' to rhyme with love. If necessary, I would use a half-rhyme such as tough, enough, could, should, would, or simply not rhyme at all.
f) If I were trying to tell my romantic interest that I couldn't get her out of my head, I would want my words to convey strong emotion. I would ask myself what her reaction might be to a phrase like 'sweet rain from above' and whether it might strengthen or weaken my assertion that she was seriously messing up my thinking process. So I'd write something like 'Meeting you hijacked/derailed/wrongfooted me: didn't know it could/I swore no woman would/turned my thoughts to mud. Hate to admit it , but I think I'm in love.' (not the best line in the universe but I'd put it in a drawer and edit it later).

It's rare that a third verse adds anything. Even when it does, cutting it will usually result in a stronger song. V Ch V Ch Bridge Ch Ch is a structure you can't go too far wrong using.

A final observation: "it must be love" means the speaker isn't 100% sure. Most songs with this phrase are light-hearted in musical tone.

As I said, it's what I personally would do. Hope it helps your Bridge problem. (Also, Robin Frederick gives away a whole bunch of lyric writing advice in a free email series she has, including the wonderful advice to start with the title. You can find it via google.)

[Casey H]

Hey, is this my old friend Geo from years back?? HELLO!!!

Just a first glance.... It looks pretty wordy with some possibly hard to sing words/phrases such as "compelled consumed". I agree that it should be more assertive that it IS love, not that it must be love.

The key to bridge lyrics is to say something you haven't already said in the verses and chorus to add another dimension to the storyline. Again, only a quick glance, but you never really say what it is about her specifically you love. So maybe add some of that for a bridge.

Best of luck!!
Casey

[swdaze]

Thanks LP!

Took your advice on the verse swap, tweaked that third line but liked the two different fourth lines. I left the choruses as is, the melody works well and nothing I tried felt as good.

I understand where you are coming from on the imagery of "It must be..." but actually wanted the little indecision/lightheartedness of it, the subs both are geared towards younger pop/rock/acoustic (sorry should have included in retrospect) so I was going for that new experience/first real love angle.

Funny story I started writing the Bridge from the third verse but ended up with completely new lyrics but kept your "stronger imagery" comment in mind especially the last two lines.

Thanks again, just the kick start I was looking for!

L O V E Geo 2015

Never before have I felt this way never lost for words so much to say
Never was one to lose their mind I found out things are different this time
It all points back to a simple truth everything changed when I met you
Now you’re all I’m thinking of one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love

Never in my life was I so compelled consumed by the urge of a story to tell
Put pen to paper try to get it all down bare my soul and write this song
It’s hard to express what I’m going through everything changed when I met you
Why’d I do the things I’ve done one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love

I can’t believe what I’m about to do
Time to make this dream come true
You’re undeniably the one
Undeniably it’s love

It must be love (this must be love)
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love x2

[swdaze]

It is I.... great to hear from you Casey! Back to try it all again!! Keep at it found this kid on youtube who had a bunch of tutorials on mixing got that polished up though of course a work in progress as always.

Hear what you're saying on the bridge got a good start on it above. When my singer/co writer comes over we'll tweak the verbiage but was going for bounce along cadence on the verses and have a decent melody so we'll see.

Thanks,

Geo

[swdaze]

Thanks to LP and Casey I think I got a good working bridge and trimmed the words in the verses a bit. Also used the bridge to strengthen the "It must be..." line in the last chorus so I think it worked out great. Going to try to get tracks ready for recording on Tuesday, thanks again,

Geo

L O V E Geo 2015

Never before have I felt this way never lost for words so much to say
Never was the one to lose their mind things are so much different this time
It all points back to a simple truth everything changed when I met you
Now you’re all I’m thinking of one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love

Never in my life was I so compelled never consumed with a story to tell
Never before tried to get it all down bare my soul and write this song
It’s hard to express what I’m going through everything changed when I met you
Why’d I do the things I’ve done one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love

I can’t believe what I’m going through what I’ve done and what I’ll do
I’ll tell the world that yes is true I will always be with you
What’s the word I’m thinking of L.O.V.E. love

It must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing called love L.O.V.E. love (x2)

[swdaze]

Finally got together with my co writer/vocalist tweaked the overall wordiness and the bridge is still evolving but like the direction..

Geo


L O V E Geo 2015

Never before have I felt this way lost for words so much to say
Never the one to lose their mind things are so different this time
It all points back to one simple truth everything changed when I met you
Now you’re all I’m thinking of one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah this must be love a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing this thing called love L.O.V.E. love

Never in my life was I so compelled so consumed a story to tell
Never before tried to put it all down bare my heart and soul in song
It’s hard to express what I’m going through everything changed when I met you
Now you’re all I’m thinking of one conclusion it must be love

It must be love
Yeah this must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing this thing called love L.O.V.E. love

Everything’s changed this is all so new well tell you girl what I’ll do
I’ll tell the world that yes its true
I’ll tell the world that yes it’s true I will always be with you
You’re everything I dreamed of
I know in my heart that this is love

It must be love it must be love
Yeah it must be love like a sweet rain from above
Let the skies break open I want to be part of
This thing this thing called love L.O.V.E.
It must be love it must be love
Yeah this must be love L.O.V.E. L.O.V.E. L.O.V.E. love

[PENKSLYRICS]

Definitely works in the verses after you swapped them around. Though in the last rewrite, I still think the bridge lets it down. As Casey said use it to say what you specifically love about her, that would give it more punch

Roger

[funsongs]

The Bridge is usually a good jumping off place.
Like coming to the fork in the road - take it!