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The Poetry Of Song Lyricse Poetry Of Song Lyricse Poetry Of Song Lyrics
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What’s the Difference Between a Poem and a Song Lyric? line, organizing the ideas into the song version of sentences
and paragraphs.
Whether you’re a songwriting trying to write more
poetically to affect the emotions of your audience, or you’re Aren’t Poems Supposed to Rhyme?
a poet wondering how to write song lyrics… if you’ve ever
wondered about the similarities and differences between Poems used rhyme… up until the Modernist Movement
poetry and song lyrics, this is for you... of the early 20th century, there was rhyming and regular
rhythms in all European poetry traditions. Some forms of
Poetry and Song Lyrics poetry, such as the Sonnet, had very structured line and
rhyme structures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry).
Poems and song lyrics are similar which can be confusing.
Both use the sounds and rhythms of the words and figurative Rhyme and rhythm patterns are still expected in popular
language (including: emotional imagery, sensation imagery, song lyrics because of the regular patterns in the musical
metaphor and symbolism) to express more than the literal accompaniment. Song lyrics are closer to the poetic aesthetic
meaning of the words, there are multiple levels of meaning. of pre-20th century poetry than most contemporary or avant
garde poetry.
So, are song lyrics poems? What’s the difference between
poems and song lyrics? Is it poetry vs. lyrics, or are lyrics Why Do Song Lyrics Rhyme?
poetry?
Rhymes also help the performers and the audience
The short answer is: song lyrics are a specific form of remember the song lyrics. Rhymes also cause the listener to
poetry. Because song lyrics are meant to be sung and poems hear connections between the lines. Rhymes act like musical
are spoken or read, lyrics have some specific characteristics punctuation that creates a sense of the structure of a section.
that separate them from other poetry forms. Adding music It helps the attentive listener connect meaning between lines
to song lyrics adds another dimension to the mix. and understand relationships between the lines in a song
section (see below).
Song Lyric Characteristics
Listeners are engaged when they notice patterns and begin to
Song lyric characteristics are based on how the audience try predicting what’s coming. When is the next rhyme going
hears and understands the lyrics as they listen to the song, to happen? What will the rhyme word be? Too predictable
and on the structure of the music that accompanies the is boring, too hard to predict is frustrating and will sound
lyrics. Poetry, especially since the early 20th century, flows random.
from different aesthetic and historical traditions.
How Do I Write Song Lyrics?
As a listener hears a popular song, they follow the lyrics
making mental images and experience emotional reactions. A song is a journey for the listener. It’s easiest to start with
Lyrics use figurative language to evoke responses in the a story or emotional journey in mind before trying to write
audience and tell a story that creates an emotional journey rhyming lines.
through the song. Because song lyrics are sung, they are
usually easier to understand on the first listen than poetry. A written line of lyrics is usually sung in one breath,
If your audience can’t figure out what you’re writing about creating a musical phrase. Although there are exceptions,
you’ll lose them and your song won’t be successful. most song sections are a group of 4 phrases. Song sections,
such as the chorus and verse (see below) is one of the most
The music of popular songs follows regular vocal phrases important characteristics of a song.
that last for a breath when sung. Musical structures, the
melodic phrases and chord progressions, support the lyric Rhymes create musical punctuation because the listener
phrases. Lyrics have rhythmic and rhyme patterns that the hears connections between the lines. The rhymes give the
listener uses to predict what is coming next. A song that’s too listener a sense of the structure of a section and the
predictable is boring, not predictable enough and it’s incom- relationships between the lines in a song section.
prehensible… it sounds like noise.
The type of rhyme affects the sense of forward motion in a
Popular song lyrics are different from poems because lyrics lyric. A perfect rhyme gives the sensation of completing a
are typically divided into 4 types of sections: verse, chorus, statement, like a period in a sentence. An imperfect rhyme
pre-chorus and bridge (see below). Song sections also have (slant rhyme or open rhyme) is a partial finish, similar to a
rhyme schemes, patterns of rhyme in the last word of each musical comma. A variety of perfect and imperfect rhymes

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