If I knew exactly what separated a good song from a hit, I’d probably be writing this article from a beach somewhere.
The truth is, nobody knows for certain, but after years of writing songs, helping with other artist’s releases, and watching audiences react to music, I’ve noticed a few patterns.
While there’s no guaranteed recipe for a hit, there are definitely habits that seem to improve a song’s chances of connecting with listeners.
1. Stop Chasing Trends
The quickest way to sound outdated is to chase whatever everybody else is already doing.
A few years ago in Nashville, every songwriter was trying to write the next wagon-wheel-style singalong. Before that it was bro-country. Before that it was songs about dirt roads. And somewhere along the way, bluegrass apparently decided we needed enough train songs to keep Amtrak in business for the next century.
By the time you identify a trend, write a song, record it, release it, and get it in front of listeners, the audience has usually moved on.
Instead of asking, “What’s popular right now?”
Try asking, “What do I have to say that nobody else can?”
That’s a much harder question—and usually a much better song.
2. Make the Listener the Hero
Many songwriters write songs about themselves.
The best songwriters often write songs about the listener.
That doesn’t mean every song should use “you” instead of “I.” It means the listener should be able to find themselves inside the story.
Specific details make songs believable. Universal emotions make songs memorable.
A listener may never have worked in a Kentucky coal mine, ridden a freight train, or grown up on a farm. But they’ve probably experienced loss, love, regret, loneliness, hope, or determination.
Those emotions are what create connection.
3. Simpler Usually Wins
Songwriters love clever lyrics.
Listeners love memorable lyrics.
Those are not always the same thing.
One exercise I like is reading a lyric aloud without the melody. If it takes several listens to understand what’s happening, it may be worth simplifying.
Many of the most successful songs ever written can be summarized in a single sentence. If your audience can’t explain what your song is about after hearing it once, that might be a clue.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way The Eagles seemed to master this better than almost anyone. I’m admittedly a little obsessed with their catalog, and when I go back and study those songs, what strikes me isn’t how complicated the lyrics are. It’s how effortlessly they marry a feeling to a melody.
Take It to the Limit is practically a masterclass in emotional songwriting because it’s built around a feeling almost everyone recognizes:
- Restlessness
- Dissatisfaction
- Searching for something more
- Wanting freedom but not knowing how to get there
“And when you’re looking for your freedom, nobody seems to care, and you can’t find the door, can’t find it anywhere.”
Those are incredibly simple images. Yet they instantly create a feeling. Most people have had a season in life where they knew they wanted out of a situation—a job, a relationship, a town, a version of themselves—but couldn’t quite see the path forward.
That’s why the line works.
It’s specific enough to paint a picture, but broad enough for listeners to insert their own story.
What makes the line so powerful is that the lyric and melody are doing the same job. As the melody stretches across the word freedom, you feel the longing. Then it settles into the resignation of nobody seems to care. By the time you reach can’t find the door, can’t find it anywhere, the listener isn’t just hearing the story—they’re experiencing the feeling.
That’s a lesson worth studying. The biggest songs often aren’t built on clever words alone. They’re built on moments where the lyric, melody, and emotion become inseparable.
4. Give People a Line They Can’t Forget
Think about your favorite songs.
Chances are there’s one line that immediately comes to mind.
Not the entire lyric.
One line.
The title.
The hook.
The punchline.
The emotional payoff.
Sometimes songwriters spend weeks polishing verses and treat the chorus as an afterthought. I’d argue the opposite approach makes more sense.
Find the line people will remember first.
Then build everything else around it.
Early on in my career, I remember being told to “Write an absolutely amazing chorus, and then treat that like the verse and write an even better chorus.”
5. Tell the Truth
Not the factual truth.
The emotional truth.
Listeners can usually tell when a songwriter is writing from experience, observation, or genuine curiosity. They can also tell when somebody is trying too hard to manufacture a reaction.
The songs that seem to last are often the ones that reveal something honest.
Maybe it’s a lesson learned.
Maybe it’s a mistake.
Maybe it’s heartbreak.
Maybe it’s joy.
Whatever it is, authenticity has a way of surviving long after trends disappear.
Which brings us back to the original question.
What separates a good song from a hit?
I still don’t know.
Timing matters.
Luck matters.
The artist matters.
The recording matters.
But if I were placing my bet, I’d put my money on songs that connect rather than songs that impress.
Of course, there may be no better person to ask than legendary songwriter Larry Cordle.
In the next DIY Bluegrass video podcast, I’ll ask Larry this exact question and hear his thoughts on what makes a song resonate with listeners long after the final note fades away.
