Lyricist
Encyclopedia
A lyricist is a songwriter
who specializes in lyrics
. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody
.
takes different forms. Some composers and lyricists work closely together on the song, with each having an input into both words and tune. Oftentimes, a lyricist will fill in the words to a tune already fully written out. Dorothy Fields
worked in this way. Lyricists have often added words to an established tune, as Johnny Burke did with the Erroll Garner
tune Misty
. Some partnerships work almost totally independently, for example, Bernie Taupin
famously writes lyrics and hands them over to Elton John
, who then sets them to music, with minimum interaction between the two men.
hymn
-singing tradition, many of the best-loved pieces have words written to fit existing melodies. The Christmas carol
, What Child Is This, had its words set to an old English folk tune that formerly was a lover's lament, Greensleeves
. The English
composer
Ralph Vaughan Williams
famously set existing poems, by men like William Cowper
and Charles Wesley
, to traditional folk tunes to create hymns, many of which he published in the English Hymnal
. A different way in which this happened was the marriage of non-related words and tune, a well known example being The Star-Spangled Banner
, the national anthem
of the United States
, with words written by Francis Scott Key
strictly as a poem, which was later set to the tune of an old drinking song.
is responsible for all text, whether spoken or sung in recitative
or aria
.
, Nas
and KRS-One
. These artists incorporated a message in their song instead of throwing lines together that rhymed. This is the main concern with hip hop artist today with many old school hip hop fans, artists, or "true" hip hop fans saying that rap has faded away from the lyrical concept of hip hop. Rappers like Lupe Fiasco
and Common
are known for trying to "save" rap music. This incorporates the idea that hip hop is "dead." Alternately, the term is used to describe a rapper who utilizes complex, intricate multi-syllabic rhymes and rhyme schemes instead of the mono-syllabic style which many fans consider to be poorly thought-out or lazy.
Major Music Publishers
Major Independent Music Publishers
Performing Rights Societies in the USA
Mechanical Rights Societies in the USA
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who specializes in lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics 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...
. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
.
Collaboration
CollaborationCollaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
takes different forms. Some composers and lyricists work closely together on the song, with each having an input into both words and tune. Oftentimes, a lyricist will fill in the words to a tune already fully written out. Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
worked in this way. Lyricists have often added words to an established tune, as Johnny Burke did with the Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner
Erroll Louis Garner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard...
tune Misty
Misty (song)
"Misty" is a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner.Originally composed as an instrumental following the traditional 32-bar format, the tune later had lyrics by Johnny Burke and became the signature song of Johnny Mathis, reaching #12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in 1959...
. Some partnerships work almost totally independently, for example, Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
famously writes lyrics and hands them over to Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, who then sets them to music, with minimum interaction between the two men.
Religious songwriting
In the ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
-singing tradition, many of the best-loved pieces have words written to fit existing melodies. The Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
, What Child Is This, had its words set to an old English folk tune that formerly was a lover's lament, Greensleeves
Greensleeves
"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song and tune, a ground of the form called a romanesca.A broadside ballad by this name was registered at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580 as "A New Northern Dittye of the Lady Greene Sleeves". It then appears in the surviving A Handful of...
. The English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
famously set existing poems, by men like William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
and Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
, to traditional folk tunes to create hymns, many of which he published in the English Hymnal
English Hymnal
The English Hymnal was published in 1906 for the Church of England under the editorship of Percy Dearmer and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The preface to the hymnal began with the statement, "A collection of the best hymns in the English language." Much of the contents was used for the first time at St...
. A different way in which this happened was the marriage of non-related words and tune, a well known example being The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
, the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with words written by Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
strictly as a poem, which was later set to the tune of an old drinking song.
Classical music
In opera, the librettistLibretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
is responsible for all text, whether spoken or sung in recitative
Recitative
Recitative , also known by its Italian name "recitativo" , is a style of delivery in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech...
or aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
.
Hip Hop music
In Hip Hop music the first known and successful lyricists were RakimRakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
, Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
and KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
. These artists incorporated a message in their song instead of throwing lines together that rhymed. This is the main concern with hip hop artist today with many old school hip hop fans, artists, or "true" hip hop fans saying that rap has faded away from the lyrical concept of hip hop. Rappers like Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco , is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Lupe is the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food...
and Common
Common
Common may refer to:* COMMON, the largest association of users of mid-range IBM computers* Common , a British Thoroughbred racehorse* Common , a part of certain Christian liturgy* Commoner, someone does not hold a title of peerage...
are known for trying to "save" rap music. This incorporates the idea that hip hop is "dead." Alternately, the term is used to describe a rapper who utilizes complex, intricate multi-syllabic rhymes and rhyme schemes instead of the mono-syllabic style which many fans consider to be poorly thought-out or lazy.
External links
Resources for Lyricists- Memorial Beach Lyrics: Lyricist community where one song is chosen every month to get recorded/released.
- Discover a Hobby: Online guide to learn Songwriting
- Music Lyrics - Reviews, critiques and news.
- NashvilleHype! Hit Songwriter Interviews
- The World Wide Songwriters Association Worldwide organization of songwriters with tips, articles etc. Be Heard. Get Published.
- One Time Lyrics
Major Music Publishers
Major Independent Music Publishers
- Peer Music Publishing
- Chrysalis Music Publishing
- pigFACTORY Music Publishing
- Bug Music Publishing
- Kobalt Music Group
Performing Rights Societies in the USA
Mechanical Rights Societies in the USA