I worked with a cowriter who was a stickler for counting syllables in the lines and insisting that they match up. The reasoning was simple. When you vary the syllable count you also force a different melody and feel to the verses. Of course as he points out with the Beatles song In My Life.... rules are meant to be bent and even broken but you have to break them in a way that works.

I'm thinking, if I was to examine my works over the past several years, not a single song I've written follows the syllable count exactly.

BTW: I just checked my Baptist Hymnal and those rebellious souls don't have those numbers at the bottom of the hymn.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.