Once again we return to the what is often the best advice a musician can get. It's all very fine to be firing off guitar solos or running through complicated keyboard hi-jinks, or to write Steinmanesque lyrics that try to explain the human condition or prove/disprove the existence of God, or to compose a song that's in seven or more parts, each linking to the others in a concept, or even to explore interesting vocal techniques. Each has its own place, and can be fine if used correctly. But it can often be harder, and indeed preferable, just to let the music flow and not worry too much about how complicated it is, or write very sparse lyrics, or even none at all.
Sometimes, it's best to keep it simple.
Most bands know this, at least, those who have done well and are appreciated by their fans. U2 are certainly known for fast, heavy rock songs or songs straining at the seams with political, spiritual or historical lyrics, but sometimes even they knew that just to tone it all down and reduce a song to its basics was the thing to do.
October --- U2 --- 1981
Music by U2, Lyrics by Bono
The title track from their second album, “October” is a short and very simple little song. It features the Edge on piano, and it's mostly his song really, as Bono only sings a short verse over the music. The lyric is sparse and stark, and could probably be interpreted many ways, but it's certainly a lonely song, a dark and troubling song, and all this conveyed in just over two minutes of piano and voice. Amazing.
That's how to do it.