songwriting.

Toasty, I don't know if there is a time limit. Most songs written for air play tend to be 3-3 1/2 minutes. That doesn't always allow you to tell your story. Mine tend to be 3-4 minutes though I have written a couple 6-7 minutes. They just turned out that way. Your audience will be the test. If they lose the connection with you then yes it's probably too long. Many audiences need short songs with repetitive hook lines to keep them interested. Most people don't really listen to the story being told , they just like the hook lines. That's the hardest part for a songwriter, keeping it short and having the hook and still get your feelings accepted. Just keep writing and telling your story. Great question.

  Joe

Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant is about 23 minutes long, Alice - Before Time Began is just over 30 minutes, but he has many songs that are well under a minute. So I guess a good song can be really sort or really long...but if it is long it's got be able to hold the listener's interest and attention, not always easy.

you've never heard of Yes?

Yes have made a living out of 30 minute songs since the 70's, but because they orchestrate their songs they never get boring. they start quite often with an intro that lasts as long as most pop songs! a song will be out and out rock and roll then slow to a ballad then back to riffing and ending in a crescendo that will bring the house down.

eric clapton records most of his songs to about 3-4 minutes but playing live he might fill them out to 6 or 7 minutes with his soloing.
myself i try and limit verses if possible, don't forget if you have a song with 10 verses, you have to be able to remember all the words. and the song might get repetitive which becomes boring to you and especially to the audience. american pie is a great song, but very word-y. i sang it once on karaoke....boy did it get boring for me, so how did the audience feel?

rule of thumb; if it sounds good and feels good, it is good. if the listener yawns...it's too long.

When I record a song for a CD I try to keep it less than 4 minutes, preferably under 3 1/2.  When playing live, the length is dependent on the audience's reaction, but I still rarely go over 4 minutes. IMHO If a song takes longer than 4 minutes then its time for a serious re-write. An old musician friend of mine says the only thing worse than playing a bad song is to play it too loud and the only thing worse than that is to play it too long.

DE

Ed, don't remove musical bridges as they can break a long song up that may be getting a little tedious, I'm not saying any of your songs are boring but if you have a lot to say a solo can ease the length so you can go past the 4 minute barrier without the listener yawning!
Has anyone else noticed how 3 minute songs of the ballad variety seem to last 10minutes plus?

Great to see good old Mr Young getting a mention on Chordie. Some of his self indulgent rantings can last 20 minutes but never boring live as he has a stage presence that captivates an audience, unlike many winners of a certain talent show. Myself, I can clear a room just by tuning up. So perhaps its as much about connecting with the audience but that's difficult when they're heading for the door.

Fair point, Ed, bridges and chorus's serve the same end, to break up and give the song a counterpoint. Listening to a new song for the first time, all you remember after is the hook or chorus. The hook can just as easily be a riff as on wonderful tonight or Something from the Beatles, written interestingly about the same lady. More,interestingly both are riff led and contain a great bridge.