一首流行歌曲通常包含两个重要的组成部分——独唱部（verse）和合唱部（chorus）。这两个术语是从基督教圣歌传承而来的。
既然传承而来，另起译名实在多此一举。有中国人把流行歌曲的“独唱部”翻译为“主歌”或者“正歌”，把“合唱部”翻译成“副歌”。不必要，且不妥当。对很多歌迷来说，那些人说的“副歌”正是歌曲的主要部分。
要察看一首流行歌曲的结构，我们不需要具备乐理知识，仅从歌词入手便可。和基督教圣歌一样，流行歌曲的独唱部主要功能是叙事，每一节通常都有不同的歌词。合唱部的主要功能是抒情，是情感上的高潮，它在歌曲中反复出现，歌词没有变化或者变化很小。顺便一提，流行歌曲的合唱部并非真正意义上的合唱，但是可以说，在某种程度上它有合唱的效果。
我们用实例来说明吧。
Nilsson 版的 Without You 的结构是AABAB：
独唱部1：
No I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
独唱部2：
No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
合唱部：
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give anymore
独唱部3：
Well I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow show
Yes it shows
合唱部：
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give anymore
除了独唱部和合唱部之外，一些流行歌曲还会有桥接部（bridge）。桥接部的作用不可小觑，它增加变化，令歌曲的层次感更加丰富。
我们再用实例来说明。
The Beatles 的 I Want To Hold Your Hand 的结构是ABABCABCAB：
独唱部1：
Oh yeah, I'll tell you something
I think you'll understand
When I'll say that something
I want to hold your hand
合唱部：
I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand
独唱部2：
Oh please, say to me
You'll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You'll let me hold your hand
合唱部：
I'll let me hold your hand, I want to hold your hand
桥接部：
And when I touch you I feel happy inside
It's such a feeling that my love I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide
独唱部3：
Yeah, you got that something
I think you'll understand
When I'll say that something
I want to hold your hand
合唱部：
I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand
桥接部：
And when I touch you I feel happy inside
It's such a feeling that my love I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide
独唱部4：
Yeah, you got that something
I think you'll understand
When I feel that something
I want to hold your hand
合唱部：
I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand
我们再看看 John Denver 的 Take Me Home Country Roads，它的结构是ABABCBB：
独唱部1：
Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze
合唱部：
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads
独唱部2：
All my memories, they gather 'round her, miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes
合唱部：
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads
桥接部：
I hear her voice in the mornin' hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin' down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
合唱部：
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads
了解流行歌曲的结构，以后听歌就会多一份乐趣。