when i was a kid writing poems in class and my own fan songs, i was proud of myself for never using "filler rhymes" - a line that is obviously only there to complete the rhyme scheme and adds nothing to the narrative. i was sort of a conceited asshole (though i kept quiet about it, luckily) so i'd silently sneer at classmates whenever i felt a line of theirs wasn't pulling its weight.
even as i left the realm of "this week's project is to write an 'epic poem' about the labors of hercules" with its inherently amateur lyricists, even as i stopped judging my peers so harshly and started appreciating a wider variety of lyricism, i held onto this rule in my own work: filler rhymes are a garish mark of incompetence and must be avoided at all costs.
and oh my god has it been holding me back!!!
the difference between lyrics and prose IS the commitment to aesthetics! of course i've been getting frustrated that my songs always turn out so straightforward and literal, i've been prioritizing narrative over form since i was 10! i have got to fucking learn to loosen up and go with the flow 😩😩