Quoting songs

Hi class,

As you are working on your song essay, I wanted to give you some information on how to quote a song.  

Quoting a Song:  Like a poem, put quotation marks around what’s being quoted, and use a slash ( / ) to indicate the end of line or verse.  Then, parenthetically cite the line number of the poem being quoted.

A generation ago, John Lennon sang about a world where people rejected materialism, war, and greed: “Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can / No need for greed or hunger / A brotherhood of man / Imagine all the people / Sharing all the world” (7-12). Rather than focusing on this song’s plea for humanity, some critics claimed it was an atheist rant.

So, you can see that you will signal into the quote and use the slash to show a break in verses.  Once you cite verses, then you need to explain them.

Hope this helps!