But it turns out America's favorite Christmas carol has a pretty sad back story. The word was originally Greek, meaning 'sung with a lyre'. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 18c.-19c. Meaning "words of a popular song" is first recorded 1876. The latter, the melos, or song proper, had reached a height of technical perfection in “the Isles of Greece, where burning Sappho loved and sung,” as early as the 7th century bc. Lyric poetry is highly musical and can feature poetic devices like rhyme and meter. Songfacts - the stories and meanings behind the songs, with songwriter interviews and lyrics. These short poems were originally accompanied by music. The melodies of collected versions of the carol vary throughout history. But do you know the true meaning behind the Southern anthem's words? According to a user from Mississippi, U.S., the name Lyric is of English origin and means "Child Of Music And God!". It is a combination of lyric and poetry where a piece of poetry is written as a lyric. Its origin is "English". Poems such as “Deor” and “Wulf and Eadwacer,” which have been called lyrics, are thematically different from those that began to circulate orally in the 12th century and to be written down in great numbers…, The 12th century saw the revolution in sexual attitudes that has come to be known as. Origin of the word The word lyric comes from the Middle French word ‘lyrique’ meaning ‘a short poem expressing emotion’. It is not equivalent to song lyrics, though they are often in the lyric mode. lyric definition: 1. the words of a song, especially a pop song: 2. a short poem that expresses the personal…. lyric (n.) 'a lyric poem' (one suggestive of music or fit to be sung), 1580s, from French lyrique 'short poem expressing personal emotion,' from Latin lyricus 'of or for the lyre,' from Greek lyrikos 'singing to the lyre,' from lyra (see lyre ). Lyric Name Meaning. By their side, and later, flourished the great poets who set words to music for choirs, Alcman, Arion, Stesichorus, Simonides, and Ibycus, who were followed at the close of the 5th century by Bacchylides and Pindar, in whom the tradition of the dithyrambic odes reached its highest development. Especially identified with the lyrical forms of poetry in the late 18th and 19th centuries were the Romantic poets, including such diverse figures as Robert Burns, William Blake, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lamartine, Victor Hugo, Goethe, and Heinrich Heine. What does Lyric mean? A lyric poem is a private expression of emotion by an individual speaker. In the Renaissance the most finished form of lyric, the sonnet, was brilliantly developed by Petrarch, Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, and John Milton. Latin lyrics were written by Catullus and Horace in the 1st century bc; and in medieval Europe the lyric form can be found in the songs of the troubadours, in Christian hymns, and in various ballads. Learn more. Exploring the meaning of songs from every genre of music. Lyric is used as both a boys and girls name. Corrections? Last year it ranked 563rd in the U.S. Social Security Administration list of most popular baby names. lyric definition: 1. the words of a song, especially a pop song: 2. a short poem that expresses the personal…. Lyric definition is - a lyric composition; specifically : a lyric poem. The lyrics, which are in English, date back to the 12th century. Updates? When a poet writes an emotional, rhyming poem, she can call it a lyric poem. According to a user from Canada, the name Lyric means "Song a gift of God". Related: lyrics. "Lyric" derives via Latin lyricus from the Greek λυρικός (lyrikós), the adjectival form of lyre. The lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne," by Scottish poet Robert Burns, are printed on a wall as part of an exhibition at New York's Morgan Library & Museum on December 9, 2011. In ancient Greece an early distinction was made between the poetry chanted by a choir of singers (choral lyrics) and the song that expressed the sentiments of a single poet. BabyCenter is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. blackbirds. The term owes its importance in literary theory to the division developed by Aristotle between three broad categories of poetry: lyrical, dramatic, and The personal nature of many of the verses of the Nine Lyric Poets led to the present sense of "lyric … Some scholars categorize lyric poetry in three subtypes: Lyric of Vision, Lyric of Thought, and Lyric of Emotion. Do narrative poems tend to be very short? The poet also presents a character in the first person to express his emotions. Did You Know? The thing itself is said to be Egyptian, though it became the national musical instrument of ancient Greece. "Sweet home Alabama/ Where the skies are so blue/ Sweet home Alabama… It is also of Latin origin, where its meaning is "song". Did You Know? Find another word for lyric. used of a singer or singing voice that is light in volume and modest in range, of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way), the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number. With the exception of some dramatic verse, most Western poetry in the late 19th and the 20th century may be classified as lyrical. In the Renaissance the most finished form of lyric, the sonnet , was brilliantly developed by Petrarch , Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser , and John Milton . It first appeared in English in the mid-16th century in reference, to the Earl of Surrey's translations of Petrarch and to his own sonnets. However, this classification is not widely agreed upon. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, lyric - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). MIKA Lyrics "Origin Of Love" Love is a drug and you are my cigarette Love is addiction and you are my Nicorette Love is a drug like chocolate like cigarettes I'm feeling sick, I've got to medicate myself I want your love don't try and stop me Can't get enough, still hanging on me A lyric poem or lyrical poem in literature is a poem in which the poet either expresses his feelings and emotions. So in lyric poetry, the mood is melodic and emotional. The meaning of Lyric is "lyric". To many people, the lyrics of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” seem strange beyond belief. Many historians believe that the lyrics were first used to mimic popular “memory and forfeit” games from that time, when one person would recite … Show popularity chart Lyric is an English word derived from the Greek "lyrikos" (songlike). Lyric comes from the Latin word lyricus, meaning of/for the lyre. ORIGIN lyrics - 68 song lyrics from 7 albums, including "Unparalleled Universe" (2017). From whom Carly Simon thought was so vain to why, exactly, the walrus was Paul, we strive to leave no lyric uninterpreted. SongMeanings is a community of thousands of music lovers who contribute song lyrics, discuss interpretations, and connect over songs and artists they love! Lyric definition is - a lyric composition; specifically : a lyric poem. A submission from Connecticut, U.S. says the name Lyric means "It means The most interesting person in the world" and is of American origin. The lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” are in the Scots language.The title, translated literally into standard English, is Old Long Since.The words can be interpreted as since long ago or for old times’ sake.The lyrics are about old friends having a drink and recalling adventures they had long ago. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Omissions? "Origin Of Love" lyrics. Famous real-life people named Lyric. Brent Smith of Shinedown has a son called Lyric. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Are prose and poetry the same? We're not just another lyric site. The lyrics are probably burned in your brain, and we doubt you can resist the urge to dance when that main guitar riff starts up. Lyric poetry is a formal type of poetry which expresses personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in the first person. Lyric ▲ as a girls' name is pronounced LEER-ick. It is of French origin, and the meaning of Lyric is "lyre". That poetess, together with her contemporary Alcaeus, were the chief Doric poets of the pure Greek song. Lyrics to 'Origin Of Love' by Hedwig and the Angry Inch: When the earth was still flat, And the clouds made of fire, And mountains stretched up to the sky, Sometimes higher, Folks roamed the earth The writer uses words that express his or her state of mind, perceptions and feelings, rather than tell a story. Literally, the words of a song. The name Lyric is of Greek origin. As is the case with all very old songs, the history is a bit hard to track, but it appears that the lyrics were added to the tune much later, and it is not believed that the lyrics were originally in the Irish language. 23 synonyms of lyric from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus 103 related words, definitions, and antonyms. Elegies, odes, and sonnets are all important kinds of lyric poetry. harp-like instrument, c. 1200, from Old French lire "lyre" (12c. Lyric: a composition using … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. "Auld Lang Syne" translates to "old long since" but the less literal meaning behind the phrase is "days gone by." Lyric poetry expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet and is sometimes contrasted with narrative poetry and verse drama, which relate events in the form of a story. Greek lyric poetry had been defined by the manner in which it was sung accompanied by the lyre or cithara, as opposed to the chanted formal epics or the more passionate elegies accompanied by the flute. Leonard Cohen was one of the greatest songwriters (even if in this case the term is an understatement) that last century gave us. How to use lyric in a sentence. …metre and its uses in lyric, epic, and dramatic verse. How to use lyric in a sentence. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The song, published in England in 1780 without music as a chant or rhyme, is thought to be French in origin. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Born in Canada to a Jewish family in the 1930s, he then moved to Hydra, where in the first half of the 1960s he wrote and published several novels and collections of poetry. Word Origin for lyric C16: from Latin lyricus, from Greek lurikos, from lura lyre Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition William Collins Sons & Co. This name is mostly being used as a unisex name. What Is Lyric Poetry? The 12 Days of Christmas - Christmas Carol Meaning and Origin "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an English Christmas carol that lists a group of increasingly superb gifts given on each of the 12 days of Christmas (the 12 days that make up the Christmas season, starting with Christmas Day). The term derives from a form of Ancient Greek literature, the lyric, which was defined by its musical accompaniment, usually on a stringed instrument known as a lyre. Test the long and short of your poetic knowledge in this quiz. See the popularity of the girl's name Lyric over time, plus its meaning, origin, common sibling names, and more in BabyCenter's Baby Names tool. In sophisticated modern criticism, however, the scope of prosodic study has been expanded until it now concerns itself with what the 20th-century poet Ezra Pound called “the articulation of the total sound of a poem.”…, The lyric was virtually unknown to Old English poets. Composed by Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling Christmas song of all time and the best-selling single ever. 1580s, "pertaining to or adopted for the lyre or the harp," hence "suggestive of song or musical effect;" see lyric (n.). It is speculated that the lyrics had to be changed because they were considered too racy at the time to be performed by children's church choirs. LYRIC’s mission. There are some lyrical difference between the original "The One Horse Open Sleigh" and the "Jingle Bells" we know today. The lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne," by Scottish poet Robert Burns, are printed on a wall as part of an exhibition at New York's Morgan Library & Museum on December 9, 2011. Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). The term "colly" is Old English slang meaning birds dark as coal, a.k.a. It consists of 5 letters and 2 syllables and is pronounced Ly-ric. Songfacts - the stories and meanings behind the songs, with songwriter interviews and lyrics. Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland. The Origin Of Love Lyrics: When the earth was still flat / And clouds made of fire / And mountains stretched up to the sky / Sometimes higher / Folks roamed the earth like big rolling kegs / … especially the symbol of lyric poetry. The meaning of Lyric is "Lyric, words to a song". LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities. The name Lyric means Words Of A Song and is of English origin. Lyric Poem Definition. ), from Latin lyra, from Greek lyra, a foreign loan-word of uncertain origin. Learn more. Lyric, a verse or poem that is, or supposedly is, susceptible of being sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument (in ancient times, usually a lyre) or that expresses intense personal emotion in a manner suggestive of a song. "a lyric poem" (one suggestive of music or fit to be sung), 1580s, from French lyrique "short poem expressing personal emotion," from Latin lyricus "of or for the lyre," from Greek lyrikos "singing to the lyre," from lyra (see lyre). Lyric Modification . English origin 's favorite Christmas carol has a pretty sad back story lyrics! According to a song '' favorite Christmas carol has a pretty sad back story uncertain.! Year it ranked 563rd in the world right to your inbox and whether! 'S words Horse Open Sleigh '' and the 20th century may be classified as lyrical is an English word from! Of a song, especially a pop song: 2. a short poem that expresses personal…... Either expresses his feelings and emotions the exception of some dramatic verse most. 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