Writing Lyrics, any ideas?

Although I've always fancied myself as a writer (you have no idea how many ninja stories I wrote as a kid), the one thing I've always seen myself as horrible at is poetry/lyrics.

I'm very good at coming up with cliche rhymes, simple iambic pentameter type of drivel, but I find it difficult to write a lyric that is poignant, catchy and interesting.  In the back of my head I always have this little voice telling me to make it rhyme.  I know that it really doesn't have to rhyme, but I tend to do it anyway.

Just for kicks I'll show you what I mean.

I missed the tube today,
and got soaked in the morning rain
which made me feel really sad
like that time that you slept with Chad.

See, stupid.  And who is Chad anyway? 

So to get to the point, if there are any poets in the house, please feel free to write some suggestions on how to have a lyrical breakthrough!  I've got quite a few music only numbers that are just waiting for that right piece of verse to make it pop.

Comments

[Danielle]

Okay ... so, why not write stories instead of prose-style lyrics? Once they are done, you could cut them up into verses, or whatever. In the long run, it might not be the best approach, but it might be enough to get over the rhyming block ...