The Craft of Lyric Writing [Hardcover]

Sheila Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0898791499 | ISBN-13: 978-0898791495 | Publication Date: October 15, 1984 | Edition: First Edition

Successful author and songwriter, Davis provides a complete guide to writing words for and to music, showing how to create lyrics with universal appeal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the classic songwriting tome." -- Billboard Magazine

"...to young lyricists who come to me for advice: Buy THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING. It's all there." -- Sheldon Harnick, Pulitzer Prize Lyricist, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"Davis has fulfilled a vital need in American popular culture." -- American Music

"Davis's book...is both educational and entertaining. A marvelous piece of work." -- George David Weiss, President, The Songwriter's Guild of America

"Now I know what to say to young lyricists who come to me for advice: Buy THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING. It's all there." -- Sheldon Harnick, Pulitzer Prize Lyricist, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

"Sheila Davis's book deserves not one, but two 'E's for excellence as it is both educational and entertaining. A marvelous piece of work." -- George David Weiss, President, The Songwriter's Guild of America

THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING explains how to combine songwriting talent with various techniques to create lyrics with commercial hit potential. This book also defines more than 100 literary and musical terms and supplies advice and quotes on the creative process from more than 50 experts in the music industry. THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING is a must-read for potential songwriters. -- Song Hits Magazine

THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING is a must-read for potential songwriters. -- Song Hits Magazine

THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING is an exhaustive and thoughtful introduction to the intricacies of song lyrics, and includes analytical insights that are interesting even to those who are not aspiring writers.(International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM)) -- International Association for the Study of Popular Music, IASPM

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; First Edition edition (October 15, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898791499
• ISBN-13: 978-0898791495
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The modern hit-writing authority..., September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Craft of Lyric Writing (Hardcover)

...Davis catalogues the fundamentals of the craft, from lyric structure to rhyme and meter to avoiding common pitfalls. She makes all of this easy to understand. Every one who wants to write lyrics should buy this book.

Singer-songwriters be warned: this book is written by a non-performing, professional lyricist. Those not trying to write a Top-40 hit should take Davis' comments about appropriate subject matter with a grain of salt. Davis' prose is what you'd expect from someone who writes catchy songs for a living: hokey and salesmanlike.

None of this detracts from the basic truth of the book, that clarity and specificity are virtues in writing, while obtuseness and vagueness can never successfully pass for depth. For her examples Davis sticks to truly well-written songs; for the most part she does not hold certain genres superior to others. In sum, the woman knows of what she speaks. Read this book.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The #1 book for lyric writers!, February 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Craft of Lyric Writing (Hardcover)

I do not know Sheila Davis, nor have I ever even met her, but I have been using her book for years in the university night school course I teach. This book, and her book, "Successful Lyric Writing," are easily the premier books in the field. She's the first one to offer a textbook approach to lyric writing, to really put into words what goes on, subconsciously, when one writes a lyric, the how to's, the do's, and the don'ts. If there was a "Grammy" for song bookwriting, she would win it, hands down.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Best Inspiration for Lyricists, March 31, 2000

By 

Dottie Burman (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craft of Lyric Writing (Hardcover)

If you want THE book on lyric writing, this is it! Sheila Davis's highly readable work has inspired beginning as well as experienced writers. I should know! Thanks to Sheila, my CD of 20 of my original songs, I'M IN LOVE WITH MY COMPUTER, was named "One of the Best Cabaret CDs of `98" by InTheatre Magazine. Sheila is not only a published songwriter, but also a supportive workshop teacher. Her book reflects her teaching style: highly accessible but thought-provoking at the same time. She gives examples for every point she makes.Reading the book is the next best thing to working in person with her, which I've had the privilege of doing. I also highly recommend her workbook "Successful Lyric Writing,"particularly helpful to the lyricist starting out, and "The Songwriter's Ideabook" which is wonderful for any songwriter looking for a creative boost!