lyrics

Information about lyrics

Lyrics

For other uses, see Lyrical.

Lyrics are the words to a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of expression. The lyricist of traditional musical forms such as Opera is as a librettist.

Currently, there are many websites featuring song lyrics. This offering, however, is controversial, since some sites include copyrighted lyrics offered without the holder's permission. The U.S. Music Publishers' Association (MPA), which represents sheet music companies, launched a legal campaign against such web sites in December 2005, the MPA's president, Lauren Keiser, said the free lyrics web sites are "completely illegal" and wanted some web site operators jailed.^[1]

Etymology and usage

"Lyric" derives from the Greek word for a song sung by the lyre, "lyrikos".^[2] A lyric poem is one that expresses a subjective, personal point of view.

: I would be the Lyric

: Ever on the lip,

: Rather than the Epic

: Memory lets die.

:: —Thomas Bailey Aldrich

The word lyric came to be used for the "words of a song"; this meaning was recorded in 1876 ^[3]. The common plural (perhaps because of the association between the plurals lyrics and words), predominates contemporary usage. Use of the singular form lyric remans grammatically acceptable, yet remains considered erroneous in referring to a singular song word as a lyric. The sung words of a song are called "lyrics".

References

1. ^ "Song sites face legal crackdown" BBC News, 12 December 2005. Site accessed 7 January 2007
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ [2]

A song is a relatively short musical composition. Songs contain vocal parts that are performed with the human voice and generally feature words (lyrics), commonly accompanied by other musical instruments (exceptions would be a cappella and scat songs).
..... Click the link for more information.

A lyricist is a writer who specializes in song lyrics, usually paid for by a band to write a custom song(s). A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist.
..... Click the link for more information.

Form (Lat. forma Eng. mould), refers to the external three-dimensional outline, appearance or configuration of some thing - in contrast to the matter or content or substance of which it is composed (compare with shape).
..... Click the link for more information.

Articulation may refer to:

Articulation (music)
Articulation (education)
Articulation (sociology)
Articulation (anatomy)

In speech:

Topic-focus articulation
Articulation score
Place of articulation
Manner of articulation

..... Click the link for more information.

worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.

Meter (British English spelling: metre) describes the linguistic sound patterns of a verse.
..... Click the link for more information.

Symmetry in common usage generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection.
..... Click the link for more information.

Opera is a form of musical and dramatic work in which singers convey the drama.^[1] Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition.^[2] An opera performance incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and
..... Click the link for more information.

libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, musical, and ballet. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass and requiem.
..... Click the link for more information.

The Music Publishers' Association of the United States (MPA) is the arm of the music industry responsible for the production and distribution of sheet music, and is the oldest music trade organization in the United States, founded in 1895.
..... Click the link for more information.

Greek}}}
Writing system: Greek alphabet
Official status
Official language of: Greece
Cyprus
European Union
recognised as minority language in parts of:
European Union
Italy
Turkey
Regulated by:
..... Click the link for more information.

Lyric poetry refers to either poetry that has the form and musical quality of a song, or a usually short poem that expresses personal feelings, which may or may not be set to music.
..... Click the link for more information.

For other meanings of epic, see .

The epic is long, exalted narrative poetry, generally concerning a serious subject and details the heroic deeds and events important to a culture or nation.
..... Click the link for more information.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich (11 November 1836 – 19 March 1907) was a poet, novelist, traveler, and editor, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA.

When he was but a child his father moved to New Orleans, but after ten years the boy was sent back to
..... Click the link for more information.

18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1840s 1850s 1860s - 1870s - 1880s 1890s 1900s
1873 1874 1875 - 1876 - 1877 1878 1879

:
Subjects: Archaeology - Architecture -
..... Click the link for more information.

This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

EnglishInfo