2nd Verse Curse
The Second Verse Curse is a term coined by songwriters everywhere to describe the difficulty of penning a second verse. A lot of writers get stuck at this point. Having finished a first verse, pre-chorus, and verse, it can be quite frustrating to figure out what the song needs in order to move forward. So, let's talk about some strategies for overcoming the Second Verse Curse.
So, when you've arrived at the second you've likely established several things in your songs: melodies for each section of your song, a loose idea for a story, and some lyrical focal point in the chorus. A lot of work has been done and its time to dig into your second verse. Typically, you'll apply the same melody as the first verse to the second. This won't always be the case. But when it is, the following are some options for how to approach your second verse lyric content.
1) Ask yourself the following: Where should the story go? Especially when you're working with characters or autobiographical experience, this can be a great question. Fleshing out the direction of the story will inform you of what content you need to include in the second verse. Believe it or not, a great autobiographical story song of the modern day is Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next." There are three verses in this song and each one focuses on a different time in Ariana's life. The first chronicles her past, the second analyzes her present, and the third considers her future. This chronological storytelling in the verses gives us a clear through line for the story being told.
2) Ask yourself the following: What hasn't been said? A lot of writers can get bogged down in repeating the same content in both of a song's verses. Don't be that writer. Make sure that the lyrical content of your second verse adds to your song instead of repeating what's already been said. Your second verse is a chance to recapture your audience's attention, so make sure not to be redundant. Kacey Musgrave's song "Blowing Smoke" provides us an example for this line of questioning. The song builds out the world of a diner in which the women working there promise to quit, but never do. Kacey uses the second verse to further construct this world by introducing new characters to the collage which draws us back in.
3) Write to the hook. Your first verse and your pre-chorus lead up to some lyrical focal point in the chorus. Songs like "Chandelier" by Sia show us clearly defined motifs for a chorus lyric. After establishing the central conceit of being a chaotic party girl swinging from a chandelier, Sia uses the second verse to hone in on the idea. She's the the one "for a good time call" but when the "sun is up [she's] a mess." By using the second verse to highlight the central conceit of the song, Sia makes her entire song more focused.
