Song Lyrics: Just Poetry With a Kick?
Author: admin
The connection between song lyrics and poetry has to be taken on an artist by artist and song by song basis. Early rock and roll was full of doo wop groups whose hits were totally devoid of poetic lyrics. The words of songs such as Little Richards- “Tutti Frutti’ or The Beatles- “She Loves You’ can certainly not stand on their own as poetry, yet the songs were huge hits for the respective artists. The melody, beat and energy drove these songs, not their lyrics. At the other end of the spectrum are the singer-songwriters whose songs in many cases appear to be built to showcase their lyrics. Bob Dylan comes to mind as an example of an artist whose lyrics can often stand up on their own as poetry. Springsteen at his best as in “Jungleland’ also approaches real poetry.
Great songs can be built primarily around the music or lyrics. Perhaps the greatest songs balance both to create a work of art born out of the symbiosis of words and music. One can only wonder what Shakespeare-s greatest hits would sound like if the Bard were alive today and was using a Stratocaster as well as a pen.