The single, most important principle I learned in three years at college: the power of music lies in surprise.

The same advice holds true for writing the music: chords, song structures, rhythm, melodies. To keep it interesting, establish patterns to create expectation, then subvert that expectation to create tension or surprise.

I want to point out a song that we all (well most of us anyway) know, but when I started to work on it I was stunned to find there were NO rhymes through most of it.  It is Cat Steven's "Father and Son" . IN the first verse below, nothing rhymes until the last three lines.

Here is the first verse, so you can see:

It’s not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You’re still young, that’s your fault,
There’s so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I’m happy.
I was once like you are now, and I know that it’s not easy
To be calm when you’ve found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Think of everything you’ve got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

No mention of the greatest, Dylan. Might be something to learn from him.

Lyle Lovett is great with disrupting expected patterns and somehow making the landings more satisfying.

Joni can make a line with 25 syllables flow perfectly into a line with 6 syllables whether it rhymes or not.  Incredible

It's like you just gave me permission to explore new rhyme schemes, Keppie. I've been working on three new songs, and have been thinking about this very thing so much. Thank you!

You are the greatest teacher I have ever seen!

The expectations sometime challenge writers who feel obligated to established patterns. But once you understand the craft of writing and know what works and what doesn't, you can create those lyrics that draw the listeners in and make the song unforgettable. It took me years to get there, but once I did, it was an 'ah-ha!' moment.

I know how hard it is to use actual songs on YouTube without being demonitized by the platform but hearing those song parts would help a lot more!

Fresh out of my nightmares
Night chased me down the stairs
Hallway ghosts shut all the doors
As I tripped and rolled onto the floor
- jmf...

Since I retired I have attempted to write some songs. This is the first really useful information I have found on the subject. Looking at one song I found I used an A B C B scheme for both verses and chorus.   Surprise can also be in chord structure, typical, for example in some of the amazing songs Sting has written. But repetition can also be used to build tension. One of the best arrangements ever of an English folk song is Martin Carthy's arrangement of: "Famous Flower of Serving Men". It is a long ballad but has what I can only describe as an hypnotic feel to it.

Perfectly timed video. I've written 2 sets of lyrics in the last couple of weeks and now I can see a whole lot of A B A B rhyming! Might have to do the exercise over the weekend :-)

Highway 29 last line goes…yeah I was running I was runnin then I was flying.

I love the way Passenger ends his song “Catch in the Dark” — his verses up until the end are all 4 lines, and the last stanza ends after the 3rd line: “she leaves me with no warning”, complete cliffhanger in the best way possible. In that case, it’s A-A-A-B; A-A-A  
It’s that setting up of expectation and then catching you off guard. Great stuff.

Shout out to Jason Isbell. A national treasure at lyric writing!

What about the actual ideas behind the songs, not the craft? When i think of Cohen or Mitchell, what theyre singing about is often just as important as the craft. Suzanne by Leonard Cohen id argue is good because of the story/idea, not the lyric craft of it. This kinda thing seems rarely discussed.

One of the best movie songs in the past ten years is “Glasgow,” from the movie “Wild Rose.” Not a single line really rhymes, but it is so well constructed that it’s not noticeable until after a few listens. Kudos to Mary Steenbergen!!

Basic rule: It's not what you say, but how you say it!

this is really great