An introduction to poetry geared toward the study of song "Fusing an approach that engages both lyrics and musical content of English-language songs in a wide swath of genres, Lines and Lyrics gives readers the tools and concepts to help them better interpret songs, in an accessible and enjoyable format."--Victoria Malawey, author of A Blaze of Light In Every Word: Analyzing the Popular Singing Voice "I can think of no other book that juxtaposes art song and pop song so effectively, in a way that doesn't privilege one over the other. This is a real achievement, and a must-have for anyone who loves words and songs."--Stephen Rodgers, University of Oregon Bruce Springsteen, Benjamin Britten, Kendrick Lamar, Sylvia Plath, Outkast, and Anne Sexton collide in this inventive study of poetry and song. Drawing on literary poetry, rock, rap, musical theater, and art songs from the Elizabethan period to the present, Matt BaileyShea reveals how every issue in poetry has an important corresponding status in song, but one that is always transformed. Beginning with a discussion of essential features such as diction, meter, and rhyme, the book progresses into the realms of lineation, syntax, form, and address, and culminates in an analysis of two complete songs. Throughout, BaileyShea places classical composers and poets in conversations with contemporary songwriters and musicians (T. S. Eliot and Johnny Cash, Aaron Copland and Pink Floyd) so that readers can make close connections across time, genres, and fields, but also recognize inherent differences. To aid the reader, the author has created a Spotify playlist of all the music discussed in this book and provides time cues throughout, enabling readers to listen to the music as they read.

An introduction to poetry geared toward the study of song Bruce Springsteen, Benjamin Britten, Kendrick Lamar, Sylvia Plath, Outkast, and Anne Sexton collide in this inventive study of poetry and song. Drawing on literary poetry, rock, rap, musical theater, and art songs from the Elizabethan period to the present, Matt BaileyShea reveals how every issue in poetry has an important corresponding status in song, but one that is always transformed. Beginning with a discussion of essential features such as diction, meter, and rhyme, the book progresses into the realms of lineation, syntax, form, and address, and culminates in an analysis of two complete songs. Throughout, BaileyShea places classical composers and poets in conversations with contemporary songwriters and musicians (T. S. Eliot and Johnny Cash, Aaron Copland and Pink Floyd) so that readers can make close connections across time, genres, and fields, but also recognize inherent differences. To aid the reader, the author has created a Spotify playlist of all the music discussed in this book and provides time cues throughout, enabling readers to listen to the music as they read.

Emerging from the New Wave music scene of the late ‘70s, The Cars catapulted to success with the very first single—“Just What I Needed”—off of their debut album. Led by Ric Ocasek, the lead vocalist (along with Benjamin Orr), rhythm guitarist, and songwriter, The Cars became one of the most successful bands of the ‘80s—and their songs are just as beloved by fans today. Ocasek himself has had an illustrious career beyond The Cars, from writing and performing solo work, publishing poetry in Granta and elsewhere, and producing albums by musical artists like Weezer, Hole, Guided By Voices, and Jonathan Richman. In Lyrics & Prose, Ocasek collects his lyrics together for the first time—and included throughout are Ocasek’s early handwritten notes and set lists, doodles and all. His work spans from The Cars’ self titled debut album in 1978 to Move Like This, released in 2011, as well as Ocasek’s six solo albums. This is not merely a songbook for fans of The Cars, however: Ocasek is a versatile and affecting poet as well as songwriter, and his original verses—interspersed with album artwork and more than twenty-five beautiful black and white photographs—round out this beguiling book.

The Must-Have Guide for Songwriters Writing Better Lyrics has been a staple for songwriters for nearly two decades. Now this revised and updated 2nd Edition provides effective tools for everything from generating ideas, to understanding the form and function of a song, to fine-tuning lyrics. Perfect for new and experienced songwriters alike, this time-tested classic covers the basics in addition to more advanced techniques.Songwriters will discover: • How to use sense-bound imagery to enhance a song's emotional impact on listeners • Techniques for avoiding clichés and creating imaginative metaphors and similes • Ways to use repetition as an asset • How to successfully manipulate meter • Instruction for matching lyrics with music • Ways to build on ideas and generate effective titles • Advice for working with a co-writer • And much more Featuring updated and expanded chapters, 50 fun songwriting exercises, and examples from more than 20 chart-toppings songs, Writing Better Lyrics gives you all of the professional and creative insight you need to write powerful lyrics and put your songs in the spotlight where they belong.

Complete lyrics for well-known folk songs, hymns, popular and show tunes, more. Oh Susanna, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, hundreds more. Indispensable for singalongs, parties, family get-togethers, etc.

“One of country music’s greatest songwriters has given us his own private tour of the collective genius of his profession.” —Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author and host of the Revisionist History podcast Bobby Braddock, the only living songwriter to have written number-one country songs in five consecutive decades, celebrates standout lines in more than eighty country masterpieces. Unique stories give the reader a behind-the-scenes look at classics from Hank Williams, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller and Merle Haggard, as well as twenty-first-century icons like Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift and Eric Church. Artist Carmen Beecher brings these tales to vivid life with strikingly realistic illustrations of seldom-seen songwriters, easily recognizable superstars and unforgettable song characters. From late 1940s jukebox hits to present-day chart toppers, Braddock and Beecher offer a magical journey from the songwriter’s pen to the singer’s lips to the listener’s ear. “Country Music’s Greatest Lines works as an insider’s take on the business of country, and it also sent me to a dozen records I wanted to hear immediately. Braddock and Beecher evoke the mythology of country without sentimentalizing the music or its creators. It’s a remarkable achievement.” —Nashville Scene “We see how stand-alone powerful and effective a few well-crafted lines can be, even when removed from the context of the entire song.” —Sounds Like Nashville “Country songs, from Hank Williams till today, remain faithful to their tradition of reminding their listeners about the life they live. Braddock, a 60-year creator of songs, remembered that when he decided to write this book.” —American Songwriter

(Lyric Library). This exciting new book compiles the lyrics to more than 1,000 songs, in genres ranging from Broadway to jazz standards to early rock 'n' roll to rap to Tin Pan Alley to love songs to today's favorite hits! Highlights include: Adia * All I Ask of You * All You Need Is Love * Always * Amazed * And So It Goes * Angel * Barely Breathing * Beast of Burden * Beauty and the Beast * Bewitched * Brand New Day * Breathe * Building a Mystery * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Can't Help Falling in Love * Come Rain or Come Shine * Could I Have This Dance * Crazy * A Day in the Life * Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend * Don't Fear the Reaper * Don't Get Around Much Anymore * Edelweiss * Eleanor Rigby * Endless Love * Every Breath You Take * Fast Car * Fields of Gold * The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face * Fly Me to the Moon * The Fool on the Hill * Forever Young * 4 Seasons of Loneliness * Friends in Low Places * Galileo * Genie in a Bottle * Gettin' Jiggy Wit It * Give Me One Reason * Grow Old with Me * Here, There and Everywhere * Hey Jude * Hold My Hand * How Am I Supposed to Live Without You * How Deep Is Your Love * I Don't Want to Wait * I Heard It Through the Grapevine * I Write the Songs * Imagine * Iris * Isn't It Romantic? * Joy to the World * King of Pain * Lady in Red * Let It Be * Love Me Tender * Luck Be a Lady * Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds * Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of ...) * Misty * Moon River * More Than Words * My Funny Valentine * My Girl * My Heart Will Go On * Our House * Owner of a Lonely Heart * Penny Lane * Piano Man * The Rainbow Connection * Rainy Days and Mondays * Real World * Reflection * Respect * Rhiannon * Ribbon in the Sky * The River of Dreams * Route 66 * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * Sometimes When We Touch * Stella by Starlight * Stormy Weather * Strawberry Fields Forever * There's No Business like Show Business * 3 AM * Three Times a Lady * Time in a Bottle * Turn! Turn! Turn! * The Way We Were * We've Only Just Begun * What a Wonderful World * When I Fall in Love * Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? * A Whiter Shade of Pale * A Whole New World * With a Little Help from My Friends * Yesterday * You'll Be in My Heart * You're the Inspiration * You've Got a Friend * and hundreds more! Songs are presented alphabetically, and the book also includes an artist index, a songwriter index, and an index listing songs from musicals, movies and television.