101 Songwriting Prompts (When You’re Stuck)

Are you stuck?

Well, I assume you are since you clicked on this article. But never fear — prompts are here.

I’ve spent the last hours of my life coming up with song ideas so you don’t have to. If you’re stuck figuring out what to write about, pick one and roll with it. This is complete brain-vomit, so don’t expect organization… except I organized it for you anyway.

How to use these prompts

• Set a timer: 10 minutes. No editing, just write.
• Start with a hook: write one killer line first, then build around it.
• Choose a POV: first person, second person, third person, or “character voice”.
• Don’t try to be good: the goal is momentum. Bad songs are reps.

101 Song Prompts

Prompts 1–25

1. Write a song about your favorite food.
2. Write a song about your worst enemy.
3. Write a love song for your pet.
4. Write a song about being lost in the wilderness.
5. Write a song from the perspective of a melting snowman.
6. Write a breakup song for your least favorite season.
7. Write a song about getting revenge on someone who wronged you.
8. Write a song about your biggest fear.
9. Write a song about an embarrassing moment in your life.
10. Write a song about your hometown.
11. Write a song about your favorite TV show.
12. Write a song about your favorite movie.
13. Write a song about your favorite book.
14. Write a song about your favorite color.
15. Write a song about your favorite season.
16. Write a song about your favorite animal.
17. Write a song about your favorite place.
18. Write a song about your favorite thing to do.
19. Write a song about your best friend.
20. Write a song about your family.
21. Write a song about school.
22. Write a song about love.
23. Write a song about heartbreak.
24. Write a song about happiness.
25. Write a song about sadness.

Prompts 26–50

26. Write a song about anger.
27. Write a song about fear.
28. Write a song about hope.
29. Write a song about dreams.
30. Write a love song for an inanimate object.
31. Write a break-up song for two people who were never actually dating.
32. Write a song about being sick of love songs.
33. Write a song from the perspective of a social media addict.
34. Write a song about being ghosted.
35. Write a song about being catfished.
36. Write a song about an ex who was really bad in bed.
37. Write a song about an ex who was really good in bed.
38. Write a song about an embarrassing hookup.
39. Write a song about getting revenge on an ex.
40. Write a song about being friend-zoned.
41. Write a song about being in the “friend zone”.
42. Write a song from the perspective of a stalker.
43. Write a love song for someone you’ve never met.
44. Write a love song for someone you’ve only met online.
45. Write a love song for a fictional character.
46. Write a break-up song that’s also a dance anthem.
47. Write a heartbreak ballad.
48. Write an ode to your favorite body part.
49. Write a sexy slow jam about doing the dishes.
50. Write a song about finding joy in life’s simple moments.

Prompts 51–75

51. Write a break-up song from the perspective of an inanimate object that witnessed the breakup (coffee mug, shoes, doormat, etc.).
52. Write a love song from the perspective of a villain.
53. Write a song about being fed up with society.
54. Write a song about being ghosted by a friend or lover.
55. Write a song about an ex who you still can’t get over.
56. Write a song about craving someone or something that’s bad for you.
57. Write a song about feeling lost and alone.
58. Write a song about feeling like an outsider.
59. Write a song about finding your voice.
60. Write a song about growing up too fast or too slow.
61. Write a song about hope in the face of adversity.
62. Write a song about fighting for what you believe in.
63. Write a song about standing up for yourself.
64. Write a song about making mistakes and learning from them.
65. Write a song about taking risks and jumping into the unknown.
66. Write a song about second chances and redemption.
67. Write a song about finding your way back home.
68. Write a song inspired by your favorite book, movie, or TV show.
69. Write a ballad for your favorite city, town, or country.
70. Write a song about the importance of self-love.
71. Write a song from the perspective of a butterfly going through metamorphosis.
72. Write a love song for someone you’ve only seen from afar.
73. Write a break-up song for two people who weren’t officially together but still have feelings.
74. Write an ode to getting older and embracing change.
75. Write a song about living your dreams.

Prompts 76–101

76. Write a heartbreak ballad that pays tribute to resilience.
77. Write a dance anthem about overcoming obstacles.
78. Write a slow jam inspired by your favorite artist.
79. Write a rap battle between two fictional characters.
80. Write an upbeat track dedicated to all those times when things didn’t go as planned.
81. Write a storyteller-style tune reflecting on life’s lessons.
82. Write an emotional ballad conveying hope during times of grief.
83. Write an ode celebrating summer days spent outdoors.
84. Write an acoustic folk tune about finding inner peace.
85. Write a reggae rocker dedicated to doing good.
86. Write an electro pop banger encouraging everyone to be their true selves.
87. Write a disco funk classic dedicated to celebrating diversity.
88. Write an EDM rave track encouraging everyone to keep dancing.
89. Write a song inspired by the night sky.
90. Write an ode to a hometown hero.
91. Write a rap battle between two historical figures.
92. Write a spiritual hymn about finding inner strength.
93. Write an upbeat track dedicated to making your own rules.
94. Write a love story in the form of a country western ballad.
95. Write a song as if you were a different person.
96. Write a song from the perspective of an alien looking at Earth.
97. Write a song about glass houses.
98. Write a song about your heart being a stone.
99. Write a song about your first memory.
100. Write a song about unrequited love.
101. Write a song about living your dreams… but from the villain’s perspective.

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Don’t be afraid to go out there and write a terrible song. Most of the time, the less you try to write something awesome, the more often you do.

Have fun with it — and good luck.