Lyric Sheets

I thought it was kind of stupid that R.E.M. just started printing lyrics on their last couple albums, by which time Stipe's words were much more intelligible (and less interesting/cryptic) anyway. they may as well have just stuck with the no lyric sheet policy just for continuity. although i've always said it would be cool if they published a book with all the lyrics for every album.

I don't really think lyrics should have to work on paper, it's really about the context of the music, but generally I like when lyrics are printed, though, if only for easy reference and to get a better handle on the meaning. when I make a record I want to print lyrics, if only just to prove to myself that i'm confident enough in the words that i won't cringe seeing them in print. I've also toyed with the idea of printing a lot of weird extraneous information alongside the lyrics (the BPM and what key each song is in, etc.)..(has anyone seen a record that has something like that?)

When lyrics are included, I don't even look at them unless it's an album I'm 100% familiar with and am curious about a word here or there. Also, it's probably a bad idea to read along with lyrics, especially if you are reviewing a record.

Major dud, printing lyrics. The worst (and you don't see this much anymore) is when the occasional hip hop album does this. Fu-Schnickens?? UGH!!!

A couple of Unrest releases had the BPM of each song printed beside the track name. I seem to remember the liner notes to some coffeehouse-folky album (Michelle Shocked?) having the chords printed alongside the lyrics.

Also, the Microphones published sheet music for the songs on It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water, but that was sold separately from the album itself. Nice idea, though.

I'm generally pro-more-stuff-in-the-liner-notes, but I'm okay if a band eschews filling up their liner notes with extraneous information as long as they put it on their website instead.

Though I do like printed lyrics in most cases, I don't have a strong position on this vital issue.

I like the Mission of Burma sheet (Signals Calls and Marches?) that doesn't print lines of lyrics, but prints each the word used on the record in alphabetical order. Aimee Mann also does this in her I'm With Stupid album.

And I enjoy the way one of the Pere Ubu FAQs answers the lyric sheet question:

the only rap album I've ever seen with a lyric sheet is Reflection Eternal (any other examples?). I kind of admire that, just the effort, given the sheer bulk of words is so much more than the average rock lyric sheet. but then, just going to ohhla.com is more convenient anyway.

I think Costello finally printing lyrics for everything is the major selling point of those new Rhino reissues.

"Never never never. Would you print the chord changes in the booklet too? How about the position of the faders on the mixing board? I've been asked to print my lyrics and I will never do it. "

well that was kind of the point of my idea w/ the BPMs and all. kind of playing the game while making a comment on the arbitrary nature of it. i can understand the position of wanting to give the listener as little input as possible aside from the actual sound. but it might be fun to toy with those expectations a little, too.