Tony, I tend to memorize any particular song by context. (The most difficult type for me to learn is the kind of song where any one of the verses can be plugged in at any spot. But that type is not typical.)

The first verse presents the introductory idea- that's an easy one because it tells you what the song is about. Many songs develop their themes line by line. Memorize the very first line and when you sing it, "read along" in your mind's eye. See how it develops in the next several lines.

The chorus often repeats the essence of the theme, and it's often lively or perhaps mournful or just fun. In any case, it's an interesting four (or whatever) lines.

Then go to the second verse. The first line will often let you know in which direction the song is going. Read the next lines as though they were telling a story. Because they are.

Rhymes help tremendously in memorizing and most songs use rhymes a lot.

Notice how many lines rhyme at the end- sometimes first and third lines or second and fourth lines or sometimes all four lines. Or sometimes they have internal rhymes instead of or in addition. For example:

"Beneath the light of a bright starry night
Sat a lonely little Indian maid
"No lover's sweet serenade has ever won me"
As in a dream, it would seem, down the stream
Gaily paddling his tiny canoe
A chieftain longing to woo sang her this song:"

Or they may have no rhymes at all or very few or just rhyme vowel sounds and be pretty hit or miss about it.

Take 'You Are My Sunshine". (Incidentally many people think of it as a happy song but if you read the words, you'll see that it is not.

First verse

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
And I held my head and cried. (Some sing "I was peeping through the bars." Wrong song imo.)

Chorus:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

Second Verse:

I'l always love you and make you happy
If you will only do the same
But if you leave me to love another
You'll regret it all some day

Third Verse

You told me once, dear, you'd always love me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me to love another
You have shattered all my dreams.

That is basically the process I use. Hope I haven't used a bludgeon when a teaspoon would do!

Ebbie