To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme?

Whether you've written your own poem, a song, a children's story, or even a special message inside of a letter, you've probably thought about rhyming the words within it.  For some, rhyming is everything, and for others, it's all about writing freely, without any rhyming restrictions.


So the real question is, is it better to rhyme, or not to rhyme?  Music Lyrics FYI  says, "Rhyme helps make lyrics memorable as poets and songwriters have known for thousands of years."  


It's feedback like this that may have lead artists to rhyme in their music, hoping to gain popularity, and reach the top of the charts.  For example, well known country pop artist, Taylor Swift has written songs that rhyme and do not rhyme.  According to data on iTunes, Taylor's most popular song on the media site is Love Story.  


The lyrics of Love Story have some rhyming stanzas, with plenty of couplets.  A couple is two lines, one after the other, that are joined by rhyme.


For example,  one of the stanzas in the song is: 
"Romeo save me, they try to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult, but it's real. Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess. It's a love story baby just say yes"


Taylor uses two couplets to form this stanza in her song.  She rhymes "feel" and "real," and "mess" and yes," indicated with the red and green colors.  iTunes also indicates that Taylor's Love Story  has gained a twelve out of twelve for site wide popularity.  


Does the rhyming in her song have anything to do this?  I had the chance to talk with a colleague, Fran Domiano, who enjoys listening to Taylor Swift's music often.  She told me that Love Story is one of her favorite songs.  When I asked if one of the reasons she loved it so much was due to Taylor's rhyming, she replied, "Love Story is a great song because the music is so upbeat.  I love the lyrics, and because the words rhyme, it makes the song a lot catchier, and easier to remember. I wish all of her songs rhymed." 




The rhyming in Dr. Seuss' One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish children's story also affects the audience.  Every since I was a little girl, I have been able to recite the lines from this story over and over; "Some have two feet and some have four. Some have six feet and some have more."  Dr. Seuss uses lots of rhyming, which makes it catchy, and easy for young children remember. 


Also, according to Kids and Learning, "When your child has problems with a spelling list, using rhyming words is often helpful way to make links with other words. Rhyming words can be a great spelling strategy."


But what if you are leaning in the direction of not rhyming your art work?  It could be the right direction for you.  Sometimes rhyming takes away the meaningful message of what you are trying to put out there, by just choosing words to rhyme.  It helps not to rhyme, and to get the exact point and message you are trying to get across without rhyming.  


Famous rapper, Eminem passionately raps his song, Not Afraid by hardly rhyming, and speaking his soul.  It really shows his ability to make the song very strong and powerful, without the use of rhymes.  


So next time when you are a writing your next solo to be sung at the next holiday concert, or a poem to be read in front of the Kindergarteners, really think about your audience, and who you are reading to.  Think about what message you really are trying to send.  Think about what is your goal is by writing.  Do you want your song to be heard, or are you writing it for yourself?  Once you know that, you can decide whether to rhyme or not to rhyme? 


"Many Eyes : One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish." Many Eyes. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www-958.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/manyeyes/datasets/one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish-3/versions/1>.


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Photograph.