Lyrical Ballads

 by Ashley Lister

A third year undergrad recently posted a poll on the Dead Good Poets’ FaceBook page. The poll can be found by following this link: /http://www.facebook.com/groups/10150320397700001/ and I know she’d appreciate any further votes and opinions that can be added. The student is interested in finding out whether song lyrics can be classed as poetry (and vice versa).

My response to this question has been: “It depends on the song.” If anyone wants to know what I mean, study the lack of poetic content in the following:

Gangnam Style – PSY 

(translation)
Oppa is Gangnam style
Gangnam style

A girl who is warm and humanly during the day
A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee
A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes
A girl with that kind of twist

I’m a guy
A guy who is as warm as you during the day
A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down
A guy whose heart bursts when night comes
That kind of guy

OK, you might argue. But that's a song in translation. It's unfair to comment on poetry or lyrics that aren't being conveyed in their original language. Culturally they might be more meaningful in their original form.
So I'd ask you to consider this example:

Cheeky Girls (performed by The Cheeky Girls)

Cheeky girls…………
Ooh boys cheeky girls
Ooh girls cheeky boys
Ooh boys cheeky girls
Ooh girls cheeky boys
Ooh boys cheeky girls
Ooh girls cheeky boys
Ooh boys cheeky girls
Ooh girls cheeky boys

I never ever ask where do you go
I never ever ask what do you do
I never ever ask what’s in your mind
I never ever ask if you’ll be mine
Come and smile don’t be shy
Touch my bum this is life.

Oooooh

We are the cheeky girls
We are the cheeky girls
You are the cheeky boys
You are the cheeky boys
We are the cheeky girls
We are the cheeky girls
You are the cheeky boys
You are the cheeky boys

Hhmm cheeky cheeky

Yes, you might argue, but again there's a language barrier here. Perhaps Pinky and Perky (NB - Ashley, check the correct names of the Cheeky Girls before posting this blog) who do not have English as their first language, were unfamiliar with the words they were singing. This example includes repetition, rhyme, sound structuralism and an example of a tripartite reduplicative. But, personally I think this is proof that song lyrics cannot be universally compared with poetry.

However, if you’re still not convinced (and this is one of my personal NSFW favourites):

F**k the Pain Away by Peaches

Sucking' on my t*tties like you wanted me
Calling me, all the time like Blondie
Check out my chrissy behind
It's fine all of the time
What else is in the teaches of peaches?
Like sex on the beaches, Huh? What?
[REPEAT]

Huh? Right. What? Uhh
Huh? What? Right. Uhh
[REPEAT]

SIS IUD, stay in school 'cause it's the best
IUD SIS, stay in school 'cause it's the best
IUD SIS, stay in school 'cause it's the best
IUD SIS, stay in school 'cause it's the best

Sucking' on my titties like you wanted me
Calling me, all the time like Blondie
Check out my chrissy behind
It's fine all of the time
Like sex on the beaches
What else is in the teaches of peaches? Huh? What?

F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away
F*ck the pain away. F*ck the pain away

Call me a snob but, if any of those above are considered poetry, they are surely examples of bad poetry.

NB - and if you're looking for examples of good writing, check out the blog for this student: http://www.megansyearofthedragon.blogspot.co.uk/ 

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