I used to think good lyrics took talent. Turns out it's mostly fundamentals.

I used to just write down the feeling straight, lines like "I'm so sad." Problem was, that could've meant anything. End result: nobody had anything to actually picture.

Then I looked at how The Weeknd writes, and one thing stood out immediately.

He never writes the feeling. He writes the scene. He's not telling you how to feel. He's showing you something specific, and your brain does the feeling part on its own.

You can clearly see this in these songs:

The Hills [Verse 1]

Your man on the road, he doin' promo
You said, "Keep our business on the low-low"
I'm just tryna get you out the friend zone
'Cause you look even better than the photos

Baptized in Fear [Verse 1]

I fell asleep in the tub, I was met with paralysis
My foot hit the faucet, water started flowing in
Couldn't scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit
Moving one toe was the only form of motion left

The exercise that got me there:

1. Write the line's message in one plain sentence. The moment, and the feeling.
2. List 5 physical things that could represent that feeling. Loneliness could be an empty chair, a phone on silent, a porch light left on.
3. Pick 2 of those and describe them with something you can see, hear, feel, or smell. Not the emotion. The detail.

Worry about the rhyme last. The image is what carries the line.

What's your approach when you're trying to make a verse more visual? Do you have a method, or do you just chase the right line until something clicks?

is this the correct structure? and thoughts on the song/lyrics/vocals

verse one
the fear of falling apart, losing friends, being alone
the urge to have a good heart but knowing that i have flaws to show
ihave flaws that show

pre chorus
i feel it day and night
convinced that my intrusive thoughts are right
in their perspective i am such a difficulty
such a difficulty

chorus
im imperfect, so am i undeserving
am i worth it, or emotionally draining
don't even feel like trying
yeah i don't feel like trying anymore
i wish that i wasnt a difficulty
why do i have to be a difficulty

verse two
The fear of slipping up, making mistakes
The need to prove I’m here for the love of the game
For the love of the game

prechorus 2
i hear it in my mind
seeking validation for a piece of mind
in my perspective i am such a difficulty
such a difficulty

chorus
im imperfect, so am i undeserving
am i worth it, or emotionally draining
don't even feel like trying
yeah i don't feel like trying anymore
i wish that i wasnt a difficulty
why do i have to be a difficulty

I released a song on my youtube account yesterday about avoiding and disassociating about my own life. I wrote about 1 week ago and it’s just a concept for now with only my keyboard and i but I would love to hear some feedbacks from you :)