Printing lyrics - GNU LilyPond
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#### 2.4.1 Printing lyrics

Consider a simple melody:

>          \relative c'' {
>            a4 e c8 e r4
>            b2 c4( d)
>          }

The lyrics can be set to these notes, combining both with the `\addlyrics` keyword. Lyrics are entered by separating each syllable with a space.

>          <<
>            \relative c'' {
>              a4 e c8 e r4
>              b2 c4( d)
>            }
>            \addlyrics { One day this shall be free }
>          >>

This melody ends on a melisma, a single syllable (‘free’) sung to more than one note. This is indicated with an extender line. It is entered as two underscores `__`:

>          <<
>            \relative c'' {
>              a4 e c8 e r4
>              b2 c4( d)
>            }
>            \addlyrics { One day this shall be free __ }
>          >>

Similarly, hyphens between words can be entered as two dashes, resulting in a centered hyphen between two syllables

>          <<
>            \relative c' {
>              \time 2/4
>              f4 f c c
>            }
>            \addlyrics { A -- le -- gri -- a }
>          >>

#### More information

> More options, such as putting multiple stanzas below a melody, are discussed in Vocal music.

Next: A lead sheet, Up: Songs

This page is for LilyPond-2.10.33 (stable-branch).

Other languages: French.