Rhyme Schemes

[fastplant]

I can't seem to not write in ABAB style lately. Like:

 

I like pie

why don't you

give it a try

you'll like it too

 

...type stuff

 

Every song of mine follows the same pattern, and not intentionally, it just keeps ending up like that. What are some other cool rhyme schemes?

[Deef]

There's a hundred of 'em. Just scope the lyrics of the songs you like.

 

If you want to break your pattern, try NOT rhyming at all.

 

I've come to feel rhyming is overrated. Concentrate on succinct, evocative imagery in your lyrics.

 

Deef

[ratthedd]

Try limmericks or AABCCB rhymes.

 

For instance:

 

Twenty Three Dollars - © Erik Oosterwal

 

I've got twenty three dollars to my name

and I finally figured out who is to blame

my daddy was a loser

and my mama was a boozer

They told me that I'd end up just the same.

 

I never really care too much for school

I hated every teacher every rule

The homework was too tough

and the bullies were too rough

so I did the things I thought would make me cool.

 

I got myself a brand new alibi

my friends all got me drunk and got me high

my boss just set me free

and my girl walked out on me

so I sit here in the dark alone and cry

 

yeah, I've got twenty three dollars to my name

and I think I know who really is to blame

I'm just a lazy jerk

who doesn't like to work

so take a tip and don't you be the same.

[Lee Knight]

Buy the book "The Lyrics of Cole Porter". Try writing your own lyrics to his rhyme schemes... if you can. But if nothing else, you'll start adding new rhyme schemes to you quiver. Cut the complexity of one of his schemes in half and you'll be doing great.

 

Same goes for Ira Gershwin (probably more so)

[fulcrum]

How about a nice sonnet? You don't have to keep it in iambic pentameter if you don't want to, though the traditional sonnet is written in that meter.

 

abab cdcd efef gg (that's Shakespearean sonnet)

 

Or if you're feeling ambitious, there's

 

abab bcbc cdcd ee (that's Spenserian sonnet)

 

Or maybe Petrarchan sonnet?

 

abba abba (cdecde OR cdcdcd OR cdcdee-- he used all three)

 

Rodney Dangerfield quoted a famous villanelle in one of his bad movies-- Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. There's a challenge for you.

 

Go back and read a text on pre-20th century poetry for more ideas and standardized forms. You'd be amazed.

[PRSnotPOS]

If you want some inspiration for rhyme schemes you should listen to some 311. Songs like Homebrew, Omaha Stylee, and Hydroponic blow my mind. If you look at the lyrics and just listen to how it flows and how they break up the words... wow... just listen.

[tompetty]

Moma Drove Dad Crazy..

 

Moma drove Dad crazy

damned near half his life

she was more like a mother

than a loving wife

she'd rag'n nag and torture him

'till it ended in a fight

Moma drove Dad crazy

damned near half his life

 

Dad cooked Sunday dinner

then he cleaned up the mess

he was downstairs watching football

a little too happy I guess

he did all that he could do

as far as I could see

then Moma came thumping downstairs

said pay some attention to me

 

Dad came home from work one day

and she met him at the door

she was red faced and cussin'

he didn't know what for

she said I hate my life

and I wish that I was dead

Dad smiled at me,pulled a gun

and shot her through the head

 

I went up to the prison

there was a question I had to ask

the guard sat him down across from me

and said son make it fast

I said Daddy are you happy now?

or are you sorry for what you did?

then I seen a twinkle in his eye

on his face a big old grin

He said life's been hard on me son

but I don't think about the past

Moma's gone and I'm in here

Hell No,I'm free at last...

 

:D

[MikeLewisMusic]

I agree with Deef--Don't worry about the rhyming. Make the words lyrical and meaningful (you have to define what that means, because me and the rest of this crowd sure as hell don't know for your songs), and it'll be great. Sometimes as you tweek, rhymes will work their way in. Sometimes they won't. Screw it.

 

The most recurring criticism I've received of my writing is "traditional rhymes." Don't try too hard--I did, got hammered for it, learned a lesson and moved on.

 

As the youngest of four, I found that easiest lessons were learned at the expense of others. Learn from my mistakes, be better without taking the hit personally.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Originally posted by fastplant I can't seem to not write in ABAB style lately. Like: I like pie why don't you give it a try you'll like it too ...type stuff Every song of mine follows the same pattern, and not intentionally, it just keeps ending up like that. What are some other cool rhyme schemes?

 

 

 

 

Pie in your face

You're such a disgrace

Cake on your head

Kickin you outta bed

 

Pigs in the garage

Paint on my Dodge

Racers with wings on the fly

Gravy soup in your eye

 

Ramble zone tweeker mat

Rough and ready plastic hat

Standing up on the World's stage

Pointed pie crust electric rage

 

Grabba dollar ding dong

Play me a sad, sad song

Grabba silver spoon spork fork

I like a good roasted ball of pork

 

Nevertheless, it's turning blue

It's fake but sort of true

Roger thiis and copy that

Let me paint green your cat

Let me paint green your cat

 

 

ohhhh baby, baby !! OOooOOWwwww !!!

 

Let me paint green your stupid CAT

Look ! I just want to paint your cat green!

 

 

 

 

 

....sorry if I wasted your time

[PRSnotPOS]

LMAO TWEED that was great.