Quoting song lyrics correctly can seem tricky, but it's simpler than you might think. Whether you're writing an essay, a blog post, or simply sharing your favorite lines on social media, understanding the proper formatting and citation methods ensures accuracy and gives credit where it's due. This comprehensive guide answers frequently asked questions about quoting lyrics, covering everything from basic formatting to advanced citation styles.
How Do I Quote Song Lyrics in an Essay?
Quoting lyrics within an essay follows similar rules to quoting any other text. The key is to integrate the lyrics smoothly into your writing while clearly indicating the borrowed material. Use quotation marks around the lyrics themselves, and immediately follow the quote with an in-text citation that includes the artist's name, song title, and year of release. For example:
"We built this city on rock and roll," sings Starship in their 1985 hit of the same name (Starship, 1985).
This seamlessly weaves the lyric into the sentence. You'll then need a full citation in your bibliography or works cited page, following the chosen style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
How Do I Cite Song Lyrics in MLA Format?
The MLA style guide is commonly used in humanities disciplines. For in-text citations, use the artist's last name and the year of the song's release. In your "Works Cited" page, the entry should look like this:
Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. "Song Title." Album Title, Label, Year.
Example:
Sheeran, Ed. "Thinking Out Loud." x, Atlantic Records, 2014.
How Do I Cite Song Lyrics in APA Format?
APA style, preferred in social sciences, uses a slightly different format. In-text citations follow the author-date method. Your "References" page entry will resemble this:
Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name (Year). Song title. On Album title [Medium of recording]. Label.
Example:
Swift, T. (2012). We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. On Red [Audio recording]. Big Machine Records.
Remember to replace the bracketed information with the appropriate details.
How Do I Quote Multiple Lines of Lyrics?
When quoting more than three lines of lyrics, use a block quote. This sets the lyrics apart visually, typically indented from the left margin and without quotation marks. The citation follows the block quote. Example:
She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; (Byron, 1814)
What if the Lyrics Are Changed Slightly?
If you alter lyrics for grammatical reasons or to fit your sentence structure, indicate the changes using square brackets [ ]. For example, if a lyric contains a slang term that needs clarification, you might write:
"It's a [great] song," she declared.
How Do I Quote Lyrics from a Live Performance?
Quoting lyrics from a live performance presents a unique challenge. Ideally, you'd note this in your citation, for instance: "(Live performance, [Date])" following the standard citation. However, the exact wording from a live performance might differ from the studio recording. If there are significant differences, consider focusing on the key message or theme conveyed rather than attempting to quote the precise wording.
How Do I Quote Lyrics from a Cover Version?
When quoting a cover version, be sure to cite both the original artist and the artist who performed the cover. You can do this in the in-text citation or explicitly mention the cover version in your writing. For example:
"Hallelujah" as performed by Jeff Buckley (originally written by Leonard Cohen) powerfully captures...
By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately quote lyrics in your writing, showcasing your musical knowledge while adhering to academic standards. Remember to always consult your specific style guide for detailed instructions.
