Song

Song structure or the musical forms of songs in popular music are

typically sectional, repeating forms, such as strophic form and is generally a part of the
songwriting process. Other common forms include thirty-two-bar form, verse-chorus
form, and the twelve bar blues. Popular music songs are rarely composed using
different music for each stanza of the lyrics (songs composed in this fashion are said to
be "through-composed"). This form can be used in any structural difference in melodies.
A common format is verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge
(middle eight), verse, chorus.
Davidson and Heartwood list the formal sections found in songs as being the
verse, chorus, bridge, hook, and refrain: "All songs are put together with some or all of
these parts in a particular pattern." [1] The foundation of popular music are "verse" and
"chorus". "Pop and rock songs nearly always have both a verse and a chorus. The
primary difference between the two is that when the music of the verse returns, it is
almost always given a new set of lyrics, whereas the chorus usually retains the same
set of lyrics every time its music appears." [2] Both are essential elements, with the verse
usually played first. Exceptions abound, with "She Loves You" by The Beatles being an
early example in the rock music genre. Each verse usually employs the same melody
(possibly with some slight modifications), while the lyrics usually change for each verse.
The chorus (or "refrain") usually consists of a melodic and lyrical phrase which is
repeated. Pop songs may have an introduction and coda ("tag"), but these elements are
not essential to the identity of most songs. Pop songs often connect the verse and
chorus via a bridge, which as its name suggests, is a section which connects the verse
and chorus at one or more points in the song.
The verse and chorus are usually repeated throughout a song though the bridge,
intro, and coda (also called an "outro") are usually only used once. Some pop songs
may have a solo section, particularly in rock or blues influenced pop. During the solo
section one or more instruments play a melodic line which may be the melody used by
the singer, or, in blues or jazz influenced pop, the solo may be improvised based on the
chord progression.
Elements
Introduction
The introduction is a unique section that comes at the beginning of the piece. Generally
speaking an introduction will contain just music and no words. It usually builds up

suspense for the listener so when the downbeat drops in, it creates a release or
surprise. In some songs, the intro is one or more bars of the tonic chord (the "home" key
of the song). The introduction may also be based around the chords used in the verse,
chorus, or bridge, or a stock "turnaround" progression may be played, such as the Ivi
iiV progression (particularly in jazz influenced pop songs). In some cases, an
introduction contains only drums or percussion parts which set
the rhythm and "groove" for the song. Alternately the introduction may consist of a solo
sung by the lead singer (or a group of backup singers), or played by an instrumentalist.
Verse
In popular music, a verse roughly corresponds to a poetic stanza. When two or more
sections of the song have almost identical music and different lyrics, each section is
considered one verse. It is not to be confused with a pre-verse, which is an interlude
between the introduction of a song and its opening verse. Although less common now,
the pre-verse technique was popular with the surf music of the 1960s. [citation needed]
Musically, "the verse is to be understood as a unit that prolongs the tonic....The musical
structure of the verse nearly always recurs at least once with a different set of lyrics".
[3]
Lyrically, "the verse contains the details of the song: the story, the events, images and
emotions that the writer wishes to express....Each verse will have different lyrics from
the others."[1] "A verse exists primarily to support the chorus or refrain...both musically
and lyrically."[4]
Pre-chorus
An optional section that may occur after the verse is the "pre-chorus." Also referred to
as a "build", "channel," or "transitional bridge," the pre-chorus functions to connect the
verse to the chorus with intermediary material, typically using subdominant or similar
transitional harmonies. "Often, a two-phrase verse containing basic chords is followed
by a passage, often harmonically probing, that leads to the full chorus." [5] Often when
the verse and chorus involve the same harmonic structure, the pre-chorus will introduce
a new harmonic pattern in order to make the harmony reappearance of the verse
harmonies in the chorus seem fresh.
Chorus
"The difference between refrain and chorus is not always cut-and-dried; both refer to
passages of unchanging music and text providing a periodic sense of return." [6] "At
times, the term 'refrain' has been used interchangeably with 'chorus.' Technically, the
refrain may be considered anything that's not the verse....a song part that contains the
hook or title and appears more than once in a song is usually called 'a chorus.'" [7] "The
chorus contains the main idea, or big picture, of what is being expressed lyrically and

musically. It is repeated throughout the song, and the melody and lyric rarely vary." [1] A
refrain is, "a repeated line or musical phrase that ties a song together...A refrain is only a
phrase, or a word, while a chorus contains many more words." [8] A refrain may be
defined as a repetitive phrase or phrases that serve the function of a chorus lyrically but
are not placed in a separate section and/or long enough so as to be considered a
chorus.[4]
Bridge
A bridge may be, "a transition," but more often in popular music is, "a section that
contrasts with the verse...[,] usually ends on the dominant...[, and] often culminates in a
strong retransitional V".[9] "The bridge is a device that is used to break up the repetitive
pattern of the song and keep the listeners attention....In a bridge, the pattern of the
words and music change
Conclusion
The conclusion or outro of a song is a way of ending or completing the song. For
example, through a fade-out or instrumental tag.
Collision
A collision[citation needed] is a section of music where different parts overlap one another,
usually for a short period. It is mostly used in fast-paced music, and it is designed to
create tension and drama. For example, during a chorus later in the song, the composer
may interject musical elements from the bridge.
Example:
Ed sheeran
"Photograph"
Loving can hurt
Loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard
You know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me

Inside the pocket
Of your ripped jeans
Holdin' me closer
'Til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
Wait for me to come home
Loving can heal
Loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know (know)
I swear it will get easier
Remember that with every piece of ya
And it's the only thing we take with us when we die
We keep this love in this photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Our hearts were never broken
Times forever frozen still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket
Of your ripped jeans
Holdin' me closer
'Til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
And if you hurt me
That's OK, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home [4x]
Oh you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were 16
Next to your heartbeat
Where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
And if you hurt me
Well, that's OK, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go

When I'm away

I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost
Back on 6th street
Hearing you whisper through the phone,
"Wait for me to come home."

Source:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/edsheeran/photograph.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_structure