How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual [Paperback]

Michael Pollock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2006

Even the chapter titles in this book will make you smile! How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual takes the reader step-by-step from concept to finished product, showing the way to create lyrics that get laughs. Pollock’s clear, friendly style of instruction is entertaining and easy to understand. This is a great gift for the aspiring or professional songwriter, and an essential addition to any lyricist’s library.

This is a good book. Michael Pollock is a brilliant instructor. It wouldn’t surprise me if he taught a rock to write funny lyrics. -- Lee Costello Executive Director, The Second City Los Angeles

After a comedy lyric writing workshop with Michael Pollock, cast members in the show I directed at The Second City were inspired and said, ‘Wow, we can do this!’ Later, audiences died laughing at their song. -- Holly Wortell, actress/comedienne, ABC’s Life With Bonnie

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Pollock is musical director of The Second City LA and teaches workshops nationwide. He has appeared on The Drew Carey Show, The Tonight Show and Evening at the Improv. He is also the author of Musical Improv Comedy: Creating Songs in the Moment and Musical Direction for Improv and Sketch Comedy.

David Razowsky is Artistic Director of The Second City LA. He has written, directed and performed in Second City shows all over the US. TV audiences know him as the voice of Dixon (the world’s coolest adult) on the ABC animated series The Weekenders. David has also appeared on Spin City, Roseanne, and on Late Night with David Letterman as the voice of Albert Brooks? parrot.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction Your Preflight Pep Talk Smile, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, convulse, lose control, cry! On a gradient scale, people react to "funny? in all these ways, and they like it. They enjoy the experience so much, they gravitate to others who make them laugh, and voraciously seek out all forms of funny media. They buy tickets to see live performances that promise craziness and insanity. Laughter even has an afterglow. It’s not only a great pleasure to laugh; it feels good when it’s over. "Wow, I haven’t laughed like that in a long time." When comedy and song come together, we have a particularly memorable product. Broadway standards abound with humor and every style of music has its share of satirical or goofy tunes. Words are the first, most important element of a funny song--the words get the laughs and music ices the cake. How do you create funny? Is it a science? Sure it is "that’s why there are places like The Second City Training Centers, where students learn all about comedy; comedy improv, comedy sketches and comedy songwriting. This book will teach you to write funny lyrics with your own sense of humor and help to exploit your genius! There are dependable procedures for writing comedy and for writing songs. In the ensuing chapters we’ll discuss what you need to know, and have a lot of fun along the way. Here comes Chapter One.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Masteryear Publishing (October 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974742724
• ISBN-13: 978-0974742724
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but superficial, December 22, 2006

By 

Gaston Dorren - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual (Paperback)

This is hardly a 'book'. It's merely a handful of worthwhile ideas and insights, with a good number of exercises attached to them. By all means have a look at it if you're interested in the subject, but personally I'd hoped for something better. I particularly find the coverage of humorous techniques very scanty. In a word, it's okay, but value for money it isn't.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for Musical Comedy, October 5, 2006

By 

T. Steggall "Jenny Wynter" (Brisbane, Qld, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual (Paperback)

I'm a musical comic who's been searching for the courage to move away from parody songs, to writing fully original numbers: this book lays it out so simply I'm kicking myself for having put it off for so long.

From the technical aspects of structure to just plain old coming up with ideas, Michael Pollock goes through the how-to of writing funny songs in a way that is logical, practical and...shock of shocks...fun to read! The writing exercises are a particularly good inclusion, making sure that you take the leap and just get in and do it right away!

This is - with no exaggeration - the most treasured item on my book-shelf.

Jenny Wynter

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A very helpful guide for professional comedy writers!, January 18, 2012

By 

Nekskrap - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Write Funny Lyrics: The Comedy Songwriting Manual (Paperback)

As owner and artistic director of a Los Angeles based comedy troupe, I have the blessing and the hurdle of writing six, full length, satirical plays a year. As if that were not enough, I am called upon by several major entertainment companies to produce scads of comedic material for a wide variety of projects. All of these projects require musical moments filled with (hopefully) clever lyrics. These moments can be a simple three chorus song or a not so simple full score. They also always seem to come with a quicker than expected DEADLINE!
When faced with a musical task, I become my inner fourth grader and put off "the hard stuff" until the end of the project. This can be a very scary thing in a "down and dirty" writing environment.
A friend suggested that I pick up a copy of Michael Pollock's book and I am so thankful I did. This quick, easy to follow guide offers so many wonderful hints and tips. Following the book's advice, I have made what was once an arduous task into a game. A lifelong crossword fan, I have converted my songwriting struggles into a puzzle. I have found that by using several of the ideas expressed in the book, my word play and productivity have increased greatly.
A bonus: It is FUNNY! I have read many books and guides on the subject of writing comedy, only to find the examples to be trite or smile inducing. How refreshing to find a book that lives up to its title. I found myself laughing out loud at the witty and clever song samples. Refreshing to learn new techniques from a writer who knows what they are doing.
I have always believed that observing artists, who are exemplary in their craft, opens my eyes and thoughts to new ideas and serves to make me a better creative.
Michael Pollock's book has done this for me.
Thanks!