When it comes to writing lyrics that actually connect with people, everyday language is one of the most powerful tools you’ve got. It might not seem flashy or poetic on the surface, but when used well, it can cut deeper than any metaphor or clever rhyme ever could.
Here’s why everyday language works so well in songwriting and how you can use it to make your lyrics hit harder, feel more authentic, and stick in people’s minds.
It Connects Instantly
Songs are emotional communication. If a listener has to think too hard about what you’re trying to say, you’ve already lost them. But when your lyrics sound like something they’d say (or wish they could say), they feel that connection right away.
Think of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Paul Kelly, or John Prine. They use plain language that sounds like conversation, but somehow it carries the weight of a thousand emotions. That’s not an accident, it’s craft.
“You can write a song with three chords and the truth.”
– Harlan Howard
Everyday language is that “truth.” It doesn’t need dressing up, it just needs to be said clearly.
It Feels Real
When lyrics sound like natural speech, they also feel honest. There’s no filter. No pretension. No trying to sound impressive. Just a real person, saying a real thing. That’s powerful.
Compare:
“I am emotionally impaired by your unexpected departure.”
vs.
“I can’t believe you just left.”
One sounds like a university essay. The other sounds like heartbreak. Guess which one hits harder?
It’s Easier to Sing (and Remember)
Everyday phrases tend to have a built-in rhythm. They’re natural in the mouth, easy on the tongue, and they often sit better in melodies. That makes them easier to sing and easier to remember, especially important for hooks and choruses.
If someone can walk away humming your chorus and singing the words after one listen, you’ve done your job. Familiar language helps that happen.
It Invites the Listener In
When your lyrics are grounded in everyday speech, you’re creating space for the listener to bring their own meaning to the song. The more they see themselves in your words, the deeper the connection.
Songs don’t have to explain everything. They just need to make the listener feel something. Simple, conversational lyrics leave room for that.
How to Use Everyday Language in Your Writing
Here are a few ways to lean into this approach without losing the art of good songwriting:
1. Say It Out Loud First
Before you write, speak. If it sounds natural when you say it in conversation, it probably belongs in the lyric. Record yourself explaining the idea of the song. Then write that down. That’s your raw material.
“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”
That could easily be a chorus.
2. Listen to Real Life
Mine conversations, texts, voice memos, and things overheard in cafes or at gigs. Real people say brilliant, emotional, funny, and powerful things every day without even trying.
Examples:
- “This doesn’t feel like home anymore.”
- “I was fine until you called.”
- “You always do this.”
Those could be song titles.
3. Use Specific, Everyday Imagery
Simple doesn’t mean vague. The more specific you are, the more universal the feeling becomes.
Instead of:
“I miss the past.”
Try:
“I miss the way your car seat squeaked on Sunday mornings.”
Details are the poetry.
4. Don’t Worry About Grammar
Lyrics aren’t essays. They’re meant to sound like emotion, not schoolwork. If it sounds right, sing it. If it feels like something you’d say in real life, even with a double negative… that’s okay.
Examples:
- “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.”
- “I can’t get no satisfaction.”
Watch Out For These Common Pitfalls
1. Don’t Get Lazy With It
Everyday language still needs care. It’s not about being bland, it’s about being real. You’re not trying to write tweets or texts. You’re shaping natural speech into rhythm, melody, and feeling.
2. Avoid Clichés
Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s effective. “Love hurts,” “I miss you,” and “you broke my heart” might be true, but they’re also overused.
Find your own spin. Say the familiar in an unfamiliar way.
3. Keep the Balance
Everyday language should ground the song, not flatten it. Your job is to take something ordinary and make it feel extraordinary. You can still be poetic, just don’t sound like you swallowed a thesaurus.
A Few Real-World Examples
Paul Kelly – “To Her Door”
“They got married early, never had no money
Then when he got laid off, they really hit the skids”
Sounds like someone telling you a story at the bar. That’s why it works.
Missy Higgins – “Scar”
“Got advice from a friend
I got high and I tried to amend it…”
You could hear someone say this in a conversation and not even blink. But put it to music, and it’s relatable gold.
Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
“You said we should look out further
I guess it wouldn’t hurt us
We don’t have to be around all these coffee shops.”
Courtney’s lyrics often sound like she’s just thinking out loud, and that’s why they hit with such quiet power.
My Final Thought…
Everyday language is how we live. It’s how we love, argue, break down, laugh, and heal. If your lyrics sound like real life, not a lecture, not a poem, not a slogan, people will feel like you’re singing their lives back to them.
And that’s what great songwriting is all about.
