“Marble and Stone”
Written by Coco Zhai
Interview by American Songwriter
Coco Zhai scored 1st place in the Session Three 2025 American Songwriter Lyric Contest for her song “Marble and Stone.” American Songwriter caught up with her to get the scoop on the inspiration behind the lyrics and other musings.
What made you decide to enter the American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest?
I have always wanted to share my songwriting and use my lyrics to connect with more people. Then, I began searching for opportunities to let more people hear my stories and touch more people’s souls with my creations. I stumbled upon American Songwriter’s website while researching, and I immediately decided to give it a shot (because why not!).
How did you feel when you learned you won?
Honestly, after I submitted my lyrics, I did not expect to win. It all happened so fast, and I’m still in shock. As a student at Berklee College of Music, I’m used to juggling classes and creative work, but this moment was surreal. When I got the unknown call during class, I almost ignored it—I even thought it was a scam. But after listening to the voicemail from American Songwriter, I called back immediately, my hands shaking. Hearing the news, I was speechless at first. Tears welled up because I realized my hard work had paid off, and it felt like a sign to keep trusting my voice. After I hung up the call, nothing but gratitude filled my heart.
What was the inspiration for your submission? Why did you want to write it?
When writing “Marble and Stone” it was quite a challenging process. I got my inspiration from all the mind-boggling thriller TV shows I’ve watched in my free time. Before writing “Marble and Stone”, I was used to creating light-hearted pop tunes or flowy R&B songs that express my feelings. However, I wanted to jump outside of my comfort zone and write something completely fictional, dark, and filled with twists, just like those intense TV shows. And that was what inspired my submission.
What’s the story behind “Marble and Stone”?
“Marble and Stone” is a song that tells a tragic love story of these two lovers before unraveling into a haunting meditation on grief, survivor’s guilt, and memories. Set against a desolate coastal landscape—where ocean-washed cliffs, rotting lighthouses, and the cruel waves act as silent characters — the song subverts the trope of the “devoted widow” by revealing that memory itself can be a liar, and obsession outlives even death.
On the surface, the song follows a woman’s decades-long vigil for a lover lost at sea, her refusal to mourn weaponized into self-destruction. The chorus frames her as a romantic martyr, carving his name into stone as the town pities her delusion. But the bridge and twist dismantled this narrative: She was the ghost, the one who died due to drowning years earlier, her spirit trapped in a loop of rage and denial. The man, meanwhile, is alive but broken, wandering the shore as a guilt-ridden and soulless being. Their love story becomes a double haunting—she’s imprisoned by the lie that he abandoned her, while he’s shackled by the truth that he failed to save her.
Have you written music for this lyric? If so, how would you describe it?
I haven’t written music for this lyric yet, but I do already know what genre and have painted a picture of how the song will turn out in the future. I’m thinking somewhere along the lines of a movie’s soundtrack or a heartbreaking ballad.
How long have you been writing lyrics?
It took me around 2 weeks to fully develop the lyrics. I am the kind of songwriter who would follow my flow of consciousness and write everything in one sitting. So, when I had the idea of this song, I sat in front of my desk for 4 hours straight just brainstorming and jotting down whatever came to my mind with the concept in my head. Then, the next day, I will come back to it and pick out the parts that I adored, form them into verses, and find appropriate words to not only fit the rhyme schemes, but also deliver the correct ambience of the storyline. Lastly, every day after I have the general form of the lyrics, I will change and polish it until I am satisfied with the result.
Since 1984, American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest has helped aspiring songwriters get noticed and have fun. Enter the 2025 Lyric Contest today before the deadline:
What keeps you motivated as a songwriter?
There are a few things that keep me motivated:
1. Seeing people enjoying my musical creations, listening to them telling me how much they’ve found comfort, connection, and happiness from my music
2. My amazingly talented musician peers, I am very lucky to be in an environment where everyone around me is passionate about music, and by interacting with them, I get inspired and motivated every day.
3. My friends and my family.
Who are your all-time favorite songwriters, and why?
I look up to Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Leonard Cohen’s song “In My Secret Life” was my dad’s favorite song when I was little. After I grew up a bit more, I listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. I adore how both of them carefully craft their lyrics, how they tell moving stories through the flowing music, and how they prove that great lyrics aren’t answers—they’re questions dressed in smoke.
What’s next for you?
Completing college is non-negotiable for me haha. I’m here to soak up every skill, theory, and connection I can, not just to sharpen my craft, but to understand the why behind the music that moves people. With that said, I’m not waiting for a diploma to dive into the industry. I’m already writing, producing, and collaborating constantly, treating every project like a lab experiment. Winning this contest was a lightning-bolt moment. It quieted that little voice asking in my heart, “Are you sure about this?” and replaced it with, “Keep going.” In the long run, I want my work to bridge raw emotion and technical precision, songs that feel both human and bulletproof.
What would you tell other songwriters who are considering entering the Lyric Contest?
Go for it, don’t hesitate, keep trying, and be proud of your work because you will never know when and how your creations will touch souls unless you make them heard.
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