The short answer
Write 4 to 6 specific sentences, not a life story. Include their name (with pronunciation if it's unusual), two or three habits only they have, one or two moments you could picture like a movie scene, the places and people who matter, and the feeling you want the song to leave. Specific details become specific lyrics. General praise becomes a general song.
Every TributeTunes song starts in the same place: the story box on our song form. After more than 15,000 songs, that box is still the single biggest difference between a song that's nice and a song that makes someone stop and ask, "How did you remember that?"
Our customers say it better than I can. Here's Steve, after his first song:
"The better your details entered, the better the result. If there is a reference to a joke, a quote, or dates and specific memories, explore it in the description."
And Gary, in his review:
"For anyone considering ordering a song, include a lot of details about the person so they can generate appropriate lyrics, it will help them and you will be happier with the result."
Here's exactly what to write.
What should I include in the story for a custom song?
Think of the story as raw material for a songwriter. Songs are built from verses (scenes and details), a chorus (the big feeling, repeated) and sometimes a bridge (a turn, often the most emotional moment). Your story should give us enough for each.
The 5 details that matter most
- Their name and nickname, spelled the way it sounds if it's unusual
- Two or three habits or traits only they have
- One or two specific moments you could describe like a scene
- Places and people: a hometown, a lake, the kids, the dog
- The feeling you want them left with: laughing, crying, proud, or all three
1. Their name, and how to say it
A name sung in the first verse is the moment people react to. Gail told her husband she'd found a song that "made her think of him." Then:
"When the vocalist sang his name in the lyrics his jaw dropped!"
If the name is unusual, write it out phonetically right in your story: "Siobhan (say it shi-VAWN)." Nicknames work too, and they often sing better than the full name.
2. Habits, not adjectives
"Kind, loving and hardworking" describes millions of people. Habits describe one person:
- She sings off-key in the car on purpose.
- He burns the first pancake every Saturday, every single time.
- She remembers every birthday in the family, including the dog's.
Two or three of these give a songwriter something to build a verse around.
3. One or two scenes
Every memorable song has a scene you can picture. Pick one or two, not ten:
- The night you met, or the first thing they said to you
- A trip that went hilariously wrong
- The day they showed up when you needed them most
- A tradition: Sunday dinners, a yearly camping trip, the same booth at the same diner
One well-described moment gets a full verse. Ten moments get one line each, and none of them land.
4. Places and people
Proper nouns make lyrics feel real. A town, a street, a team, a restaurant, the names of kids, grandkids and pets. If you want someone mentioned, tell us their name and who they are.
5. The feeling
The same story can become a tearjerker or a party song. You'll choose a tone on the form (Upbeat, Romantic, Funny, Sentimental, Inspiring or Relaxing), but one sentence in your own words helps more:
- "I want her to laugh, then cry a little at the end."
- "Keep it upbeat, this is for his 40th birthday party."
- "This is for my dad's memorial, so gentle and hopeful."
How long should the story be?
The story box holds up to 1,200 characters, roughly 200 words. You don't need all of it. Four to six specific sentences usually beat a full page, because a song is only two to three minutes long. One customer, Ian, sent us a short story, picked a genre and added one small idea, and called the result "incredibly accurate."
What should I leave out?
- The whole timeline. Pick the highlights. A song that covers 40 years in order sounds like a résumé.
- Anything you wouldn't want played out loud. Songs get played at parties and dinners.
- Sensitive details like health information, addresses or account numbers. The song doesn't need them.
- Lists of adjectives. Replace each one with a habit or a moment that proves it.
A before-and-after example
Here's a story that would make a perfectly nice song:
"For my husband Mike for our anniversary. He's a great dad and works hard. We've been married 10 years."
And here's the same story with five details added:
"For my husband Mike, our 10th anniversary. We met at a gas station in Flagstaff when his truck broke down and I gave him a jump. He still calls me his jumper cable. He makes the kids chocolate chip pancakes every Saturday and burns the first one every time. Romantic but with a smile, country."
The second version has a meeting scene, a nickname, a family habit, a place and a clear style. Here's the kind of chorus those details make possible:
Ten years since that Flagstaff station
You were stranded, I was passing through
You still call me your jumper cable
'Cause I'm the spark that got you through
None of that chorus could come from the first story. Every line comes from a detail in the second one.
Which genre, tempo and vocals should I pick?
On the form you'll choose a genre (Pop, Rock, Country, Hip Hop, Jazz, Folk, Electronic, Reggae, Classical, Blues, R&B or Other), a tempo (Slow, Medium or Fast), male or female vocals, and a language (English, Spanish or French). A few rules of thumb:
- Pick the music they actually listen to, not the music you think fits the occasion. A rock fan's anniversary song can absolutely be rock.
- Slow or medium for sentimental songs. Lyrics need room to land.
- Fast and upbeat for funny songs and parties. Jokes land better at a quicker tempo.
Here's a country birthday song made from a customer's story:
What happens after I submit my story?
About 15 minutes after you order, your lyrics arrive by email. Read them out loud. Change any line, fix a name, add a detail you forgot, then click Approve. Nothing gets recorded until you approve. Then we produce three studio quality versions of your song with different vocal styles, so you can pick your favorite or keep all three. With express delivery, your song is ready within 24 hours of approving the lyrics.
So don't worry about writing the perfect story. Get it specific, and polish the words when you see your lyrics.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the story for a custom song be?
Four to six specific sentences is the sweet spot. The story box on the TributeTunes form holds up to 1,200 characters (about 200 words), but specific details matter far more than length.
Can I include my own lines or phrases in the song?
Yes. Put any phrase, inside joke or line you want included in your story, and say that you'd like it in the lyrics. You can also add or change lines when you review your lyrics before the song is recorded.
What if the name is pronounced wrong in the song?
Spell the name phonetically in your story to prevent it, for example "Siobhan (say it shi-VAWN)." If a name still comes out wrong, contact us within 24 hours of delivery and we'll fix it under our Perfect Note Guarantee.
Can my custom song be in Spanish or French?
Yes. TributeTunes writes and records songs in English, Spanish and French. Choose the language on the song form.
What if I forget an important detail?
You'll see your lyrics before anything is recorded. Add the detail when you review them, and approve once the lyrics say everything you want.
Ready? Start your song and tell us who it's for, or see how our process works first.
