about song structure

I'm citing Steven Tyler (Does the noise in my head bother you, New York 2012, p. 290):

"A song is constructed like a tree - from roots to branches, and when it's done you hope it bears fruit. You need a first verse, next a second verse, then a prechorus, which is the titillating foreplay, then the cum shot - the payoff - being your chorus line. Then comes the bridge, which should bring you back to the chorus line, then boo-ya ... SCORE! It's outta the park."

In many rock songs the bridge is replaced by a guitar solo. Some songs have both, guitar solo PLUS bridge. Also, most Country, Pop, or Rock songs actually have three verses:

Verse Verse [Prechorus] Chorus Verse [Prechorus] Chorus Bridge [Prechorus] Chorus [Chorus]

The brackets around 'prechorus' indicate that this part - that also may be called a 'lift' - is optional. Diane Warren's song "I don't want to miss a sing" has this very structure (with all the optional parts). Aerosmith's own songs sometimes actually begin with an intro that is immediately followed by the chorus, like

"Janie's got a gun": Intro Chorus Verse Prechorus Chorus ...

"Dude looks like a lady": Intro (if you can call it that) Chorus Verse ...

"Sweet emotions" begins with the chorus (just the bass riff and these two words repeated).

"Pink" has the 'traditional' structure without the optional parts and with another verse instead of the bridge.

So, is there a rule? Not really! There is a typical structure that has proven successful for Pop music, that you should know by heart - and ignore or vary as suits your own song.