08-25-2015, 08:53 AM
i have tried for the last few days to understand this question. came close, then lost it again(:
there is a difference between lyrics and poetry, and that is music. the fact is, this difference has nothing to do with the reader. i mean, the reader, given some words on a page, may be able to detect if they are reading poetry or lyrics (having not come across the page of words before), but that is just based on formula, and yep, even great lyricists often apply cliché and whatnot. if you read the lyrics to 'jumping jack flash' for example, these have the 'colloquial phrases', and it sounds like lyrics (no matter how poetic); but, then again, everyone knows that song, and reads it that way. the fact is, the difference is in how one writes lyrics and poetry. and to be honest, i don't think there is a real difference apart from the music. when i have written songs in the past, i have sometimes started with the music, a melody and then written the words, and of course the melody is going to influence the style and the particular words i write. but often, i have a melody and simply used that melody with an old poem, cutting it a bit, trimming, etc., to make it fit.
i must confess, that it is true that a lot more lyrics use colloquialisms than poetry, but i think it is simply a superficial thing, and nothing incredibly meaningful. most popular songs are based on a blues root, which emphasised the natural spoken word. in fact, most music today is folk music, so it makes sense. this doesn't, however, imply that that is is the only way to do it. not only because of the words but also because beats and a blues root isn't the only way to go about music. for example:
Yes I'm thinking of this, yes I am
Puddletown Tom was the underground
Hold you tighter so close, yes you are
Please hold on to the steel rail
Colonel with gloves draft leaches
He isn't loved on 'Sundays Mail'
All the fives crock Henrietta
She's a mean go-getter
Gotta write her a letter.
Did I wink, did i winking of this, I am
Yum, yummy, yum, dough, yummy, yum, yom, yom...
Yes, I'm thinking of this, in steam
Skeleton kissed to the steel rail
Fleas in Pamela gloves drafts leaches
Chugging along with a funnel of steam
All the fives crock Henrietta
She's mean go-getter
Gotta write her a letter...
there is a difference between lyrics and poetry, and that is music. the fact is, this difference has nothing to do with the reader. i mean, the reader, given some words on a page, may be able to detect if they are reading poetry or lyrics (having not come across the page of words before), but that is just based on formula, and yep, even great lyricists often apply cliché and whatnot. if you read the lyrics to 'jumping jack flash' for example, these have the 'colloquial phrases', and it sounds like lyrics (no matter how poetic); but, then again, everyone knows that song, and reads it that way. the fact is, the difference is in how one writes lyrics and poetry. and to be honest, i don't think there is a real difference apart from the music. when i have written songs in the past, i have sometimes started with the music, a melody and then written the words, and of course the melody is going to influence the style and the particular words i write. but often, i have a melody and simply used that melody with an old poem, cutting it a bit, trimming, etc., to make it fit.
i must confess, that it is true that a lot more lyrics use colloquialisms than poetry, but i think it is simply a superficial thing, and nothing incredibly meaningful. most popular songs are based on a blues root, which emphasised the natural spoken word. in fact, most music today is folk music, so it makes sense. this doesn't, however, imply that that is is the only way to do it. not only because of the words but also because beats and a blues root isn't the only way to go about music. for example:
Yes I'm thinking of this, yes I am
Puddletown Tom was the underground
Hold you tighter so close, yes you are
Please hold on to the steel rail
Colonel with gloves draft leaches
He isn't loved on 'Sundays Mail'
All the fives crock Henrietta
She's a mean go-getter
Gotta write her a letter.
Did I wink, did i winking of this, I am
Yum, yummy, yum, dough, yummy, yum, yom, yom...
Yes, I'm thinking of this, in steam
Skeleton kissed to the steel rail
Fleas in Pamela gloves drafts leaches
Chugging along with a funnel of steam
All the fives crock Henrietta
She's mean go-getter
Gotta write her a letter...