Music lyrics and poetry are basically the same thing. When a lyricist writes the lyrics to a song, he or she uses literary techniques (alliteration, repetition, imagery, etc.) to create the flow of the song. The most brilliant songs, in my opinion, are those in which the lyrics and music combine and "balance each other out" for lack of a better phrase. In such songs, the music takes me to a different world, and the unique arrangement and choice of words paints that world for me. Some lyricists/musicians whom I feel do this particularly well are Coldplay, the Beatles, Elton John, George Gershwin, and Stephen Sondheim. You may not be familiar with that last one (unless you do musical theatre... Then I expect you to!), but if you've ever listened to one of Sondheim's scores, then you know what I mean. He is a lyrical and musical GENIUS. Like, listen to his music. FOR REAL. So good!! Any who, as an example of literary devices used in music, I'm going to use one of Sondheim's songs....
"Take Me to the World" from Evening Primrose by Stephen Sondheim
1. Repetition:
"Let me see the world with clouds.
Take me to the world,
Out where I can push through crowds.
Take me to the world."
"The world" and "take me to the world" are repeated even more throughout the song, but it is evident just in this one verse that this character's goal is to see/experience the world.
2. Personification:
"Let me see the world that smiles.
Take me to the world."
Obviously the world doesn't actually smile, but Sondheim uses this expression to make the world seem friendly and wonderful, at least to this character.
3. Imagery:
"With all around things growing from the ground,
Where birds that make a sound are birds..."
Sondheim uses his lyrics to paint images in the minds of his listeners... Ahh, Sondheim!
There are more examples of literally devices used in this piece, but these three stood out to me. Anyways, go listen to a Sondheim song (he wrote the music for "Into the Woods" by the way!) and tell me what you think :)
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