lyricist
Lyrics are the sung or spoken text. This topic is part of People within Music. This page currently draws on 21 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
lyricist trivia questions
A lyricist writes what part of a song?
Answer: Words
Bonus fact: Lyrics are the sung or spoken text.
Who wrote the lyrics for many songs in West Side Story?
Answer: Stephen Sondheim
Bonus fact: Bernstein wrote the music, while Sondheim wrote the lyrics.
How does a lyricist differ from a librettist?
Answer: A lyricist writes song words; a librettist writes the broader text of an opera or musical
Bonus fact: One person may perform both roles.
A person who writes lyrics is called what?
Answer: Lyricist
Bonus fact: Lyricists write song words.
What was Elton John's birth name?
Answer: Reg Dwight
Bonus fact: Elton John met lyricist Bernie Taupin after both responded to a classified advertisement seeking songwriters.
Which singer recorded Tiny Dancer?
Answer: Elton John
Bonus fact: Elton John has worked for decades with lyricist Bernie Taupin.
Who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical "Milk and Honey"?
Answer: Jerry Herman
Bonus fact: "Milk and Honey" was Jerry Herman’s first Broadway musical as sole composer-lyricist.
Who composed the music for the musical "Zorba"?
Answer: John Kander
Bonus fact: Kander collaborated with lyricist Fred Ebb, the team later famous for "Cabaret" and "Chicago."
Who wrote the music and lyrics for "Anyone Can Whistle"?
Answer: Stephen Sondheim
Bonus fact: The 1964 musical was one of Sondheim’s earliest shows as both composer and lyricist.
Who wrote the music for "Fiorello!"?
Answer: Jerry Bock
Bonus fact: Bock worked with lyricist Sheldon Harnick; the pair later created "Fiddler on the Roof."
Who wrote the book for "They're Playing Our Song"?
Answer: Neil Simon
Bonus fact: The show was inspired in part by the working relationship of composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager.
Who wrote the music for "Once on This Island"?
Answer: Stephen Flaherty
Bonus fact: Flaherty collaborated with lyricist and book writer Lynn Ahrens.