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#56185 02/10/02 12:16 PM
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How many of you refer to the words of a single song as its lyric?

And how many refer to the same as its lyrics?

I've been corrected here by my language king in my reference to the song's words as its "lyrics," where I should have referred to the song's "lyric." This was news to me, but I do love having my language turn toward a new place.

Just wondering whether any of you have made the same mistake I have. And especially, you, tsuwm!! Which do you use, your Lexicoughable Highness?

Best regards,
WordWright


#56186 02/10/02 12:59 PM
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whether any of you have made the same mistake I have

And that would be believing your language king?


#56187 02/10/02 02:19 PM
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Hmmmmm. Now that you bring it up ... when I was singing (for fun and profit) I would say :
"I have memorized the lyrics of that new song." However, when speaking about a song I might say "It has a beautiful lyric." -or- "The lyrics of that song are beautiful." -or even - "That new song has a beautiful lyric."
Make of it what you will!
Musick - where are you?


#56188 02/10/02 03:17 PM
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>Which do you use, your Lexicoughable Highness?

I cannot carry a tune, why should I bother trying to drag the words around?

-joe (caco) phony

#56189 02/10/02 03:36 PM
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My dictionary says (usually plural) the words of a song, as distinguished from the music.
Sound like your ped- ant put his ped in his mouth. Definition of being positive - being wrong at the top of your voice.


#56190 02/10/02 04:13 PM
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Dear wwh,

My latest edition of the American Heritage shows lyric as the words of a song, and in parentheses there's a statement about lyrics used as the same. There's no usage note, unfortunately, so it appears that the board thought it no big deal. Don't have the dictionary with me here, but I could look it up.

To wow: On the usage in the phrase, "It has a beautiful lyric.." (or something you wrote like that): That seems to be the type of use referred to in the AHD. I've never knowingly heard that usage, but my ears are open now to see whether I ever hear it.

This could simply be a case of language-in-progress, ever-changing, adaptive, misused, and, finally, transformed into something it wasn't before.

Best regards,
WordAwake


#56191 02/10/02 06:42 PM
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Hereabouts, "lyrics" means "words" and "lyric" means "melodic." As Wordwind said, "...language-in-progress..."

Tsyganka


#56192 02/11/02 03:13 AM
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The popular song, as a unique American art form has, like the German Lied, rules as formal as the sonnet. Its form consists of a front section (I forget what that's called), which is often unremarkable and little heard, followed by the "verse", which is the part which most people would recognize. Where, indeed, is Musick, who could enlighten us further?


#56193 02/11/02 03:32 AM
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#56194 02/11/02 03:38 AM
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Who needs intro?
"C, A-min, F, G" ... all you need.

Drat! Muh kid loosened one'a muh gee-tar strings, an' he won't tell me which one.

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