Syllable Control Series - Part 2: Usung Few Syllables For Effect

Friday/September/2011 11:23 PM

Hello again friends, we’re back talking about syllable control. Last time we talked a little bit about how a gospel songwriter can use syllable control to plan the meter of the song. Today, let’s talk about how to use just a few syllables to smash home the meaning of your song!
Last time we took a look at “filling buckets”. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off, but you’re going to see very few buckets this time. Probably the most underrated song, the song with few syllables that says a ton is a hot one waiting to happen.

 My Favorite Example
My favorite example of a song with few syllables that says a lot is Beulah Land. Off the top of my head, I don’t even know who wrote it. It’s one of those songs that’s been done countless times by countless groups. And for illustration purposes, that’s what we’re going to look at today.
Other notable songs like this are “If You Knew Him”, “Holy Shore”, and “There Is Hope For America” to name a few off the top of my head. Note that these songs seem to have pretty serious themes, as opposed to more lighthearted ones.
So here’s what the chorus of the song, Beulah Land looks like chopped into syllables:

Beu lah Land
I’m long ing for you
And some day
On thee I’ll stand
There my home
Will be e ter nal
Beu lah land
Sweet Beu lah land


Seriously, gospel songwriter – check that out: for a combined total of 30 syllables, here is an amazing southern gospel song chorus that has blessed countless people. 30 syllables – that’s all!


Break It Down
So let’s make some general observations here. Off the top of my head, here’s what I’m noticing:

    You may have noticed more, and that’s great. Let’s take this simple list and see what we can do to come up with something similar. We’re gonna literally write a course right now.

    Let’s Write One
    Here’s where we turn to the idea list, and it looks like we have one dealing with the idea of remembering a salvation day. Actually, we’ll make that the title of the song, “Sweet Day to Remember”.
    Notice that the title has 6 syllables. We will build a song to the tune of “    Did I Mention” (for now). Here’s what we got so far:

    Sweet day to re mem ber
    Sweet day of sal va tion
    Sweet day my e ter ni ty
    For ev er was changed
    I cling to that mem ry
    One mor ning at an al tar
    Sweet day of days
    Sweet day to re mem ber



    Not bad for a rough draft, but far from sharpened as there’s a lot more than 30 syllables here! We took advantage of the shortcuts – notice how we used the title and the first and last lines, that’s a freebie. It looks like the phrase, “sweet day” appears, well, shucks, 5 times I guess. Like Beulah Land, our chorus has coherence: the first half explains, and the second half indicates action.

    So in conclusion, here are a few things that you want to consider when writing a song with few but powerful syllables:


      I’m Adam of       AdamTigges.com, saying so long, God bless, and keep writing the good stuff.