Jean comes close to a point I've often heard made about cliches. Since another "rule" of songwriting is to use natural, everyday conversational language, how can you not use cliches since they are part of our natural, everyday conversations? It seems that the two rules sort of contradict each other.

In one of my songs, WHEN THE LONELINESS SETS IN, I use a tired old cliche, but was able to "get away with it" by actually acknowledging it in the song. The bridge goes:

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER (the offending line)
I KNOW THAT'S JUST AN OLD CLICHE
BUT I SWEAR I LOVE HER THAT MUCH MORE
WHENEVER SHE'S AWAY.

I wouldn't sweat cliches too much. They do have their place on occasion.

Greg

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.