Lyrics are the words of a song. The word isn't about poetry in general: poetry that expresses personal feelings is lyric poetry, and a gentle, poetic mood is lyrical. Lyrics is almost always plural: the lyrics are beautiful, even when there's only one song.
lyrics: will you get the meaning right?
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the lyrics of/to + song; the lyrics are + adjective; write the lyrics; song lyrics
- I've listened to this song a hundred times, but I still can't make out the lyrics.
- She writes the music herself, and her older sister writes the lyrics.
- Can you put the lyrics on the screen so everyone can sing along?
What changed
First versionCan you send me the text of this song? I want to learn it.
RevisionCan you send me the lyrics of this song? I want to learn it.
Song text seems a natural way to say it, but English speakers hardly ever talk about songs like that. Text is written material or a document, and in everyday life also a message on your phone: I'll text you. The words of a song are lyrics, or simply words: the words of this song.
The adjective lyrical describes a gentle, poetic mood: a lyrical film about childhood. A person who writes the words of songs is a lyricist: The band worked with a famous lyricist on the new album.
Your turn
I love the melody, but she sings so fast that I can't follow the ___.
Show the answer
lyrics — The singer sings fast, so you can't make out the words of the song: the lyrics. A native speaker wouldn't say text here: it means a written document or a phone message.
Describe a song you like. Name the artist and explain what you love about the lyrics.
I love "Yesterday" by the Beatles because the lyrics describe the simple, painful feeling of losing someone.
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