SONG LYRICS

 A song is a short metrical intended or adapted for singing, especially in

rhythmed stanzas. In simple words, a song is short piece of music that is
sung. There are many kinds of genre of music so there are also many
purposes of songs. The following are social functions and generic structure
of songs.

A. Social Function of songs:

1. To entertain the listeners.
2. To teach moral value through the lyrics of songs.
3. To express personal feeling.
4. To criticize a particular condition.

B. Generic Structure of songs:

Generally, a song consists of the following parts:
1. Intro
Usually it contains of music only without any single word.
2. Verse
It is also called stanza. It is the part that tells a story of the song.
3. Chorus
It is a lyric – combination that is repeated with little or no change
throughout the song. Usually, the chorus lyrics include the song title and
give the listeners a general idea about the song topic. The chorus music
includes the catchiest melody in the song. The chorus is generally the part
that the listeners will remember from the song.
4. Bridge
It only appears once. It contains of lyrics that give audiences / listeners to
reflect the story. It is also called the conclusion of the story.
5. Outro / Coda
This is the end of the song. It is usually contains of instruments.
Generally the structure of songs are Intro – Verse 1 – Chorus – Verse 2 –
Chorus – Bridge – Chorus – Outro.

C. Language Features of Song Lyrics

Here is the definition of Lyrics
 Lyric is defined as a lyric poem; the words of a song, as distinguished from
the music. To the songwriter. Lyrics are the words that are set to music.
They are written in a specific way for specific reasons. Lyrics are flash
stories. In some cases, lyrics address personal themes, at time universal.
Lyrics reflect the individual journey or cultural observations of the
songwriter. A song lyric contains of Figurative Language or Figures of
Speech.

 There are many language features of song lyrics that we should know.
1. Diction; it is the style of enunciation in speaking or singing. Sometimes we
can recognize the singer through diction. For example, stone is sung sto
 one. Diction is also defined as the choice and use of words and phrases.
The songwriters usually use particular dictions to make the song attractive
and catchy. Although a catchy melody is hugely important, one of the
reasons some of the biggest artists shoot up the charts is because the
words of the song made such as a personal connection to their listeners
that it was listened and sung to over and over again. Most songs use
popular words, such as baby, yeah, etc. Some songs used informal
language simple enough to understand yet still catchy enough to have you
dancing and singing all day. There are informal words used in most
English songs, such as gonna, ain’t, wanna, and gotta. Constructions such
as ain’t, isn’t, don’t belong to informal language too.

2. Rhyme; A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (or the same sound) in

two or more words, most often in the final syllables of lines in poems and
songs. Rhymes help emphasize the rhythm of the lyrics. They let us
achieve a sense of tension that moves into resolution.
Example:
After you’ve gone and left me crying,
After you’ve gone, there’s no denying
You’ll feel blue, you’ll be sad,
You’ll miss the best pal you’ve ever had
(After you’ve gone, by Henry Creamer and
Turner Layton)
The rhyme scheme of the verse above is AABB

3. Figurative Language or Figures of Speech is a broad category that

includes figures of speech as well as sound devices and imagery. A figure
of speech is where a word or words are used to create an effect, often
where they do not have their original or literal meaning. It is used to
heighten or increase the state that they are describing. Here are some
examples of Figurative Language in songs.

a. Sound Devices
Sound Devices are resources used to convey and reinforce the meaning
or experience of poetry through the skillful use of sound. The followings
are the examples of Sound Devices;
1) Alliteration; a literary device in which a series of words begin
with the same consonant sound.
Example:
This time, this place
Misused, mistakes
Too long, too late
(Far away, by Niclelback)
2) Assonance; the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Example:
I must confess in my quest
I fell depressed and restless
 (With Love, by Thin Lizzy)
3) Onomatopoeia; a word that phonetically mimics or resembles
the sound of the thing it describes.
Example:
Boom, boom, boom
Even bright than the moon, moon, moon
(Firework, by Katy Perry)
b. Imagery
Imagery is something concrete, like sight, smell, or taste. It describes
what the writer sees, hears or otherwise senses. Imagery creates a
picture that the readers or listeners can see in his/her mind. The
following are the examples of imagery:
1) Metaphor; describing something by likening it to something
else.
Example:
I’m the sunshine in your hair
I’m the shadow on the ground
I’m the whisper in the wind
I’m your imaginary friend
(I’m already there, by Lonestar)
2) Hyperbole; a frequency humorous exaggeration that hits at a
large truth.
Example:
I would fly to the moon and back if you’ll be
If you’ll be my baby
Got a ticket for a world where we belong
So would you be my baby?
(To the Moon and Back, by Savage Garden))
3) Simile; a comparison between two different things, designed to
create an unusual, interesting, emotional, or other effect using
like or as…as.
Example:
“How does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?”
(Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan)
4) Personification; a figure of speech where human qualities are
given to objects or ideas. In the arts, personification means
representing a non – human thing as is if it were human.
Personification gives human traits and qualities, such as
emotions, desires, sensations, gestures, and speech, often by
way of metaphor.
Example:
And so today, my world it smiles
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done,
For you to me are the only one.
(Thank to you, by Led Zeppelin)

Murni DA
Februari, 2023