how to properly cite a song in an essay

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How to Quote a Song in a Paper (with Formatting & Examples)

Last Updated: February 4, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is a wikiHow Content Creator. She specializes in reviewing, fact-checking, and evaluating wikiHow's content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Jennifer holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 318,046 times. Learn more...

Depending on the type of paper you're writing, you may need to use a song as a reference – either a specific recording, or the composition of the song itself. The format of your citation will be somewhat different depending on whether you are using Modern Language Association (MLA) style, American Psychological Association (APA) style, or the format in the Chicago Manual of Style. You'll also need a brief, in-text citation to point the reader to the more complete citation at the end of your work. [1] X Research source

• The performer could be a single individual or a band. If you're using the name of a single person, use "last name, first name" format.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé.

• If there are multiple writers, list them all in the order they appear in the copyright information for the song. If the song has lyrics, there may be both a composer and a lyricist.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom."

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé and James Blake. "Freedom." Lemonade , Parkwood Entertainment, 2016. Online, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/, accessed January 9, 2017.

• Use the name you used in your full citation. Just use the first or primary name if there is more than one artist in the full citation. Include the title or a title phrase if you're citing more than one work by that artist.
• For example: (Knowles-Carter, "Freedom")

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J.
• If there are multiple writers and their roles are identified, you can put these in parentheses after their names. For example: Knowles-Carter, B. (Lyricist), & Blake, J. (Composer).

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016).

• You also may want to include the name of the performing artist if they are known by a stage name or are otherwise not immediately identifiable by their last name.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom [Recorded by Beyoncé].

• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD].

• Include state or country information if the city is not well-known. Otherwise, simply include the name of the city.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, B., & Blake, J. (2016). Freedom. On Lemonade [CD]. New York City: Parkwood Entertainment (2016).

• For example: (Knowles-Carter & Blake, 2016, track 10)

Using Chicago Style

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake.

• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom .
• If the performer of the song is someone different from the songwriters, include this information immediately after the title of the song or album by listing their first name and last name.
• If the performer is more important than the songwriter or composer, you may want to list their name first. Use your best judgment depending on the focus of your paper.

• If you can't find the recording number on the physical copy of the recording itself, look on www.discogs.com. Make sure you have the listing for the same recording as the one you're referencing.
• For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016. [11] X Research source

• For example: For example: Knowles-Carter, Beyoncé, and James Blake. Freedom . On Lemonade . Parkwood Entertainment, 88985336822, 2016, CD.

• For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016).
• To provide a pinpoint citation to a specific song, include the track number. For example: (Knowles-Carter 2016, track 10).

Community Q&A

• If you're using Chicago style, list audio recordings separately in a discography that is separate from your main bibliography. [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• When you access music online, you may have difficulty finding the information you need for your citation. Try looking up the song on a website such as www.discogs.com, which will have publication information. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp
• ↑ https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2011/12/how-to-cite-recorded-music-in-apa-style.html
• ↑ http://www.ubishops.ca/wp-content/uploads/APAguide6thofficial.pdf
• ↑ http://libguides.depauw.edu/c.php?g=73436&p=472435
• ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Beyoncé-Lemonade/release/8486714
• ↑ http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
• ↑ http://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/chicago-turabian/how-to-cite-a-musical-recording-chicago-turabian/

About This Article

To cite a song using APA, start by putting the last name of the songwriter or composer, followed by their initials. Then, add the copyright year in parenthesis, and the title of the song. Next, start a new sentence with the word “on,” followed by the italicized name of the album and the medium you heard it on. End the citation with the location, the name of the recording company, and the recording year. For more information on citing songs, including in-text citations for MLA and Chicago style, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Cite a Song or Album in MLA Referencing

3-minute read

• 7th April 2021

If you write about music in your work, you might have to cite a recording. But how do you cite a song or album in MLA referencing ? This post will explain the basics.

To cite a song or album in MLA referencing , simply give the artist’s last name or the band’s name in brackets in the relevant part of the text:

Her latest album has a strong environmental theme (Sturgeon).

“Wildlife in America” (Shearwater) comments on US culture.

And to cite a specific part of a song, you can add a timestamp :

The middle eight in “Air and Light” (Sturgeon 2:14–2:29) is truly haunting.

In the above citation, for example, we are citing a section that runs from 2 minutes 14 seconds to 2 minutes 29 seconds into the song.

Musical Recordings in an MLA Works Cited List

All references contain certain core elements in MLA style. And for a musical recording, each entry should include some or all of the following:

• Artist or band name – For individual artists, give their surname first, followed by their first name (e.g., Young, Neil). For artists who don’t follow this naming convention (e.g., U2 or Lady Gaga), just use the full name they are known by.
• Song title – If you are citing a specific song, give the title in quotation marks.
• Album title – Give the name of the album you are citing (or that the song you are citing comes from) in italics.
• Version – If relevant, include information on the version of the song next (e.g., if there are different versions of a song on different albums).
• Publication details – The name of the publisher (i.e., the record label that released the album or song) and the year the recording was released.
• URL – If you accessed the recording online, include the URL. For songs accessed via a streaming platform, give the platform name in italics.
• Format – If it is relevant to your work, you can optionally add the format of the recording at the end of your reference (e.g., CD, vinyl, MP3).

You won’t always need all of this! For many references, the artist’s name, song and/or album title, the publisher, and the year of publication will be enough. But whatever you cite, make sure to include enough information in the Works Cited list to guide readers to the exact version of the recording you have used.

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Example References

Below, you can see example references for an album, a song on an album, an album accessed via a streaming platform, and a single song accessed online:

Talk Talk. The Colour of Spring , EMI, 1986.

Song on an Album

Shearwater. “Animals in America.” Jet Plane and Oxbow , Subpop, 2016.

Album on a Streaming Service

Sturgeon, Jenny. The Living Mountain , Hudson Records, 2020. Spotify , https://open.spotify.com/album/7Kt6kaJ8dGIo6cngVA7dcB

Single Song Online

Benin City. “Freaking You Out.” Bandcamp , https://benincity.bandcamp.com/track/freaking-you-out

Make sure to add a hanging indent for each line after the first in all references.

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Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite a song in MLA

Here are two forms to cite a song depending on where you accessed it. The first one is for songs on CDs, vinyls, cassettes, etc. Variant B is for songs available on streaming platforms or online.

• Google Docs

To cite a song in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

• Artist(s) name: Give the name of the artist, or band name in full.
• Title of the song: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
• Name of the album: Container titles are italicized and followed by a comma.
• Publisher: If the name of an academic press contains the words University and Press, use UP e.g. Oxford UP instead of Oxford University Press. If the word "University" doesn't appear, spell out the Press e.g. MIT Press.
• year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• Song format: Describe the song format, e.g: CD, Vinyl, etc.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a song in MLA style 9th edition:

Artist(s) name . " Title of the song ." Name of the album , Publisher , year of release . Song format .

Song accessed online:

• Music platform: Give the title of the music platform, e.g. Spotify, Soundcloud, etc.
• Publisher: Give the name of the publishing company if available
• Year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
• URL: Copy URL in full from your browser, include http:// or https:// and do not list URLs created by shortening services.

Artist(s) name . " Title of the song ." Music platform , Publisher , Year of release , URL .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

A song by a band retrieved from a CD

Florence + the Machine . " Hunger ." High as Hope , Virgin EMI , 2018 . CD .

A song by a band retrieved from a streaming platform

Beyoncé . " Pretty Hurts ." Beyoncé , Parkwood Entertainment , 2013 , https://www.beyonce.com/album/beyonce/?media_view=songs .

MLA in-text citation of a song

Audio-visual material uses the specific time of the audio/video for in-text citations.

(Last name time) or (Short form of title time) .

The chorus of the song shows characteristic tunes of indie music (Florence 00:01:43-00:2:20) .

This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

• How do I cite a song?
• MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources
• Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Music Albums & Songs

More great BibGuru guides

• Harvard: how to cite a computer program
• MLA: how to cite a photo
• Harvard: how to cite a newspaper article

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How to Cite a Song

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Website Book Journal Song

If you’re working on an assignment that requires music—whether you’re analyzing lyrics or playing a clip—iTunes is a great place to find the right tune. After all, the site/app carries over 30 million songs, from smooth jazz to rollicking rock n’ roll to soaring pop anthems.

But while finding the perfect song clip on iTunes is easy, citing the work in your paper or presentation might seem a bit more difficult.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

Here, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on how to cite a song from iTunes, in MLA formatting , APA formatting, and Chicago style. If the only thing keeping you from including a song in that presentation is fear of citing, fear not—the process isn’t that difficult once you get the hang of it.

If you’ve ever cited a movie or other video before, you’ll find that the process for an audio recording is pretty similar—but even if your only citation work has been with text, you should be a pro at citing iTunes songs in no time!

To make the process even easier, we’ve created examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago for Pharrell Williams’s 2014 chart-topper “Happy,” a song with an infectious beat and a warm and fuzzy message that works just as well for a psychology assignment as it does for a dance party.

Our citation example is based on https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-from-despicable-me-2/863835302?i=863835363.

• Name of the individual or band who performs the song
• Name of the songwriter (for APA style)
• Name of the album it is found on (if available)
• Version of the song, if available (such as an extended version or radio edit)
• Name of the publisher
• Date the song was published or recorded
• Track number
• Title of the website or app (iTunes)
• URL or DOI (if applicable)

Use the following structure to cite a song from iTunes in MLA 9:

Last name, First name (of the individual or the name of the band performing the song). “Title of the Song.” Name of the Album , Container (for example, iTunes app), Version (optional), Publisher, Date published.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9 :

Williams, Pharrell. “Happy.” GIRL , iTunes app, Columbia Records, 2014.

If you need help with in-prose and parenthetical citations, CitationMachine.net, can help. Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use!

Use the following structure to cite a song from iTunes in APA format:

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. of the songwriter. (Year published). Title of song [Recorded by First initial. Middle initial. Last name of performer (only include if different than the name of the writer)]. On Title of album [Audio file]. Retrieved from URL

Here’s how the above example would be cited in APA citation :

Williams. P. (2014). Happy. On GIRL [Audio file]. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/happy-from-despicable-me-2/id823593445?i=823593456

Use the following structure to cite a song from iTunes in Chicago:

*Note that audio recordings are generally not included in a bibliography. Create another list, titled “Discography.” If you decide to include audio recordings in your bibliography, place a heading over them in order for readers to distinguish the difference.

Last name, First name of the individual or band who performs the song. “Title of Song.” iTunes audio, length. Date published. URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in Chicago:

Williams, Pharrell. “Happy.” iTunes audio, 3:52. 2014. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/happy-from-despicable-me-2/id823593445?i=823593456.

Is the song you’re looking for not one of the 30 million-plus available tracks on iTunes? If so, fret not: The process for citing a tune from Spotify, SoundCloud, or any other website with available music doesn’t differ much from the process of citing an iTunes song.

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To write an in-text citation that directly quotes from a song, cite the name of the recording artist or group as the author in APA style. Following are the templates and examples for writing an in-text citation that directly quotes a song in APA style.

Narrative: Recording Artist’s Surname (Publication Year)

Parenthetical: (Recording Artist’s Surname, Publication Year)

Narrative: Bowie (1971)

Parenthetical: (Bowie, 1971)

The information below follows the guidance given in section 14.263 in the Chicago Manual of Style, 17 th edition .

Note template:

“This is an example quote.” 1

———-

• Full name of the album’s main performer or composer, “ Song Title,” with song contributors, medium or streaming service, recorded Date if different from date published, track # on Album Title , Publisher or Recording Company, Date published.

“Don’t believe me, just watch.” 1

• Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” with Bruno Mars, Spotify, track 4 on Uptown Special , Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, 2015.

Bibliography template & example:

Group name or Surname, First name of the main performer or composer. Album Title. Recorded Date if different from date published. Medium or streaming service. Publisher or Recording Company, Date published.

Ronson, Mark. Uptown Special . Spotify. Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited, 2015.

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How To Cite A Song In MLA – Format & Examples

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Whenever you try to explore ways of how to cite a song in MLA , depending on the medium you listened to, there are many ways and solid approaches. In an MLA song citation you generally must include the artist (or group) as the composer, the song title, the site’s name, and the URL where the song can be located. There are various types of citing a song in MLA. This article provides a thorough guide for how to cite a song in MLA.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 MLA Song Citation – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: MLA song citation
• 3 How to cite a song in MLA – Physical formats
• 4 How to cite a song in MLA – Quoting lyrics
• 5 How to Cite a Song in MLA – Optional Information

MLA Song Citation – In a Nutshell

• Depending on the medium you listened to, there are many ways to cite music in MLA.
• Physical song formats are cited according to specific guidelines in MLA.
• This article delves into quoting lyrics in MLA
• There is optional information that can be included when citing a song in MLA

Definition: MLA song citation

Just as you might examine a poem for a literary paper or quote a painting for an art history paper, you might find yourself using a song as a source if you’re taking music theory classes, and eventually find out how to cite a song in MLA. For all MLA citations, the “medium” of publication must be mentioned . Although there are numerous additional options, print and the web are the two most popular. For placement, see the full list of MLA song citation examples.

Sheeran, Ed. “Don’t.” X, deluxe ed., Asylum Records, 2014, track 4. Spotify , play.spotify.com/track/34gCuhDGsG4bRPIf9bb02f?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open.

How to cite a song in MLA – Physical formats

MLA song citation includes information about the album (or single, EP, etc.) the song is on, such as the title, distributor, year, and, optionally, the format (such as “CD”), when citing a song you downloaded in a tangible format (such as a CD or vinyl). Songs that you downloaded and listened to using a media player are also compatible with this format (e.g., iTunes).

Format of how to cite a song in MLA:

How to cite a song in MLA – Quoting lyrics

Using song lyrics that are structured like poetry: Four or more lines quoted at once should be formatted as a block quote . Separate lines with a slash.

Quoting lyrics in the text:

In the chorus, Bush sings, “if I only could / I’d make a deal with God / And I’d get him to swap our places” (0:51–59).

How to cite a song in MLA while quoting lyrics from a transcript:

If you’re quoting these lyrics from a transcript that was provided with the music (for example, in the YouTube description or the CD’s companion booklet), you should note this at the conclusion of the Works Cited item.

Quoting lyrics from a transcript:

Bush, Kate. “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” Hounds of Love. EMI, 1985. Transcript of lyrics.

How to Cite a Song in MLA – Optional Information

The MLA citation format is flexible; certain information in a song citation is not required but may be provided if it is pertinent. Suppose your conversation, for instance, concentrates on the work of a particular musician. In that case, you can list that person as the author instead of the main artist and include a brief description of their contribution. Still, the contributor slot should include the name of the lead artist.

Whenever you try to learn how to cite a song in MLA, it may be essential to cite the composer rather than the performer in the author’s position, particularly with classical music. After the title, you can list the specific performer(s) and/or conductor. If the specific performance is unimportant, you can completely ignore this detail.

Whom do I cite as the author of a song in MLA Style?

The primary artist or group that released the music is typically cited as the author of a song in MLA format.

Do I need to give details about the album in an MLA song citation?

List the website as a container and include a URL if you listened to the song on a streaming service. The album information in this situation is optional; you may include it if it is pertinent to your topic or if it will make it easier for the reader to find the song.

How to cite a song in MLA with no author or page numbers in MLA?

If a source doesn’t have an author, begin the MLA Works Cited item with the source title. You can use an alternate locator (such as a chapter number or timestamp for a video or audio source) to locate the pertinent portion in your in-text reference if a source doesn’t include page numbers. Cite the author’s name if there are no numbered divisions in the source (or the title).

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How to Cite Songs in MLA Style: A Complete Citation Guide

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Are you writing an essay and want to cite a song but are unsure how to do it properly? This article will show you how to cite a song in MLA style so that your article will have an appropriate format. Whether you wish to list some track, mention its composer or performer, or if you are quoting lyrics in your essay, we want you to know the correct way to do it. This article will demonstrate how to do it with helpful examples.  Dealing with lengthy research? Don’t have time for in-depth topic exploration? Delegate all the job to top-rated experts! Buy research paper online at StudyCrumb and leave all worries behind.

MLA Song Citation

There are times when you wish to use MLA citation for a song in your essay or article. You want to do this because quoting some melody or lyrics adds quality to what you are writing abou. Still,  it is important to cite people's work properly to avoid unwanted plagiarism. Remember to check plagiarism upon paper completion for outstanding results. The way you use MLA citation for some track will vary based on how you accessed the song. The basic MLA song citation format for a source retrieved from a streaming service is:

• performer's last name, performer's first name
• title of song (using quotation marks)
• website or database name( in italics)

When listing its URL, omit http:// and https:// information. If your source has a brand name with an article, you should also skip it. For example, you will go for "Rolling Stones" not "The Rolling Stones." So here is a general structure for your better understanding of how it looks:

Here’s how the above example would be cited:

However, there may be some additional information that you should include, e.g., an album. Let's learn how to format such citation below. You even can cite TED talks in your work. Just follow how to cite a TED talk MLA  guide. You will find it and many other useful blogs in our database.

How to Cite a Song From an Album in MLA

Are you citing something from an album in MLA style ? In this case, you would use some basic format above without its URL information. This will work when you are referring to some particular piece from a vinyl album.  When citing an MLA song from an album you should include some general information  such as: artist’s name, song title (using quotation marks), album title (in italics), record label, publication year. If some information about an album is unavailable, such as the record label or album name, it is acceptable not to list it. Here is a general format that applies if you want to cite a song from an album in MLA.

This is how it would be cited.

MLA in-Text Citation of a Song

When integrating in text citation mla song in your article, you would list the last name of the performer in parenthesis. If necessary, provide timestamps for lyrics you are quoting with its performer's name. In a general format It will look like this.

Here is how the above example would be cited:

Proper MLA Citation for a Song on a CD

How to cite a song from a CD in MLA style? When referencing some track from a CD, you should use a similar format as you would for any reference from an online source. Include such information as author's last name, first name, song title (using quotation marks), album name (in italics), distributor, publication year, and CD. Check a general format of citing songs of physical format here.

Here is also an example of how it will look like.

In-Text Citation for a Song From a CD in MLA

Are you citing some song in-text? When referencing some melody or lyrics from any CD, you would use the same format as you would from a vinyl album, only in the works cited section, use letters “CD” in the reference. MLA in-text citation for song should include the last name of a performer in parenthesis. Also, add timestamps of where these quoted lyrics appear. In the Works Cited section, integrate such information: performer last name, first name. Then, mention track name (using quotation marks), CD album title (in italics), publisher, publication year, CD. Check a general format of citing songs from a CD in MLA for in-text citation.

Check out our example of in-text citation:

How to Cite Song Lyrics MLA

There may be occasions when you want to know how to cite song lyrics in MLA in your article. When citing lyrics, you would put quotation marks on each side of the quoted lyrics. If necessary, use timestamps (see above) to indicate where these lyrics are within the track. It is also important to use a poetic format if you are quoting more than a few words or one line. When quoting multiple lines, use a forward slash to indicate breaks in those lyrics. Here is how it looks:

Here is an example of the above formula of how to cite song lyrics in MLA.

But do not use this guide for an interview citation. It is another source and should be cited another way. Find and read a special blog about  MLA in text citation interview .

Core Elements for MLA Song Citation

As we can see, all references in MLA style we have mentioned above contain their core elements that should be included in almost every citation. Here are essential pieces of information that are likely to be incorporated into your quotation:

• Artist or band name
• Title of a song
• Title of an album
• Album’s version
• Track number
• Publication details (name of the publisher of record label, year this record was released)
• Website or database where you got this record
• Format (e.g., CD, MP3 , vinyl.)

Final Thoughts on Citing a Song in MLA

We have looked at MLA style on how to cite a song. Referencing some track is similar to the citation format of citing an article in a periodical. Remember to include the general information such as: performer's last name, first name, a period, title in quotations, an album title italicized, publisher, and year. If you are quoting from an online source, include URL at the end of the reference. If you are quoting from any CD, put the letters “CD” at the end. If you are quoting lyrics from any record, CD, or online source, use a timestamp. When quoting lyrics, put quotation marks. Also, use the poetic style for multiple line lyric quotations.

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How to Cite a Song in MLA Style: FAQ

1. are song titles italicized in mla.

No. When MLA citing a song, titles are listed with quotation marks. Songs that you reference need to be accompanied by the source where they can be found. It is an album title that is listed in italics.

2. How to cite a song in MLA with a different writer and performer?

If you cite a song in MLA, the performer is listed as an author in most cases. If you are referencing songs from some streaming service, the performer or group is listed as an author as if you are citing some written source.

3. How do you in-text cite an audio clip in MLA?

When you cite an audio clip in MLA within your text, the performer's last name and timestamp are placed within your text in parenthesis. At the end of your article, proper MLA citation should be made of the song's origin.

4. How do you reference a concert in MLA?

When citing a live concert using MLA style, you would list the name of the performer, name of the concert (or concert tour), full date of this concert, concert venue, and city and state (and perhaps country) where this concert was performed.

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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Cite A Music or recording in Harvard style

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• Select style:
• Archive material
• Chapter of an edited book
• Conference proceedings
• Dictionary entry
• Dissertation
• DVD, video, or film
• E-book or PDF
• Edited book
• Encyclopedia article
• Government publication
• Music or recording
• Online image or video
• Presentation
• Press release
• Religious text

Use the following template or our Harvard Referencing Generator to cite a music or recording. For help with other source types, like books, PDFs, or websites, check out our other guides. To have your reference list or bibliography automatically made for you, try our free citation generator .

Reference list

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

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Proper Formatting of Song Titles in Written Documents

Learn when to use italics and quotation marks to write clearly

• Animation & Video

What to Know

• Refer to the style guide specified by your employer, client, or teacher.
• In the absence of a style guide, the general rule is to use quotation marks for song titles and italicize CD or album titles.
• Don't use underlining in place of italics unless you are using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

This article explains the proper formatting of song titles in written documents and includes examples.

How to Format Song Titles in Written Documents

For matters of style when punctuating and formatting titles of any kind, turn first to the style guide prescribed by your employer, client, or teacher. In the absence of a style guide, use the following guidelines:

• Put quotation marks around song titles : For best appearance in professionally typeset material, use proper typographical quote marks and apostrophes ( curly quotes ).
• Set CD/album titles in italics : In typeset material, watch out for fake italics . That's not a grammar rule but it is a good design and printing rule.
• Do not use underlining (in place of italics) unless you're using a typewriter or writing titles by hand.

In desktop publishing and word processing software, create character styles to quickly format song titles and other types of titles used throughout a document.

Example References to Song Titles and Albums

Here are two examples of text that includes song titles and album titles:

• Trace Adkins' first #1 single “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” is from his 1997 CD  Dreamin’ Out Loud . 
• The title cut from Toby Keith’s How Do You Like Me Now? was the most-played country song of 2000. Other favorites from the same album include “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like That” and “Country Comes to Town.”

When the song/album is the same : In the second example, although “ How Do You Like Me Now? ” is the song title, it is also the album title and in that context is treated as the album title, using italics. It would be just as correct to write: My favorite song on the How Do You Like Me Now? album is “How Do You Like Me Now?”

Punctuation in titles : When a song title ends in a question mark, exclamation point, or other punctuation, that punctuation goes inside the quotation marks because it's part of the song title. The beginning portion of the Adkins song title in parentheses is contained in the quotation marks the same as the other part of the song title.

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How do I format a quotation of song lyrics?

Format a quotation of song lyrics the same way you would format a quotation of poetry. If the quotation consists of fewer than four lines, run it into the text, placing quotation marks around the lines and separating the lines from each other with a forward slash with a space on either side of it. 

Bob Dylan famously sang that “[t]he answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind / The answer is blowin’ in the wind.” Work Cited Dylan, Bob. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Bob Dylan , 2018, www.bobdylan.com/songs/blowin-wind/.

If the quotation consists of four or more lines, set the quoted lines apart from the text as an extract.

In “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Bob Dylan asks: How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man? Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand?

Dylan, Bob. “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Bob Dylan , 2018, www.bobdylan.com/songs/blowin-wind/.

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MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources

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This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

Several sources have multiple means for citation, especially those that appear in varied formats: films, DVDs, television shows, music, published and unpublished interviews, interviews over e-mail, published and unpublished conference proceedings. The following section discusses these sorts of citations as well as others not covered in the print, periodical, and electronic sources sections.

Use the following format for all sources:

Author. Title. Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2 nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

An Interview

Interviews typically fall into two categories: print or broadcast published and unpublished (personal) interviews, although interviews may also appear in other, similar formats such as in e-mail format or as a Web document.

Personal Interviews

Personal interviews refer to those interviews that you conduct yourself. List the interview by the name of the interviewee. Include the descriptor Personal interview and the date of the interview.

Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 19 May 2014.

Published Interviews (Print or Broadcast)

List the interview by the full name of the interviewee. If the name of the interview is part of a larger work like a book, a television program, or a film series, place the title of the interview in quotation marks and place the title of the larger work in italics. If the interview appears as an independent title, italicize it. For books, include the author or editor name after the book title.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor, Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Gaitskill, Mary. Interview with Charles Bock. Mississippi Review , vol. 27, no. 3, 1999, pp. 129-50.

Amis, Kingsley. “Mimic and Moralist.” Interviews with Britain’s Angry Young Men , By Dale Salwak, Borgo P, 1984.

Online-only Published Interviews

List the interview by the name of the interviewee. If the interview has a title, place it in quotation marks. Cite the remainder of the entry as you would other exclusive web content. Place the name of the website in italics, give the publisher name (or sponsor), the publication date, and the URL.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Zinkievich, Craig. Interview by Gareth Von Kallenbach. Skewed & Reviewed , 27 Apr. 2009, www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/1056940-skewed-%2526-reviewed-interviews-craig. Accessed 15 May 2009.

Speeches, Lectures, or Other Oral Presentations (including Conference Presentations)

Start with speaker’s name. Then, give the title of the speech (if any) in quotation marks. Follow with the title of the particular conference or meeting and then the name of the organization. Name the venue and its city (if the name of the city is not listed in the venue’s name). Use the descriptor that appropriately expresses the type of presentation (e.g., Address, Lecture, Reading, Keynote Speech, Guest Lecture, Conference Presentation).

Stein, Bob. “Reading and Writing in the Digital Era.” Discovering Digital Dimensions, Computers and Writing Conference, 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.

Panel Discussions and Question-and-Answer Sessions

The MLA Handbook makes a distinction between the formal, rehearsed portion of a presentation and the informal discussion that often occurs after. To format an entry for a panel discussion or question-and-answer session, treat the panel members or speakers as authors by listing them first. If these people are formally listed as panelists, indicate this by following their names with a comma and the title "panelist(s)." Follow with the title of the discussion, or, if there is no title, a simple description. In the latter case, don't capitalize the description. Follow this with the title of the conference or event. End with the date and the location.

Bavis, Jim and Stein, Tammi, panelists. Panel discussion. Dawn or Doom Conference, 4 Nov. 2018, Stewart Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Treat recorded discussions as instances of the appropriate medium (e.g., if you want to cite a recording of a panel discussion hosted on YouTube, cite it the same way you would cite an ordinary online video ).

Published Conference Proceedings

Cite published conference proceedings like a book. If the date and location of the conference are not part of the published title, add this information after the published proceedings title.

Last Name, First Name, editor. Conference Title , Conference Date and Location, Publisher, Date of Publication.

To cite a presentation from published conference proceedings, begin with the presenter’s name. Place the name of the presentation in quotation marks. Follow with publication information for the conference proceedings.

Last Name, First Name. “Conference Paper Title.” Conference Title that Includes Conference Date and Location , edited by Conference Editor(s), Publisher, Date of Publication.

A Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph

Provide the artist's name, the title of the artwork in italics, and the date of composition. Finally, provide the name of the institution that houses the artwork followed by the location of the institution (if the location is not listed in the name of the institution, e.g. The Art Institute of Chicago).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid.

If the medium and/or materials (e.g., oil on canvas) are important to the reference, you can include this information at the end of the entry. However, it is not required.

For photographic reproductions of artwork (e.g. images of artwork in a book), treat the book or website as a container. Remember that for a second container, the title is listed first, before the contributors. Cite the bibliographic information as above followed by the information for the source in which the photograph appears, including page or reference numbers (plate, figure, etc.).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Gardener's Art Through the Ages , 10 th ed., by Richard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner, Harcourt Brace, p. 939.

If you viewed the artwork on the museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container and include the website's publisher and the URL at the end of the citation. Omit publisher information if it is the same as the name of the website. Note the period after the date below, rather than the comma: this is because the date refers to the painting's original creation, rather than to its publication on the website. Thus, MLA format considers it an "optional element."

Goya, Francisco.  The Family of Charles IV . 1800 . Museo del Prado,  museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

A Song or Album

Music can be cited multiple ways. Mainly, this depends on the container that you accessed the music from. Generally, citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers or performers. Otherwise, list composer and performer information after the album title. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date.

If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.

Morris, Rae. “Skin.” Cold, Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify , open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Films or Movies

List films by their title. Include the name of the director, the film studio or distributor, and the release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director's name.

Speed Racer . Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, performances by Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Elia, Susan Sarandon, Ariel Winter, and John Goodman, Warner Brothers, 2008.

To emphasize specific performers or directors, begin the citation with the name of the desired performer or director, followed by the appropriate title for that person.

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Twentieth Century Fox, 1977.

Television Shows

Recorded Television Episodes

Cite recorded television episodes like films (see above). Begin with the episode name in quotation marks. Follow with the series name in italics. When the title of the collection of recordings is different than the original series (e.g., the show Friends is in DVD release under the title Friends: The Complete Sixth Season), list the title that would help researchers to locate the recording. Give the distributor name followed by the date of distribution.

"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season , written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, directed by Kevin Bright, Warner Brothers, 2004.

Broadcast TV or Radio Program

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series or program in italics. Also include the network name, call letters of the station followed by the date of broadcast and city.

"The Blessing Way." The X-Files . Fox, WXIA, Atlanta, 19 Jul. 1998.

Netflix, Hulu, Google Play

Generally, when citing a specific episode, follow the format below.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21, NBC, 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031.

An Entire TV Series

When citing the entire series of a TV show, use the following format.

Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation . Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.

A Specific Performance or Aspect of a TV Show

If you want to emphasize a particular aspect of the show, include that particular information. For instance, if you are writing about a specific character during a certain episode, include the performer’s name as well as the creator’s.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.

If you wish to emphasize a particular character throughout the show’s run time, follow this format.

Poehler, Amy, performer. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2009-2015.

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series in italics. Then follow with MLA format per usual.

“Best of Not My Job Musicians.” Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! from NPR, 4 June 2016, www.npr.org/podcasts/344098539/wait-wait-don-t-tell-me.

Spoken-Word Albums such as Comedy Albums

Treat spoken-word albums the same as musical albums.

Hedberg, Mitch. Strategic Grill Locations . Comedy Central, 2003.

Digital Files (PDFs, MP3s, JPEGs)

Determine the type of work to cite (e.g., article, image, sound recording) and cite appropriately. End the entry with the name of the digital format (e.g., PDF, JPEG file, Microsoft Word file, MP3). If the work does not follow traditional parameters for citation, give the author’s name, the name of the work, the date of creation, and the location.

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Moonlight Sonata . Crownstar, 2006.

Smith, George. “Pax Americana: Strife in a Time of Peace.” 2005. Microsoft Word file.

Council of Writing Program Administrators, National Council of Teachers of English, and National Writing Project. Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing . CWPA, NCTE, and NWP, 2011, wpacouncil.org/files/framework-for-success-postsecondary-writing.pdf.

Bentley, Phyllis. “Yorkshire and the Novelist.” The Kenyon Review , vol. 30, no. 4, 1968, pp. 509-22. JSTOR , www.jstor.org.iii/stable/4334841.

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How to Include Song Lyrics in an Essay and Properly Quote Them

Song lyrics can add depth and meaning to an essay, whether you are analyzing a piece of music, exploring the themes of a song, or discussing the influence of a particular artist. However, it’s important to properly quote song lyrics to give credit to the original artist and comply with copyright laws. This step-by-step guide will show you how to quote song lyrics in your essay in a way that is both effective and legal.

Firstly, it’s important to choose an appropriate lyric that aligns with the topic of your essay. Make sure the lyric enhances your argument or supports the points you are trying to make. Once you have selected the lyric, enclose it in quotation marks. For example, if you are writing about the power of love, you might choose the lyric: “What’s love got to do, got to do with it?”

Next, indicate the artist’s name and the song title. This helps your reader identify the source of the lyric and gives credit to the original artist. You can use the em or strong tags to emphasize the artist’s name and song title. For example, you could write: According to Tina Turner in her song “ What’s Love Got to Do with It ?”.

If you are quoting multiple lines of a song, consider using the

tag to set the lyrics apart from the rest of your essay. This helps to distinguish the lyrics and makes them stand out to your reader. Additionally, it’s important to include the line breaks and punctuation as they appear in the song. This preserves the original formatting and ensures accuracy. For example, you could write: “What’s love got to do, got to do with it? What’s love but a second-hand emotion?” – Tina Turner, “ What’s Love Got to Do with It ?”

Remember, when quoting song lyrics, always give credit to the artist and song title, and make sure to follow proper formatting and punctuation. By properly quoting song lyrics, you can enhance your essay and give your reader a greater understanding of your analysis and interpretation.

Table of Contents

Understand the Copyright Laws

When quoting a song lyric in your essay, it is important to understand and adhere to the copyright laws to avoid any legal issues. Copyright laws protect the rights of the original creators of a work, including song lyrics. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Fair Use: Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holder. However, it is important to understand that the definition of fair use can vary depending on the purpose and nature of the use, the amount of the quote, and the effect on the market for the original work.
• Public Domain: Song lyrics may be in the public domain if the copyright term has expired or if the lyrics were never protected by copyright. It is important to check the copyright status of the song before including lyrics in your essay.
• Attribution: When quoting a song lyric, it is important to give proper attribution to the original artist. This includes mentioning the artist’s name and the song title. If possible, include additional information such as the album or release date.
• Obtaining Permission: In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain permission from the rights holder to quote a song lyric. This is particularly true if you plan to use a substantial portion of the lyrics or if you intend to use the lyrics for commercial purposes. Contact the rights holder or their authorized representative to obtain permission.

It is important to note that this guide does not provide legal advice. If you have specific questions or concerns about copyright laws, it is recommended to consult with a legal professional.

Choose a Relevant Song Lyric

When it comes to selecting a song lyric to quote in your essay, it is important to choose a relevant and meaningful line that adds value to your argument or enhances the overall message of your essay. Here are some steps to help you choose a fitting song lyric:

• Consider your essay topic: Think about the main theme or message of your essay. Are you discussing love, identity, or social justice? Select a song lyric that relates to your topic and helps reinforce your argument.
• Identify key words or phrases: Look for words or phrases in the song lyrics that align with your essay topic. These can be powerful metaphors, descriptive language, or emotional expressions that resonate with your readers.
• Research the song: Do some background research on the song and artist to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning behind the lyrics. This will help ensure that your chosen lyric fits well within the context of your essay.
• Avoid clichés: While popular song lyrics can be impactful, it is best to avoid overly clichéd lines that have been quoted extensively in other works. Choose a lyric that is unique, thought-provoking, and adds a fresh perspective to your essay.

By following these steps, you will be able to choose a relevant song lyric that complements your essay and engages your readers. Remember to properly cite the lyric according to the citation style guidelines provided by your instructor or institution.

Decide on the Quotation Style

After selecting the song lyric you want to quote in your essay, it is important to decide on the appropriate quotation style to use. The style you choose will depend on the citation format and guidelines specified by your instructor or the publication you are writing for.

There are various citation styles commonly used, including MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago/Turabian. Each style has its own set of rules and guidelines for citing sources, including song lyrics.

1. MLA Style:

If you are using MLA style, the general rule for citing song lyrics is to enclose them in quotation marks and provide the artist’s name, the song title in italicized format, the album name (if applicable), the version or recording label (if necessary), and the release year. For example:

“I’m just a soul whose intentions are good” (Buffalo Springfield).

2. APA Style:

When using APA style, song lyrics should be presented in quotation marks and the artist’s name, the song title in italicized format, the album name (if applicable), the version or recording label (if necessary), and the release year should be provided. For example:

“I’m just a soul whose intentions are good” (Buffalo Springfield, 1966).

3. Chicago/Turabian Style:

If you are using Chicago/Turabian style, song lyrics are cited using an endnote or footnote. In the note, the artist’s name, the song title in italicized format, the album name (if applicable), the version or recording label (if necessary), and the release year should be included. For example:

1. Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth,” album title, version or recording label, 1966.

It is important to consult the specific guidelines of the citation style you are using to ensure that you provide all the necessary information and format the citation correctly. Additionally, if you are using lyrics from a song that is not well-known or easily accessible, you may need to provide additional information, such as the songwriter’s name or the URL of the song lyrics website.

Integrate the Song Lyric into Your Essay

Once you have selected a relevant song lyric to quote in your essay, it is important to integrate it smoothly into the rest of your writing. This ensures that the quote feels organic and flows seamlessly within your essay.

Here are some tips for properly integrating a song lyric into your essay:

• Provide context: Before quoting the song lyric, provide some context to your reader. Explain why you have chosen this specific lyric and how it relates to your essay topic or argument.
• Use quotation marks: Enclose the song lyric in quotation marks to indicate that it is someone else’s words. This helps to distinguish it from your own writing.
• Cite the source: After the quoted lyric, include the artist’s name, the song title, and the album or year of release in parentheses. This gives credit to the original creator and allows your readers to find the source if they are interested.
• Explain the significance: After quoting the lyric, explain its significance within the context of your essay. Discuss how it supports your argument or contributes to the overall theme of your writing.
• Provide analysis: Analyze the song lyric and discuss its meaning or impact. Consider the lyrics’ symbolism, imagery, or literary devices used. This demonstrates a deeper understanding of the song and its message.
• Connect to the broader discussion: Relate the quoted lyric back to your thesis or the main points of your essay. Show how it adds value to the larger topic and contributes to the overall discussion.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate a song lyric into your essay. Remember to maintain a balance between quoting and analyzing, and ensure that the song lyric enhances your argument or provides valuable insight to your readers.

Use Quotation Marks and Citations

When quoting a song lyric in your essay, it is important to use quotation marks and provide proper citations to give credit to the original artist and songwriter.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Place the lyric in quotation marks: Start by enclosing the song lyric you are quoting in double quotation marks. For example, if you are quoting the line “I will always love you” from the song “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, write it as: “I will always love you”.
• Indicate the song title: After the lyric, include the title of the song in italics. For example: “I will always love you” (italicized).
• Note the artist: Next, mention the name of the artist or band who performed the song. In our example, it would be Whitney Houston.
• Provide the album’s name (optional): If relevant, you can also include the name of the album the song appears on. For example, if “I Will Always Love You” is from the album “The Bodyguard Soundtrack”, you can mention it.
• Add the year of release (optional): If you want to provide additional information, you can include the year the song was released. For instance, if “I Will Always Love You” was released in 1992, you can mention it as well.

Here is an example of how a properly quoted song lyric in an essay would look:

Remember, using quotation marks and providing proper citations not only shows respect for the original artist, but it also helps avoid plagiarism and gives readers the necessary information to locate the song.

Provide Context for the Song Lyric

When including a song lyric in your essay, it’s important to provide context so that the reader understands the significance of the lyric and its connection to your argument or analysis. Contextualizing the song lyric can help support your points and make your essay more cohesive. Here are a few ways to provide context for the song lyric:

• Introduce the song: Begin by briefly introducing the song that the lyric is from. Mention the title of the song and the name of the artist or band. This provides basic information for the reader and also helps them locate the song if they are interested in listening to it.
• Explain the meaning: Provide a brief explanation of the meaning behind the song or the message it conveys. This can help the reader better understand the lyric in its intended context.
• Discuss the relevance: Explain why the song lyric is relevant to your essay topic or argument. Connect it to the broader themes or ideas you are exploring and explain how the lyric supports or enhances your point.
• Provide historical context: If the song lyric is from a particular time period or is associated with a social or cultural movement, provide some background information to give the reader a better understanding of the historical context of the lyric.
• Use quotations or excerpts: Include a short excerpt of the song lyrics to give the reader a sense of the words and their impact. Enclose the lyric in quotation marks and provide a citation to give credit to the artist and the song.

By providing context for the song lyric, you not only ensure that the reader understands its significance but also enhance the overall quality of your essay. Context can help you effectively incorporate the song lyric into your analysis and make your arguments more persuasive and compelling.

Analyze the Song Lyric in Relation to Your Essay

Once you have properly quoted the song lyric in your essay, it’s important to analyze it in relation to the topic and purpose of your essay. By doing so, you can provide a deeper insight and understanding of the lyric for your readers.

Here are some steps to help you analyze the song lyric:

• Explain the meaning: Start by explaining the meaning of the song lyric in your own words. Consider the overall theme and message conveyed by the lyric. Is it about love, heartbreak, social issues, or personal experiences?
• Explore the emotions: Discuss the emotions evoked by the song lyric. How does the lyric make you feel? Does it convey joy, sadness, anger, or any other powerful emotions? Explain why the lyric has such an impact on you and its relevance to your essay.
• Analyze the language: Analyze the language used in the song lyric. Look for any poetic devices, such as metaphors, similes, personification, or symbolism. Discuss how these devices contribute to the overall meaning and effectiveness of the lyric.
• Consider the context: Consider the context in which the song lyric was written. Look into the artist’s background, the music genre, and the time period. Understanding the context can provide valuable insights into the meaning and intention behind the lyric.
• Relate it to your essay: Finally, relate the song lyric to the main theme or argument of your essay. Explain how the lyric enhances your understanding of the topic and supports your overall analysis. Use the lyric as a supporting example or evidence to strengthen your points.

Analyzing the song lyric in relation to your essay not only adds depth to your writing but also demonstrates your critical thinking skills. It allows your readers to see the connection between the song and your essay, creating a cohesive and well-supported piece of writing.

Conclude with a Personal Interpretation

In conclusion, including a personal interpretation of the song lyric in your essay can provide a unique perspective and enhance the overall analysis. This final section allows you to express your own thoughts and feelings about the lyric and its significance. Here are a few steps to help you effectively conclude your essay with a personal interpretation:

• Reflect on the meaning of the lyric: Take some time to think about the message and emotions conveyed by the song lyric. Consider how it relates to your own experiences and beliefs.
• Analyze the impact of the lyric: Evaluate the effect that the lyric has on the overall song and its intended audience. Think about the themes and ideas it explores and how they resonate with you.
• Offer your personal perspective: Share your own interpretation of the lyric and explain why it resonates with you. Discuss any personal connections or experiences that relate to the theme or message of the song.
• Provide supporting evidence: Back up your personal interpretation with examples from the lyric itself or other relevant sources. Cite specific lines or phrases that support your viewpoint.

Ultimately, the personal interpretation section should bring together your analysis and reflection on the song lyric, allowing you to express your own thoughts and emotions. Keep in mind that this section should not dominate the essay but rather serve as a meaningful conclusion to your analysis.

Question and answer:

What is the correct way to quote a song lyric in an essay.

The correct way to quote a song lyric in an essay is to use quotation marks around the entire lyric line and include the songwriter’s name, the song title, and the album or source where the song can be found.

Can I use a song lyric as the title of my essay?

It is generally not recommended to use a song lyric as the title of your essay, as it may give the impression that your essay is primarily focused on the song itself rather than the broader topic you are writing about.

What if I want to include a longer excerpt from a song in my essay?

If you want to include a longer excerpt from a song in your essay, you can format it as a block quotation by indenting the entire excerpt on both sides and using a smaller font size. However, it is important to only include longer excerpts if they are directly relevant and contribute to the overall point or argument of your essay.

Do I need to provide the songwriter’s name and the album for every song lyric I quote in my essay?

Yes, it is important to provide the songwriter’s name and the album or source where the song can be found for every song lyric you quote in your essay. This helps give proper credit to the songwriter and allows your readers to easily locate the song if they are interested.

Can I alter or modify song lyrics when quoting them in my essay?

When quoting song lyrics in your essay, it is generally recommended to preserve the original wording and not alter or modify the lyrics. However, if you need to make slight changes for grammatical or stylistic reasons, you can use square brackets [ ] to indicate any modifications you have made.

What if I don’t know the songwriter’s name or the album of the song?

If you are unsure of the songwriter’s name or the album of the song you are quoting, you can do some research to try and find this information. If you are unable to find the specific details, you can mention this in your essay or use a generic reference such as “unknown songwriter” or “unreleased song” to acknowledge the lack of information.

Can I use song lyrics as evidence or support for my arguments in an essay?

Yes, you can use song lyrics as evidence or support for your arguments in an essay, as long as they are relevant to your topic and help strengthen your points. However, it is important to provide proper analysis and interpretation of the lyrics to explain how they contribute to your argument.

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How to Cite Sources | Citation Generator & Quick Guide

Citing your sources is essential in  academic writing . Whenever you quote or paraphrase a source (such as a book, article, or webpage), you have to include a  citation crediting the original author.

Failing to properly cite your sources counts as plagiarism , since you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

The most commonly used citation styles are APA and MLA. The free Scribbr Citation Generator is the quickest way to cite sources in these styles. Simply enter the URL, DOI, or title, and we’ll generate an accurate, correctly formatted citation.

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Citations are required in all types of academic texts. They are needed for several reasons:

• To avoid plagiarism by indicating when you’re taking information from another source
• To give proper credit to the author of that source
• To allow the reader to consult your sources for themselves

A citation is needed whenever you integrate a source into your writing. This usually means quoting or paraphrasing:

• To quote a source , copy a short piece of text word for word and put it inside quotation marks .
• To paraphrase a source , put the text into your own words. It’s important that the paraphrase is not too close to the original wording. You can use the paraphrasing tool if you don’t want to do this manually.

Citations are needed whether you quote or paraphrase, and whatever type of source you use. As well as citing scholarly sources like books and journal articles, don’t forget to include citations for any other sources you use for ideas, examples, or evidence. That includes websites, YouTube videos , and lectures .

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Usually, your institution (or the journal you’re submitting to) will require you to follow a specific citation style, so check your guidelines or ask your instructor.

In some cases, you may have to choose a citation style for yourself. Make sure to pick one style and use it consistently:

• APA Style is widely used in the social sciences and beyond.
• MLA style is common in the humanities.
• Chicago notes and bibliography , common in the humanities
• Chicago author-date , used in the (social) sciences
• There are many other citation styles for different disciplines.

If in doubt, check with your instructor or read other papers from your field of study to see what style they follow.

In most styles, your citations consist of:

• Brief in-text citations at the relevant points in the text
• A reference list or bibliography containing full information on all the sources you’ve cited

In-text citations most commonly take the form of parenthetical citations featuring the last name of the source’s author and its year of publication (aka author-date citations).

An alternative to this type of in-text citation is the system used in numerical citation styles , where a number is inserted into the text, corresponding to an entry in a numbered reference list.

There are also note citation styles , where you place your citations in either footnotes or endnotes . Since they’re not embedded in the text itself, these citations can provide more detail and sometimes aren’t accompanied by a full reference list or bibliography.

A reference list (aka “Bibliography” or “Works Cited,” depending on the style) is where you provide full information on each of the sources you’ve cited in the text. It appears at the end of your paper, usually with a hanging indent applied to each entry.

The information included in reference entries is broadly similar, whatever citation style you’re using. For each source, you’ll typically include the:

• Author name
• Publication date
• Container (e.g., the book an essay was published in, the journal an article appeared in)
• Location (e.g., a URL or DOI , or sometimes a physical location)

The exact information included varies depending on the source type and the citation style. The order in which the information appears, and how you format it (e.g., capitalization, use of italics) also varies.

Most commonly, the entries in your reference list are alphabetized by author name. This allows the reader to easily find the relevant entry based on the author name in your in-text citation.

In numerical citation styles, the entries in your reference list are numbered, usually based on the order in which you cite them. The reader finds the right entry based on the number that appears in the text.

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Because each style has many small differences regarding things like italicization, capitalization , and punctuation , it can be difficult to get every detail right. Using a citation generator can save you a lot of time and effort.

Scribbr offers citation generators for both APA and MLA style. Both are quick, easy to use, and 100% free, with no ads and no registration required.

Just input a URL or DOI or add the source details manually, and the generator will automatically produce an in-text citation and reference entry in the correct format. You can save your reference list as you go and download it when you’re done, and even add annotations for an annotated bibliography .

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Plagiarism means passing off someone else’s words or ideas as your own. It’s a serious offense in academia. Universities use plagiarism checking software to scan your paper and identify any similarities to other texts.

When you’re dealing with a lot of sources, it’s easy to make mistakes that could constitute accidental plagiarism. For example, you might forget to add a citation after a quote, or paraphrase a source in a way that’s too close to the original text.

Using a plagiarism checker yourself before you submit your work can help you spot these mistakes before they get you in trouble. Based on the results, you can add any missing citations and rephrase your text where necessary.

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Scribbr’s Citation Checker is a unique AI-powered tool that automatically detects stylistic errors and inconsistencies in your in-text citations. It also suggests a correction for every mistake.

Currently available for APA Style, this is the fastest and easiest way to make sure you’ve formatted your citations correctly. You can try out the tool for free below.

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If you want to handle your citations yourself, Scribbr’s free Knowledge Base provides clear, accurate guidance on every aspect of citation. You can see citation examples for a variety of common source types below:

And you can check out our comprehensive guides to the most popular citation styles:

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (Latin for “and others”) is used to shorten citations of sources with multiple authors.

“Et al.” is used in APA in-text citations of sources with 3+ authors, e.g. (Smith et al., 2019). It is not used in APA reference entries .

Use “et al.” for 3+ authors in MLA in-text citations and Works Cited entries.

Use “et al.” for 4+ authors in a Chicago in-text citation , and for 10+ authors in a Chicago bibliography entry.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

MLA Style  is the second most used citation style (after APA ). It is mainly used by students and researchers in humanities fields such as literature, languages, and philosophy.

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Fractures in the Grand Alliance between Black and Jewish Americans

Devan Schwartz

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama alongside Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama alongside Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Close your eyes and you might be able to conjure the iconic image of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, with a white bushy beard, as he marches alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's 1965 and they're at the front of the delegation from Selma to Mongtomery, Alabama. Everyone wears big Hawaiian leis – given as a symbol of support and solidarity by Reverend Abraham Akaka.

Scholars say this moment enshrines the so-called Grand Alliance, in which Black and Jewish leaders worked together in support of civil rights and voting rights.

After marching that day, Heschel said, "I felt my legs were praying."

And from the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, King said, "The end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day of man as man."

Just a few months later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .

So was this a major moment in the ongoing partnership between Black and Jewish leaders — or simply the high-water mark in a relationship that has long since receded?

"Today's Black Jewish relationship is encased in amber from the civil rights era, and I don't think it's properly understood," Jacques Berlinerblau, Professor of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University, told NPR's Morning Edition . "And until we properly understand it, we might not be able to make sense of current political developments."

Berlinerblau has long studied the relationship between these two communities. He co-authored the book Blacks and Jews: an Invitation to Dialogue with Terrence Johnson, Professor of African American Religious Studies at Harvard Divinity School.

Civil rights demonstrators pass by federal guards as they make their way from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, on the third leg of their famous march. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Civil rights demonstrators pass by federal guards as they make their way from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, on the third leg of their famous march.

In speaking with NPR, Johnson defined the Grand Alliance as a group of elite African-American leaders working across racial religious lines to advocate for the masses in terms of voting rights and desegregation. And this sort of leadership went on to work with Jewish leaders with the founding of the NAACP in 1909 and the Urban League a year later."

"In some respects," Johnson continued, "those organizations represented the dream team of black and Jewish leaders, mostly men, unfortunately, but leaders nonetheless, who wanted to in many ways address the lingering problems of racial inequality and religious discrimination."

Johnson and Berlinerblau's book originated from a Georgetown University course they taught for years, engaging students in dialogue about the myriad ways that Black and Jewish Americans related to one another.

"It's an historic alliance because both groups have been demonized by what they can't control–a narrative of otherness," Johnson said. "And remember who was considered human in this country: Anglo-Americans. Jews were corrupted because of their blood and blacks were inferior because we didn't have a soul. And those fundamental issues are what we are haunted by now–what we hear with Black Lives Matter protests and related outcries around anti-Black racism and anti-Semitism."

And this relationship still looms large in the imagination of contemporary movement leaders. "There's no alliance more historic, nor more important, than the alliance between Black Americans and Jewish Americans," said Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League in 2020.

A TROUBLED GRAND ALLIANCE: THEN & NOW

In a recent NY Times piece , Morial said the Grand Alliance is "being tested" by the Israel-Hamas war, with each group holding diverging views.

Recently, a group of more than 1,000 Black pastors issued a demand that the Biden Administration push Israel to curb its military campaign. In a pressure campaign, the Black pastors say the support of their parishioners, key to Biden's reelection , could be on the line. And with Jewish Americans and Black Americans providing two key constituencies for Biden's reelection bid, this could be a tough needle to thread.

Reverend Leah Daughtry leads the House of the Lord Churches, a network of churches throughout the U.S. She was also CEO of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic National Convention committees. She recently told NPR that "we as faith leaders have to be concerned about the moral toll of this war and what our authority is. And what our responsibility is in ensuring that all people are safe, are able to live their lives in freedom and security, and that all children are able to grow and to live a thriving life."

Going even further, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a well-known Black institution, recently called for the U.S. to "immediately withdraw all funding and other support from Israel." It goes on to allege that "the United States is supporting this mass genocide."

The Israel-Hamas War clearly represents a pivotal moment — but Johnson and Berlinerblau say diverging interests and perspectives have tested the Grand Alliance from the very beginning.

"The Grand Alliance was more fraught on the ground than is commonly understood," Berlinerblau said. "And it was probably a lot more wobbly than we would generally assume."

For example, their book examines persistent accusations made by some African Americans against Jewish Americans for their alleged involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. They cite historian Seymour Drescher, a noted expert on slavery and anti-slavery movements. In his essay entitled "Jews and New Christians in the Atlantic Slave Trade," Drescher found that "at no point along the continuum of the slave trade were Jews numerous enough, rich enough and powerful enough to affect significantly the structure and flow of the slave trade or to diminish the suffering of its African victims."

Nonetheless, such claims continue to resonate and reverberate, canonized by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in his 1991 book The Secret Relationship between Blacks and Jews .

"Indeed, the Nation of Islam's worldview has pervaded Blacks and Jews for decades," Johnson and Berlinerblau write.

In fact, distrust between Black Americans and Jewish Americans created a sizable rift just a few years after Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched together for racial equality and civil rights.

According to Terrence Johnson, the shockwaves of 1967 can be felt even today.

That's the year of the Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab States. Many Black leaders began embracing the Palestinian and Arab cause, especially with Israel expanding its ties to the Apartheid government of South Africa.

Subsequent conflicts included the purging of white and Jewish members from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War; a teacher strike in New York City and the Crown Heights Riots in Brooklyn, both pitt ing Black and Jewish residents against one another–as well as ongoing disputes over affirmative action.

Many scholars say the partnership between Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock hearkens back to the Grand Alliance of the 1960s. Win McNamee/Getty Inages hide caption

Many scholars say the partnership between Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock hearkens back to the Grand Alliance of the 1960s.

With ups and downs between the Black and Jewish communities over the years, and many misconceptions, Johnson and Berlinerblau say they wanted to emphasize discussion and mutual understanding in their teaching and writing.

They set out to co-write their book in part to update the 1995 text by Cornel West and Rabbi Michael Lerner called Jews and Blacks: A dialogue on Race, Religion, and Culture in America.

While assembling their own book, they both saw the rising support for Palestinian rights via the Black Lives Matter movement. They also witnessed a partnership hearkening back to the Grand Alliance — the 2020 victories of Georgia Senators Rafael Warnock and Jon Ossof which demonstrated a partnership between prominent Black and Jewish leaders.

Johnson and Berlinerblau write that this could be seen as "another turning point in the Black-Jewish civil rights coalition." But since they, along with other authors , argue that the Grand Alliance of the 1960s is romanticized and oversimplified, they instead call for new ways to seek mutual understanding and collaboration.

BRIDGING THE BLACK-JEWISH DIVIDE: ART & COLLABORATION

Many scholars and movement leaders find inspiration in the indelible artistic and cultural ties between the Black and Jewish communities.

"So one reason to hope that the relationship finds a new footing or moves forward in some dynamic way," Berlinerblau told NPR, "is the sheer awesome political, artistic, cultural intelligence of these two communities working in concert."

He cites such artistic examples as: Cannonball Adderley's jazz cover of "Fiddler on the Roof," Grace Paley's short story "Zagrowsky Tells," Anna Deavere Smith's performance piece "Fires in the Mirror," Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman , and the Safdie brothers' film, Uncut Gems .

Johnson adds that a shared Old Testament notion of Zion appears frequently in hip hop music, epitomized by Lauryn Hill's song, "To Zion."

This famous Hebrew Bible story involving Moses leading the Israelites from bondage toward freedom shows the Harvard Divinity School professor a possible path forward for reunifying the Black and Jewish communities.

"Exodus and Zion keep recurring in hip hop, so there's something about the use of these stories that are so powerful and so beyond life that captures imagination and it becomes an entry point," Johnson told NPR.

The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights in 1965 featured Black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., joined by allies including Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights in 1965 featured Black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., joined by allies including Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.

"I was thinking of Abraham Heschel, who described this idea in 1963 of the Exodus is ongoing. And he said it was easier for the children of Israelites to cross the Red Sea than for a Black or Negro to cross the line at a university in the U.S.," Johnson said. "And there's something about this story that allows us to kind of peek into history and then figure out what's missing and whose voices are not there, even though they're very visible...and my sense is that the narratives will in some ways revive a moment that's much bigger than what we can imagine."

Berlinerblau and Johnson say that cultural and legal forces such as redlining and gentrification created physical distance between the Black and Jewish communities that were once more proximate.

"It doesn't mean they loved one another all the time," Berlinerblau said. "But they had a very, very organic, almost daily relationship with one another. And what Terence and I are increasingly seeing is that proximity, that physical proximity between African-Americans and Jewish Americans is kind of missing."

Some organizations doing this work of reconnection include: Rekindle, the Black/Jewish Justice Alliance, the Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance, and the Black and Jewish Leaders of Tomorrow. In many cases, art continues to reemerge as the bridge.

"The (Jewish) Federation in Baltimore recently had a yearlong exhibition around trauma in black and Jewish communities and used art as a way to invite people in to have these conversations," Johnson added. "So I think there are a lot of things happening on the ground. The issue becomes how did that get translated into a kind of political vocabulary that we can actually see structural change?"

Besides organizations and politicians with shared intentions, Johnson and Berlinerblau argue that reimagining Black-Jewish relations could best be accomplished by those who identify as both Black and Jewish.

Certainly, we can think of prominent celebrities such as Drake, Rashida Jones, Daveed Diggs, and Tiffany Haddish. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. In their book, the authors mention famous converts such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Nell Carter.

"We were extremely intrigued by the position of Afro Jews, Jews of color in the United States, of which we believe there may be more than half a million, if not more than that, in the country," Berlinerblau said. "But perhaps one way forward is to let this community, which physically or theologically or spiritually embodies a lot from both communities, maybe to let them lead...and to tell us where we all might move forward together."

Leah Donnella, who is Black and Jewish, is senior editor of NPR's Code Switch. And in a recent conversation, she reflected on her own upbringing. "My parents were very intentional about talking about those identities as being intertwined and related–and they did that very much through the lens of justice," Donnella said. "Fighting for justice has always been a tradition for both Black communities and Jewish communities. That's a lot of how both of my parents understood their faiths and their identities."

Outside of her own home, Donnella witnessed a major contrast. "Black people and Jewish people were not in the same spaces. There was not a lot of that overlap," Donnella said. "So that feeling of this identity being very integrated and very cohesive was not the demographic reality in the outside world."

Autumn Rowe, a songwriter and Executive Committee Member of the Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance, bridges the two backgrounds the organization seeks to unite. Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance hide caption

Autumn Rowe, a songwriter and Executive Committee Member of the Black Jewish Entertainment Alliance, bridges the two backgrounds the organization seeks to unite.

While spending time in Jewish spaces, Donnella finds herself being asked to speak on behalf of Black people. And with inflamed passions on all sides since the October 7th attacks by Hamas, and the subsequent Israel-Hamas War, she says the divides aren't necessarily deepening; they're revealing what was already there.

"I think none of the reactions that different communities are having are that surprising to me," Donnella said. "But I think it's easy to feel surprised about some of the different reactions and takes if you are not interacting with a really diverse community of different people, both racially, demographically, and just on the political spectrum."

In terms of the legacy of the Grand Alliance, and the snapshots of Heschel and King, Donnella said it's not about connecting via racial or religious identity–but about shared beliefs, and how they're being pursued.

"For me, it comes back to that childhood thing of justice," Donnella said. "A lot of it is very central to the Jewish identity I was raised with, to be focused on the idea of Tikkun Olam, healing the world. And that's also really central to Black American identity."

But in terms of putting values into action, Donnella said the details are paramount. "It obviously gets tricky when you get really real about what justice means to you," she told NPR. "What does justice look like for everyone? And how do I help make that happen? And then you go from there–and then I think the connections happen organically, because people are after the same thing."

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Learn how to cite “Notes on ‘Camp’” by Susan Sontag

Learn how to create in-text citations and a full citation/reference/note for Notes on ‘Camp’ by Susan Sontag using the examples below. Notes on Camp  is cited in 14 different citation styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, APA, ACS, and many others.

If you are looking for additional help, try the EasyBib citation generator .

Popular Citation Styles

Here are Notes on Camp   citations for five popular citation styles: MLA, APA, Chicago (notes-bibliography), Chicago (author-date), and Harvard style.

Additional Styles

Here are Notes on Camp   citations for 14 popular citation styles including Turabian style, the American Medical Association (AMA) style, the Council of Science Editors (CSE) style, IEEE, and more.

Find citation guides for additional books linked here .

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