Lyrics vs. Text — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 29, 2024
Lyrics are the words of a song, often poetic and meant to be sung, while text refers to any written words, regardless of context or style.
Difference Between Lyrics and Text
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Lyrics specifically refer to the words of a song, designed to be musical and often structured with verses and a chorus to fit a melody. On the other hand, text encompasses any written content, ranging from literary works to everyday communications like emails and signs.
The purpose of lyrics is to complement the music, expressing emotions or stories through a combination of rhythm, melody, and poetic devices. In contrast, text serves various functions depending on its context, such as informing, persuading, or entertaining, without the necessity of being paired with music.
Lyrics are usually bound by the rhythm and melody of the song, which influences their structure, rhyming patterns, and word choice. Whereas, text can be free-form or structured according to the rules of different genres of writing, such as essays or reports, without musical constraints.
In lyrics, repetition is a common technique used to emphasize certain emotions or themes and to make the song catchy and memorable. Conversely, repetition in text is used more strategically, primarily for emphasis or to reinforce a point within a broader narrative.
The interpretation of lyrics can be more subjective, as they are often open to multiple meanings and heavily rely on metaphor and imagery. Text, however, is typically more straightforward, aiming for clarity and direct communication, though literary texts can also be interpretative.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Words of a song meant to be sung.
Written or printed words in any format.
Function
To complement music.
To inform, persuade, or entertain.
Structure
Often structured with verses and chorus.
Can vary widely: essays, reports, etc.
Common Techniques
Rhyme, repetition, metaphor.
Depends on genre; can include formal structure, argumentative tactics.
Interpretation
Subjective, open to interpretation.
Generally straightforward, though varies with literary texts.
Compare with Definitions
Lyrics
Designed to be performed musically.
The artist's delivery of the lyrics was breathtaking.
Text
Subject to grammatical and stylistic rules.
The text was edited for clarity and conciseness.
Lyrics
Words that make up a song.
The lyrics of the song captured the mood of the 60s.
Text
Any written or printed material.
The text on the poster was hard to read from a distance.
Lyrics
Intended to evoke emotions.
The lyrics brought tears to the audience.
Text
Can be functional, like in manuals or informative, like in books.
The text of the manual was straightforward and precise.
Lyrics
Often poetic, using rhymes and rhythms.
Her ability to craft haunting lyrics set her apart.
Text
Used in various media and formats.
The digital text was interactive and engaging.
Lyrics
Can be symbolic or direct.
His lyrics often feature deep symbolism and imagery.
Text
A primary means of communication.
He expressed his thoughts clearly in the written text.
Lyrics
Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist.
Text
A book or other written or printed work, regarded in terms of its content rather than its physical form
A text which explores pain and grief
Lyrics
Of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses subjective thoughts and feelings, often in a songlike style or form.
Text
The main body of a book or other piece of writing, as distinct from other material such as notes, appendices, and illustrations
The pictures are clear and relate well to the text
Lyrics
Relating to or constituting a poem in this category, such as a sonnet or ode.
Text
A written work chosen or set as a subject of study
Too much concentration on set texts can turn pupils against reading
Lyrics
Of or relating to a writer of poems in this category.
Text
A text message
Just give us a call or send us a text
Lyrics
Lyrical.
Text
Fine, large handwriting, used especially for manuscripts.
Lyrics
Having a singing voice of light volume and modest range.
Text
Send (someone) a text message
If she was going to go she would have texted us
Lyrics
Of, relating to, or being musical drama, especially opera
The lyric stage.
Text
The original words of something written or printed, as opposed to a paraphrase, translation, revision, or condensation.
Lyrics
Having a pleasing succession of sounds; melodious.
Text
The words of a speech appearing in print.
Lyrics
Of or relating to the lyre or harp.
Text
Words, as of a libretto, that are set to music in a composition.
Lyrics
Appropriate for accompaniment by the lyre.
Text
Words treated as data by a computer.
Lyrics
A lyric poem.
Text
A text message.
Lyrics
Often lyrics(Music) The words of a song.
Text
The body of a printed work as distinct from headings and illustrative matter on a page or from front and back matter in a book.
Lyrics
Plural of lyric
Text
One of the editions or forms of a written work
After examining all three manuscripts, he published a new text of the poem.
Lyrics
The words to a song (or other vocal music).
Text
Something, such as a literary work or other cultural product, regarded as an object of critical analysis.
Text
A passage from the Scriptures or another authoritative source chosen for the subject of a discourse or cited for support in argument.
Text
A passage from a written work used as the starting point of a discussion.
Text
A subject; a topic.
Text
A textbook.
Text
To send a text message to
She texted me when she arrived at the airport.
Text
To communicate by text message
He texted that he would be late.
Text
To key or send text messages
She was texting in class and missed what was said.
Text
A writing consisting of multiple glyphs, characters, symbols or sentences.
Text
A book, tome or other set of writings.
Text
(colloquial) A brief written message transmitted between mobile phones.
Text
(computing) Data which can be interpreted as human-readable text.
Plain text
Text
A verse or passage of Scripture, especially one chosen as the subject of a sermon, or in proof of a doctrine.
Text
(by extension) Anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, etc.
Text
(printing) A style of writing in large characters; also, a kind of type used in printing.
German text
Text
(transitive) To send a text message to; i.e. to transmit text using the Short Message Service (SMS), or a similar service, between communications devices, particularly mobile phones.
Just text me when you get here.
I'll text the address to you as soon as I find it.
Text
(intransitive) To send and receive text messages.
Have you been texting all afternoon?
Text
(dated) To write in large characters, as in text hand.
Text
A discourse or composition on which a note or commentary is written; the original words of an author, in distinction from a paraphrase, annotation, or commentary.
Text
The four Gospels, by way of distinction or eminence.
Text
A verse or passage of Scripture, especially one chosen as the subject of a sermon, or in proof of a doctrine.
How oft, when Paul has served us with a text,Has Epictetus, Plato, Tully, preached!
Text
Hence, anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, or the like; topic; theme.
Text
A style of writing in large characters; text-hand also, a kind of type used in printing; as, German text.
Text
That part of a document (printed or electronic) comprising the words, especially the main body of expository words, in contrast to the illustrations, pictures, charts, tables, or other formatted material which contain graphic elements as a major component.
Text
Any communication composed of words.
Text
A textbook.
Text
To write in large characters, as in text hand.
Text
The words of something written;
There were more than a thousand words of text
They handed out the printed text of the mayor's speech
He wants to reconstruct the original text
Text
A passage from the Bible that is used as the subject of a sermon;
The preacher chose a text from Psalms to introduce his sermon
Text
A book prepared for use in schools or colleges;
His economics textbook is in its tenth edition
The professor wrote the text that he assigned students to buy
Text
The main body of a written work (as distinct from illustrations or footnotes etc.);
Pictures made the text easier to understand
Common Curiosities
What defines lyrics?
Lyrics are the words of a song, meant to be sung and often structured to fit with a musical composition.
How do the purposes of lyrics and text differ?
Lyrics are intended to complement music, whereas text is used for a broader range of communication needs.
Are lyrics always poetic?
Most lyrics have poetic elements like rhyme and rhythm, but they can also be conversational.
What types of text are there?
Text types include literary, informative, persuasive, and descriptive, among others.
What skills are important for writing lyrics?
Key skills include a good sense of rhythm, ability to use poetic devices, and understanding of music.
Can any text be considered lyrics?
No, only texts specifically written for songs can be considered lyrics.
Can text include lyrics?
Yes, text can include lyrics, as lyrics are a form of text specifically tailored for music.
Why are lyrics important in songs?
Lyrics convey the emotions and messages of a song, enhancing the musical experience.
How does one interpret lyrics?
Interpreting lyrics involves considering the song’s music, context, and the emotions it evokes.
How does the structure of lyrics affect a song?
The structure can affect the song's flow and impact, contributing to its memorability and emotional effect.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
