Lyricist

A lyricist is an author of song lyrics. Some lyricists are also musical composers, while others team up with composers. There have been many such famous song-writing teams, such as George Gershwin (music) and his brother Ira Gershwin (lyrics). George Gershwin also wrote many of his own lyrics.

Related Topics:
Song - Lyrics - Composer - George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin

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In many cases, lyricists have written lyrics that have been set to old tunes. One of the best-known examples of this is the Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States, written by Francis Scott Key. He wrote the lyrics strictly as a poem, and it was later set to the tune of an old drinking song.

Related Topics:
Star-Spangled Banner - National anthem - United States - Francis Scott Key

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Similarly, the Christian Christmas carol, What Child Is This, had its words set to an old English folk tune that formerly was a lover's lament, Greensleeves.

Related Topics:
Christian - Christmas carol - Greensleeves

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Conversely, sometimes poets have written verse that has been later set to music. A good example of this is the Ode to Joy by Friedrich Schiller, who had not intended to be a lyricist but became one when Ludwig von Beethoven used several verses of this work as lyrics for the final movement of his ninth symphony.

Related Topics:
Poet - Friedrich Schiller - Ludwig von Beethoven

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