Often the best way of learning a craft is taking the best examples you can find and tearing them apart to see what makes them tick. Pick five of your favorite songs — anything from a ’40s standard to the latest by Nickelback. Listen to the song and analyze its structure by writing out the lyric in its entirety (you can find accurate transcripts of lyrics on many music sites on the Internet). You’ll then be able to note the song’s various sections by verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, out chorus, and whatever other spare parts you encounter. See if the songs you like the most follow any particular pattern — if so, you may want to pattern your song after that form.

When analyzing the structure of your favorite songs, notice how the great ones push the boundaries of song craft for maximum impact. As you are listening and making notes, take an especially close look at the following areas:

• What is it about each section that sets it apart from the rest of the song? For instance, notice how the story builds verse to verse as the song unfolds, how the chorus lifts the song to new heights, and how the bridge does its job by giving the listener some fresh chord changes and some new emotional ammunition.
• What is truly unusual or original about the structure or composition? Most songs you encounter that have survived the test of time have one or more elements that elevate it above the pack. “We Built This City” (written by Bernie Taupin, Peter Wolf, Martin Page, and Dennis Lambert), the ’80s hit for Starship, starts right out with the sing-a-long chorus. Certain songs defy logic by shifting their key signature down, instead of up, on the last chorus. Find those special elements in the songs that really get your attention.
• Where do the titles appear in your favorite songs? Daring writers often disregard the traditional practice of placing the title at the beginning of the chorus. Notice songs that position their title at the end of the chorus or in the verse or pre-chorus, or that dispense with it altogether.