BRIDGE

Lyrically, the bridge is the spot where you shed new light on the story. It's the plot twist. You're telling the listener something they didn't know before that puts the song in a whole new light. Musically, you're trying to do the same thing, interject something new into the song. It's sort of a way to say "Hey! Something new is happening so listen up!" Often a different rhythmic structure can work well too. There is a point during the songwriting process where a song takes on a life of its own. If you listen carefully each song will tell you where it wants to go. Not every song needs a bridge, so if you’ve never included one in your songs before, it may be that it’s never felt necessary. There are times, however, when a bridge can sound like the missing bit that finally breathes life into your music. A bridge provides a new melody, deepens lyrical meaning, and takes a song in a slightly new direction before returning to either a repeat of the chorus or a new verse. When it’s done well, a bridge provides a pleasant sense of contrast from the rest of the song.