When the chorus mirrors the verse

Posted by Mark Caro

I heard “Sweet Home Alabama” the other day, and it got me thinking about songs in which the chorus is basically the same chords/music as the verses. “Free Fallin’” is another one.

When I’m writing songs, I’m generally of the mindset that the chorus, if the song has one, should be set off musically from the verses. I’ll often try to have key chorus chords not appear elsewhere in the song to increase the impact.

Yet I don’t think anyone would argue that Lynryd Skynyrd and Tom Petty didn’t know what they were doing with those songs musically. They work.

What are your favorite songs in which the chorus is basically an extension of the verse? Do you write this way?

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.