Mongo Pongo

The Art of Strategic Vagueness in Songwriting

“Say Nothing Specific, Mean Nothing you Say, and Stay as Safe as you Can.”

In a world where words can inspire, provoke, or inadvertently ignite outrage internet or otherwise, the art of strategic vagueness in songwriting isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity.

By saying just enough to evoke curiosity while keeping your metaphorical cards close to your chest, you can keep listeners guessing and critics at bay.

Think of it as the lyrical equivalent of a magician’s sleight of hand: you want the audience to feel like they’ve seen the trick, but in the end, show them that they’ve not quite figured out how it was really done. See Penn & Teller for examples of this style of magic.

Why Be Vague?

Avoid Drama, Suggest Mystery
Nothing ruins a good song faster than someone thinking it’s about them (we’re looking at you, Taylor Swift). A well-placed metaphor can turn “Jeff never took out the trash” into “the silent weight of yesterday’s burdens.” Now everyone can relate to it, including Jeff—without him knowing you meant him.
Keep It Universal
When you’re too specific, you limit your audience. “The red Vespa in the corner of 12th and Pine” might resonate with someone in Seattle, but “a fleeting glimpse of reckless freedom” can hit every heart from Tokyo to Timbuktu.
You Get to Be the Oracle
Deliberate vagueness lets you play the wise and cryptic sage. Let your listeners interpret the meaning, argue about it online, and build conspiracy theories. You’re not just an artist—you’re now a phenomenon afflicted with a vague sort of mannerism in your style.

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How to Be Vague While Sounding Profound

Layer Your Metaphors Like a 7-Layer Dip
Why say “I miss you” when you could say, “The shadows linger where the sun refused to shine”? Boom. Ambiguity with an emotional punch.
Ditch Proper Nouns
Replace “Susan” with “the voice that never fades.” Now Susan is everyone and no one.
Ask Questions You Don’t Answer
The ultimate trick: ask something deep and never resolve it. “Do we dream of the stars, or do the stars dream of us?” Who cares? You’ve just bought yourself an eternal fanbase of stargazing philosophers.
Embrace Paradox
The easiest way to sound profound while staying vague is to contradict yourself in the same line. “I found freedom in my chains, and in the silence, I heard the loudest truth.” Trust me, they’ll eat it up.

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Be Vague, But Not Too Vague

The goal isn’t to confuse; it’s to intrigue. If your song sounds like you just threw random words into a blender, people won’t think you’re deep—they’ll think you’re just plain lousy at songwriting. Instead, aim for impressionistic vagueness: paint the outline, let them fill in the rest, or leave it blank.

Promotional Hook

“Vagueness isn’t avoidance—it’s a cop-out that you can exploit. Notice how saying less can mean so much more in your songs. After all, the less they know, the more they’ll talk. And isn’t that what every songwriter wants, to be part of the kitchen-table talk?”

Now, let’s turn this into a cheeky little song that hopefully isn’t too specific. and won’t get us in trouble with the people who don’t like protest songs:

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Song: “Clear as Mud”

[Verse 1]
They said, “What’s your song about?”
I said, “What do you think?”
A love affair? A meteor?
Or maybe kitchen sink?
Is it deep existentialism,
Or just a passing whim?
They nod their heads and call me wise—
The vagueness pulls them in.

[Chorus]
Clear as mud, but it feels so right,
A puzzle wrapped in moonlit night.
You’ll wonder, you’ll guess, you’ll write your thread,
But you’ll never know what I really said.

[Verse 2]
Some think it’s about a breakup,
Others, world peace vibes.
One guy swears it’s a manifesto,
Another just shrugs and vibes.
But here’s my secret, plain as day—
I wrote it ‘cause it rhymed.
No agenda, no deep message,
Just some words that felt sublime.

[Chorus]
Clear as mud, but it feels so true,
A riddle that’s designed for you.
Decode the clues, connect the dots,
But you’ll never know the thoughts I’ve got.

[Bridge]
In the gray, there’s safety,
In the fog, there’s grace.
You’ll fill in the blanks for me,
In your own mental space.

[Outro]
So I’ll sing my vagueness, loud and proud,
A mystic voice among the crowd.
Clear as mud, but you’ll hum along,
Because who needs clarity in a song?

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Song: “Just Some Random Guy”

[Verse 1 ]
There’s this guy—oh, you’d never guess,
He’s the best at making a big ol’ mess!
Struts around with his head held high,
Claims he’s a genius—can’t figure out why!
A tower of gold, with his name on the door,
But deep inside? An empty floor.
(Empty floor!)
But hey, don’t look too close, just let it slide—
We’re just singing ‘bout a random guy!

[Chorus]
Not about him, no way, no how,
Just some random fella with a deeply furrowed brow.
Totally chill, no scandals here,
Except for…oh, well, let’s not get too near.
We’re singing vague, we’re keeping it sly,
Not about him, just some random guy!

[Verse 2 ]
Oh, this guy? He’s got quite a fanbase,
They’ll storm the gates to defend his case.
Waves his hands like a wizard spell,
But what he’s cooking? A recipe for…well…
(For WHAT?)
He’s great at shouting, “Not guilty, see?!”
While pointing fingers at…(you and me!)
But let’s not name names—what’s the point?
Just a song about…(a random joint).

[Chorus ]
Not about him, oh no, no way,
Just some guy with a lot to say.
The lights! The drama! The big orange hue!
But really, folks—it’s not who you think. (Wink, wink!)
So sing it loud, let’s give it a try,
This one’s for some dumb random guy!

[Bridge]
Oh, let’s not mention the trials and tweets,
Or the way his followers fill the streets.
Nope, we’re not spilling a single drop,
(Not a DROP, not a drop!)
Of tea, or truth, or the lies that won’t stop.
This isn’t about headlines or news,
Just a fella with very selective views.

[Chorus]
It’s not about him, no, no, don’t you fret,
Just a guy with no regrets (at least not quite yet).
We’re keeping it light, keeping it clean,
Except for the parts that are totally mean.
(Totally mean, totally mean!)
So tap right along, just give it a try,
This song is about some dumb random guy!

[Outro]
(And if you think you know who we mean…well, you’re probably right.)

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Song: “He Who Must Not Be Named”

[Verse 1]
There’s a shadow in the corner of the room,
Lurking loud, it’s the size of the moon. (size of the moon)
Says he’s the savior, says he’s the king,
But don’t ask us—who knows anything? (knows anything)
The air feels heavy when he’s around,
Words like thunder, lies that drown. (lies that drown)
But hey, we’re not here to start a fight,
Just singing ‘bout…a presence in the night. (in the night)

[Chorus]
He’s a whisper, a rumor, a storm in disguise,
A monument built on a mountain of lies.
No, no, don’t ask—we can’t say a name,
It’s just some guy who’s playing the game.
So guess if you want, point fingers in the air,
But we’re not naming names—we wouldn’t dare.

[Verse 2]
There’s a gold-tinted glow that’s hard to miss,
Wrapped in ego, sealed with a kiss.
He’s a dealer, a showman, a sleight-of-hand pro,
But what he’s selling? We don’t want to know. (don’t want to know)
With followers blind, they march in line,
Screaming songs of “yours” and “mine.”
But let’s keep it vague, keep it tight,
Just a figure lost in the fading light.

[Bridge]
He’s the elephant hiding behind the drape,
The ghost of truth that cannot escape.
He’s the punchline nobody gets,
The echo of regret that lingers yet.
But who, oh who, could it possibly be?
We’re just singing songs—it’s a mystery!

[Outro]
“Could be anyone…could be no one. Just a ghost of a thought, a flicker of doubt. But whoever it is, we’ll never say what’s his name.

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Song: “Not That, Not This”

[Verse 1]
Don’t ask me what this song’s about,
It’s not a love song, so count that out.
Not about politics, don’t be absurd,
Not about someone who twists their words.
Not about gold, or towers so tall,
Not about lawsuits or taking a fall.
So what’s it about? I’ll never tell—
You’ll just have to wonder, dammit, what the hell.

[Chorus]
It’s not about him, it’s not about fame,
It’s not about power, fortune, or blame.
It’s not about truth, it’s not about lies,
It’s not about scandals or alibis.
Nope, not about that, not about this,
It’s just a song that you’ll never dismiss.

[Verse 2]
It’s not about tantrums, thrown on a whim,
Not about people who just can’t win.
Not about walls, or breaking apart,
Not about chaos dressed up as art.
It’s not about egos, or fragile pride,
Not about someone with nowhere to hide.
So what is it? Well, isn’t it clear?
It’s whatever you want—just lend me your ear.

[Bridge – Slow, dramatic, and teasing]
It’s not about secrets, it’s not a disguise,
It’s not about motives or prying eyes.
It’s not about history, the past or the now,
Not about the who, or even the how.
It’s not about winning, it’s not about loss,
Not about the price, or who paid the cost.
So what’s it about? Oh, who’s to say?
It’s just another tune to brighten up your day.