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Yes

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Yes, but with a proviso. Quoting song lyrics should be treated just like any other piece of literature or any other item that is quoted. As long as the writer gives proper credit to the songwriter then there should be no problem. Every person who ever had to write a paper of some sort in school and college has quoted some piece of work some way or another in the paper. Any time a quotation was made proper credit to the author or speaker was given, either immediately following the quote or at the end of the work. The same rule should apply for song lyrics.

There are some music journalists who routinely quote song lyrics when writing about an artist or a new album; - I must admit to doing myself on occasion - and while they will give credit to the singer, the singer and the songwriter are not always the same person.

Whether the record companies want to admit it or not song lyrics often start as poems, but even if they don't the lyrics are still a piece of literature and should fall under the same rules as all other pieces of literature. If some one used the song lyrics in a piece of work and did not give any credit, then there would be a legal issue and reason to have trouble.

Song titles are not subject to copyright laws, which are there to prevent stealing and plagiarism not prevent people from using the works as long as proper credit is given, and the song title can frequently be found in the song itself. So from that perspective what is the difference?

Learn more about this author, Sherrill Fulghum.
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