Lyrics needed

I've been charged with the pending duty of writing a chapter song for the Mu Tau chapter of the band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.

I am NOT a lyricist. The last time I tried to write a song with original lyrics, I fell on my face half-way through.

Would anyone be willing to supply me with some lyrics for a fraternity song? You would of course be credited for your contribution of the lyrics.

So are you looking for something like this:

http://muphiepsilon.org/aboutmpe/ourtriangle.html

Lyrics go something like this:

Oh, tell us what this life would be if it were not for song!

For music soothes the trouble heart

and makes our courage strong.

But sad would all of music be if we knew not a friend

etc, etc.

Something like that, but hopefully a little less Lutheran in the syntax of the lyrics.

Also, KKPsi is the country's oldest band fraternity. It's a music fraternity geared especially and exclusively toward the betterment of the band program of the chapter's institution. So the lyrics should somehow reflect that it's about the people/the band as well as the music itself.

I don't know how to do that without sounding kinda stupid. =/

And two more notes: 1- the fraternity motto is "Strive for the Highest."

2- A word of clarification. Realize that I am asking for submissions, it does not mean I will use them. If I use more than 80% of your lyrics, you will be given full credit for them. Between 20 and 79% will be given split credit with you and whoever else had input. Less than 20% in one-to-two minute song isn't really input as much as it is inspiration, so do not expect credit if that small amount of your lyrics are used.

HOWEVER I don't expect anyone to give me anything that I could top. Thanks even for the consideration. :)

Edited November 21, 201015 yr by Peter_W.

Okay...so I know I'm beating around the bush I guess, but when you said the theme "Strive for the Highest" do you think that could part of the lyrics?

The first thing it reminded me of was the 2002 Olympic Theme - Call of the Champions by John Williams that uses the motto of the olymics in the lyrics "Citius! Altius! Fortius!" (Faster, Higher, Stronger)

If you have not heard it:

Okay...so I know I'm beating around the bush I guess, but when you said the theme "Strive for the Highest" do you think that could part of the lyrics?

Well duh. :P

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHOxCARCJ88

Epic.

So what are you looking for exactly in the lyrics...like qualities of a fine musician? A confession of our love of band music? Are there any particular words other than the motto that you have? Characteristics of musical instruments?

Sorry, I'm probably getting on your nerves, but I'd like to give this a go if I can come up with something.

So what are you looking for exactly in the lyrics...like qualities of a fine musician? A confession of our love of band music? Are there any particular words other than the motto that you have? Characteristics of musical instruments?

Sorry, I'm probably getting on your nerves, but I'd like to give this a go if I can come up with something.

*shrug* :P

If I knew what I wanted, I'd get it.

Question:

How is the "Tau" pronounced in Mu Tau?

Excellent question.

Even the guys in our chapter disagree. Some say "Taw", others say "Tah-ow".

...According to the American Heritage Dictionary, it's primarily pronounced "tou" where the "ou" is the sound in "out." Secondarily pronounced with a short "o" sound.

Most of us (myself included), pronounce it "tah-ow" with a diphthong.

So like Utah...or how?

So like Utah...or how?

how, now, ow. Yep.

Should I be expecting something? :)

Should I be expecting something? :)

Probably not. I am at a blank because I really have no idea what that band fraternity is about. Sorry. Unless you can tell me a little more about what you are about. Maybe that will spark something...but band music really has no words...just notes. lol So it is kinda hard.

Here, Peter. Per your request for help, I sat down and a verse and a chorus. Its kinda hard without either being in or knowing specifically about the fraternity to write decent lyrics. But, I had about 10 minutes to kill, so I figured I sketch a little something out that might work. So Here YOU GO:

[Verse]

Kappa Kappa Psi

with our allegiance, we pledge to try

with a spirit of passion, to lead

our fellow men of music,

with 'Excellence' our Creed.

In perfection we take pride,

Standing side by side,

we are a band of brothers, now-

O, Mu Tau!!

[Chorus]

We'll strive for the highest-

Strive for the highest-

Now and wherever we may go

We'll Strive for the highest-

Strive for the highest-

for as long as music,

we make

We raise our song up to the sky

O brothers, whatever fate may allow

We will remain Kappa Kappa Psi-

Mu Tau!

:P

Holy moly, that's pretty freakin' good. Specially for ten minutes. I'll see what I can do with this.

:blink:

:lol: Thanks! I'll keep you posted.

Holy moly, that's pretty freakin' good. Specially for ten minutes. I'll see what I can do with this.

:blink:

:lol: Thanks! I'll keep you posted.

Cool, Peter. Glad I could help. I do fancy myself a wordsmith. :lol: Please let me know if you need more verses.

Okay, I've finally gotten around to beginning this thing.

I'm immediately coming up with a difficulty or two. The main one is the odd meter and scheme of the initial verse. It's A A B X B.

The second verse is C C D D. Perfect.

The refrain is fantastic, I heard a melody to the words almost immediately. It's kinda lame, though, so I'ma have to get creative with that.

Final verse/strain is EFEF which is perfectly fine. I added a couple words, I felt the song needed to reference the fraternity colors at some point.

And I personally think the "whatever fate may allow" line is a little over-cliched, so I may alter that line. If you have any other suggestions?

Now back to the problem of the first verse. My initial idea was to separate the first line "Kappa Kappa Psi" into a stanza of its own, making the first full verse an even four lines. The problem is that the rhyme scheme is messed up at that point.

Also an issue is the odd and relatively high number of syllables in the first verse. Do you have any ideas on altering the lyrics, or some sort of melody-writing tips for absolving that issue?

Thx! :phones:

-Peter

Here, Peter. Per your request for help, I sat down and a verse and a chorus. Its kinda hard without either being in or knowing specifically about the fraternity to write decent lyrics. But, I had about 10 minutes to kill, so I figured I sketch a little something out that might work. So Here YOU GO:

[Verse]

Kappa Kappa Psi

with our allegiance, we pledge to try

with a spirit of passion, to lead

our fellow men of music,

with 'Excellence' our Creed.

In perfection we take pride,

Standing side by side,

we are a band of brothers, now-

O, Mu Tau!!

[Chorus]

We'll strive for the highest-

Strive for the highest-

Now and wherever we may go

We'll Strive for the highest-

Strive for the highest-

for as long as music,

we make

We raise our song up to the sky

O brothers, whatever fate may allow

We will remain Kappa Kappa Psi-

Mu Tau!

:P

First stanza- Why not change it to this:

Kappa Kappa Psi

with allegiance we pledge to try.

With a spirit of passion we lead

with 'Excellence' our Creed.

It works just fine, in my opinion. that way your rhyme scheme isn't messed up. I took out a word from the second line and altered the words just a bit. I think it flows a bit better this way.

Thanks!

Okay, NT, I need one more stanza.

Here's what I've got so far:

Kappa Kappa Psi

With allegiance we pledge to try

With a spirit of passion we lead

With 'Excellence' our Creed.

Kappa Kappa Psi

Standing side by side,

we are a band of brothers, now,

O, Mu Tau!

(chorus)

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest,

Now and where ever we may go

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest

for as long as music we make.

(that's all the music I have written so far)

We raise our song up to the sky

O brothers, whatever fate may allow

We will remain Kappa Kappa Psi

Blue and White, Mu Tau!

(Chorus again)

K K Psi!

So I need one more thing from you, NT. I need one more stanza before "We raise our song." Otherwise the form is lopsided.

I don't want to write one at this point, because I still want to give you full credit for writing the lyrics. :) Can you hook me up with one more?

Thanks! Those two stanzas to go, and this baby's done.

-Pete

Thanks!

Okay, NT, I need one more stanza.

Here's what I've got so far:

Kappa Kappa Psi

With allegiance we pledge to try

With a spirit of passion we lead

With 'Excellence' our Creed.

Kappa Kappa Psi

Standing side by side,

we are a band of brothers, now,

O, Mu Tau!

(chorus)

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest,

Now and where ever we may go

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest

for as long as music we make.

(that's all the music I have written so far)

We raise our song up to the sky

O brothers, whatever fate may allow

We will remain Kappa Kappa Psi

Blue and White, Mu Tau!

(Chorus again)

K K Psi!

So I need one more thing from you, NT. I need one more stanza before "We raise our song." Otherwise the form is lopsided.

I don't want to write one at this point, because I still want to give you full credit for writing the lyrics. :) Can you hook me up with one more?

Thanks! Those two stanzas to go, and this baby's done.

-Pete

Question? Do you want the stanza to follow the same chorus format? That is

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest,

[blah, blah, blah, blah, blah]

We'll strive for the highest,

Strive for the highest,

[blah, blah, blah, blah, blah]

or do you want some new type of verse rhyme scheme?

Let me know and I will bang out some new lyrics.

Warmest Personal Regards,

Joel Glenn Wright

Oooh, I wasn't clear.

I need another verse, not a chorus stanza. Something like the "We raise our song up to the sky" stanza.

The form is verse1 verse2 chorus, verse3 verse4 chorus coda.

I need a third verse. I'ma use the "We raise our song up to the sky" stanza as the fourth verse because it's got a tone of finality to it.

Thanks!

Paging, NT, paging NT. :P

Last call, I need to get this baby done. ^_^

Final product. :)

http://www.youngcomposers.com/profile/music/Peter_W./composition?entry=74981