Lyrically a song does not always have to make sense. Sometimes not making sense is ACCURATE AND JUSTIFIED.
However, without at least the JUSTIFICATION element a lyric will then show the writer had NO CONTROL in what he was doing.
Let us look at a lyric that SHOWS ACCURACY AND JUSTIFICATION IN NOT making sense. The song is called " THESE DREAMS" by Heart. The song was recorded in the mid 80s
The justification and the accuracy of " THESE DREAMS" lies within the fact of the TITLE. The key word being DREAMS. The theme and message of this song is about someone describing a dream (in this case she) has.
The verses serve to describe the images and events of what is going on. The chorus hits home with the message, THIS IS WHAT I DREAM AT NIGHT.
The verses are filled with FRAGMENTED THOUGHTS AND CONFUSING IMAGERY. However, IT IS COMPLETELY JUSTIFIABLE AND ACCURATE. Why because when the chorus lands THESE DREAMS GO ON WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES, justifies it all.
THe reason being is, DREAMS OFTEN DO NOT MAKE SENSE. I think we all can agree on that. Did you ever have a dream where your one hand was ten times bigger than your other hand? What does it symbolize? Who knows. The point is we all know dreams often do not make sense.
If a song is about DREAMS, then the writer has FULL JUSTIFICATION TO DO WHAT HE WANTS IN THE LYRIC, AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
The following lyric is JUSTIFIED AND ACCURATE in NOT MAKING SENSE
These Dreams - Heart
Spare a little candle
Save some light for me
Figures up ahead
Moving in the trees
White skin in linen
Perfume on my wrist
And the full moon that hangs over
These dreams in the mist
Darkness on the edge
Shadows where I stand
I search for the time
On a watch with no hands
I want to see you clearly
Come closer than this
But all I remember
Are the dreams in the mist
CHORUS:
These dreams go on when I close my eyes
Every second of the night I live another life
These dreams that sleep when it's cold outside
Every moment I'm awake the further I'm away
Is it cloak 'n' dagger
Could it be spring or fall
I walk without a cut
Through a stained glass wall
Weaker in my eyesight
The candle in my grip
And words that have no form
Are falling from my lips
CHORUS
There's something out there
I can't resist
I need to hide away from the pain
There's something out there
I can't resist
The sweetest song is silence
That I've ever heard
Funny how your feet
In dreams never touch the earth
In a wood full of princes
Freedom is a kiss
But the prince hides his face
From dreams in the mist
CHORUS
CHORUS
Lets further discuss other justifications a song might have because of theme and message. Suppose you have a song about the DIARY OF A SERIAL KILLER. One might set the lyric up to show in the verses THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS by a serial killer. Hence most serial killers are mentally ill. So if the writer choses to have fragmented thoughts and an unclear story, IT WILL BE JUSTIFIED AND ACCURATE.
The justification lies in the reason: STORY ABOUT SERIAL KILLER
accuracy will allow you to PLAY THE PART. That means go head and bibble babble with unclear and confusing thoughts if you want.
This is why I don't buy into people talking about FROM THE HEART, PASSION, I PLAY WITH FEELING, ETC. If you do not have clear justifications for doing something, than you as a musician come off as having NO CONTROL in what you are doing.
In other words, YOU WILL BE PLAYING CRAP with feeling and from the heart.