Chapter 9: Perspectives

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From Pat Pattison's "Writing Better Lyrics"

 

In chapter 9 Pat discusses point of view (POV).

 

There are 3:

 

Third person narrative: the singer tells a story about

another person/object. Both the singer and the audience

are observers focused on something else.

 

pronouns used: he, she, it, they, them his, hers, theirs...

 

 

First person narrative: the singer tells a story and also

participates in the story.

 

pronouns: I, we, us, ours, my, mine, me...

 

Second person/Direct address: the singer sings to

the audience.

 

pronouns: you, your, yours...

 

Each POV has it's pros and cons. As the writer it's up to

you to decide which is most effective for the lyric you are

writing.

 

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Exercise:

 

Pick any popular song. Identify the POV of the song lyric.

Now change the lyric into each of the other two POVs.