How best can i write song lyrics?

I love writing songs but whenever I try to write the lyrics they turn out crap and I have to use lyrics from somewhere else. I always write from the heart but whenever I try and make my lyrics rhyme they just come out really processed and sound like a 10 year old wrote them. Help?

How best can i write song lyrics?
This is what I wrote to answer a similar question a while ago:





First of all, you need to pick a subject. It could be anything, even if the theme is cliched, good lyrics will make it stand out from the crowd. Your song could be about anything - something that worries you, something that you love...you could even write about how you don't know what to write about. You need to pick something that you and a lot of other people can relate to. If you don't know anything about what you're writing about, your lyrics will seem shallow and forced. Once you've found the right topic, the words will flow naturally.





Then, you need to start writing. Brainstorm. Put your theme in the middle and make a mind map of all the connotations, synonyms and antonyms. This may help you to come up with a hook or title, or just a line that could fit anywhere in the song. Once you've brainstormed, you need to start writing the actual lyrics. This doesn't mean you have to start with the first verse. I often start with the chorus, then go to the second verse, then any other verse, then the first verse, and finally the bridge.





Next, you need to read through and make sure you've got a good rhythm. If you're the one that will be composing the music to this song, then the meter doesn't have to be understood by anyone but you. If somebody else is composing the music, you need to make sure they understand the meter you've written in.





You also need to structure your lyric correctly. Not all songs have to go verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus. You can do what you like with the structure as long as it fits with the lyric.





If you're telling a story in your song, the first verse should be an introduction to the situation. The chorus (if you have one) should sum up the general situation. The following verses should move the story forward - make sure you're not just saying the same thing in a different way. The bridge should add something to the chorus - why, or how did the situation come about?


Songs don't have to be a story; they can be just a feeling. If your song is a feeling, make sure the feeling is strong. You'll need lots of imagery to do this, and lots of originality. Avoid cliches.





Remember, lyrics don't have to rhyme. If your song does have a rhyme scheme, make sure it's natural. By this I mean don't fit the line around the rhyme. This will make it sound forced. You'll find out by the rhythm of your song whether a rhyme scheme is needed or not.





I think the best advice I can give you is really put your heart and soul into this. Writing great lyrics takes a lot more work than people think it does. If you love what you write, other people will love it too and that is the most important thing if you want to have people perform your songs.





If you ever want me to critique your lyrics, just message me and I'll gladly offer you some advice. Don't worry; I won't steal them :p








One last thing: keep at it! Don't give up, you will get better!
Reply:well, first off, start from scratch, what do you want to write a song about?" don't make it ryme, just out if the top fo your head, and write them down. make a whole song, and when you are done read it. then, go part by part fixing it and thinking of a beat that suddenly comes to your head. think of a song you like, and somewhat copy the beat, and keep making it up until you get it. again, go over each part, singing it. then, change the words o a deeper more meaningful song. in the end, this hopefully wil turn out as a song. ~good luck!~