Episode 1: The process and craft of lyric writing

Another chance to hear Murray Lachlan Young examining the process and craft of lyric writing, exploring the traditional structures of songs - the trinity of verse chorus and middle eight, the tyranny of melody and the power of economy of words.

He is joined by songwriter Guy Chambers to try to answer the eternal questions 'Why we need lyrics and what do they actually perform in the song?'. They discuss the lyrics of the Beatles, Lana Del Ray, the Cocteau Twins and why Tutti Frutti is one of the most important lyrics in the history of pop music.

Murray is also joined by Rat Pack historian Paul Ryan, as he looks at the rise of the great lyricists in modern music and delves into the Great American Songbook, looking at the work of songwriters Lorenz Hart and Ira Gershwin and how Frank Sinatra was able to take music outside of the musicals and make them into hits.