Do lyrics have literary value?
The theme for our June members’ evening was ‘Do lyrics have literary value?’ That’s the question many asked after Bob Dylan was named the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. He was receiving the same award previously given to literary greats like T S Eliot, Gabriel Marquez and Samuel Becket. In 2016 The New York Times wrote: in choosing a popular musician for the literary world’s highest honour, the Swedish academy dramatically redefined the boundaries of literature, setting off a debate about whether song lyrics have the same artistic value as poetry or novels.
Dylan initially showed some reluctance, but went on to accept the award He acknowledged early influences, reading ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘The Odyssey’ at school and later artists like Woody Guthrie and the Beat Generation as well as modernist poets. Leonard Cohen, who could be considered a contender for the award, likened it ‘to pinning a medal on Mount Everest’. A brilliant line with an acidic barb.
For this session members were invited to contribute song lyrics where the words might be considered to have some literary value. The following members introduced and read their choices.
Penny opened the proceedings by reading ‘It ain’t me babe’ by Bob Dylan. She chose the song because she remembered the lyrics being particularly pertinent when she was dumped by an early boyfriend.
The next reading was by John who read ‘Strange Fruit’ written by Abel Meeropol (under his pseudonym Lewis Allen). We then heard the 1939 recording of Billie Holiday singing the song. The voice and music lifted the words to become a powerful protest song.
I am a great fan of Joni Mitchell and I read an early song ‘Chelsea Morning’ also recorded by other artists including Judy Collins. It’s a happy song and I liked the imagery of the reflections of the mobile Joni had made from coloured glass which hung in her window.
Liz then moved us on to a topical and political song ‘Across the Borderline’ by Ry Cooder released in 1982, which explores the theme of hope, desperation and the struggle for a better life with words relevant for many today.
Diana read two songs by The Beatles. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ about ‘lonely people’ was particularly sad. The lyrics of ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ were surreal and generally felt to be written when the writers were ‘high’.
‘The Sound of Silence’ was chosen and read by Josephine. The song is sensitively written and communicates the loneliness and isolation that many people feel.
Two personal songs by Neil Diamond were read by Pat. The words of ‘America’ relate to his grandparents fleeing Russia and coming to America for their freedom. In ‘I am … I said’ he references a difficult time in his life when he was near breakdown.
Our final song ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ by Bob Dylan was read by Sarah. It’s a mix of surrealist and dreamy visions.
There followed an interesting discussion from members:
- Lyrics were mostly written to fit with the rhythm and rhyme of the song
- Reading the lyrics gave the opportunity to analyse the deeper meaning of the songs
- Most lyrics are written in a much more free flowing way to poetry
- The exposure of the artist, music and lyrics were powerful in putting messages across
- The repetitive refrains sometimes got in the way when reading the lyrics.
It was noted that the choices were mainly from 1960-80’s reflective of the group’s generation and that the current generation might look at the lyrics of artists like Taylor Swift and the words of rap artists.
The session was an exploration of whether lyrics have literary value. What I suppose musicians want is not to be considered poets, but for their lyrics to be read with the same respect they imagine poems are.
Posted by Vivien Wearing
Welwyn Garden Literary Society 