Writing the Musical: Formatting Lyrics and Song Cues

The character sings. Or we hear a song over the action. In a musical (or any script with songs), the page has to separate lyrics (what we hear) from dialogue and action, and distinguish diegetic (performed in the world) from non-diegetic (score, source we don't see). Here's how to format lyrics and song cues so the reader and the music team know what's what.

Lyrics are not dialogue. They're a distinct element, and we need to know if the character is singing or if it's the score.

Think about it this way. Diegetic = the character is singing or the song is playing from a source in the scene (radio, band). Non-diegetic = the song is score or voice-over song (we hear it but no one in the scene is performing it). The format has to make that clear. Lyrics are often in a block (indented or in a distinct style), with a cue (song title, writer, or "MUSIC:") so production can clear and place them. Our guide on sound effects covers SFX; songs are a step further, lyrics and rights. This piece is about the page. For montage with music, see montage.

Formatting Lyrics (Character Sings)

Option A: Under character name. CHARACTER NAME (SINGING): then the lyrics, often in verse/chorus blocks. Option B: Song cue then lyrics. "SONG: 'Title' - CHARACTER sings:" then the lyrics. Option C: Lyrics in a block. Indent or use a distinct block so lyrics don't read as dialogue. The key is consistency and clarity, the reader knows this is sung, not spoken. For dialogue format, see screenplay format.

Formatting Song Cues (Score or Source)

When we hear a song but no one is singing on screen: "MUSIC: 'Song Title' - [artist or 'score']." Or "MUSIC SWELLS: [genre or mood]." Production needs to know what to license or compose. Don't quote full lyrics in the action unless a line is story-critical, then one line in quotes. For sound and pacing, see micro-pacing.

Diegetic vs. Non-Diegetic

Diegetic: The character performs or the song plays from a visible source. Format: CHARACTER (SINGING) or "On the jukebox: 'Song Title.'" Non-diegetic: Score or voice-over song. Format: "MUSIC: 'Song Title'" or "SONG (V.O.): 'Title' - we hear the track over the scene." Label so the reader and the music supervisor know. For voice over, see voice over vs off screen.

Relatable Scenario: The Character Sings to Themselves

单人演唱场景：角色开口唱歌。格式：CHARACTER (SINGING): lyrics。或分层写 "She sings, under her breath: [first line]. Then full: [verse]." 展现从轻哼到放声的情绪递进。歌曲本身可以承载角色潜台词和内心冲突，无需额外对白解释动机——关于潜台词的叙事力量，参见 subtext，歌词即是角色不愿直说的真相。

Relatable Scenario: The Montage With a Song

蒙太奇配乐：我们处在蒙太奇段落中，歌曲覆盖整段画面。格式：先写 MONTAGE. 然后列出各个节拍画面，再注明 "MUSIC: 'Song Title' - [mood]." 无需抄录完整歌词，除非某一句歌词与画面形成关键对位或反讽。关于蒙太奇的标准格式与节奏控制，参见 montage；若需区分 series of shots 与 montage 的适用场景，可查阅 series of shots vs montage，前者强调因果，后者压缩时间。

The Trench Warfare Section: What Beginners Get Wrong

歌词当成对白写，读者无法区分角色是在唱还是在说。修正：加标签 (SINGING)，或将歌词单独成段并缩进，与普通对白在视觉上形成区隔。关于剧本格式的完整规范——包括对白、括注、转场的标准写法——参见 screenplay format，确保制作团队准确理解你的意图。

Full lyrics when one line would do. The script has two pages of lyrics. Fix: Summarize or give key lines. Full lyrics go to the music team separately. For economy, see micro-pacing.

Unclear if it's diegetic. Is the character singing or is it the score? Fix: State (SINGING), or "MUSIC:" for score. Diegetic means the sound exists in the story world—other characters can hear it—while non-diegetic is for the audience only, like underscore. For sound, see sound effects.

No song title or cue. Production can't clear or compose. Fix: Name the song or give a mood/genre so they know what to use. Without a cue, the music supervisor has no direction for licensing or commissioning a piece. For production, see exporting for production.

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Musical Format at a Glance

Element	Format
Character sings	CHARACTER (SINGING): lyrics or lyrics block
Score/source song	MUSIC: "Title" - [source/mood]
One line matters	"We hear the line: [line]."
Diegetic	Performer or visible source named
Non-diegetic	MUSIC: or SONG (V.O.):

Step-by-Step: Formatting a Song in the Script

First: Decide diegetic (character/source) or non-diegetic (score). Second: Label, (SINGING) or MUSIC: "Title." Third: Lyrics, full block or key lines only. Fourth: Cue for production, title, mood, or "score." Fifth: Consistent convention for the script. Diegetic music exists within the scene—a radio, a performer—while non-diegetic plays only for the viewer. For more on sound and format, see sound effects and screenplay format.

[YOUTUBE VIDEO: Same scene with lyrics as dialogue vs. lyrics as formatted block, read comparison. Watch how formatting changes the reader's experience and clarifies whether the singing is a character action or background score.]

The Perspective

Format lyrics as a distinct element (SINGING or lyrics block). Label song cues (MUSIC:, title, mood) for production. Make diegetic vs. non-diegetic clear. When the reader and the music team know what's sung, what's score, and what to clear, the format works. So label it. Block the lyrics. And cue the song.