Secrets to Staind's Success
Every aspiring rock musician wonders: How does Aaron Lewis of the phenomenally popular band Staind write such profound music?  We here at The Rail now reveal the secrets of his musical and lyrical genius for all you hopeful rockers-in-training.

Relish your anguish
Teenagers buy the most rock music, so you should cater to their tastes.  Since all teenagers, especially males, are deeply troubled beings, you must record whiny, angry music.  Lyrics concerning mild depression, coupled with sluggish acoustic and slightly distorted electric guitars, are essential.  Remember, distortion means you're mad and you're sad and who knows what you're liable to do.
Generate the same music all other depressed rock bands make; teenagers don't care to vary their tastes.  Also, avoid guitar solos and emphasis on melody—these detract from the lyrics, the keys to success.

Be, like, vague
You need to master the art of sounding introspective while being vague.  It's a difficult concept to explain, so we'll let the lyrics speak for themselves:

All the times 
That I felt like this won't end 
Was for you 
And I taste 
What I could never have 
It's from you 
All the times 
That I've tried 
My intentions 
Full of pride 
But I waste 
More time than anyone

Who knows what he's talking about?  Nevertheless, it sounds important, and it sells.
If you reach any personal revelations while writing your songs, blanket them in bland, general, mantra-like phrases to appeal to the short attention spans of teenagers.  If anyone asks you what the song means, respond in a similarly vague manner, like Aaron here:

“‘Pressure’ is my response to the pressure I was under to get this record done. It's like a culmination of the pressure that I was under at the time because I was like half way through the record and I was now out of stuff that was readily and easily flowing through me. It was a combination of the pressure of that and a panic attack, which I get.”

You may want to simply repeat the lyrics to the song if asked about its significance:

“It's just kind of an introspective song about realizing that it's been awhile since a lot of things. It's been awhile since I could hold my head up high, it's been awhile since I said I was sorry, it's been awhile since I could say that I wasn't addicted, it's been awhile since I could say I love myself. It's kind of an acknowledgment that it's been awhile.”

Swear word smorgasbord
Liberal use of swear words like “fuck” means you're angry, as are teenagers, who can readily relate to your anger and subsequent carefree attitude regarding such taboos as the word “shit.”  Teenagers often use swear words to emphasize their cynicism—failure to use them invariably means failure as a musician.

Stick with clichés like white on rice
Every great lyricist uses clichés —they're memorable, understandable, and easy to think up.  Although you may think a cliché can't be based on inner feelings, the fact is Aaron's lyrics are clichés by coincidence, as yours will be too.  You can't help it if what you're thinking and writing is commonplace.  And you can't be bothered to be original, you've got teens to please and records to spit out.
Let's look at some of Aaron's clichéd/personal lyrics from various tracks on the hit album “Break the Cycle”:

As I walk along these streets 
If you need me I'll be here 
My stomach's in knots and the room starts to spin 
I only know that I can change/Everything else just stays the same 
I just needed someone to talk to 
You were never there for me 
Since I could hold my head up high 
Since I could stand on my own two feet again 
The consequences that I've rendered 
But all that shit seems to disappear when I'm with you 
Why must I feel this way?/Just make this go away 
'Cause its always raining in my head 
I am nothing more than a little boy inside 
Demons I am forced to keep
Bring me to my knees

Once you become an advanced student of the cliché, you can jam a load of them together, creating an unforgettable and ultimately meaningless stanza:

But I'm on the outside 
And I'm looking in 
I can see through you 
See your true colors 
'Cause inside your ugly 
You're ugly like me 
I can see through you 
See to the real you 

See that?  Every line is a cliché.  Try combining this technique with the previous one.  Expressions like “Shit happens” and “Same shit, different day” can have a twofold effect on teenagers yearning for angry triteness.  Mastering these techniques takes time, but don't think you'll never compare to Aaron.  He was once an original writer like you may be.  Work hard and you'll develop your own style of radio-ready nonsense.