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Behind The Lyrics

Latest stories

How Steve Forbert Labored Over the Right Musical Setting for His Most Famous Lyric

Photo of Nick GILDER

Nick Gilder’s Biggest Hit From 1978 Hid Dark and Unsettling Origins

The Mesmerizing Procol Harum Lyric That’s Lost at Sea

The Massively Underrated Bob Dylan Song That Originally Flopped With the Listening Public

The Bruce Springsteen Lyric That Explores How Tough the Father-Son Dynamic Can Be

More stories

  • How Neil Finn of Crowded House Crafted a Fantastic Lyric Thanks to His Hotel-Room Neighbors

    November 27, 2025, 8:00 am

  • Suzzy Roche;Terre Roche;Maggie Roche

    The Classic Song by Underrated Trio The Roches That Was Inspired by a Nosy Record Company

    November 24, 2025, 5:00 am

  • Tom Petty performing

    The Agonizing Lyric That May Have Hit Too Close to Home for Tom Petty

  • The Steely Dan Lyric That Expresses Genuine Support via Hippie Lingo

    November 19, 2025, 10:30 am

  • The Lyric Where The Band Suggested Woodstock Wasn’t As Idyllic as It Was Cracked Up To Be

    November 18, 2025, 8:00 am

  • The Cars’ Lyric That Looked at Lost Love in Typically Quirky Ric Ocasek Fashion

    November 17, 2025, 8:00 am

  • Watch Billy Joel and His Band Deliver a Pitch-Perfect A Cappella Version of “The Longest Time” in 1984 in a Locker Room Shower

    This Billy Joel Lyric Dives Deep Into His Retro Inclinations

    November 13, 2025, 8:00 am

  • Photo of David Ackles via Elektra

    The Lyric That Truly Shows off the Songwriting Potency of the Unheralded David Ackles

    November 6, 2025, 8:00 am

  • The Elvis Costello Lyric That Explores the Dark Side of Passion

  • Portrait Of Jesse Winchester

    How Jesse Winchester Established His Elite Songwriter Status With the First Lyrics He Ever Wrote

    November 3, 2025, 8:00 am

  • Warren Zevon performing

    Warren Zevon Included a Quatrain for the Ages in “Desperados Under The Eaves”

    November 2, 2025, 8:00 am

  • The Jackson Browne Lyric He Thought Might Signal the Premature End of His Music Career

    October 30, 2025, 5:00 am

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      • Enter Song Contest
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      • Dream Day on Music Row
      • Lyric Contest Winners
      • 2026 Lyric Contest Judges
      • Rules and Deadlines
    • Road Ready Talent Contest
      • Enter Road Ready
      • Road Ready Winners
      • The Public’s Pick
      • Road Ready Rules and Deadlines
    • Hip Hop Contest
      • Enter The Beat4Beat Contest
    • Contest Promotions
  • Song Contest
  • Community
    • Subscribe to Magazine
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    • Apply To Songwriting Camps
    • Become Songwriter Member
    • Access Membership Hub
    • Manage My Subscription/Membership
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