Buy new:
-10% $17.00
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: JAYDENS STORE
$17.00 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $18.95

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$17.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Sold by
Sold by
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$7.38
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$17.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Art of Writing Great Lyrics Paperback – May 1, 2001

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$17.00","priceAmount":17.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"IvxtA5s0XaUn2rHnXy4T0520igZO2M31V%2B%2BqFoUEBpZUv5OUGjbcXqySk2Ra5%2FHehXRSSo7B41m%2FUkcOupYqKOHc4XAjDd6dOgiS6B4UsYxi7JXmmerjhlMNU9DFeSmuN7djv915x3VfXaGMrxmSddprD2QJK%2FA4vwJ9aUPqNDXu5CqdDU4F%2B3v9TroNiJA%2F","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.38","priceAmount":7.38,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"38","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"IvxtA5s0XaUn2rHnXy4T0520igZO2M31goqTZA5NiZJeeIuiTPtaVriGBrGtaKQD2eBMAaIGEN9YaDpYFeI9hImivNF2jXmumDKaILpqPw0J9tFzG3LlSAEeulw5SrwivDc0CRhPqiKvewofzHjFHJ%2BiXTG4bk245z23GAdquc1YYXpyrmMTuXJhZeZjOBIa","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Packed with literally hundreds of hints, tips, and inside information only a working writer would know, The Art of Writing Great Lyrics demonstrates proven, no-fail methods for everything from communicating through song, defining styles, and collaborating with a partner to studying the market, making a great demo, and getting started on a career. Includes a handy A to Z checklist for reviewing new songs.
Read more Read less

The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

$16.82
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 21
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by YnsSeller and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
$15.99
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 19
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$15.99
Get it as soon as Monday, May 20
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cruelly dumped, the songwriter storms into his or her studio, slams the door and writes a heartbreaking platinum hit. According to Pamela Phillips Oland, one of the most prolific songwriters in the nation, this is no melodramatic fantasy. Oland's songs have been recorded by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Selena and Frank Sinatra and featured on Xena: Warrior Princess and The Sopranos. She has worked in nearly every popular genre: rock, country, gospel, R & B, theater, alternative rock, blues and jazz, and she shares dozens of the tricks of her much-envied trade in The Art of Writing Great Lyrics, a revised version of her 1989 book You Can Write Great Lyrics. She even has the honesty to include an exegesis of a failed attempt: the first song she ever wrote.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A prolific songwriter whose lyrics have been recorded by such notables as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra, Oland speaks from 20 years of experience when she stresses the importance of song titles, dissects catchy lyrics, and warns of rejection by publishers. Her latest guide for emerging songwriters examines the profession from all angles, focusing in-depth on the craft of song. Oland prefers to think of her book as a "recipe for success" and, in fact, she provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in the industry. The author shares a wealth of knowledge about many of the more ambiguous aspects of the field, particularly on how to discriminate lyrics from poetry and how to become an adept miner of everyday conversation. Oland's perspective will intrigue not only followers of the songwriting field but anyone captivated by the art of the written word. This book nicely complements Paul McCartney's recent book of lyrics and poetry, Blackbird Singing (Norton, 2001). Suitable for all public and academic libraries. Caroline Dadas, Univ. of Ilinois, Urbana-Champaign
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allworth; 1st edition (May 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1581150938
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1581150933
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 6.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Pamela Phillips Oland
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

37 Songs/McJames Music and 37 Records are proud to announce their continuing partnership with Pamela Phillips Oland....Lyricist, Grammy-nominated writer and one of the industry's most versatile, prolific and successful lyricists.

With hundreds of artist cuts and TV & film usage credits accumulated over more than 25 years as a successful songwriter, Pamela has become the go-to lyricist composers, directors, artists and music supervisors look to for the precise kind of lyric they need.

Currently focusing on project co-writes, creating 12 songs with sultry Argentinean star Karen Souza, collaborating with rock artist writer Chad Petree from Shiny Toy Guns, penning the song "Perfection Reflection" with Ryan Lawhon of the hot new electronic indie pop act White Apple Tree, writing Celtic songs with award winning Americana folk artist Cathy-Anne McClintock, and securing two songs for 13-year old Britain's Got Talent sensation, Charlie Green, including "My First Love" and his debut album's title song, "A Friend Like You" - and more.

To further showcase her versatility, Pamela, along with composer Tom Harriman, have co-written story, music and lyrics for a large-scale stage musical based on the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated film "Soldier of Orange," slated to open October 30, 2010 in Holland. Directed by Theu Boermanns and produced by Robin deLevita and Fred Boot, it is the story of Dutch war hero Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, his bravery and daring in setting up Contact Holland for exiled Queen Wilhelmena. Pamela has recently been invited by writer Sarah Miles deLevita and multi-Grammy winning composer John Ewbank to join their creative team as co-lyricist for a new original world-class musical Mad Alice.

Another of Pamela's recent projects was a children's album which she co-wrote with Red Grammer called “Be-Bop Your Best!” and nominated for a Grammy for “Best Musical Album for Kids” She and Tom Harriman also recently created the album "Van Gogh by vanEck" in cooperation with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Her film (30 plus) and TV (50 plus) credits include the closing song in Disney's 102 Dalmatians, the coming of age film Jimmy and Judy, the life story of Selena, Eddie Murray's Coming To America, Sopranos, J*A*G, Dexter, Melrose Place, Thirtysomething, and more.

Whether pop or rock, rhythm & blues, or country, Pamela has written with and for some of the best talent in the world including Aretha Franklin, Berlin, Whitney Houston, Peabo Bryson, the Whispers, Selena, Frank Sinatra, Isaac Hayes, Tower of Power, Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), Dan Seals, Anne Murray, Lou Rawls, Richard Carpenter, The Jacksons, Paul Overstreet, the Spinners, and on and on.

The author of two must-have books on Songwriting, “The Art of Writing Great Lyrics” and “The Art of Writing Love Songs,” Pamela has been invited to conduct seminars on writing lyrics around the U.S.A., and from the Gold Coast of Australia to Copenhagen, Denmark. She also recently completed writing her first novel.

She is a lyrical chamæleon who defies categorization. Pamela Phillips Oland knows her stuff AND....she wrote the books on it.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
72 global ratings
Delivered  with care. I can't wait to read this book!
5 Stars
Delivered with care. I can't wait to read this book!
The book was practically brand new. It was delivered with care. Can't wait to read it!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019
The title says it all and I've read several titles. Pamela Phillips Oland has a knack to cut through the noise and show you how little every day experiences to big events can inspire you. There are 2 books I have given away to peers and students, Zen Guitar and The Art of Writing Great Lyrics. I can't keep a copy of either because I gift them away but that's because the information contained within is pure gold. I've never had anything but positive feedback from any creative I have gifted this book to.
One person found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2007
Ms. Oland provides helpful advice for the person wishing to write and market commercial songs. She gives tips on becoming familiar with language, building vocabulary, and learning popular song structures. She also dissects her own writing process, step by step, for the reader.

Later chapters deal with the challenges posed by collaboration, strategies to deal with criticism, and the music business.

This book is primarily for the commercial lyricist, not the musician or the artist who writes for self-expression. Ms. Oland is of the opinion that a lyricist shouldn't write too much from personal experience, and that a commercial song should make the audience feel good because "no one wants a loser." But some of the most sincere music, which ended up being "commercial," was written out of angst (Alanis, Nirvana). Oland's term for this kind of music is "living room hits." (In her defense, she does state that when an artist writes this type of song for himself, the song may become a hit.)

Ms. Oland also mentions that she is a much stronger lyricist than melodist, and although she does mention using "dummy melodies," musician-lyricists might find a different method than Ms. Oland's.

However, this book does include much wisdom and helpful information culled from years of experience.
19 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2012
The Art of Writing Great Lyrics is really a great book. This is my letter to the author that expresses my enthusiasm for it: The Art of Writing Great Lyrics

Dear Pamela,

Many months ago I ordered your book, The Art of Writing Great Lyrics, and you so kindly
sent me an autographed copy (very exciting). I started reading it right away and not only reading,
but studying it intently. Your information on artistic expression excited me, but your detailed instructions
on the technical aspects of writing a song put me to work.

I have always wanted to write a song and I have written song-like material before, but I never understood
the discipline behind songwriting until I read your book. It was a lot harder than I expected. I could not adapt
previously written material into a song. It just didn't fit. So I decided that I would have to start from scratch.
So I did. A subject presented itself that touched my heart intensely and following your instructions
and with a lot of hard work I produced something that was really satisfying to me. Not knowing quite what
to do with my song, I entered a songwriting contest. I received an Honorable Mention
and that was very nice to hear.

I wanted to say a very special thank you to you for providing me with the information and the inspiration to
go ahead and do something that I have always wanted to do. This entire process has been very exciting for me.
I will feel thrilled about it for a very long time. The Art of Writing Great Lyrics is really true to its title. Thank you for
sharing your expertise and your passion.

Best regards,

Maria
3 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2013
Gift to a son but no feedback from him so figure he's too busy with other things to take advantage of the information. Maybe some day later in life?
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2009
I write sacred choral music and have had some of my pieces published. I've always had a hard time finding books to help me write the kind of music and lyrics I write, so I've pretty much had to figure out how to do it on my own. I bought this book hoping it would help me in some way - and I have loved it. I have learned so much from this book that I could apply to any kind of lyric writing. She presents boatloads of information, and it is all interesting to read. I am so glad I bought this book!
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2014
This is an absolutely great book, essential reading for any songwriter. I work with a lot of musicians and songwriters,and for many of us, the lyrics are the hardest part. Pamela describes how a lyric is not poetry--but its own art form--then shows the discipline, study and skill it takes to write a great lyric. I high recommend this book to anyone who aspires to be a better songwriter. Her other book on the art of writing love songs is a companion piece, and is a must-read for the human race, in my opinion. See my other review on that one. It is a jewel.

David Snyder
One person found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Julie Thompson
3.0 out of 5 stars Is a good book but....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2013
Is a good book but confusing in places hence three star rating not the best of books every written but limited Lyric books to choose from.
One person found this helpful
Report
Laurier Chabot
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product and wonderful service!!
Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2019
Great Product and wonderful service!!
KENECHUKWU OBI
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best book-buying decisions i have ever made
Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2014
One of the very best book-buying decisions i have ever made.So insightful and information-rich. A book every aspiring and established lyricist should read.