The refrain in lyrics is used to provide a familiar line for the listener to latch onto and even join in with. This section of the song is known as the “chorus” or “hook,” and it literally serves as a catchy repeating lyric that the listener will remember. The refrain is also used to create a sense of familiarity within the song, allowing the song to return to the well-known line or group of lines after the verse or bridge section.
Lyrics are the words to a song that are usually written down like a poem. The words usually complement the music and, more often than not, betray the overall meaning of the song in a more blatant way than is possible with musical instruments. The song’s story is told through verses, which unfold as the song progresses. In lyrics, a refrain is a repeating section that usually appears at the end of each verse and is used to reinforce a theme or a line.
The function of the refrain in lyrics varies depending on the song, but it can be thought of as serving several purposes in general. The refrain encourages listeners to enjoy the song; refrains usually have a catchy melody or lyric that distinguishes them from the verses. Refrains that are catchy are those that stay in the listener’s head for a long time after they’ve heard the song. This frequently encourages the listener to listen to it again, but it can also have the opposite effect and become irritating.
Another reason for including a refrain in the lyrics is to give the listener a sense of familiarity providing an anchor within the song’s structure. A song without a refrain would keep the listener guessing as to what would happen next, and many listeners would find it less enjoyable. For example, Tom Lehrer’s “The Elements” is a list of all the chemical elements known at the time the song was written; it doesn’t have a refrain, and it’s unlikely that anyone would sing it while walking down the street.
Another function of the refrain in lyrics is that it allows people to sing along with their favorite songs. Repeated sections of a song are easier to remember than the verses, so they’re more likely to encourage people to sing along. This can be beneficial in creating an electrifying moment in a live concert giving people a section to sing to themselves.