The quality of a song is a result of many factors, of which rhyme is but one. An interesting rhythm, an interesting tune, an interesting subject (an interesting storyline), interesting use of words/juxtapositions, ability to create mental images in the listener, 'catchiness' and ease of learning by the listener, a good 'hook', an interesting arrangement, all play a role. Some of these elements are about content - others, like rhyme, are about format.

Where one or two of the elements are sufficiently strong, then they can carry the song to higher quality levels even if the other elements are comparatively weaker. Take 'Whiter shade of pale', where the strong tune and the creation of strong images supercedes the lack of storyline or recognisable theme.

Songs that are strong in format but weak in content can still become very popular, but they are destined to be the butt of jokes in future years ('Agadoo-doo-doo'). Conversely, songs that are strong in content but weak in format run the risk of appearing too 'esoteric' (depends also on the theme) and may only be liked by a small elite. But if the latter have a theme with a wide appeal, they will catch on. And if they are strong in both content and format, they may become 'classics'.

As a songwriter, you will find that you have natural strengths and weaknesses among those elements. Don't be coy - recognise them and write to your strengths while trying to improve on your weaknesses.

So you don't HAVE to have rhyme, if you are sufficiently strong in other areas. But that should never be an excuse for laziness, i.e. for not attempting to rhyme, if you can, without damaging the integrity of the rest of your creation.

Last summer I attended a week-long workshop with one of the great songwriters of our time (and a member of Mudcat) - someone who made a good living out of this for 40 years, so he must know a few tricks. He said many things that week that will stay in my mind forever, but one sticks out (my wording):

"If you have a great idea for a song and/or a great tune, you owe it to your idea to do the best for it and to avoid cutting corners. You owe it to put in the time and effort in crafting it to the best of your ability. And you owe it to your audience too. So when you've finished, go back and chek - do your rhymes match? Can the be improved? Can you achieve internal rhyme as well as the standard end-of-line one? If you can improve on it, then you must"

And Robb Johnson told me something his Dad (a poet) always said to him: "A poem is never finished - it is only abandoned".

It applies equally to songs.

So, you don't HAVE to have rhyme - but if you don't, just make sure it isn't out of laziness.