Replay Friday // The Second Verse

The second verse is one of the hardest pieces of a song. Don't let the challenge of the second verse deter you. Here are a few tips for writing that second verse.
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One common mistake people make is that they write a second verse that doesn't add content to the song. Their second verse reiterates the ideas presented in the first verse. Ask yourself where could this song go that would be rewarding for you as a listener? How can you add depth to your song with a second verse? What content can add to the story?

A quick way to create a shift in your lyrics is to use transitional words like "well," "but," "and" "so" "if" and "now" to begin your second verse. These words indicate that there is additional information to add to what the singer has already told you. Try using these tools to write that second verse. Modest Mouse frequently uses these keywords to move between sections in their songs. Here's an excerpt from their song "Satin in a Coffin" that uses these transitional words:

Verse:
You were laying on the carpet
like you're satin in a coffin.
you said, "Do you believe what you're sayin'?"
yeah right now, but not that often.

Chorus:
Are you dead or are you sleeping?
Are you dead or are you sleeping?
Are you dead or are you sleeping?
God, I sure hope you are dead.

Verse:
Well you disappeared so often
like you dissolved into coffee.
Are you here right now
or are there probably fossils under your meat?”

Although vague, the second verse gives us a better idea about the "you" from the first verse." They often were impossible to find, like sugar pouring into coffee. The second verse expands on the ambiguity of the first verse but provides a narrative thrust for the next chorus into the bridge (which also begins with a "well.")

Perhaps your first verse takes place in the present. Your second verse might take place in the past. If the first verse is about a troubled relationship, the second verse is about the good times. Try writing a song today that successfully uses "well," "but," "and" "so" "if" or "now". Maybe today's song will only contain a few of these transitional words–​or maybe it will have all of them. Let us know how it goes!