Songwriting Club – Exercise #1: The Art of A Clever Line

Jul 24
1 min read

Updated: Jul 24

Due Wednesday, July 29 and Friday, July 31, 2026 Aloha Songwriting Club!

One of the things that separates memorable songs from ordinary ones can sometimes be a single line. What many people don't realize is that writing great songs takes practice. This week's assignment is all about sharpening that skill.

EXERCISE #1: The Art Of A Clever Line

Part 1: Find a Clever Line (Due Wednesday, July 29)

Choose one lyric from any song that you think is especially clever.

In your post, include:

The lyric (or a short excerpt)
The song title and artist
A few sentences explaining why you think it's clever.

Part 2: Write Your Own Clever Line (Due Wednesday, July 29)

Write one original line that could belong in a song.

There is no word limit and no pressure for it to be perfect. It doesn't even have to rhyme. The goal is simply to practice thinking creatively.

Part 3: Leave thoughtful comments on at least two other posts (Due Friday, July 31)

Some ideas for great feedback:

What line stood out to you?
What made their original lyric memorable?
What image or emotion did it create?
What would you love to hear more of?

40 Comments

Kala'e Music

Aug 10

Just realized my homework didn't publish! Here's mine -

I can feel the love I want

I can feel the love I need

But it's never gonna come the way I am

Could I change if I wanted

Can I rise above the flood

“Will it wash out in the water or is it always in the blood” - John Mayer

I really like lines that are reflective. He talks about generational family traits that he'll choose to carry, can't get rid of, or make the choice to change it for his future.

“When will my reflection show who I am inside” - Mulan

Disney writers almost always hit. They land some of the best lines. Using the word "reflection"…

Maria Kanehailua

Jul 30

Maria

Part 1:

Life is a challenge not a competition

You can still smell the roses and be on a mission

Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart

Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove

Remind yourself that there's only one you

Just take a moment to give thanks for who you are

Song: "A Beautiful Day"

Artist: India Arie

I love listening to this song when I need these reminders lol :) Sometimes when I get caught up in the hustle & bustle of everything, it's a perfect song to help me stop, take a breath & get grounded within myself. "There's only one you" and "Give thanks for who you are" are…

Makanani Kaauamo

Aug 01

Replying to

I love how your lyrics make me feel. Music is so healing and turning to music always helps me with my mood. Whether itʻs something hard and metal or rap to help me work through anger, or something like reggae to help me feel good, or something "moody" to allow me to get in my feels - music has always (and will always) been there for me and it can transport me to a place I want to (or need to) be. Your lyrics hit perfectly because there is so much going on in each of our worlds, but if we have just the right song, "the chaos quickly floats away". Beautiful!!!

aventurine

Jul 30

Part 1:

Song: "On My Own"

Artist: Frances Ruffelle

Lyric(s):

And now I'm all alone again, Nowhere to turn, no one to go to

Without a home, without a friend

Without a face to say hello to

And now the night is near, and I can make-believe he's here

Sometimes I walk alone at night when everybody else is sleeping

I think of him and then I'm happy with the company I'm keeping

The city goes to bed, and I can live inside my head

On my own, pretending he's beside me

All alone, I walk with him 'til morning

Without him, I feel his arms around me

And when I lose my way I close my eyes and he…

holly holman

Aug 02

Replying to

Hili,

Great song choice. I have never seen Les Mis or heard any of the music, but from the lines you chose, you can definitely sense aloneness, despair and unending love. I like how you mentioned the orchestra matching her voice, I can envision that with your description. I'll have to take a listen now!

As for your original lyrics, I like how you were clever with the word "so" like you said. It can be the end of the 2nd sentence, or a start to the 3rd. I like your rhyming and look forward to seeing more of where this song will take us.

Kalaiku Kaneshiro

Jul 30

'Cause there'll be no sunlight

If I lose you, baby

There'll be no clear skies

If I lose you, baby

Just like the clouds

My eyes will do the same if you walk away

Everyday it'll rain, rain, rain

Song; It will rain

Artist: Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is one of my favorite artists and this line that he wrote makes a lot of sense. In a way the line is like a metaphor that kind of says something like if you walk away everyday will be filled with sorrow. He chose to write more of a complex and detailed line instead of something simple.

Part 2:

There's a path ahead leading me to a new future

Knowing I should…

Edited

Kelii K

Aug 06

Replying to

Wow... I really like how you are capturing the moment of how you're currently feeling. While you're specifically referencing going to a new school, a lot of people can relate to this feeling of change and uncertainty and also be comforted that everything will be alright for the better.

gyrl96762

Jul 29

Part 1:

Lyric:

Oh, my darling knock the times

On the ceiling if you want me

Twice on the pipe

If the answer is no

Song Title & Artist:

"Knock Three Times"

Tony Orlando & Dawn

I think these lines are clever because:

· The ceiling and pipe serve as a meaningful symbol of the neighbors separation & connection

· The knocks & taps create a simple code of communicating “yes” or “no”

· The singer & the neighbor are united physically: her ceiling is his floor

· The verse cleverly use the way sound travels through wood & pipes to make their secret exchange believable

This song brings back memories of my childhood days. There was a Mom & Pop store…

holly holman

Aug 02

Replying to

I love how songs transport us all to different places. Thank you for sharing your story about your experience with this song. Sounds like a lively and fun time. A friend introduced me to this song a long time ago and we used to pretend to hit the ceiling or pipe when singing it. It was definitely a clever way to talk about communicating with each other as neighbors, and a song that will never leave your brain.

I love how your original lyrics can show us the daily grind and how we can always be in a rush in life. I like the second lyrics also showing the headspace of a foodie. All us foodies can relate! I look…