--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can have a great lyric and a so-so…" description: "\"You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going to be a tough sell.\" — Herb Alpert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg" --- # You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going… ![“You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going to be a tough sell.” quote by Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg) > “You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going to be a tough sell.” [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A song with strong lyrics but weak melody struggles to succeed commercially. **In simple terms:** Both lyrics and melody matter for success. Key Takeaway Balance lyrical and musical quality. Themes music creativity balance Mood analytical critical Type evaluative instructional When to use this quote - album creation - live performance - marketing Key Concepts songwriting production Questions to Reflect On - How can a weak melody be improved? - What makes lyrics resonate? A Different Perspective Audience tastes vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great lyric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-lyric/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, the best songs are the ones you write without any pen and paper or audio recording device or guitar in your hands. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/sometimes-the-best-songs-are-the-ones-you-write-without-any-pen-and/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I've wanted to do a Christmas song for years but thought every lyric and melody had been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limahl/i-ve-wanted-to-do-a-christmas-song-for-years-but-thought-every-lyric/) [Limahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limahl/) > ['Dawn (Go Away)' is a sad lyric, but the melody is so happy and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-bergen/dawn-go-away-is-a-sad-lyric-but-the-melody-is-so-happy-and-fun/) [Erich Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-bergen/) > [Think of what big governments have gotten up to in this century : not one, but two world wars, the gulag, the holocaust, aerial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/think-of-what-big-governments-have-gotten-up-to-in-this-century-not/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [This proves that great lyric poetry can die, be reborn, die again, but will always remain one of the most outstanding creations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-montale/this-proves-that-great-lyric-poetry-can-die-be-reborn-die-again-but/) [Eugenio Montale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-montale/) > [I just want to write a great lyric and write a great song, and everything else is icing on the cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/i-just-want-to-write-a-great-lyric-and-write-a-great-song-and/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [I'm a real stickler for a great lyric, or what I think is a great lyric. It's almost impossible for me to sing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-m-a-real-stickler-for-a-great-lyric-or-what-i-think-is-a-great/) [Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/) > [If you can say the lyrics almost like a poem and they stand up, that's a great thing. Some songs have great lyrics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/if-you-can-say-the-lyrics-almost-like-a-poem-and-they-stand-up-that-s/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Unless I've got Katy Perry on the cover of my CD, it's going to be tough to sell a lot of records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/unless-i-ve-got-katy-perry-on-the-cover-of-my-cd-it-s-going-to-be/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [“Hiring a guy with more confirmed kills than college credits was a tough sell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hogan/hiring-a-guy-with-more-confirmed-kills-than-college-credits-was-a/) [Chuck Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hogan/) > [Usually it's lyric first, but sometimes it's melody. And I carry a hand-held recorder everywhere I go so I can just hum or whistle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-ketchum/usually-it-s-lyric-first-but-sometimes-it-s-melody-and-i-carry-a-hand/) [Hal Ketchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-ketchum/) > [I usually start with a lyric or a melody and then build a song around that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/i-usually-start-with-a-lyric-or-a-melody-and-then-build-a-song-around/) [Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/) > [I believe the right lyric and melody can soar beyond the clouds to the ears of the heavens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-allen/i-believe-the-right-lyric-and-melody-can-soar-beyond-the-clouds-to/) [Jimmie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-allen/) > [No one can threaten poetry. It's always been there, always will be. Humans need it to live: it has sustaining powers. How could we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-orr/no-one-can-threaten-poetry-it-s-always-been-there-always-will-be/) [Gregory Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-orr/) > [What makes a great song - you don't put it into words. You feel it. The perfect lyric. The perfect melody. It makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-warren/what-makes-a-great-song-you-don-t-put-it-into-words-you-feel-it-the/) [Diane Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-warren/) ## More by Herb Alpert > [I think we as human beings need to be able to appreciate each other's differences and I think jazz really takes us in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-think-we-as-human-beings-need-to-be-able-to-appreciate-each-other-s/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [Mexican Shuffle was a turning point of the Brass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/mexican-shuffle-was-a-turning-point-of-the-brass/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [When I finish an album and I find myself listening to it in the car, because it makes me feel a certain way, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/when-i-finish-an-album-and-i-find-myself-listening-to-it-in-the-car/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [There's something interesting about playing live; you're in the moment, and I think it would be beneficial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/there-s-something-interesting-about-playing-live-you-re-in-the-moment/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I wake up in the morning, I do a little stretching exercises, pick up the horn and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-wake-up-in-the-morning-i-do-a-little-stretching-exercises-pick-up/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [The trumpet was not a lyrical singing instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/the-trumpet-was-not-a-lyrical-singing-instrument/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I practice every day. I've been doing it since I was eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-practice-every-day-i-ve-been-doing-it-since-i-was-eight/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [The reaction to this album has just been fabulous around the world... and I've had offers to perform from around the world and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/the-reaction-to-this-album-has-just-been-fabulous-around-the-world/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I like to listed to the adventurous guys - the Coltranes, Miles Davis, the guys who just let it loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-like-to-listed-to-the-adventurous-guys-the-coltranes-miles-davis/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [If you look at a record under a microscope, the high frequencies are short jagged edges... and the low frequencies are long swinging ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/if-you-look-at-a-record-under-a-microscope-the-high-frequencies-are/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I think jazz is a phenomenal creative force, because it's one man, one vote as you're playing, but it's a collective thing, what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-think-jazz-is-a-phenomenal-creative-force-because-it-s-one-man-one/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I was taken in by the bravado and the sounds of Mexico... not so much the music, but the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-was-taken-in-by-the-bravado-and-the-sounds-of-mexico-not-so-much/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [You know, the record business is much different than being artist on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/you-know-the-record-business-is-much-different-than-being-artist-on/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [I play every day. It's like a habit for me now. I just, if I don't play, I kind of miss - something's off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/i-play-every-day-it-s-like-a-habit-for-me-now-i-just-if-i-don-t-play/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) > [Clifford Brown was in the jazz circles considered to be probably the greatest trumpet player who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/clifford-brown-was-in-the-jazz-circles-considered-to-be-probably-the/) [Herb Alpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) [Explore all 35 Herb Alpert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/) ## More Great lyric quotes > [Sometimes, the best songs are the ones you write without any pen and paper or audio recording device or guitar in your hands. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/sometimes-the-best-songs-are-the-ones-you-write-without-any-pen-and/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [If you can say the lyrics almost like a poem and they stand up, that's a great thing. Some songs have great lyrics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/if-you-can-say-the-lyrics-almost-like-a-poem-and-they-stand-up-that-s/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I just want to write a great lyric and write a great song, and everything else is icing on the cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/i-just-want-to-write-a-great-lyric-and-write-a-great-song-and/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [This proves that great lyric poetry can die, be reborn, die again, but will always remain one of the most outstanding creations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-montale/this-proves-that-great-lyric-poetry-can-die-be-reborn-die-again-but/) [Eugenio Montale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-montale/) > [Mozart combines serenity, melancholy, and tragic intensity into one great lyric improvisation. Over it all hovers the greater spirit that is Mozart's - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/mozart-combines-serenity-melancholy-and-tragic-intensity-into-one/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [I'm not trying to dog any artist or genre, but to me, there is a lot of diversity missing from the radio. I miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-m-not-trying-to-dog-any-artist-or-genre-but-to-me-there-is-a-lot-of/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [I'm a real stickler for a great lyric, or what I think is a great lyric. It's almost impossible for me to sing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-m-a-real-stickler-for-a-great-lyric-or-what-i-think-is-a-great/) [Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/) > [As a lyricist, you love to hear other great lyrics or other great concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/as-a-lyricist-you-love-to-hear-other-great-lyrics-or-other-great/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [If you ever want to know why I'm not on a record label, look at 'The X Factor!' Honestly, of all the people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/if-you-ever-want-to-know-why-i-m-not-on-a-record-label-look-at-the-x/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [There will always be some kid who's the new Kurt Cobain writing great lyrics and singing from his soul. The problem is they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanna-arquette/there-will-always-be-some-kid-who-s-the-new-kurt-cobain-writing-great/) [Rosanna Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanna-arquette/) > [Not only do you need great lyrics, a great message, a great story, great vocals, great chords... you also need great instrumentation, great editing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-sturgis/not-only-do-you-need-great-lyrics-a-great-message-a-great-story-great/) [Joey Sturgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-sturgis/) > [We human beings are tuned such that we crave great melody and great lyrics. And if somebody writes a great song, it's timeless that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-garfunkel/we-human-beings-are-tuned-such-that-we-crave-great-melody-and-great/) [Art Garfunkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-garfunkel/) > [All my big heroes are literary, writers. I'd love to meet Jimmy Hendrix or John Coltrane, but I'd much rather meet Thomas Wolfe, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/all-my-big-heroes-are-literary-writers-i-d-love-to-meet-jimmy-hendrix/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In those days, it didn't take much imagination to come up with something that required great lyric development skills. You just thought of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-harris/in-those-days-it-didn-t-take-much-imagination-to-come-up-with/) [Phil Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-harris/) [Browse all 15 Great lyric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-lyric/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going to be a tough sell.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Alpert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-melody-it-s-going-to-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great lyric" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-melody-it-s-going-to-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/herb-alpert-18242_great-lyric_you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-m_2719162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can have a great lyric and a so-so melody; it's going to be a tough sell.” — Herb Alpert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herb Alpert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-alpert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can have a great lyric...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-melody-it-s-going-to-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-alpert/you-can-have-a-great-lyric-and-a-so-so-melody-it-s-going-to-be-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```