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Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 5 posts ] 
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 Post subject: Quick assistance sought
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2003 9:02 pm 
Is there a correct/preferred/standard way of quoting song lyrics in a story? I'm editing a story tonight where that's an issue.<p>The writer wrote like this: "'Cause in the desert/You can remember your name/'Cause they're ain't no one for to give you no pain/La la la lalalala La la la la"<p>I've also seen writers break lyrics out onto their own graf, with a paragrpah space between the preceding and subsequent paragraphs:<p>Wilson Pickett wrote the immortal words:<p>"All you want to do is
Ride around Sally
Ride, Sally, ride"<p>In 1966, Pickett ....<p>
If you favor backslash or return breaks with each line/stanza, do you capitalize the first letter of the first word in each new line or break?<p>Any thoughts?


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 Post subject: Re: Quick assistance sought
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2003 10:01 pm 
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Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 3557
Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both
If humanly possible, edit the lyrics out and let the readers buy "records" if they want to know the words...


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 Post subject: Re: Quick assistance sought
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2003 10:08 pm 
I'm cranking up my state-of-the-art Victrola "hi-fi" as I speak ... I'll play the new extended hip-hop rap-metal mix of "Yo, Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anybody But Me, Phat Homie Dawg" ....


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 Post subject: Re: Quick assistance sought
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2003 10:11 pm 
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Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 3557
Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both
Lyrics often are a cheap-assed device used by people who are even bigger hacks than I am.


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 Post subject: Re: Quick assistance sought
PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2003 10:32 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am
Posts: 138
<blockquote><font size="1" face="TImes, TimesNR, serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bumfketeer:
Lyrics often are a cheap-assed device used by people who are even bigger hacks than I am.<hr></blockquote><p>
On the other hand, if there's a story where the lyrics are the story -- say something was criticized for its content -- it's often more concise just to give the lyrics than have some writer try to put them into their own words. <p>Personally, I'm more of a slash-between-the-lines guy. Capitalization may be a bit much for every line start though.<p>[ February 03, 2003: Message edited by: 4Jfan ]</p>


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