Sing along with the chorus of any hit song, folk song, or any familiar tune and make up new lyrics. Play it with friends and family. Turn it into a contest and give a “prize” for the best lyric, the silliest lyric, etc.
To play it with hit songs, turn on the radio and pick a station. Ones that play “golden oldies” are the best for this game because just about everyone knows and enjoys those songs. Or you can play CDs from your own collection. Try to pick artists that everyone knows. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Supremes all have plenty of hits to choose from.
Sing along with the original hit, then start making up your own words. If you’re playing with more than two people, have singers raise their hand when they have an idea and designate one person to choose the singer.
For songwriters, this is a great way to get turn on your “creativity switch.” When you play this game, your brain isn’t busy judging how good or poor your lyric is; it’s just coming up with ideas.