Lyric
Theater or name
Lyric originally referred to poetry meant to be sung, often accompanied by a lyre, a stringed instrument of ancient Greece.
In music, lyrics are the words of a song, distinct from the melody or harmony.
Lyric poetry emphasizes personal emotion and is often written in the first person.
The term also describes a vocal style that is expressive and melodic, as in lyric soprano.
In literary analysis, lyric can denote a genre of poetry focused on individual feelings rather than narrative or dramatic elements.
The lyric of the song captures the bittersweet longing of lost love.
Metrical literary composition
- verseMetered poetic passage
- odeLaudatory verse form
- sonnetFourteen-line metered poem
- elegyPoem lamenting the departed
stanza · meter · rhyme · prosody · iambic · syllable · couplet · quatrain
Metered poetic passage
- chorusSingers performing together
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- refrainAbstain from acting
- hookCurved catching device
bridge · rhyme · stanza · ballad · anthem · songwriting · composition · couplet
Continuous mark or queue
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- snippetSmall cut portion
- quotationCited passage or price
- excerptPortion taken from larger work
passage · couplet · hook · earworm · singalong · karaoke · misheard · mondegreen
Operatic solo piece
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- librettoOpera's written words
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
bel canto · coloratura · operetta · diva · prima donna · vocal · cantata · oratorio
Deeply and sincerely meant
- poignantEvoking keen emotion
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- soulfulExpressing deep emotion
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
tender · wistful · romantic · melancholic · sentimental · intimate · evocative · moving
poem
Metrical literary composition
elegy · stanza · meter · rhyme · prosody · iambic · syllable · couplet · quatrain · Sappho
verse
Metered poetic passage
hook · bridge · rhyme · stanza · ballad · anthem · songwriting · composition · couplet · meter
line
Continuous mark or queue
excerpt · passage · couplet · hook · earworm · singalong · karaoke · misheard · mondegreen · chorus
aria
Operatic solo piece
recitative · bel canto · coloratura · operetta · diva · prima donna · vocal · cantata · oratorio · serenade
heartfelt
Deeply and sincerely meant
- poignantEvoking keen emotion
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- soulfulExpressing deep emotion
passionate · tender · wistful · romantic · melancholic · sentimental · intimate · evocative · moving · eloquent
Lyricmelody
Pleasing sequence of notes
music · instrumental · tune · accompaniment · beat
- lyric videoSong footage showing words
- song lyricsWords of a tune
- explicit lyricsProfane song words
- rap lyricsRhythmic spoken-word verses
- wax lyricalSpeak enthusiastically at length
- love lyricsRomantic song text
lyrics, lyrical, lyrically, lyricist, lyricists, lyricism, lyre, lyres