As a poet, I don't see myself being able to write songs. They are very different and require different skills. One of those skills, of course, is a musical skill, which I do have. But to be able to create a unique tune is a difficult thing to me. I could probably write the words to it, but maybe those words would flow more like a poem than a song.

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Wait, wha...?

I find songs don't flow as much as poetry when you read them but are easier to distinguish when sung than poems are when they are read.

I hope that makes sense.

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_{Lai Lai Hei!}

You already know the answer to part of this. Lyrics are combined with music; poetry has to contain the music within itself. Lyrics can also rely on the music for emotional effect, but poetry has to create that same effect standing alone. Lyrics are often different structurally. The most common song patterns, I believe, are verse-verse-bridge-verse or verse-chorus-verse-chorus where the choruses are about four lines long. It’s rare to read a poem with a repeated stanza; even most repetitive forms only repeat a line or two.

Also, two songs can have identical lyrics and the differences in the music will set them apart. That’s part of why in poetry it’s cliché to write ‘I love you,’ as it’s in so many other poems, but in lyrics, it’s acceptable. Poems have to be unique in and of themselves, while lyrics can rely on the music for that. Lyrics also have different constraints: the length of the song, where the sounds are placed (no one’s going to be able to hold a short ‘i’ as long as an ‘oo’ sound, so no long note should be paired with a short ‘i’ sound), whether or not the refrain makes sense as the story in the verses progresses/deepens.

There is some crossover. I’ve found Paul Simon’s lyrics in poetry anthologies, and he has adapted poems into lyrics. Many have done the same; plenty of choral music is based on poetry, for example. On the other hand, Paul McCartney’s poetry is pretty bad even though he’s a very capable lyricist.

Hm. Thanks for the input.

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"last night i practiced being a ghost while you were sleeping"

It does make sense. thank you.

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"last night i practiced being a ghost while you were sleeping"

Wow. Your comment was very helpful.
Thanks. Do you any other famous bands/people who are like Paul Simon?

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"last night i practiced being a ghost while you were sleeping"

Keep in mind that not all of Simon's lyrics are poetic.

Erm, I don't pay that much attention to song lyrics, to be honest. I believe Leonard Cohen has a book of poetry out, but I don't know if it's any good.

Mr. Cohen's released several books of both poetry and prose. He was a writer long before he got a record deal.

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Thebes: The cyborg would not recognize the Garden of Eden; it is not made of mud and cannot dream of returning to dust.

i like Cake's "where do your fingers go" lyrics

its tru poetickness, i really liek it so much

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fear is the mantra of invention...

MORTAL COIL is a poetic term that means the troubles of daily life and the strife and suffering of the world. It is used in the sense of a burden to be carried or abandoned.

-critmass 12/11/09