song

song

song S1 W2 /sɒŋ $ sɒːŋ/ noun
 [Language: Old English; Origin: sang]
 1. MUSIC WITH WORDS 
   a) [countable] a short piece of music with words that you sing:
   • We used to listen to pop songs on the radio.
   • They sat round with guitars, singing songs.
   b) [uncountable] songs in general:
   • The bravery of past warriors was celebrated in song.
 2. BIRDS  [uncountable and countable] the musical sounds made by birds and some other animals such as whales:
   • the song of the lark
 3. for a song very cheaply:
   • He bought the house for a song five years ago.
 4. a song and dance (about something) informal
   a) British English if you make a song and dance about something, you behave as if it was worse, more important, more difficult etc than it really is:
   • Suzy was there, making a song and dance about her aching feet.
   b) American English an explanation or excuse that is too long and complicated:
   • She gave us a long song and dance about why she was late. ⇨ swansong
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS■ verbs

   ▪ sing a song • He started singing a little song.
   ▪ play a song (=with singing and musical instruments) • The band played a lot of their old songs.
   ▪ perform a song (=in public) • He doesn’t like performing his songs live.
   ▪ write/compose a song • Do they write their own songs?
   ▪ record a song (=onto a CD so that it can be sold) • The song was first recorded in 1982.

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + song

   ▪ good/great • That’s a great song!
   ▪ new • Are any of the songs on the album new?
   ▪ old • People always want to hear their old songs.
   ▪ a pop/folk song • I love all those '60s pop songs.
   ▪ a popular song (=used mainly of songs written before the 1960s) • a popular song from the 1930s
   ▪ a love song • He is releasing an album of love songs for Valentine’s Day.
   ▪ a protest song • They were singing old protest songs from the 1960s.
   ▪ a Beatles/REM etc song • Can you play any Beatles songs?

■ phrases

   ▪ burst/break into song (=start singing) • The crowd spontaneously burst into song.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ song a short piece of music with words that you sing: • We sang songs around the campfire. | • The song was written by John Lennon.
   ▪ track one of the songs on a CD or record: • Track three is my favourite one.
   ▪ number a song that forms part of a performance of several songs: • The show was brilliant, from the opening number to the end.
   ▪ tune the notes in a song, without the words: • I recognize the tune, but I can’t remember what it’s called.
   ▪ melody the main series of notes in a piece of music that has several parts which are played together: • The song has a simple melody and beautiful lyrics.
   ▪ verse a set of sentences that make up one part of a song: • She sang the first verse of ‘Amazing Grace’.
   ▪ chorus a set of sentences in a song that is repeated after each verse: • Most of the kids were able to join in the chorus.

■ types of song

   ▪ national anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions: • Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.
   ▪ hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church: • What hymns did you choose for your wedding? | • At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.
   ▪ carol a traditional Christmas song: • We went around the houses, singing carols.
   ▪ folk song a traditional song from a particular area: • an old Mexican folk song
   ▪ ballad a long folk song which tells a story: • a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Ireland
   ▪ lullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep: • She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.