In which you shall write a song about a villain with redeeming qualities
Write a song whose main character is a villain.
There are many flavors of villain, of course: the unscrupulous CEO, the violent husband, the heartless thief, the cheating lover… you can invent more.
Whatever you end up with, convey this character’s sinister motives, attitudes, or worldview—and to make this villain more interesting, give her at least one quality that’s somehow redeeming or compelling.
In every villain we see something we can relate to: maybe it’s frank honesty that we wish we had. Maybe it’s complete freedom and power. Or maybe we see the villain in a moment of pain, sorrow, even generosity.
Use any song form you want. Good luck.
Back to Lyric Writing Exercises
Recommended Listening
- Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
- Everything Goes to Hell, Tom Waits
- Sometimes the Line Walks You, Murder by Death
