Lyrics Are Named After the Lyre
A lyric is the words of a song. The name comes from the lyre, the instrument that once accompanied such poetry.
A lyric is the words of a song, or a short poem expressing personal feeling. The name records how such poetry was performed: Greek *lyrikos* means of the lyre, and lyric poetry was sung to that instrument, as distinct from *epic* poetry, which was recited. The instrument vanished and the category survived. In classical criticism, lyric, epic and dramatic were the three great divisions of poetry.
- Song words. *The lyrics of the song.*
- A short personal poem. *A lyric poem.*
- Lyre — the instrument. *A Greek lyre.*
- Lyrical — expressive and flowing. *A lyrical passage.*
- Lyricist — one who writes lyrics. *A gifted lyricist.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lyric | A lyric. |
| Plural | lyrics | The lyrics. |
| Adjective | lyrical | Lyrical prose. |
| Agent | lyricist | A lyricist. |
| Greek | lyra | A lyre. |
- He writes the lyrics, she the music.Songwriting.
- Sappho wrote lyric poetry.Classical.
- Lyric means of the lyre.Etymology.
The three classical modes
- Lyric — sung to the lyre, personal and short
- Epic — recited, long, narrative, about heroes
- Dramatic — enacted, written for performance
- Elegy — originally defined by its metre, not its mood
- The names survive long after the performance practices ended
Latin *lyricus*, from Greek *lyrikos*, singing to the lyre, from *lyra*, the instrument.
Why are song words called lyrics?
Because such poetry was originally sung to the lyre, unlike epic verse, which was recited.
Is a lyric always a song?
No. In poetry, a lyric is a short poem expressing personal feeling, whether or not it is set to music.