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Writing a song Rhyme

Why do so many songs use rhyming words?
Because:

Phrases that rhyme are far easier to remember than phrases that do not.
Words that rhyme often complement the melody of the singing part to a song. They follow the natural contours of a melody, creating a pleasing musical effect.
Rhyme helps the listener to guess which word is coming next and understand the lyrical message. This can be very useful if you're listening to a singer in a theatre or noisy club!
Rhyming words tend to stir us emotionally, giving weight to our thoughts.

In most songs, the words at the ends of lines rhyme with each other. Consecutive lines often rhyme. For example:

I'm gonna call her on the telephone a
Have her over 'cos I'm all alone a
I need excitement I need it bad b
And it's the best I ever had b

Teenage Kicks (The Undertones)
It's handy to have a rhyming dictionary around when you're writing songs.
Steve Hillier

Just as often, the end of every other line will rhyme. For example:
Are you going to Scarborough Fair? a
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme b
Remember me to one who lives there a
He once was a true love of mine b

Scarborough Fair (traditional)
The pattern of the rhymes in a song is called the rhyming scheme. Teenage Kicks' rhyme scheme is described as 'aabb', Scarborough Fair as 'abab'. There are many other rhyming schemes but these two are the most common.

Gary Osborne Gary Osborne
The lyricist discusses why he's a rhyming kinda guy and why American friends call him 'the Rhymey Limey'.
Listen to the interview
Audio help
Getting your lyric to flow well by using rhyme can be one of the most frustrating problems for a new songwriter. Here are some tips to help you on your way:

It's handy to have a rhyming dictionary around when you're writing songs. They can help you find a rhyme for almost any word, but be careful. It's quite rare that you'll find a word that not only rhymes but also fits the meaning of your lyric perfectly. Words used purely to complete a rhyme can be immensely irritating for your listeners.
Internal rhymes can sound very hooky. Simple phrases such as 'surround sound', 'firewire' and 'rolling stone' are examples of internal rhymes. Try incorporating some into your songs.
Although words that rhyme can sound profound, it can be useful to break out of rhyming occasionally. This subtly draws the listener's attention to that line, which can feel more sincere. Rappers do this all the time.
There are a fair few English words that don't have many (or any) useful rhymes, including the word 'love'! Here's a few more for you:

Almost
Every
Film
Gossip
Hungry
Junior
Monster
Orange
Pint
Sudden
Woman
You don't have to shy away from using these words, but it's best to avoid putting them at the end of your lines. Back to top

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