Simple is Timeless
From Einstein to Mozart, simplicity has always been a cornerstone of artistic expression. Songwriting is no exception. The songs we love for a lifetime are often simple in structure, utilizing just a few themes with plenty of repetition across lyric, rhythm, chords and melody. But what makes the intersection of simplicity and meaningfulness so difficult to achieve? To answer this question, I’d like to look at two classic song examples, Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “What the World Needs Now” and Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” I’ll begin by looking closely at “What the World Needs Now.”
In song, it’s not ‘what’ we write about that sets a song apart, but ‘how.’ Structure describes the choices we make that show the message to feel true. One of the most effective structural tools in this song is the choice to position the chorus first. By opening with the title line, and repeating it, the writers ensure we hear the heart of the song immediately. Not only does the lyric repeat, but the melody. The rhythm and words accompanying the pitches are reinforced many times before we leave the chorus section and enter into the verse. Classic songs teach us that early repetition of a simple melody and lyrical phrase is like a strong handshake, leaving a solid first impression.
Along with melody and lyric, we can consider the balance between the melody, lyric and chords. When the melody offers space and rest, the chords take on the job of creating movement. This balance allows the lyric to breathe. When the melody moves, it then creates the forward motion and the chords can afford to sit still. We often find simple songs carry this give-and-take, this sharing of attention that keeps the motor of a song purring.
A profound lyric needs room to land. If every line is packed with ideas, the listener struggles to absorb the message. Simplicity allows space for one thought to take center stage. We can hear how deliberately the lyric is paced:
“What the world needs now is love sweet love”
By slowing down the delivery and allowing rest space within a lyrical thought, the message feels more profound. Repetition reinforces it further, giving the listener time to reflect before moving on. We can try this in our own songs, challenging our assumption about whether to sing through a long line of lyric or pause within it to give the listener time to digest the message.
The verse of many classic songs are deliberately simple. They don’t attempt to be the centerpiece, but rather exist to contrast with the chorus. The verses describe what we don’t need with lyrics like:
“Lord, we don’t need another mountain”
This contrast makes the chorus hit harder each time it returns. It’s a reminder for us songwriters that sometimes our verses simply need to support the main message rather than compete with it.
Another strength of the song is its imagery. The verses use natural metaphors like mountains, rivers, and oceans, all belonging to the same conceptual world. This consistency makes the lyric more cohesive and less distracting than if it jumped between unrelated ideas. As a songwriter, choosing a single metaphorical lens for our verses can provide focus and clarity.
The way the title is set musically matters, too. With steady quarter notes, the title conveys a sense of calm, security, and timelessness. If your song’s message is about peace, love, or reassurance, consider how rhythm and pacing can reinforce that feeling.
Now let me move over to Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” for another lesson in simplicity. Unlike modern verse-chorus-bridge structures, this song is built on a single repeating musical section. The melody carries the movement while the chords stay simple, and the title appears often, reinforcing the message.
The lyrics are direct and general with commands like “Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand.” While not intricate poetry, the clarity and repetition make the song universally accessible. Its optimism is reflected not only in the words but also in the groove and melodic repetition that create a memorable, uplifting feel. The word we songwriters use to describe that alignment between lyric content and musical mood is ‘prosody.’ All great songs carry it, even when the collision of lyric and music seems opposite. What is created when the two intermingle is larger than the sum of its parts.
Both classic songs use all the same tools of hit songs today, but what is really interesting to me is how general the language often is. Where I might shy away from general or even “cliché” lines, classic songs tell me that familiarity is connective. What is familiar needs no explanation, and so structural tools must be at work to present the cliche as believable. Short lines, rest space, a focus on strength of melody for title positions, as well as stripping away excess words and musical clutter helps our message to become profound.
Simplicity in songwriting doesn’t have to mean lack of depth. It means clarity, focus, and resonance. And in a world full of noise, simplicity just might be the most powerful songwriting tool we have.
Stay Creative,
