seeking a word

[NearThere]

or a verb/phrasal verb.....

What is the word/term to denote the action (not much of it really) when you listen to the lyrics of a song and try to understand what the lyric is saying word by word?

On numersou occasions I wanted to express that I have a hard time doing it.

Thanks a lot
NT

[susiedqq]

to write down conversation or music lyrics is to transcribe, but you may be translating, also.

[vil]

Hi NearThere,

rendition = an interpretation of a musical score or a dramatic piece

interpretation = a performer's distinctive personal version of a song, dance, piece of music, or role; a rendering

Regards.

V.

[David L.]

Do you mean understanding the actual words of the singer, as in
It sounds like he's saying, 'dozy dotes and mersy dotes and ...' what are 'dotes' and what is the meaning of 'mersy' ?
when the lyric is actually, 'does eat oats and mares eat oats and...'" ??

('doe' is a female deer, and 'does' is plural, pronounced = goes/sews/toes - doe is pronounced = go/sew/toe)

[NearThere]

Originally Posted by David L.

Do you mean understanding the actual words of the singer, as in
It sounds like he's saying, 'dozy dotes and mersy dotes and ...' what are 'dotes' and what is the meaning of 'mersy' ?
when the lyric is actually, 'does eat oats and mares eat oats and...'" ??

('doe' is a female deer, and 'does' is plural, pronounced = goes/sews/toes - doe is pronounced = go/sew/toe)

Exactly David.

I don't necessarily want to understand the meaning of the lyrics, it strains my ears to hear what's being said. Currently there's a song playing alot on the radio, the chorus says something like this to me:

"It's too late to change the jive (or chive), it's too late, too late.........
it's too late to change the chive, it's too late..................."

What?! change the jive (chive)?

So how do you express the action of doing that?

"I have a hard time taking down the lyrics?"
"I have a hard time getting the lyrics?"

But remember the point is not "comprehending" or "understanding" the meaning of the lyrics, but to catch what the lyrics are. Thanks folks.

NT

[David L.]

Is this the song?
[intro]
Too late
Too late
Too late

[verse 1]
In this automatic age
We shop through the yellow page
Gone is the corner store
There is a supermarket there for you

People give way to change
But feelings remain the same

[chorus]
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
Well it’s too late, too late to change the time
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
But it’s not too late (too late) to change your mind

[verse 2]
It’s a new day, a new age
A photograph just taken, is ready one minute later
Cars are bigger and better
But the manufacturer’s sastified never
In a world full of crime
I can’t let you think that’s right

[chorus]
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
But it’s not too late (too late) to change your mind
No, no

[bridge 1]
So you wanna be a star (so you wanna be a star)
You are who you think you are (ah think you are)
You don’t have to go further
Than my loving arms

[chorus half]
And it’s too late, too late to change the time
But it’s not too late (too late) to change your mind

[bridge 2]
Are you sure you wanna go to new york city (new york city)
Where girls make it big if they’re pretty (if they pretty)
Let say you get that penthouse view
But who’s gonna love you the way I do (just the way I do)

[chorus]
It’s too late, too late to change the time
And it’s too late, too late to change the time, no
Too late, too late to change the time
But it’s not too late (too late) to change your mind
Yeah, yeah, yeah

[chorus]
It’s too late, too late to change the time
It’s too late, too late to change the time
Ooh, too late, too late to change the time
But it’s not too late (too late) to change your mind
Yeah, yeah, yeah

<ad lib to fade>

[David L.]

use" getting down' if you are writing them down as you listen to the song.
'getting the lyrics' can mean understanding what is said in terms of hearing the words properly, but it can also mean, understanding the meaning of the lyrics or something written or said - and we talk about 'not getting a joke' when we can't grasp what is funny about it. For example, do you get this joke?:

Why is the oo-ah bird so called?

Because it lays square eggs.

[NearThere]

Originally Posted by David L.

use" getting down' if you are writing them down as you listen to the song.
'getting the lyrics' can mean understanding what is said in terms of hearing the words properly, but it can also mean, understanding the meaning of the lyrics or something written or said - and we talk about 'not getting a joke' when we can't grasp what is funny about it. For example, do you get this joke?:

Why is the oo-ah bird so called?

Because it lays square eggs.

David,

I belive that's the song, thanks for the lyrics.

So use "get down" when I wish to write down the words of the song if I know what's being sung. But what if I don't want to write it down, rather to repeat it or sing along with it but I can't. And how do you turn to your friend and ask:

"hey can you listen to it for me, cause I have a hard time the lyrics?"

Could you fill in the blank for me, David.

Thanks
NT

[NearThere]

David:

Why is the oo-ah bird so called?

Because it lays square eggs.

...................... ...(5 minutes later) NO.

[David L.]

This is what I would say to a friend:
"Can you listen to this song for me. I can't catch what he's saying. What' s the word after, "It's too late to change the..". "Too late to change the"... 'what'?"

In your sentence:
"Hey, can you listen to it for me, 'cause it's hard to make out what the lyrics are?"

1. it should be 'lyric' because it is the words to one song, but we all talk about the 'lyrics' to a piece of music, the lyrics of a song.

We also say, "I didn't catch what he said" when you haven't heard properly what was said, because there was too much noise, or he mumbled etc.
'make out (somehting)/make (something) out also applies to be able to see something properly=correctly. For instance, when you're at the optomotrists having your eyes tested, you read the chart with letters on it, which go from large at the top, to small at the bottom. I might say to the optomotrist at some point, "I can't make out/can't tell whether it's an 'm' or an 'n' "(because it's too small and my eyes can't read it.)

Anyone get the joke???