The way I am damaged my heart and head but through the carnage I starved and bled starting again staying average isn't for me as I carve out my destiny, menacing memories are lost on me just like the good days try not to be angry at the range in which I changed knowing I'll never lead you a stray just demonstrating self love like what I'd give to those I put above me, The way I am is humanity error summoned terror and fear living in this fever dream, seems lately the man in the mirror stands clearer it was either giving in or failure meaning eventually I'd need to change never thought it'd be this way nearing to gifting the team with my cleaned conscience meaning to me they're heaven sent so I'd come correct; Realized I'm freedom in the trenches, French kissed real guys no this ain't my disguised though it disgusts you few been throughout drenched weathered and I would work to the wrenches straightened enlongated actualized wished they'd knew warrings a blood bath and at last feeled this is shy of ingenuity as I genuinely rusted being benched or sitting on the fence, I cannot help who I am but cameras on so action set missiles ready to launch deep into revolutionary...

I used to think good lyrics took talent. Turns out it's mostly fundamentals.

I used to just write down the feeling straight, lines like "I'm so sad." Problem was, that could've meant anything. End result: nobody had anything to actually picture.

Then I looked at how The Weeknd writes, and one thing stood out immediately.

He never writes the feeling. He writes the scene. He's not telling you how to feel. He's showing you something specific, and your brain does the feeling part on its own.

You can clearly see this in these songs:

The Hills [Verse 1]

Your man on the road, he doin' promo
You said, "Keep our business on the low-low"
I'm just tryna get you out the friend zone
'Cause you look even better than the photos

Baptized in Fear [Verse 1]

I fell asleep in the tub, I was met with paralysis
My foot hit the faucet, water started flowing in
Couldn't scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit
Moving one toe was the only form of motion left

The exercise that got me there:

1. Write the line's message in one plain sentence. The moment, and the feeling.
2. List 5 physical things that could represent that feeling. Loneliness could be an empty chair, a phone on silent, a porch light left on.
3. Pick 2 of those and describe them with something you can see, hear, feel, or smell. Not the emotion. The detail.

Worry about the rhyme last. The image is what carries the line.

What's your approach when you're trying to make a verse more visual? Do you have a method, or do you just chase the right line until something clicks?