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SUGGESTIONS FOR
WRITERS OF HYMN LYRICS
Content
and style
-
Find your
own voice. Be creative in choosing subject matter and fresh in choosing
words. Identify subjects that deserve more attention
-
Find images
to give focus to your ideas; a hymn is not a theological treatise, but a
poem. Choose images carefully, so that all humans are honored; for
example, avoid use of "dark" or "blind" as metaphors for sin or evil.
-
Seek to
unify the text thematically so that everything fits and progresses well.
Rhyme
-
Be
consistent with your rhyme scheme, if you use rhyme; e.g. you might always
rhyme lines 2 and 4, and 6 and 8.
-
Be sure
that every rhyming word is so appropriate to your theme, purpose, and style
that no one could guess which was chosen first; use a thesaurus and rhyming
dictionary.
-
Avoid
speaking of God’s dwelling as “above”—even though it rhymes with love.
-
Be
consistent in patterns of rhyming or not rhyming. Rhymes help to unify a
text and make it memorable; other devices, such as repetition, can also do
these things.
Rhythm and
meter
-
Be
consistent with rhythm. To test, say words aloud, exaggerating the meter.
-
Keep strong
accented words, not words such as "of" or "the," on primary beats.
-
When using
a familiar tune, make sure your syllables perfectly fit the listed meter
(e.g. 8.7.8.7. means a line of 8 syllables, then by a line of 7 syllables,
then 8, then 7.)
-
Don’t add
an extra syllable when there is a slur (notes tied together) in the music.
-
Most words
should be of one or two syllables, lest the rhythm be distorted.
Sounds.
Listen to
the way your words sound with your chosen music.
-
Are some
words hard to say with your tune? (For example, “Christ’s” is hard to sing
quickly—six consonants and only one vowel.)
-
Do the
words sound like your meaning? (For example, open vowels may suggest
peacefulness; closed vowels and hard consonants may express tension; and
repeated “m” sounds may sound pleasantly hypnotic.)
Clarity and
syntax.
-
Follow
normal English word order as much as possible, rather than inverting word
order to serve rhyme or rhythm.
-
To make it
possible for your text to fit a tune well, place clause or sentence breaks
and shifts in feeling tone at the same place in each stanza.
-
Keep
sentence structure simple, with subject and verb close together, so that
singers can follow your meaning. Each sentence should be grammatically
complete in most cases.
Join the Hymn
Society in the United States and Canada, Boston University School of Theology,
745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215-1401. It publishes The Hymn, a
journal about hymns, with information about hymn writing, meetings, and places
to submit new hymns.
Resources:
Duck, Ruth C.
Finding Words for Worship, Chapter 8. Louisville: Westminister/Knox,
1995.
Grindal, Gracia.
Lessons in Hymnwriting. Fort Worth, Tex.: The Hymn Society, 1986, 1991.
Lovelace,
Austin. The Anatomy of Hymnody. Chicago: G.I.A., 1982.
Publishing
Your Hymns
I am often contacted by
people who would like tips about publishing or refining their hymn texts,
tunes, or anthems. Here is what I can offer:
- Before presenting your work to a publisher, ask
for feedback from someone you trust.
- If you are able, sign up for a hymn writing
workshop with the Hymn Society. It is a full week of classes. You
study in small groups with some leading hymn text and tune writers, and
receive detailed feedback. Or come to the Hymn Society Annual Meeting
and take in as many workshops as you are able.
- Study the catalogues of various publishers of
church music. Some publishers with interest in hymn texts and tunes
include G.I.A. Publications, Hope Publishing Company, Oregon Catholic
Press, Selah, and Wayne Leopold. If you are more interested in
contemporary Christian music, notice the name of the copyright owner of
songs you particularly like. (I don’t know much about that area of
church music publishing). When you identify a publisher that has
published the most songs or hymns similar to yours, begin by submitting
your work to that publisher.
- Choose just one publisher and send a sample of
your best work to the music editor there. Be honest with yourself;
people who look at many manuscripts may peruse them quickly and be put off by
one
poorly written text or tune. Also, present the material as neatly
and professionally as you can.
- Some of these presses review church music by as
many as a thousand people a year.
- If the publisher is interested enough in you to
want to work with you if you are willing to change or refine your work,
jump at the opportunity. It means they like your work well enough to
consider it seriously, and that you will receive some expert help and
advice about how to improve your work.
- If your first choice publisher turns you down,
keep working down your list.
Since I am a full-time
professor, I do not have time to provide personal assistance either by
giving feedback on hymns or making personal contacts with publishers on a
writer’s behalf. Thank you for your understanding – and keep singing a new
song to God!
Ruth Duck
This page copyright by Ruth C.
Duck, 2006.
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