Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

worksmart · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 88

Which sentence is correct?

The lyrics is good.

Or the lyrics are good.

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 774 Location: Yokohama

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The lyrics are good. Lyrics is plural.
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"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
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Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

KazAV · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:35 am Post subject:

Would like to add here if I may that the words to one song is the lyric, not the lyrics, which are the words to more than one song. This is a common mistake that many English native speakers make.

So:

The lyric of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is very confusing.

Mister Micawber · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 774 Location: Yokohama

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

The Oxford Dictionary =(usu. in plural) the words of a song

KazAV · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 6:29 am Post subject:

If the dictionary says so, it must be true. As a native speaker, I was always told at my grammar school that the words to one song is lyric in the singular and many musicians would agree.

KazAV · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 9:10 am Post subject:

Although Webster's 1913 (which I am looking at now) states plural when referring to a verse of lyric poetry and says lyric (note singular) is the words of a song (n. reference 4)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/lyric%20

Lyr�ic
a. 1. Of or pertaining to a lyre or harp.
2. Fitted to be sung to the lyre;
3. expressing deep personal emotion; - said especially of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet; as, the dancer's lyrical performance.
n. 1. A lyric poem; a lyrical composition.
2. A composer of lyric poems.
3. A verse of the kind usually employed in lyric poetry; - used chiefly in the plural.
4. the words of a song

And Encarta, on lyric, states:
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861738842

1. song words: the words of a song, especially a popular song (often used in the plural)

So it appears that, even though the correct form when referring to the words of a song is in the singular, it is one of those words that has changed over time with common usage since many people now use it in the plural form (I myself have done this, I must admit!).