Song lyrics are words that are set to music and sung. In a poem, a group of lines that form a unit is called a stanza. In a song, a stanza is called a verse. Like poetry, lyrics have elements that help convey meaning. For example:

• • Repetition Words that repeat stay in your mind.

• • Rhyme Rhyming words have the same or similar ending sounds, such as day, say, and weigh. Notice that rhyming sounds can have different spellings.

• • Rhythm Rhythm is the natural rise and fall, or “beat” of language. For example, read aloud the following song lyric: Last night I had the strangest dream. You probably stressed the underlined syllables.

Practice Together

With the class, read aloud the following verse from “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream.”

Analyze the Verse To better understand these lyrics, notice how they bring together repetition, rhyme, and rhythm. Here’s how:

• 1. Listen for repetition. This verse uses a form of the word dream three times. Do you think the speaker believes that war can end? Why?

• 2. Look for words that have the same ending sound, such as before and war. Sometimes rhyme calls attention to key words. Which word in this rhyming pair do you think the speaker wants to emphasize? Why?

• 3. Notice which syllables are stressed and which are unstressed. Count the stressed syllables, or beats. What does the rhythm remind you of—dancing, marching, or something else?

Try It!

With a small group, apply Steps 1–3 to another verse in the song. Then, discuss your ideas with the rest of the class. Use what you have discovered to plan a class read-aloud of the song lyrics.