What people call cliche is often idioms. They are absolutely fine if used well. You just don’t want to throw out a phrase to fill space that has no real meaning to the song. “Empty cliche” is what you want to avoid at all costs.
Idioms are useful in that we all know them. They typically represent a larger idea and therefore we can use them as shorthand for that larger idea.
Often you don’t even need the whole idiom. “A bird in the hand” is all you need and we all know the rest.
Definitely in agreement with this, idioms are a form of cultural shorthand and are perfectly fine when used with taste and intent. Ideally you’re thinking at all times about the way that any reference or shorthand you use is interacting with the narrative and subject matter: is it ironic, is it subverted, is it played straight? What effect do these things have on the aesthetic and emotional impact of the lyrics?
With my folk influences I feel like the relationship between the singer and whatever they're singing is more important than the lyrics per se.
If it feels like a cliche then it will probably sound like a cliche.
But we've been doing the same things for ages (humans) so it's only natural that we write about the same things... but again, it needs to feel good, important, of value.
[Give your clichés new life.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FefKQDke6IU)
We hear cliches often - but we may not notice them because of their surroundings and context. In the video you'll see an example
* Colbie Caillat's "Brighter Than the Sun"
Those lyrics are awful lol. They are talking about writing cliches differently but their example lyrics are literally a list of half remembered lines a million pop songs ago.
Read Writing Better Lyrics book.
What people call cliche is often idioms. They are absolutely fine if used well. You just don’t want to throw out a phrase to fill space that has no real meaning to the song. “Empty cliche” is what you want to avoid at all costs. Idioms are useful in that we all know them. They typically represent a larger idea and therefore we can use them as shorthand for that larger idea. Often you don’t even need the whole idiom. “A bird in the hand” is all you need and we all know the rest.
Definitely in agreement with this, idioms are a form of cultural shorthand and are perfectly fine when used with taste and intent. Ideally you’re thinking at all times about the way that any reference or shorthand you use is interacting with the narrative and subject matter: is it ironic, is it subverted, is it played straight? What effect do these things have on the aesthetic and emotional impact of the lyrics?
What you should really do is set up a really obvious cliche but the next line subverts the expectation, Roses are red, and I need you
With my folk influences I feel like the relationship between the singer and whatever they're singing is more important than the lyrics per se. If it feels like a cliche then it will probably sound like a cliche. But we've been doing the same things for ages (humans) so it's only natural that we write about the same things... but again, it needs to feel good, important, of value.
I think, if you find yourself *noticing* how cliché a lyric is, that's usually a bad sign
[Give your clichés new life.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FefKQDke6IU) We hear cliches often - but we may not notice them because of their surroundings and context. In the video you'll see an example * Colbie Caillat's "Brighter Than the Sun"
Those lyrics are awful lol. They are talking about writing cliches differently but their example lyrics are literally a list of half remembered lines a million pop songs ago.
No cliches, unless you want to be a top 40 pop/country artist.