how to reference song lyrics in an essay harvard

How to Find Song Lyrics Online

It may seem easy to find song lyrics online these days, but that’s not always true. Some free lyrics sites are online hubs for communities that love to share anything related to music, including sheet music, tablature, concert schedules and song lyrics. However, these sites may also post user-submitted content, including song lyrics, and that means the lyrics aren’t always completely accurate. The key to finding the most accurate song lyrics online is to visit lyrics websites that publish official song lyrics.

You can’t go wrong with lyrics from this popular website. Lyrics.com touts itself as the internet’s largest repository of song lyrics, album information and videos from various artists. Here’s how to find lyrics on the site:

Log on to www.lyrics.com. On the homepage, type the song, artist or album into the search bar and press enter.Browse the results for the specific song lyrics you want.Cross-reference the lyrics with other similar results for accuracy.

MetroLyrics

Perhaps nothing can be more accurate than the official lyrics to a song. That is what MetroLyrics offers to its visitors. Apart from the lyrics, you’ll also get news, top hits and even upcoming releases from the most popular artists in the music industry. What is nice about this website is that if you only know a part of a song but don’t know the title, just type in the lyrics that you can remember and the site will find the song for you. Here’s how you can search for lyrics on their website.

• Go to www.metrolyrics.com.
• In the search field at the top of the homepage, type the song or part of the lyrics to conduct a search.
• Scroll through the results to find the song.
• Click on the song to sing it or print it.

Although the homepage may not look like much, it boasts more than 300,000 song lyrics by more than 7,000 artists. When you want to look up your song by artist, this is the site to do it. The archive is sorted according to artist, album, discography, videos and concerts. Searching for lyrics on the site is basically the same process as the previous two entries. Click on the results for a smartphone friendly layout of the lyrics.

Let’s Sing It

This lyrics website is one of the most thorough on the internet. After entering the song in the search field, you get album and artist information, a video and lyrics to other songs on the album in addition to the primary lyrics.

• Go to https://www.letssingit.com/.
• Click on the magnifying glass icon at the top of the homepage.
• Type the song title or the artist.
• Click on the particular title from the results.
• Play the song, sing along or share it on your social media page.

This is a good alternative lyrics community site, especially if you’re searching for current songs. Recent updates and the latest additions are prominently displayed on the homepage. The only caveat to this site is the lyrics are also submitted by members and could contain some errors.

Go to https://www.lyricsmode.com/. Type the song title into the search field at the top of the page.Search for the song in the results and click on it.

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To be made up of:

• Year of distribution (in round brackets).
• Title of song (in italics).
• Place of distribution: distribution company.

  In-text citation:

(Lennon and McCartney, 1966) 

Reference list:

Lennon, J. and McCartney, P. (1966).  Paperback writer . Liverpool: Northern Songs, Ltd.

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Music (Lyrics) examples

Format: in text citation   (Lyricist/Songwriter, Year).

Format: reference    Lyricist/Songwriter, Initial. (Year) Title of track/song [lyrics]  Source [online] .  Available from: URL [Accessed date].

Example: in text citation    This song features on Marling’s album  Semper Femina  (2017) …

Example: reference    Marling, L. (2017) Don’t pass me by [lyrics]  Lyrics.com  [online]. Available from: https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33740208/Laura+Marling [Accessed 11 January 2018].

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How to Cite Song Lyrics in Different Formats With Examples

1 August 2023

last updated

Songs contain lyrics that can support arguments made in scholarly papers. Basically, MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard referencing styles rely on different rules for in-text citations and bibliographic entries. In this case, significant differences include orders or names, use of capital letters and sentence cases, and sequence of bibliographic details. For example, bibliographic entries in MLA 7 and Chicago/Turabian formats should have a song’s titles in a title case. However, song’s titles must appear in a sentence case for APA 7 and Harvard format styles. In all referencing styles, writers may use parenthetical or narrative in-text citations. Also, parenthetical in-text citations should appear inside rounded brackets. In turn, only the MLA 8 style does not require an author-date format for in-text citations. Besides, the MLA referencing style requires students to use the artist’s name and the section cited. In particular, parts of songs refer to the duration of time that contains quoted lyrics. Also, a prudent writer includes the production date inside the essay’s body. Finally, one should include URL links for songs located in online databases. Hence, students need to learn how to cite song lyrics in MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard formats.

General Guidelines for Using Music Lyrics in MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard Styles

Songs are suitable sources of information used in scholarly papers. For example, students in literature write papers analyzing specific song lyrics. In most cases, instructions require them to use different referencing styles to cite song lyrics. Basically, MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard referencing styles rely on different rules for in-text citations and bibliographic entries. Also, the most significant differences include orders or names, use of capital letters and sentence cases, and sequence of bibliographic details. However, credible papers must follow the necessary guidelines to avoid possible cases of plagiarism. Hence, this guide provides key steps that a writer must follow when citing song lyrics MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard styles.   

How to Cite Song Lyrics in MLA 8

1. in-text citation rules for citing music lyrics in mla 8.

MLA citation requires writers to use the artist’s name and the section cited. Basically, parts of songs refer to the duration of time that contains the quoted lyrics. In this case, one can use both parenthetical and narrative in-text citations when writing scholarly papers. In practice, parenthetical in-text citations should include the artist’s name and the time containing the cited lyric. Also, these details should appear inside rounded brackets at the end of a sentence. Hence, writers should separate the name and time using a black space.

Citation scheme for song lyrics in MLA 8:

• (Name Time)

In-text citation example for citing music lyrics in MLA 8:

• (Knowles-Carter 2:00-3:01)

Narrative in-text citations contain similar details as parenthetical ones. However, only the time should appear in rounded brackets at the end of the sentence.

Example of a narrative in-text citation for song lyrics in MLA 8:

• According to Knowles-Carter, … (2:00-3:01).

2. Full Bibliographic Entry on Works Cited for Song Lyrics in MLA 8

Music exists in multiple ways, which depends on the container that a writer may access. For example, music citations in MLA 8 begin with last names of artists. In some instances, writers may opt to use composers or performers in the absence of the artist’s surnames. Otherwise, one must note composers and performers after the album’s title. In turn, the song’s title must appear inside double quotation marks, while the album’s entry should look as italicized. Besides, one must use the title case for the song’s entry. Then, other essential details include the recording manufacturer and the publication date where applicable.

Example of a bibliographic entry on Works Cited for song lyrics in MLA 8:

• Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé Giselle. “Irreplaceable.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwViQxSJJQ.  

The bibliographic entry should begin with the artist’s surname followed by the first and second names. Periods should support the artist’s names, title, and URL link for music available online. However, a comma should follow the album, producer, and publication year.

3. MLA Footnote for Song Lyrics

MLA referencing style requires writers to use references when providing long explanations. In this case, MLA footnotes contain details that may distract readers. As a rule, one should use numerical footnote callouts inside the body text. Moreover, footnote callouts should appear as a suffix. In turn, actual footnotes must look at the bottom of the page containing the callout. Hence, the following is an example of a possible note: 

Footnote example for song lyrics in MLA 8:

• 1 For more relevant lyrics, listen to the section between the second and third minutes.

How to Cite Song Lyrics in APA 7

1. in-text citation rules for citing music lyrics in apa 7.

APA style requires writers to use parenthetical or narrative in-text citations. Basically, writers should use the artist’s surname and production date. In some cases, one may include the truck number in the in-text citation where applicable.

Citation schemes for song lyrics in APA 7:

• (Surname, Date)
• According to Surname (date), … .

Parenthetical citation sample for song lyrics in APA 7:

• (Knowles-Carter, 2009)

Narrative in-text citation example for citing music lyrics in APA 7:

• Knowles-Carter (2009) sang about the value of a romantic partner… .

2. Reference Entry for Song Lyrics in APA 7

Bibliographic entries in APA 7 should appear on the last page of any essay or research paper . As a rule, reference entries should contain the artist’s surname, song’s title, medium, and producer and URL link where applicable. Also, bibliographic entries must appear in the sentence case. Hence, the following is an example of the reference entry.

Example of a reference entry for song lyrics in APA 7:

• Knowles-Carter, B. G. (2009). Irreplaceable [CD]. Parkwood Entertainment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwViQxSJJQ

3. APA Footnote for Song Lyrics

The following is an example of a possible footnote.

Footnote example for song lyrics in APA 7:

• 1 For more details about the importance of love, listen to the section between the second and third minutes.

How to Cite Song Lyrics in Chicago/Turabian

1. in-text citation rules for citing music lyrics in chicago/turabian.

The Chicago/Turabian citation style requires writers to use music lyrics to support their central arguments. As a rule, all citations must contain an accurate date. Besides, students should use the recording date as opposed to the release year. In turn, the Chicago/Turabian style requires one to use two in-text citation types, which include parenthetical citations or footnotes.

Parenthetical in-text citation for song lyrics in Chicago/Turabian:

Parenthetical citations in Chicago/Turabian should include the artist’s surname and production date. Basically, writers should separate these details with space, which must appear inside rounded brackets at the end of a sentence. Hence, the following is an example that one should use:

In-text citation scheme:

• (Artist Date)

Actual in-text citation:

• (Knowles-Carter 2009)

2. Bibliography Entry for Song Lyrics in Chicago/Turabian

Chicago/Turabian bibliographic entries should appear on the essay’s last page. Basically, a credible bibliographic entry should contain the artist, the song’s title, recording data, producers, and medium. However, one may include the URL link of the song where necessary. Also, the song’s title must appear as italicized for the bibliographic entry. Hence, the following is the scheme required and actual example.

Bibliography scheme for song lyrics in Chicago/Turabian:

• Name of group or composer or performer.  Title . Contributing personnel. Recording date. Recording Company or Publisher, medium.

Example of a bibliography entry for song lyrics in Chicago/Turabian:

• Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé Giselle. Irreplaceable . 2009. Parkwood Entertainment, CD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwViQxSJJQ.

3. Chicago/Turabian Footnote for Song Lyrics

Writers should use footnote callouts in the text body. Basically, numerical callouts should follow ending punctuation marks, like periods and question and exclamation marks. In this case, Chicago/Turabian footnote containing the bibliographic entry should appear at the bottom of the page. Also, each note should have a binary number that corresponds to the one used in the callout. However, a period should follow the numeral used. Besides, the artist’s name should appear in the standard form, which begins with the first name for the first in-text citation. Hence, the following is the scheme and actual in-text citation.

Footnote scheme for song lyrics in Chicago/Turabian:

• 1. Name of group/composer/performer, “Title,” contributing personnel, recording date, Recording Company or Publisher, track number on Name of Album , year of release, medium.

Example of a Chicago/Turabian footnote for song lyrics:

• 1. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, “Irreplaceable,” recorded February 2009, on Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, CD, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwViQxSJJQ.

How to Cite Song Lyrics in Harvard

1. in-text citation rules for citing music lyrics in harvard.

The Harvard referencing style requires writers to use parenthetical or narrative in-text citations. As a rule, in-text citations must include the artist’s surname and production date. For parenthetical in-text citations, students should separate the artist’s surname and production date with space.

Citation schemes for song lyrics in Harvard:

• (Surname Date)
• Surname (Date) sang … .

Parenthetical citation sample for song lyrics in Harvard:

Narrative in-text citation example for citing music lyrics in Harvard:

• Knowles-Carter (2009) sang about the importance of valuing romantic love.

2. Reference Entry for Song Lyrics in Harvard

Bibliographic entries in Harvard should appear on the last page of essays and research papers. As a rule, Harvard references should contain the artist’s surname, song’s title, medium, and producer. Moreover, the song’s title must appear in sentence case and italicize. In this case, a prudent writer must use commas to separate all the details in the entry. Besides, reference entries should begin with the author’s surname followed by the initials of other names. Hence, the following is an example of a reference entry for song lyrics in Harvard.

• Knowles-Carter, BG 2009, Irreplaceable , CD, Parkwood Entertainment.

3. Harvard Footnote for Song Lyrics

The following is an example of a possible note.

• 1 For more details about valuing one’s romantic partner, listen to the section between the first and third minutes.

Songs contain lyrics that can support the main arguments presented in scholarly articles. In this case, MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard referencing styles rely on different rules. Also, one should consider the following guidelines on how to cite song lyrics in MLA 8, APA 7, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard when using such sources in essays and research papers.

• Bibliographic entries in MLA 8 and Chicago/Turabian should have song titles in a title case.
• Song’s title must appear in sentence cases for APA 7 and Harvard styles.
• In all referencing styles, writers may use parenthetical or narrative in-text citations.
• Only the MLA style does not require an author-date format for the in-text citation.

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Cite A Music or recording in Harvard style

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Use the following template or our Harvard Referencing Generator to cite a music or recording. For help with other source types, like books, PDFs, or websites, check out our other guides. To have your reference list or bibliography automatically made for you, try our free citation generator .

Reference list

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

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Musical scores

Reference : Composer last name, Initials. (Year) Title of score . Notes. Place of publication: Publisher.

Handel, G. F. (1912) Alexander's feast : ode . Edited, and the organ or pianoforte accompaniment arranged by Vincent Novello. London: Novello.

In-Text-Citation :

• (Author Last name, Year)
• Author Last name (Year)...
• Handel's score is beautifully arranged by Vincent Novello (Handel, 1912)...

Still unsure what in-text citation and referencing mean? Check here .

Still unsure why you need to reference all this information? Check here . 

Music streaming or subscription services

Reference : Band/Artists Last name, Initials. (Year of release) 'Title of song', Title of Album . Available at: Name of streaming or subscription service (Accessed Day Month Year).

Example : Fitzgerald, E. (1964) 'My Last Affair', Live in Japan . Available at: Spotify (Accessed 20 August 2020). 

• Artist Last name/Band name (year)
• (Artist Last name/Band name, year)
• Fitzgerald (1964) sings about the uselessness of starting any new relationship…..
• In the song, 'My Last Affair' she sings about the hurt caused in love (Fitzgerald, 1964).

CD or vinyl records

Reference : Artist Last name, Initials. (Year) 'Title of track', Title of Album [CD] or [Vinyl]. Place of distribution: Distribution company.

Example : Armstrong, L. (1987) 'Put 'em down blues',  Hot five & hot seven : 1925-1928 [CD]. France: Joker Tonverlag AG.

• Artist Last name (Year)
• (Artist Last name, Year)
• In his track 'Put 'em down blues' Armstrong (1987)....
• 'Put 'em down blues' (Armstrong, 1987) is typical of the sound this artist can create with his ensembles...

Note : If referring to a whole album, cite as above, simply leaving out the 'Title track' element of the reference.

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Citing a song -How to cite a song in Harvard and APA Reference format

• October 31, 2022
• Posted by: IGBAJI U.C.
• Category: Academic Writing Guide

You might easily get into the trap of thinking that referring to a piece of music or its lyrics is less important than referring to an author or a piece of literature. However, this is not the case. Every work of art should be accompanied by suitable citations in order to prevent being accused of plagiarism .

Content Outline

You will learn why songs are important and how to cite a song in various formats from this guide. One of the best ways to get people excited, energized, or calmed down is through the use of music. It is common for us to use the term “song” to refer to a song with lyrics, like one we hear on the radio.

Songs, like poetry, share elements with the spoken word and the written word. In any case, they’re a unique form in and of themselves. Singing and speaking both use the voice, contain meaningful words, and feature a catchy melody. To convey meaning, songs and poems both employ the power of words. Before they are published, both are generally written down.

As a result, it reveals that songs are musical compositions with lyrics, verses or a poem that convey the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the people who sing or recite them.

The song is powerful. It has the power to make people cry or feel strong emotions, and a song can become strongly associated with a person, an event, or a location. Songs have a personal feel to them as if they were written specifically for the listener.

Songs can be used to teach people how to improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, as well as sentence patterns, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Another advantage is that it makes people feel comfortable and relaxed because it has a pleasant atmosphere, which helps them perform better.

Even though songs are very important, it is critical to consider why it is important to cite songs or works in general.

To avoid plagiarism , citations are utilized for more than just that. They are also used for many other purposes.

By citing other works and artists, you can acknowledge their influence on your own work. The ideas, words, or research of others must be properly cited in any document or research work .

Relying on someone else’s words, music, rhythm, instruments, and ideas can be a way to show your appreciation for their work. You acknowledge and respect the intellectual property rights of a certain creative by citing their work. Many creatives have spent years on a single project, and you may draw from their knowledge and experience to help you with your own work.

All you need to do is express your gratitude for their assistance. The understanding of the subject matter will be further demonstrated to your viewers or readers if you cite the work of experts in the field. Your citations serve as a map of your field, allowing you to find your way around it as a sailor does with the stars.

You should always provide specific citations so that your viewers can determine where you got your information. For the sake of accuracy, it is recommended that you keep a list of all the sources you consult when working on a project. Printed books are not the only sources that require acknowledgement. Any words, ideas or information taken from any source requires acknowledgement.

More interestingly, there are several different citation methods. Short referencing guides for three commonly used styles are available from The Learning Centre website:

the Oxford (footnote/bibliography)

the Harvard (in-text) method

the APA (American Psychological Association ).

Citing a song in APA

Reference list entry structure:

Songwriter last name, R. P. (Copyright year). Song title [Recorded by R.P. Last (performer’s name/musical group)]. On Album title [Medium of recording]. Record label name.

It is important to note that;  If the songwriter and performer are the same  person , leave out the bracketed data [Recorded by _______] following the song title.

Reference list entry example:

Tony, A. (2013). Do I want you to know? [Recorded by Air Waves]. On AM [Album]. Domino Records.

In-text citation structure & example:

(Songwriter last name, Year)

(Tony, 2013)

Citing an album

Recording Artist or Group. (Date). Album title in sentence case [Album]. Record label name.

Reference list entry examples:

Adams, P. (2002). Forever yours. [Album]. Virgin Records US.

Loud Bang and the Love Shot. (2010). Slow Motion [Album]. ATO Records.

(Recording artist last name, Year)

(Adams, 2002)

(Loud Bang and the Love Shot, 2010)

Citing a classical music album

For a classical music album, write the name of the composer as the author and the individuals/group who recorded the album in square brackets after the album title. At the end of the reference, include the original date of publication.

Composer last name, R. P. (Date). Album title in sentence case. [Album recorded by group/last name, R. P..]. Recording label. (Original work published date)

Hopkins, A. (2011). And the waltz goes on. [Album recorded by A. Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra]. Decca. (Original work published 1725)

For albums that have been rerecorded or reissued, including the original publication, write a slash, then include the date of the version you are using.

(Composer last name, Year)

(Hopkins, 1725/2011)

Citing an album that has been reissued or re-recorded

Include the original date of publication in paratheses after the recording label.

Recording Artist or Group. (Date). Album title in sentence case. [Album recorded by group/last name, R. P.]. Recording label. (Original work published date)

The Love Shot. (2015). Love Dues [Album]. UMe. (Originally published 1969)

(Recording artist’s last name, Year)

(Beyonce, 2001/2015)

Citing a song in Harvard format

You will need to give the full source information for each source that you referenced in your paper in a Harvard citation list, arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name (or artist). If you’re going to release a full-length CD or vinyl album, you’re going to have to adhere to this fundamental structure: Surname, Initial(s). (Year of Release) Title [Medium]. Distributor Location, Distribution Company.

In practice, then, our Surname example above would be listed as:

Bottom of Form

Adams, D. (2001) Truth: All in for Love [Vinyl]. United States, Warner Records.

For a digital recording, such as a streaming service or download, include a URL and a date of access at the end of the reference:

Karl, A. (2005) You mean me well [Spotify]. United States, Atlantic Records. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/album/7CS9Yi4VJjZAA (Accessed September 18, 2020).

And if you want to cite a specific song from a longer recording, simply add the song title before the album name:

Sia (2020) “Unstoppable,” Folklore [Spotify]. United States, Republic. Available at: https://azlyrics.com/lyrics/sia/unstoppable.html.(Accessed on September 18, 2020).

In the end, it is important to give credit for any kind of work. You now know the different reasons why citations are important, which is something that can’t be said enough. When you’re working on your next project, you should pay close attention to the practice of citing sources. Doing so will give you an edge in your field because you know more about it.

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How to Cite a Musical Recording in Harvard Referencing

3-minute read

• 29th October 2020

Are you writing about a musical recording, such as an album on CD or a song on a streaming platform, for an essay? If so, you will need to cite it in the text and include it in your reference list. In this post, we look at how to cite a musical recording using Harvard referencing in your work.

Citing a Musical Recording in Harvard Referencing

Harvard referencing uses parenthetical author‒date citations . For a musical recording, this means citing the surname of the artist followed by the year of release. In practice, then, we could cite a musical recording as follows:

The third part of the album was notably experimental (Sinatra, 1980).

Swift (2020) tells the story of Harkness’ life in under four minutes.

You would then provide the full source details in your reference list. For more on in-text citations in Harvard referencing, see our blog post .

Adding a Musical Recording to a Harvard Reference List

In a Harvard reference list , you will give the full source information for each source you’ve cited in your essay, listing them alphabetically by the author (or artist) surname. The basic format here for a full-length musical recording in a physical format (e.g., an album on CD or a vinyl record) is:

Surname, Initial(s). (Year of Release) Title [Medium]. Distributor Location, Distribution Company.

In practice, then, our Sinatra example above would be listed as:

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Sinatra, F. (1980) Trilogy: Past, Present, Future [Vinyl]. United States, Warner Records.

For a digital recording, such as a streaming service or download, include a URL and a date of access at the end of the reference:

Max, A. (2020) Heaven and Hell [Spotify]. United States, Atlantic Records. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/album/6B1U2tJse7tS9Yi4VJjZAA (Accessed September 18, 2020).

And if you want to cite a specific song from a longer recording, simply add the song title before the album name:

Swift, T. (2020) “The Last Great American Dynasty,” Folklore [Spotify]. United States, Republic. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/artist/06HL4z0CvFAxyc27GXpf02 (Accessed on September 18, 2020).

Harvard Variations and Proofreading

Keep in mind that Harvard referencing is a style, not a system. As such, if you’re a student, check your school’s style guide for their rules.

And if you need a little extra help to make sure your academic writing is error free, why not ask our Harvard referencing experts to check your citations? Just let us know which version of the system you’re using.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

How to Cite a Song in APA, MLA, or Chicago

Music is an art form—and just as you’d analyze a poem for a literary paper or cite a painting for an art history paper, you may find yourself using a song as a source, especially if you’re enrolled in music theory courses. Here, we’ve laid out how to cite a song, so if you’re deciding whether or not to include a song in your next paper based on whether you can figure out how to cite it, go for it! Citing songs, whether you’re working off the audio recording or using written lyrics, is actually a pretty similar process to what you might have done for other kinds of citations.

Although citing a song might seem unfamiliar, there’s no need to worry. We’ve got you covered for both audio recordings and written song lyrics, whether you need to cite in MLA format ,  APA format, or Chicago style.

Citing an Audio Recording of a Song Found Online

If you’ve ever cited a movie before, you’ll discover that citing an audio recording of a song is a pretty similar process. But even if you’ve only cited text before, you should be a pro at song citations in no time! We’ve included examples of how you would cite Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” for each of the three styles as well.

To cite an audio recording of a song, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track Number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or database where the song was found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording found online in MLA 9:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the Song.” Title of the Album , album’s ed., Publisher, Year of publication, track number. Website or Database Name , URL (remove http:// or https://).

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9 :

Sheeran, Ed. “Don’t.” X , deluxe ed., Asylum Records, 2014, track 4. Spotify , play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in an in-text citation:

(Singer’s Last Name)

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in APA format:

Songwriter’s Last Name, Songwriter’s First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of the song [Recorded by Singer’s First Initial, Singer’s Last Name if different from writer*]. On Title of the album [Audio file]. Retrieved from URL

*Do not include the information in the brackets if the name of the songwriter is the same person as the singer or performer.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in APA:

Sheeran, E. (2014). Don’t. On X. [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Use the following structure to cite an audio recording in Chicago:

Singer’s Last name, Singer’s First name. Title of the Song. Publisher, Year of publication, Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in Chicago:

Sheeran, Ed. Don’t. Asylum Records, 2014, Accessed June 5, 2017. https://play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

Citing Song Lyrics Found Online

Citing written song lyrics is pretty similar to citing an audio recording, but if you’re used to mostly citing written work, you may find this procedure a bit easier since you’re citing words off a page rather than audio. Here, we’ve cited “Imagine,” a song by John Lennon which you’ve surely heard before—and one which could be the subject of rich analysis for your next paper.

To cite written song lyrics, you should make note of the following pieces of information: 1. Singer’s name 2. Songwriter’s name 3. Title of the song (and subtitle, if there is one) 4. Title of the album (and subtitle, if there is one) 5. Album’s Edition (if there is one) 6. Track number 7. Publisher 8. Year of publication 9. Website or Database where the lyrics were found 10. URL 11. The names of any other contributors

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in MLA 9:

Songwriter’s Last Name, First Name. Lyrics to “Title of the Song.” Names of other contributors, Album’s Publisher, Year of publication. Name of Website, URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9:

Lennon, John. Lyrics to “Imagine.” Performed by John Lennon, Ascot Sound Studios, 1971. Genius, genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

Use the following structure to cite written song lyrics in APA format :

Songwriter(s) Last Name, Songwriter(s) First Initial. (Year of publication). Title of song [Lyrics]. Retrieved from URL

Lennon, J. (1971). Imagine [Lyrics]. Retrieved from https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics

Use the following structure to cite an written song lyrics in Chicago:

Singer’s Last Name, Singer’s First Name. “Title of the song.” Name of Website. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

Lennon, John. “Imagine.” Genius. Accessed June 5, 2017. https://genius.com/John-lennon-imagine-lyrics.

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To cite a song or music in MLA, it is helpful to know information including the song title, contributor names, and production details. The templates and examples below are based on the MLA Handbook , 9th edition.

In-text citation and works cited list entry examples for a song by a single artist are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

Artist Surname

Parenthetical:

(Artist Surname)

Works cited entry template and example:

Surname, First M. “Song Title.” Album Title , relevant contributor information, Production/Record Company, Year Released.

Grande, Ariana. “Moonlight.” Dangerous Women , Republic Records, 2016.

The in-text citation does not include the release year. The surname alone is used in the in-text citations.

The song title should be enclosed in double quotation marks. If the song is part of an album, the album title should be included. Any additional contributors, the name of the record company, and the year the song was released should also be part of the works cited entry.

To cite song lyrics, include the following details: the lyricist/artist’s last name, year, song’s title, title of the album, medium, producer, and URL if applicable.

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How to Quote a Song in an Essay

Lyrics is one of the most effective tools in an essay to express certain feelings, thoughts and ideas. You may decide to cite lyrics if you see that the author of a song has created a great line which expresses your point perfectly.

It is like when you walk around, have a bunch of thoughts in your head but have no idea how to express them on paper. And then all of a sudden… buzzzzz… You hear a song which says it all! In just one or two sentences. You know the feeling, right? Well, this is exactly what you feel when you put song lyrics in an essay. The words which are written and sung in a song may be exactly what you need to add some flavor to the whole academic text.

However, you must follow the copyright and not use the whole song in your text. The good news is that there are no any legal requirements about how many words you may use not to be convicted of plagiarism. Whenever you use some part of a song in your paper, do not forget to include in-text citations, a list of all citations or a reference page. And you may sleep calmly – no one will ever say that you stole their words.

Page Contents

How to quote song lyrics in an essay: simple rules

There are different formats (MLA, APA, Harvard) and each one has its own peculiarities. Although, each one requires a parenthetical citation (in-text) and a note in the reference list. Also, the way you cite lyrics in your paper may be different and depends on how you listen to a particular song as well as the amount of information you put in your text. For example, if you cite a song from a CD you listened to, you may refer to the song in the following way:

“The show must go on,” Queen sings in the self-titled song.

To quote the lyrics in MLA format, mention the artist’s name in parenthesis. For example, “In the lyrics to “The show must go on” (Queen), it states that…” This is all you need to do.

However, when you use APA or Harvard format, there are slight differences. You must write the name of the singer, date and track number in parenthesis, like this: (Queen, 1991, track 12).

As you see, when you integrate short citations into your text, you must use quotation marks. Longer quotations (could be several lines) must be written in a block quote. Don’t forget to indent the citation from the paragraph above it.

How to quote lyrics in a reference list

After in-text quotations, you must make a note in the reference list for the album which contains the song you used in your academic text. If you choose to stick to the MLA requirements, write the name of a performer first, then mention the name of the album, the publisher, and the date. You may also want to list the format:

Queen.  Innuendo.  Metropolis Studios, 1991. CD.

If you use lyrics from a booklet which goes together with the CD, include this information in the “Title of source” and the album’s name:

Queen. Booklet.  Innuendo,  Metropolis Studios, 1991.

How to quote a song if you pick it up on a website? It is also simple. Mention this in place of the title. Then give the name of the website, information of the publication for this site, and its URL:

Queen. Lyrics to “The show must go on”.  Genius,  2018, genius.com/Queen-the-show-must-go-on-lyrics.

Quoting the song in APA and Harvard format will be a little bit different and you must provide the copyright date:

Queen. (1991).  Innuendo.  [CD]. London: Metropolis Studios (Recorded 1990).

Quotation marks or Italics?

When you include lines from songs in your paper, you may ask Do you italicize song lyrics in an essay? Or you may be curious about how to write a song title in an essay. Well, there are simple rules to remember: titles of songs must be always surrounded by quotation marks while CD and album titles are always italicized. See the examples above.

Also, note that if the title of a song ends with a question mark or exclamation point, they should go inside of the quotation marks since they are a part of that title. If the punctuation is not a part of the song title, it should go beyond the quotation marks.

Things to consider

There are several unwritten rules you must follow when you are quoting song lyrics in your paper.

• Stay away from clichés. These are “I hope you had the time of your life”, “We don’t need no education”, “You’ve got a friend in me”, “All you need is love” and so on.
• Paraphrase. Don’t you dare to include the whole song in your essay. Your professor might remember his best years reading 10,000 lines of Paradise Lost but most likely he will not understand why you decided to make him nostalgic. Pick several lines which describe your point the best and cite it.
• Appeal to the reader’s imagination. Any song is a melodic poem and therefore it should create some scenes in the readers’ heads. Cannot do that? Well, do not write lyrics in an essay and better think of another way of describing your ideas. Using lyrics in your papers is not your strength.

Using wording from songs in your academic essay is a wonderful idea. However, make sure you cite them properly to make your paper professional.

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How to Use Lyrics in Essay Writing

Lyrics are an effective tool that can help you make your writing more emotional and better express some ideas. For example, if some song perfectly illustrates your point, you can cite its lyrics if the type of your essay allows you to do so. Learn more about using lyrics in writing with College Writers .

Sometimes, you may not have enough fresh ideas, brainstorming on some topic over and over again, but suddenly you hear a song that expresses your thoughts clearly, in a concise way. If this situation looks familiar to you, it means that you may try to use such a song in your essay. In addition, it’s a great way to make your academic text less boring.

However, using songs in writing may turn out to be not an easy task because of copyright issues. Fortunately, there is no law that would determine the number of words you’re allowed to use in your texts. The main thing is to use in-text citations and to write a proper reference page so that you won’t need to worry about plagiarism.

How to Quote Songs

There are many different citation formats, such as APA, MLA, Harvard, etc. Every citation style has its requirements that you should follow. What these styles have in common is that you should use both in-text citations in parentheses and a references list. The way you should write citations for lyrics may vary.

For example, when quoting lyrics in MLA style, you should provide the artist’s name after the quote, in parentheses. When writing citations according to Harvard or APA format, you should also include the year and the number of the track on the album.

When citing songs, you should always use quotation marks. However, if your quote is several lines long, you should use a block quote, indenting the citation from the paragraph.

How to Quote Lyrics in References

You should also make notes in the references list, providing the name of the album that contains the song. For instance, when writing references according to MLA style, you should include an artist’s name first, followed by the name of the album, the recording studio, and the date. You might also specify the format:

The Artist. The Album. Studio, 1995. CD.

If you’ve used a website instead of a physical copy, you should provide the URL, after the year.

When writing references in Harvard or APA format, they should look like this:

The Artist. (1995). The Album. [CD]. City: Recording Studio (Recorded 1994).

Quotation Marks vs. Italics

When citing songs, many students cannot figure out whether they should use quotation marks or italics. Fortunately, there are simple rules: write the title of a song in quotation marks, and italicize the names of albums and CDs.

Keep in mind that if the title of the song ends with an exclamation point or question mark, they must stay within quotation marks. However, the punctuation may also go beyond the quotation marks if it’s not a part of the title.

Final Thoughts

We recommend that you keep in mind the following tips when citing songs in your essays.

• Avoid clichés. Some songs are too popular and some lyrics are cited too often so they won’t help you support a specific point.
• Don’t try to include as many lyrics as you can. If you want to cite a big fragment of a song, the best way to do it is to paraphrase. Select a few lines that are directly related to your argument and cite them.
• Think of what your readers will imagine. Songs are poetic so they evoke certain images in your readers’ minds. If you’ve selected lyrics that don’t serve this purpose, we recommend that you try to describe your thoughts in another way.

Using lyrics when writing academic essays is a good idea. However, we recommend that you check out our tips and make sure that you know how to do it properly so that your paper will look professional.

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