# lyrics

/ˈɫɪɹɪks/ (US) · /lˈɪɹɪks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lyrics
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. words of a song

noun · CEFR B1

the words that you sing or hear in a song.

For teachers: the text of a song or other vocal musical composition. Usually plural in this sense.

- I love the melody of that track, but I can never remember the lyrics.
- The songwriter spent weeks refining the lyrics to ensure the emotional weight of the verses matched the intensity of the bridge.

### 2. short poems

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Literary

short poems that express the personal feelings of the writer.

For teachers: short poems, often intended to be set to music, that express the speaker's intense personal feelings or thoughts.

- The book contains several beautiful lyrics about nature and loss.
- Scholars often compare his early lyrics to the romantic traditions of the nineteenth century, noting a similar focus on subjective experience.

Usage: In this literary sense, the word can be used as a countable noun referring to individual poems.

## Examples

- I love the melody, but the lyrics are hard to understand.
- The singer spent weeks writing the lyrics for the new album to ensure every story felt personal.
- While the upbeat tempo suggests a happy song, the lyrics actually explore themes of loss and isolation, creating a striking contrast for the listener.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.