LYRIC CHEAT SHEET
Lesson 3: Metaphorical Magic
Action Points:
The most of important goal of lyric writing is building a connection with your audience. It's writing lyrics that have impact and get understood. And there is one technique that will achieve this goal.
The Metaphor.
These are literally false statements that make abstract ideas relatable. A tool that creates a connection between you and your audience. And it's only with this connection that your lyrics will be truly impactful.
So make sure to use them!
One metaphor per song goes a long way.
One per song section will drive the point home!
Songs That Use This Concept:
I Miss You by blink-182
[Verse 1]
Hello, there The angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim
Of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
And we'll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night, we'll wish this never ends
We'll wish this never ends
Explanation
These lines use metaphorical images like “the angel from my nightmare” and “the shadow in the background of the morgue” to turn feelings of loss and loneliness into haunting, cinematic scenes. By mixing references to iconic characters and dark visuals, the lyrics create a world where longing feels both magical and eerie. This use of metaphorical magic transforms ordinary heartbreak into something vividly memorable and emotionally charged.
Heathens by Twenty One Pilots
[Verse 1]
Welcome to the room of people who have rooms of people
That they loved one day, locked away
Just because we check the guns at the door
Doesn't mean our brains will change from hand grenades
You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you
You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you
You'll think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said, please don't forget
Explanation
These lines use metaphorical language like “brains...change from hand grenades” to transform ordinary thoughts into explosive and unpredictable danger. By comparing minds and emotions to weapons, the song creates a vivid and unsettling atmosphere, pulling the listener into a world that feels both real and symbolic. This technique makes the song memorable and gripping, capturing complex emotions and scenarios with just a few powerful, metaphor-driven images.
Poison by Alice Cooper
[Verse 1]
Your cruel device
Your blood like ice
One look could kill
My pain, your thrill
Explanation
These lines showcase metaphorical magic by turning a toxic relationship into physical danger, using metaphors like “your blood like ice” and “one look could kill.” Instead of plainly describing emotional pain, the song paints it as something deadly, instantly vivid and memorable. By comparing love to poison throughout, Alice Cooper transforms a breakup song into a sensory, high-stakes experience, drawing the listener in with bold figurative language.
Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
[Verse 1]
How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors?
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
Without a soul (Oh)
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
Explanation
These lines use metaphorical magic by comparing eyes to “open doors” and describing numbness as a spirit “sleeping somewhere cold.” Instead of stating her emotional state directly, Amy Lee paints evocative pictures that dramatize inner emptiness and longing for rescue. These powerful, figurative images grip the listener, amplifying both the emotion and visual impact of the song.
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