Songwriting is “Easy” According to John Lennon
In a 1983 interview with Molly Meldrum, David Bowie talked about how much he admired John Lennon’s songwriting capabilities. He recalled a time when Lennon said to him, “It’s very easy…all you have to do is say what you mean, make it rhyme, and put a backbeat to it”. Here, we will break down this formula of Lennon’s into 3 parts so you too can make songwriting “Easy”.
This article is a summarised transcript of our video “John Lennon’s ‘Easy’ Songwriting Formula”. Click here to watch the video for more details, explanations and examples.
Say What You Mean
As songwriters, we’re prone to rushing the creative process before we’re clear on what the song is about. However, it’s important to remember that before starting a song, we should be clear on what we want to say. Once that’s been decided, don’t hold back – say what you want to say courageously.
For example, let’s take a look at the song “Imagine” by John Lennon. In the lyrics for this song, it’s extremely clear that he wants to make a change. This message is clear and consistent throughout the entire song. It’s important to remember this because although you know the backstory to your song, your listeners don’t. So, if you’re using cryptic metaphors, your listener won’t comprehend their context,
In Lennon’s song “Luck of the Irish”, he uses some very strong language to criticise British rule in Ireland. Beatles biographer Chris Ingam has described this song as “political propaganda”, and “sentimental, condescending poetry”. This shows that sometimes, saying what you mean can invite criticism, and backlash. Regardless, we as songwriters shouldn’t shy away from telling the truth about our story.
On the other hand, the song “Jealous Guy” sees Lennon telling the truth in a very different way. The lyrics of this song are self-deprecating, and feel almost as if we are eavesdropping on a conversation between Lennon and his lover. It turns out that this song is entirely about Lennon. He explains in a 1980 interview with journalist David Chef that he wrote the song about his view on relationships, and his urge to “possess” his lover in their entirety.
To learn how to plan out your song’s message clearly from start to finish, click here to download a free Song Map Template PDF:
Make It Rhyme
John Lennon has another famous quote regarding this that goes, “Tell the truth, and make it rhyme”. There’s no avoiding it – rhyme is a big deal to songwriters. However, it’s necessary to remember that the type of rhyme that we choose is just as important as the act of rhyming itself. The two main factors that we have to consider are rhyme scheme, and rhyme type.
Rhyme scheme refers to our end line rhymes i.e. the words we use at the very end of our lines. For example, the classic children’s song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” has the rhyme scheme AABB. This is a very stable form of rhyme with two rhyming couplets one after the other.
Rhyme type can be categorised into imperfect and perfect rhyme. An example of perfect rhyme is “high” and “sky”, whilst an example of imperfect rhyme is “high” and “night”. The usage of perfect rhyme creates a stable, and resolved effect. On the other hand, using imperfect rhymes results in tension, and instability.
Not only did Lennon understand the functions of rhyme, he skillfully made little variations with these techniques to create new and interesting sounds. We can see this in action if we look at the chorus of “Jealous Guy”. The first two lines of the chorus are “I was feeling insecure/ You might not love me anymore”. The words “Insecure” and “Anymore” don’t actually rhyme with each other. To create the illusion of rhyme, Lennon pronounces “Anymore” with an “Uh” sound instead of an “Oh” sound.
Another great example for us to look at is the song “Imagine”. Below are the lyrics for the first verse and chorus:
Notice how aside from “Try” and “Sky”, the majority of the song is unrhymed. This results in a song structure which sounds quite unstable. Another song by John Lennon that uses this technique is “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. At this point, we have to ask ourselves, “Why does Lennon do this?”. The reason is quite ingenious. When you write lyrics repeatedly using perfect rhymes, they become predictable, and like a children’s rhyme.
By using lots of imperfect rhymes in between perfect rhymes, Lennon makes his writing sound more mature. It also has the added benefit of helping our lyrics sound more conversational. After all, everyday speech generally doesn’t rhyme. In short, when Lennon says “Make it rhyme”, he means “Make some of it rhyme, and leave the rest as conversational”.
Put a Backbeat to It
Before discussing what it means to put a backbeat on a song, we must first understand what a backbeat is. By definition, a backbeat is a steady, pronounced rhythm stressing the 2nd and 4th beats of a four bar measure. In terms of drums, the kick usually comes in on the 1st and 3rd beats, while the snare comes in on the 2nd and 4th.
When putting a backbeat on a song, we must consider it’s time signature. For the majority of John Lennon’s songs, he writes in 4/4 time. Part of the reason for this is because 4/4 has a driving energy to it that lends well to genres such as rock and dance music.
However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any benefits to experimenting with other time signatures. For example, 6/8 has a side to side swaying motion which is suitable for R&B. You can also change other aspects such as the groove, and chord length to create different feels within 4/4 time.
Conclusion: Songwriting is “Easy” According to John Lennon
Throughout our discussion of Lennon’s songwriting formula, one thing is clear – he is an extremely talented songwriter with a great track record of hit songs. This is exactly why it’s important for us to study him. After all, only through learning and adapting the methods of great songwriters can we improve our own songwriting skills.
If you would like more details, explanations and examples, then be sure to check out the video now.