Lyrics

Lyrics (in singular form lyric) are a set of words that make up 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 known as a librettist.

Etymology and usage

Lyric derives from the Greek word λυρικος lyrikos, meaning "singing to the lyre". A lyric poem is one that expresses a subjective, personal point of view.

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

Copyright and royalties

See Royalties

Currently, there are many websites featuring song lyrics (e.g. www.lyrics.com). 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 websites in December 2005, the MPA's president, Lauren Keiser, said the free lyrics web sites are "completely illegal" and wanted some website operators jailed. Today there are several organizations that operate in the lyric licensing field (e.g. Gracenote™ & LyricFind™) that can provide legally licensed lyrics, which can be used online with permission from their respected owner publishers.

Academic study

• Lyrics can be studied from an academic perspective. For example, some lyrics can be considered a form of social commentary. Lyrics often contain political, social and economic themes as well as aesthetic elements, and so can connote messages which are culturally significant. These messages can either be explicit or implied through metaphor or symbolism. Lyrics can also be analyzed with respect to the sense of unity (or lack of unity) it has with its supporting music. Analysis based on tonality and contrast are particular examples.
• Chinese lyrics (詞) are Chinese poems written in the set metrical and tonal pattern of a particular song.

Riskiest Search

McAfee claims searches for phrases containing "lyrics" and "free" are the most likely to have risky results from search engines.

See also

• Lyricist, a lyrics writer
• Instrumental, music without voice
• Libretto, the name used for the text of traditional music forms like opera

External links

• Lyrics.net - Online lyrics resource featuring hundred of thousands lyrics from endless artists that can also be translated to several languages.
• Metro Lyrics - Searchable lyrics database featuring 450000+ lyrics to almost 15000 artists.