Singing can only be recognized as words if you stress the consonants. So putting them in the right places for the note duration is the key, so their appearance is brief, strong, and helpful in making the word clear. Sibilants are not to appear on a long, held note, and can be sung as ts to add precision and emphasis. You'd SING ts but that's not how it sounds-- to others.
Also, keep the vowels clean, in the "ah-eh-ih-oh" mode and not twisted or chewed into "ay-ee-owe" mode. Go to the y in the vowel sond at the last possible instant of the note duration--
So:
Yet - stir- dehhhhhhhay, all my troubles seemed so fahhhh-rah-wehhhhhhhay....