Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Lola Young’s “Messy” breaks a surprising number of songwriting “rules” — and that’s exactly why it works.
In this episode, we dive deep into the writing and production techniques that make the song feel so raw, human, and addictive. We explore the conversational lyric style, the unusual verse structure, the hidden storytelling mechanics, the tension-filled chord progression, and the production choices that keep the song emotionally escalating without ever losing its intimacy.
One of the biggest ideas in this breakdown is what I call “ramble realism” — a technique where lyrics feel spontaneous and messy on the surface while still being carefully crafted underneath. It’s a powerful way to make songs feel more alive, personal, and believable.
We also look at:
* Why the chorus works from two emotional perspectives at once
* How the melody flows like real speech without losing hookiness
* Why the production feels both chaotic and controlled
* How tension and release are created harmonically and emotionally throughout the track
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Lola Young's “Messy”
07:16 Verse Structure and Storytelling
18:18 Dual Perspectives in Chorus
24:03 Chord Progression and Tension
32:17 Production and Energy Curve
38:15 Interpretation of the Song
Want to write more lyrics without overthinking yourself into paralysis? Download my free guide “Fill That Page” here:
holistic-songwriting.com/fill-that-page-download?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Lola Young’s “Messy” breaks a surprising number of songwriting “rules” — and that’s exactly why it works.
In this episode, we dive deep into the writing and production techniques that make the song feel so raw, human, and addictive. We explore the conversational lyric style, the unusual verse structure, the hidden storytelling mechanics, the tension-filled chord progression, and the production choices that keep the song emotionally escalating without ever losing its intimacy.
One of the biggest ideas in this breakdown is what I call “ramble realism” — a technique where lyrics feel spontaneous and messy on the surface while still being carefully crafted underneath. It’s a powerful way to make songs feel more alive, personal, and believable.
We also look at:
* Why the chorus works from two emotional perspectives at once
* How the melody flows like real speech without losing hookiness
* Why the production feels both chaotic and controlled
* How tension and release are created harmonically and emotionally throughout the track
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Lola Young's “Messy”
07:16 Verse Structure and Storytelling
18:18 Dual Perspectives in Chorus
24:03 Chord Progression and Tension
32:17 Production and Energy Curve
38:15 Interpretation of the Song
Want to write more lyrics without overthinking yourself into paralysis? Download my free guide “Fill That Page” here:
holistic-songwriting.com/fill-that-page-download?utm_source=chatgpt.com
