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.

 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.

 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)

Khusnul W
January, 2021