Analogy and visual description

A lot of great songs IMMEDIATELY set a scene by VISUAL description, then use that as a backdrop for something barely related, or a metaphor for it. Some do it all at the same time. They become like mosaics sticking descriptions of visual ideas alongside emotions to create something larger than both. ('You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky' - what the hell are you on about Sting?....but, you gotta agree, it conjures up something 'new' because its semi-abstract: how can the sun think, and how can the sky be jealous?)

Is your love like a field of barley or a shag behind the bike shed?

If you're feeling something 'beautiful' then have a go at writing something that is also beautiful alongside it.

When you have feelings, try and think of other things that could relate...

Hate = anvil, hammer, black, dull, rough, thick, heavy clouds etc
Love = Summers day, sun, happy children, babies smile etc
Loss = Falling leaves, distant winds, etc
Peace = calm seas, distant shores etc

...and then write those things INSTEAD, missing out any explanation entirely, and let the listener fill in the gaps - with their own visuals and emotions - give them a landscape to feel what you're saying, don't write them into a corner - and they will connect with what you're saying because they have had to join in to make the song whole - you've let them fill in the gaps

Story songs (as in songs with a name title) are usually fables/parables which of course are analogies of real life. Otherwise I'd write a song about my mums trip to the shops, where she comes back at the end...and makes a sandwich - not much to learn in that story unless you want to uncover the delights of the local precinct or the intricacies of a cheese and tomato sandwich.

Of course, the songs we write are analogous to ourselves, as we can never BE the song. We can only DESCRIBE how we feel. Lists of feelings don't often make a good song, mainly because when someone else hears the lyrics, they have lost their emotional connection to the writer in the translation. The music can help bring the meaning back to the words, as can the use of clever lyrics.

Young bands can get very excited thinking they've written a great song and be upset when no one else 'gets it'. Unfortunately, people aren't mind-readers and need quite a lot of information to know where you're coming from with your songs. If people don't connect with your songs it's YOUR FAULT, you were the one who wanted to write a song in the first place. No point sulking or calling other people stupid.

To be truthful I found it hard to pull away from 'literal' songwriting and it was awkward at first as everything I wrote felt overly descriptive when I tried this approach. Until I realized there was no such thing. It just meant I had to write less words.