The parts to a song lyric are like train cars on a track rolling past, or like beads on a string. Once you know what the parts can include, it becomes easy to pick them out in a song you are listening to, or in a lyric you are writing yourself. Here are the three most commonly employed lyric formats used for the past century and a half.

1. The “Verse.Chorus.Verse.Chorus” Format

This lyric format is perhaps the most common in popular music of many genres. Its basic characteristic is a chorus that repeats more than once in the course of the lyric. In addition to the verses and choruses, there are also ornamental additions, the commonly being the “bridge” section, which commonly occurs after the second chorus and before the final chorus. Other ornamental additions to this lyric format include: intros, tags, prechorus, lifts, and codas. A sample of a basic “Verse.Chorus.Verse.Chorus.Bridge.Chorus.Tag” is John Denver’s hit “Country Roads”.

Here is a less familiar example. Can you pick out the various sections described in this format?

Mockingbird Moon

Maybe I’m crazy, but Maggie, I’m me.
One look in your eyes and I want all I see.
It may be this moonlight, or the mockingbird’s song.
I’ll steal your sweet kisses while he sings along.

Mockingbird Moon, pour down cool light–
Glow in the wide, wondering eyes
Of sweet Maggie tonight.
Mockingbird Moon, mockingbird’s tune.
Looking up through the leaves
Of these old apple trees
At that Mockingbird Moon.

Maggie, I need you for now and all time.
The mockingbird’s trill is surely a sign.
Let’s lie in the moonlight, your head near my heart–
Then give me your promise we never will part.

Mockingbird Moon, pour down cool light–
Glow in the wide, wondering eyes
Of sweet Maggie tonight.
Mockingbird Moon, mockingbird’s tune.
Looking up through the leaves
Of these old apple trees
At that Mockingbird Moon.

Mockingbird, mockingbird, Mockingbird Moon.
Mockingbird, mockingbird, mockingbird’s tune.
Maggie I love you. My heart will be true.
When the moonlight is spilling,
And the mockingbird’s trilling,
I’ll be dreaming of you–only you.
When the moonlight is thrilling,
And the mockingbird’s trilling,
I’ll be dreaming of you.

Mockingbird Moon, pour down cool light–
Glow in the wide, wondering eyes
Of my Maggie tonight.
Mockingbird Moon, mockingbird’s tune.
Looking up through the leaves
Of these old apple trees
At that Mockingbird Moon.