Songwriting is an art that takes a lot of creativity and grit to do well. Some songwriters spend years writing plenty of lyrical lines trying to get a unique emotion or idea across, but find themselves unsuccessful. Other songwriters manage to pack in-depth concepts and riveting ideas into just one line of their song lyrics. Let’s look at a few classic songs from way back when that feature absolutely amazing, rich lines. If you’re a songwriter yourself, these lines might just inspire you.
“Blowin’ In The Wind” by Bob Dylan (1963)
“How many seas must the white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?”
Videos by American Songwriter
This Bob Dylan classic is loaded with literal questions, each deeply moving on their own. However, this particular line about a white dove always punches me in the gut. When you sit on it, this lyric shows Dylan using the white dove as a metaphor for life. How much can a human being accomplish before they will finally allow themselves to rest, to feel satisfied with their life? There’s also some religious significance in this line that could take a while to unpack, too.
“The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel (1964)
“Ten thousand people, maybe more / People talking without speaking / People hearing without listening / People writing songs that voices never shared / And no one dared disturb the sound of silence.”
Anyone who has ever felt like everyone around them is constantly interacting and communicating with one another, but never really understanding or connecting, will find solace in this classic folk song from Simon & Garfunkel. Just about every lyric in this song rings true in the modern age. It’s wild to think that this poignant song was released way back in 1964.
“Imagine” by John Lennon
“You may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one / I hope someday you’ll join us / And the world will be as one.”
It’s no secret that this is one of the most beloved songs of all time. However, even if you’ve heard it a million times… have you ever really thought about this line from John Lennon’s beloved 1971 tune? This chorus line, following several verses in which Lennon implores the listener to imagine a better world, notes that he’s not alone in his belief that mankind is capable of more than pain, war, and greed. It’s devastating and also inspiring all at once. Where Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound Of Silence” insinuates that we’re disconnected, John Lennon’s “Imagine” asserts that more of us are thinking the same than we might believe. That one chorus line is one of the most inspiring lyrics of the 1970s.
Photo by CBS Photo Archive