How do I denote lyrics in prose? Do you just use quotations?

[Guest]

I need to know how to specify that a phrase is indeed a lyric from a song.
It's for a t-shirt. Do I use quotations, or do I use that musical note
symbol?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I don't think there's any set way. Quotation marks will do. But keep in mind
that you may run into copyright issues; most song lyrics are heavily
protected by ASCAP or BMI, and a permission fee will usually have to be paid
for quoting even the tiniest scrap of protected lyrics (there is no "fair
use" doctrine wrt song lyrics).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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[Dan Freeman]

In addition to what Suzanne said, the best way to identify text as a musical
lyric is to include it with the melody on a musical staff. Word is not the
right tool for this.

You'd need something like Finale or Sibelius, which would make a proper
musical notation that can then be pasted into a Word document.

THEN you'd have a proper reference and could start dealing with the ASCAP
and BMI attorneys who don't give a hang about your intentions. All they want
is money. (And as a former professional musician who still receives royalty
checks, I bless their black little hearts!)

Dan