Ever stare at a blank page, wondering where to begin your next song?
Here’s a simple tip that can help you break through the noise:
Start with a title...
It might sound too easy but it’s one of the BEST ways I’ve learned to launch me into songwriting. — starting with a title gives your song clarity, purpose, and direction. It acts like a compass, helping you stay emotionally and thematically grounded as you write.Â
Here's why it works...
Focus: You’re not guessing what the song is about — the title defines it.
Cohesion: Every lyric you write can build toward or reflect the title.
Memorability: A strong title helps listeners remember your song long after it’s over.
Keep in mind…If you choose a song title that’s too common, hundreds (maybe thousands) of other songwriters could be using the same one. That means your song might get lost in the crowd, making it harder for your audience to find it — and that’s the last thing you want when you’re putting your heart into your music.
With that said, choosing a unique and powerful title helps your song stand out, not only when writing but also when promoting it later on.
Big Artists who do this...
Taylor Swift has said in interviews that she often starts with titles or central concepts, and then builds around them. Her song “All Too Well” came from a phrase she couldn’t shake.
Ed Sheeran uses a title or phrase he wants to say in conversation — many of his songs start as titles (“Photograph,” “Thinking Out Loud”).
Dolly Parton wrote Jolene and I Will Always Love You starting with just their titles (in the same day!).
Carole King and Max Martin (the hit-making pop producer) both follow structure-heavy approaches where the title or chorus anchor is the first thing they lock in.
- And YES, even I have written songs with the title first like my song I’m So Done. I had just ended a relationship with someone and I kept saying to myself “I’m So Done” and that lauched me into writing it.Â
The next time you sit down to write, try coming up with a title first..that means something to you — and let it guide you into writing the rest of it.Â
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Your Songwriting Friend,
