- An African blackwood tree who dreams of growing up and becoming a whistle / flute. (Hmmm... sounds familiar...)
- There have been a lot of songs about "Gosh, aren't the green fields of [insert country here] beautiful," but very few of us actually live around green fields. You could write a song about your local megalopolis's aesthetics. This has the advantage that you can be sincere or sarcastic based on your particular preference.
- Write a biography of a musician you admire and sing it.
I love semi-biographical songs, especially ones that make you go
learn more about a person you were not yet familiar with. I’ve learned
about ballet dancer Margot Fontaine from the band Eddie From Ohio,
Natalie Merchant sings about artist Henry Darger, Barenaked Ladies
does a cryptic song about a man stalking Canadian singer Anne Murray,
using lines from some of her songs (I think that one’s clever, as it never
mentions Murray by name).
Someone Scandinavian perhaps? Ibsen had an interesting life, as did
Edvard Grieg. Or an ode to Eva Green (mmmmmm)… uh…
Leif Eriksson’s brother Thorvold was the first European to die in
North America, but most Americans don’t know about it (I only know
because it was a Jeopardy! question… it’s time to get the word out!)
I have just the thing for you:
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
Then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude.
Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
Well the first thing you know ol Jed’s a millionaire,
Kinfolk said “Jed move away from there”
Said “Californy is the place you ought to be”
So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.
djm
Well now it’s time to say goodbuy
to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks
for kindly for kindly droppin’ in.
Yer all invited back next week
to this localitee
To have a heapin’ helpin’
of their hospitality.
Nice folks.
Yall come back now hear?.
This has been a Filmways presentation.
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed . . . .
Brings to mind a conversation I once had with some co-workers after several of us spent an evening sampling a series of single malts at a fairly nice restaurant –
Co-worker: Help me out here. Were you rapping the Beverly Hillbillies theme in the restaurant last night?
gonzo: Yes.
Co-worker: And was I helping you?
gonzo: Couldn’t have done it without you, man. That percussion made it happen.
Boss lady (on overhearing): Thanks, guys. There’s another place we can’t go back to.
But back to the original subject of lyrics – Surely you can find some Emily Dickinson that will fit. She is very versatile.
(B-b-b-b-black gold. Texas tea!)
I came up with a song. Don’t know if it’s any good though. I got a few ideas from all you guys. Guess I’ll have to credit the whole community.
But keep this going anyway, this is a fun thread!
I’m not licensed for EMI. PM me for mailing those big royalties cheques. 
djm
At first, I thought you were saying Emily would fit “The Ballad of Jed
Clampett”, in much the same way it does Turkey in the Straw
Now you’ve gone and ruined the spontanaity. 