116 Songwriting Prompts So Good, You’ll Be Writing All Night

116 Songwriting Prompts

Looking for inspiration to spark your creativity? These 116 songwriting prompts are so good, you’ll be writing all night. Dive in and let the magic of songwriting take over!

1. Write a song about a childhood memory that still makes you smile. Use vivid imagery to bring that moment to life.
2. Imagine a futuristic world where emotions are controlled by technology. Create a song that explores the struggle to find genuine feelings.
3. Think of a recent news event that moved you. Write a song from the perspective of someone directly affected by it.
4. Write a love song from the perspective of a ghost who can no longer touch or speak to their loved one. How do they express their longing?
5. Use the changing seasons as a metaphor for a relationship in transition. Capture the essence of each season in your lyrics.
6. Describe a journey across an imaginary landscape. Use your lyrics to paint a picture of the sights and sounds along the way.
7. Write about a moment of serendipity that changed your life. Focus on the emotions and details of that unexpected twist of fate.
8. Create a song that tells the story of a legendary creature. Make sure to highlight its struggles and triumphs.
9. Think of a place you’ve never been but have always wanted to visit. Write a song about your imagined experiences there.
10. Explore the feeling of nostalgia for a time you’ve never experienced. How does this imagined past influence your present?
11. Write a song from the perspective of an inanimate object in your room. What stories would it tell if it could speak?
12. Think of a personal secret you’ve never told anyone. Create a song that reveals this secret in a poetic way.
13. Describe a perfect day from sunrise to sunset. Use your lyrics to capture the small, joyful moments.
14. Write a song about a dream you once had. Focus on the surreal elements and how they made you feel.
15. Imagine a conversation between you and your future self. What advice or insights do you exchange? Write a song about that exchange.
16. Write about a natural disaster from the perspective of someone who witnessed it. Capture the fear, loss, and hope in your lyrics.
17. Think of a significant historical event. Write a song that brings a personal perspective to this moment in time.
18. Describe the experience of falling asleep and entering a dream world. Use your lyrics to transition from reality to the fantastical.
19. Imagine a world where music is forbidden. Write a song about the underground movement that keeps it alive.
20. Create a song inspired by a piece of artwork. Use the imagery and emotions from the artwork to guide your lyrics.
21. Write about the concept of time, whether it’s fleeting moments or eternal stretches. How does time affect your perspective?
22. Think of a book or movie that deeply resonated with you. Write a song that captures the essence of its story and characters.
23. Explore the feeling of homesickness in your lyrics. What do you miss the most and how does it affect you?
24. Write a song about a secret place that only you know about. Describe what makes it special and why you go there.
25. Write a love song from the perspective of your pet.
26. Think of a personal transformation you’ve undergone. Write a song that chronicles this change and what it means to you.
27. Imagine meeting a stranger who knows everything about you. Write a song about the conversation that ensues and what you learn from it.
28. Think about a time you overcame a challenge. Bottle the feeling of triumph into a song.
29. We all have those late-night thoughts. Write a song about a question that keeps you up at night.
30. Dust off an old dream. Write a song about something you used to aspire to and how you feel about it now.
31. Pick a season and bottle up its essence.  Is it the crispness of fall leaves or the carefree joy of summer? Translate that feeling into a song.
32. Sometimes the simplest things bring the most joy. Write a song about a small pleasure in your life.
33. Pick a strong emotion (jealousy, forgiveness, hope) and explore its complexities in a song.
34. Write a lullaby for a broken heart.
35. Not all heroes wear capes. Write a song about an everyday person who does extraordinary things.
36. Think about a social issue you care about. Raise awareness through the power of music.
37. Flip through an old photo album. What memories surface? Write a song about nostalgia.
38. Write a song in the voice of a villain explaining their motivations.
39. Imagine a world where colours have emotions. What would your favourite colour feel like? Write a song about it.
40. Write a song as a letter to your younger self.
41. Think about a time you witnessed an act of kindness. Capture the warmth of that feeling in a song.
42. Sometimes the most powerful message is one of hope. Write a song that uplifts and inspires.
43. Write a song titled “The Last [Noun],” where the noun is something unexpected and sparks curiosity about what it is the last of.
44. Pick a historical figure and write a song from their perspective about a turning point in their life.
45. Imagine a love story told entirely through weather metaphors (stormy relationship, sunshine happiness, etc.).
46. Pick a board game and write a song about the characters or the competition within the game.
47. Imagine a world where everyone has a second voice that only they can hear. Write a song about the internal dialogue.
48. Write a song as a sequel to a well-known fairy tale, but from the villain’s perspective.
49. Imagine a robot who starts to develop emotions. Write a song about their struggle to understand humanity.
50. Write a song about the pros and cons of social media from the perspective of a teenager.
51. Pick a conspiracy theory and write a song that explores its mystery and intrigue.
52. Imagine a world where time flows backwards. Write a song about the challenges and opportunities it presents.
53. Write a break-up song where you apologize to an inanimate object.
54. Create a song based on a single image you find in a magazine or online.
55. Write a lullaby sung by a mythical creature (dragon, mermaid, etc.) to its young.
56. Write a song about the pressure to be perfect on social media, filled with self-doubt and longing for authenticity.
57. You discover you have a hidden superpower. Write a song about the challenges and excitement of mastering it.
58. Imagine a world where everyone smells like their favourite food. Write a song about the chaos and cravings.
59. Write a song as a commercial jingle for a product that doesn’t exist, but explain its fantastical benefits.
60. Pick a scientific concept (black holes, evolution, etc.) and write a song that explores its beauty and mystery.
61. Imagine a love story between two fictional characters from completely different universes.
62. Pick an emotion and write a song that only uses metaphors to describe it.
63. You get a notification that you’ve been chosen to travel to a new planet. Write a goodbye song to Earth.
64. Write a song about the life cycle of an everyday object (pencil, coffee cup, etc.).
65. You discover a hidden room in your house. Write a song about the secrets it holds.
66. Write a song as a news report about a strange and unexpected event.
67. Pick a song you love and rewrite it from the opposite perspective.
68. Write a song about the pressure to choose a career path at a young age.
69. Write a song as a pep talk to a specific emotion (fear, doubt, etc.).
70. Pick a historical event and write a song about it from a child’s perspective.
71. Imagine a world where colours have personalities. Write a song about a friendship between two contrasting colours.
72. Write a diss track aimed at a household chore you hate.
73. You discover a hidden talent you never knew you possessed. Write a song about embracing your newfound skill.
74. Write a song about the pressure to fit in, filled with a desire for individuality.
75. Create a song based on a recurring dream you (or someone you know) have.
76. Write a love song for a fictional creature (unicorn, dragon, etc.).
77. Imagine a world where everyone communicates through emojis. Write a song about the misunderstandings and complexities.
78. Write a song as a eulogy for a lost hobby or childhood passion.
79. Imagine a world where everyone tells the truth all the time, no matter how awkward. Write a song about the chaos and honesty.
80. Write a song about the unexpected benefits of a bad day.
81. Pick a song you love and rewrite it in a completely different genre.
82. Write a song in the voice of a forgotten historical figure, reflecting on their legacy.
83. Imagine a conversation between two constellations in the night sky, sharing stories witnessed over millennia.
84. Write a song as a commercial jingle for a bizarre and useless invention.
85. Write a song as a letter of gratitude to a stranger who made a positive impact on your life.
86. Pick a scientific discovery and write a song about the awe and wonder it inspires.
87. Write a song about the pressure to be constantly connected in the digital age.
88. Imagine a world where emotions are contagious. Craft a song about the chaos and unexpected connections.
89. Write a diss track aimed at a bad habit you’re trying to break.
90. Imagine a future where humanity has built underwater cities. Write a song about the beauty and challenges of this new world.
91. Imagine a world where everyone has a spirit animal that reflects their personality. Craft a song about the bond between a person and their animal.
92. Pick a social justice issue and write a protest song that ignites passion and action.
93. Write a song about the bittersweet feeling of growing up and leaving childhood behind.
94. Imagine a conversation between your inner critic and your inner cheerleader.
95. Write a song about the beauty and power of nature, urging us to protect it.
96. Write a song about the unexpected lessons learned from a mistake.
97. Pick a philosophical concept (free will, purpose of life, etc.) and write a song that explores its complexities.
98. Imagine a love story that blossoms entirely through online messages, never meeting in person. Craft a song about the longing and connection despite the distance.
99. Write a song about the comfort and wisdom found in nature, urging us to find solace outdoors.
100. Write a song about the unexpected joy found in a simple pleasure.
101. Pick a weather phenomenon (thunderstorm, aurora borealis) and write a song that captures its power and beauty.
102. Write a song about the unexpected bond you form with a stranger during a difficult time.
103. Write a break-up song where you apologize to a city you’re leaving behind.
104. Imagine a news report about the discovery of a new life form on another planet. Craft a song about the excitement and mystery surrounding it.
105. Write a song as a public service announcement, encouraging people to be kinder to themselves.
106. You inherit a collection of vintage postcards, each with a glimpse into someone else’s life. Craft a song about the stories they tell.
107. Pick a nursery rhyme and rewrite it from a much darker perspective.
108. Write a lullaby sung by a robot to a human child.
109. Imagine a conversation between two pieces of furniture in a living room, sharing secrets about the family who lives there.
110. Write a song about the pressure to achieve perfection in everything you do.
111. Write a diss track aimed at a fear you’re trying to overcome.
112. Pick a current environmental issue and write a song that raises awareness and inspires action.
113. Write a song about the power of found family, the people you choose to love and build a life with.
114.  Imagine a conversation between your heart and your head, each offering advice on a difficult decision.
115. Write a song about the fear of missing out (FOMO) and the pressure to live a picture-perfect life on social media.
116. Write a song about the importance of mental health and breaking down the stigma surrounding it.