I'm in the process of editing the upcoming Rise Again Songbook. I'm the one who researched every one of the 1200 songs in the book. Some of the songs are traditional, but most of them are from known authors, including a good number of songs from people known as "Singer-Songwriters."

For the most part, we've collected our lyrics by listening to recordings of the songs we're using. I've wondered why we haven't requested songwriters to send us lyrics when we pay them to license a song, and I've learned the answer to that question. Many songwriters, especially singer-songwriters, have absolutely horrible grammar and spelling. If they send us lyrics and chords, we're more-or-less obliged to publish the lyrics and chords they send us. And some are abominable.

The one phrase songwriters use a lot (not "alot") that really grinds on me is "between you and I" or "for you and I." Songwriters use it because "I" is sometimes easier to rhyme than "me." But it sure irks the hell out of me.

So, the song I encountered that I couldn't change was a lullaby written by Tom Petty, a very pretty song that I like a lot (not alot). It's called Alright for Now. There are a number of other songs in Rise Again where I've changed "alright" to "all right," but I couldn't do it in this case because "Alright" is in the registered title of the song. But it hurt to let it go by. The reference works I've consulted seem to be saying that "alright" is becoming acceptable - but I'm the son of an English teacher, and it's not "alright" with me.

Still, despite having to make some compromises, I'm doing my best to ensure (not insure) that the songs printed in the book are relatively grammatically correct.

So I'm wondering, what usages in songs bother the rest of you, and what recommendations do you have to make about the use of correct grammar in songs? Here's your chance to give songwriters some guidance, so their lyrics aren't quite so grating....

-Joe-