Song Lyrics (And Getting Permission to Use Them?)

You need permission from whomever owns the rights, whether it is the label or the artist. Be prepared to cough up some money for using the lyrics, though.

Could you get away with just mentioning the song or artist, rather than specifically using the lyrics? I don't believe you need permission for that.

You can use song titles without permission. You must ask for permission (one way to find out how is by calling ASCAP) to use song lyrics.

If your readers know the song, there's no need to list the lyrics. If the readers have never heard the song, actually writing out the lyrics might not really enhance the storytelling. In other words, in most cases, it's probably better just to leave out the lyrics.

Soundtracks are great for the writer (and for the movie version of your book), but they don't really do a lot for literary work.

lyrics

I'd forget all about using lyrics. You have to get permission from whoever owns the copyright, and this can be extremely costly. Darned few people want to give their work away. And even if you do receive permission, odds are extremely high no publisher will let you use them until after you get rich and famous.

Dust In The Wind

Hi, Scott.

Kansas will kill you in court if you appropriate their lyrics without permission.

Take James' advice. Using song lyrics is a sticky legal mess, not worth bothering with. Actually, when a song is well-known, it may distract a reader from the story, because she has her own memories associated with it.

Three suggestions:
1) Go to the Bible (where I think the inspiration was gleaned for Dust In The Wind), and pick out a few lyrical verses from Songs of Solomon. Some of them are very philosophical and will fit in with your novel; or,
2) Ask a friend to write lyrics for you; or,
3) Think of a popular song from many years ago and make up lyrics to fit the melody. You will be the only one who knows what melody you're using, and the rhythm and balance are already there as a guide; you just substitute your own words. It's much easier to make up lyrics when you have a melody than to make up a song out of thin air. Unless, of course, you're a songwriter by profession.

Will someone please tell me why I'm up so late? Good-night.

4) Go with public domain songs and lyrics...

..

(one way to find out how is by calling ASCAP)

Click to expand...

The big three: ASCAP, SESAC, BMI.

s_whiticar said:

I also have a soundtrack for my novel as well. There are also two seperate songs that appear within the novel itself. In a few instances, I give reference to certain songs playing in the background, without actually using the lyrics. I like the use of song lyrics when they really fit the story, and since I am not much of a poet (the first chapter of my novel, FALL can be found in the share your work section under "horror") I feel that song lyrics can enhance a story, even bring familiarity and realism to it if the reader happens to have heard the song before.

Click to expand...

I think it is a mistake to use lyrics in your fiction, first, for all the legal/monetary problems they bring, and second, because lyrics that are extremely significant to you often mean little or nothing to your readers who are a bit older, younger, listen to different music, have had different experience, etc. from you. I feel the same way about movie references. I think it is lazy writing when I read "He looked just like [actor, name] in [movie name] instead of actually showing the character's attributes - yet I see that type of movie reference all the time in beginning writers. Maybe I just notice it because I almost never watch movies, so the references mean nothing to me.

Liking Neil Gaiman's thoughts on the subject

http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2005/06/fathers-day-thoughts.asp

Second question-response in the post.

Redux: He says usually music publishers charge $150 or so. They were going to charge him $800 to put one line from "Under the Boardwalk" in Anansi Boys, so, he says,

I thought for a moment, and changed
"Under the boardwalk..." he sang. "We'll be making love."

to

He sang. In his song he told them all exactly what he planned to do under the boardwalk, and it mostly involved making love.

which I liked better, and didn't cost anything.

Click to expand...

I totally agree with Gaiman on liking it better. That line made me crack up (in the middle of a scene that just bristled with tension) and is one of the most memorable from the book, IMHO.

I listen to enough nifty obscure artists that if I want song lyrics for something, I will look to the kind of musician who puts out their own work and has a small, loyal fan following, and is contactable by email. If they're amenable, they get a nod in the dedication (and, if the book sells, more business! Or more business to the author if the reader likes that particular musician. I think Charles DeLint used a quote from Happy Rhodes (http://www.auntiesocialmusic.com) as a story-header for these very reasons, and it certainly got my attention.)