Do you have a song that starts with a simile?
Probably not – most of us don’t.
So, let’s add one to your song catalogue.
A simile uses the words “like” or “as” to make a comparison. When done well, the simile will give the listener far more information than you could have written in as few words.
Usually, what comes after the simile comparison explains the connection as it pertains to the song itself.
Here’s an example: in Joni Mitchell’s “Just Like This Train,” the song starts with – “I’m always running behind the time/Just like this train./Shaking into town/With the brakes complaining.”
In the above example, “shaking into town/with the brakes complaining” gives you insight into the “I” of the song.
- Write a few similes down
- Choose one to start your song with – now what happens next?
- Figure out how to tie your simile to a chorus
- Write On!
Travis Meadows – Hungry “I’ve been hungry like a stray dog. In an old abandoned town. Went runnin’ just for runnin’ sake. Cuz I couldn’t settle down.
Foreigner – You’re As Cold As Ice “You’re as cold as ice, You’re willing to sacrifice our love.
Selena – Back To You “Took you like a shot. Thought that I could chase you with a cold evening. Let a couple years water down how I’m feeling about you.”
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