"He started bringing all these lyrics out of me that I wouldn't have ordinarily have done, " said Jones.

BBC: Changing styles keep Jones going

His daughter Nora maintains an archive of this material, and every so often, she hand-picks a musician to set some of these lyrics to music.

NPR: A German Twist on Woody Guthrie

But it has that line that comes out of nowhere when, after all these bleak lyrics, you ask: how come it looks so beautiful?

NPR: Thom Yorke's 'Eraser' Prompts a Letter

But its critics often fail to acknowledge that hip hop is neither sociological commentary nor political criticism, though it may certainly function in these modes through its artists' lyrics.

NPR: Author Comes to Hip-Hop Music's Defense

You get joy in listening to these Buddy Holly or Roy Orbison sad lyrics.

NPR: Exclusive First Listen: M. Ward's 'Hold Time'

With slightly different lyrics, a bunch of these songs (including several written by Johnny Mathis) would sound at home in a rowdy roadhouse on a Saturday night.

NPR: From the Church to the Tavern and Back

Combined with heartfelt lyrics and a powerhouse voice, these structures can send reward signals to our brains that rival any other pleasure.

WSJ: Why Adele's 'Someone Like You' Makes Everyone Cry

Unlike the heavily-edited memoir, these are phrases she handwrote herself, complete with strike-outs, flowery doodles, peace signs and Beatles lyrics.

BBC: Amanda Knox and prison life

But these days, audiences seem to think it's weird for a character to walk down the street, belting lyrics.

NPR: The 'Once' and Future Musical

Most of these were sung by big name stars like Chevalier, after they picked up on the originality of Aznavour's lyrics.

BBC: Aznavour bids adieu