Toward A Technical Analysis Of Song Lyrics
or, "How Many Ways Does That Line Suck?"
Everyone's got their own idea of what makes a good lyric - which is as it should be. However, if you want to argue about it (and god knows I do), you need to have some kind of framework
for discussion, and some sort of objective measurements. The lyrical analysis tool presented here attempts to quantify the qualities that make a great (or putrid) lyric, and add them together to give
one simple score for the song under discussion.
The scale is designed to grade one verse from 0 to 100, with 50 being the norm. To grade an entire song, score each verse and chorus (ignore repetitions) and average them, so you don't overcredit
very long songs. Each lyric starts out with 75 points, reflecting my view that if you can get through the verse without fucking up significantly, you're three-quarters of the way there. You'll note that
the scale can go above 100 or below 0, but that should be quite rare.
Why This Is A Good Idea
The system consists of a number of positive and negative characteristics applicable to a single line, with a point value assigned to each characteristic.
The table below presents my personal weighting scheme - feel free to reweight the categories any way you like.
The point isn't to get everyone to conform to the same weights, it's to enable each person to quantify things like how much they like satire, or how much triteness bothers them.
That way, you won't get bogged down in matters of taste (i.e. cliché bugs the shit out of me but doesn't concern you), and you'll avoid inconsistency (e.g. praising incoherence when John Lennon does it, and trashing it when
Tori Amos does it, or vice versa). Then your argument can focus on whether a given lyric is in fact trite, or expresses a complex idea, or whatever.
The Categories
| Pluses | Medium | Heavy |
|---|
| Contrast | +2 | (Paradox +4) |
| Ambiguity | +3 | |
| Simile, analogy, metaphor* | +4 | |
| Complex or internal rhyme | +2 | |
| Humor/satire | +5 | |
| Social consciousness | +5 | |
| Complex idea or emotion | +10 | |
| *If continues on multiple lines, double each time - up to 20 points per verse. |
|
| Minuses | Medium | Heavy |
|---|
| Awkwardness, scansion problem | -5 | |
| Imprecision | -2 | |
| Cliché | -8 | |
| Non sequitur | -7 | |
| Rhyme scheme violation | -3 | |
| Grammar violation (excluding appropriate slang) | -5 | |
| Unwarranted repetition** | -5 | |
| Triteness | -5 | |
| Plagiarism*** | -20 | |
| Incoherence | -4 | -10 |
| Offensive/inappropriate | -4 | -10 |
| Obvious rhyme (anticipated) | -4 | -10 |
| Mawkish/sentimental | -5 | -10 |
| **Assessed if repeated line has more minuses than pluses - doubles with each repetition. |
| ***No positive points can be awarded for a plagiarized line, unless it's for humorous effect. |
|
Note that basic rhyme schemes (AABB, etc.) don't win or lose points; neither does blank verse.
Some Examples
Overall you'll notice my grading is pretty harsh; that's why I initialize to 75 points.
Starting on a postive note:
| Joni Mitchell, "A Case Of You" © 1970 |
| Lyrics | Comments | Score |
|---|
You are in my blood like holy wine | Original simile | +4 |
You taste so bitter and so sweet | Simile continues (double) | +8 |
I could drink a case of you, darling | Simile continues again (would triple, but maxes out at 20) | +8 |
And I would still be on my feet | Simile quadruples (no additional points), complex thought/emotion | +10 |
Yes, I would still be on my feet | (Warranted repetition - no penalty) | 0 |
| TOTAL: 75 + 30 = | 105 |
| Now, an affront to the intelligence of a household pet: |
| Eric Clapton, "This Be Called A Song" © 1976 |
This be called a song | trite, grammar violation (awkward) | -10 |
This be called a song | trite, grammar violation (awkward), unwarranted repetition | -15 |
This be called a song | trite, grammar violation (awkward), unwarranted repetition (doubles) | -20 |
This be called a song | trite, grammar violation (awkward), unwarranted repetition (quadruples) | -30 |
| TOTAL: 75 - 75 = | 0 |
| Nothing fancy, just a good solid verse: |
| The Corporation, "Love Child" © 1967 |
This love we're contemplating | (no adjustments) | 0 |
Is worth the pain of waiting | (no adjustments) | 0 |
We'll only end up hating | (no adjustments) | 0 |
The child we may be creating | (no adjustments) | 0 |
| TOTAL: 75 - 0 = | 75 |
| A mix of positives and negatives: |
| Bob Dylan, "Ballad In Plain D" © 1964 |
My friends in the prison, they ask unto me | Awkward | -5 |
"How good, how good does it feel to be free?" | Scansion problem leading to repetition | -5 |
And I answer them most mysteriously: | Trite - following line should stand on its own | -5 |
"Are birds free from the chains of the skyway?" | Metaphor, complex thought, ambiguity | +17 |
| TOTAL: 75 + 2 = | 77 |
| I love this verse, but it still feels overrated. Maybe I've overcredited an extended analogy: |
| Young MC, "I Let 'Em Know" © 1989 |
This is not exaggeration, this is straight-up truth: | Trite - following line should stand on its own | -5 |
Rap is to me what good sex is to Dr. Ruth | Humor, analogy | +9 |
Yo, rap is just like sex, 'cause I'm aiming to please | Analogy continues | +8 |
But when you're listening to my rhyme you'll never catch a disease | Humor, analogy continues (maxing out at 20) | +13 |
| TOTAL: 75 + 25 = | 100 |
| Just for fun, an artist we haven't reviewed: |
| Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" © 1983 |
Sweet dreams are made of this | Cliché, grammar violation (unclear reference) | -13 |
Who am I to disagree? | Cliché, non sequitur, rhyme scheme violation | -18 |
I travel the world and the seven seas | Cliché, non sequitur | -15 |
Everybody's looking for something | Cliché, non sequitur, rhyme scheme violation | -11 |
| TOTAL: 75 - 57 = | 18 |
To legal types: All lyrics quoted under Fair Use provision of the Copyright Act, so save your threats.
I see this as a starting point for further discussion rather than a mature analytical tool, so for once I'm genuinely interested in getting your
opinion.
(DBW)
You're critiquing lyrics? You couldn't write your way out of a fricking paper bag!
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