“Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it.”
Author details
Related authors
Other Stephen Sondheim Quotes
If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have them feel something about it than dismiss it.
Stephen Sondheim 
61% of people like this quote
Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.
Stephen Sondheim
59% of people like this quote
One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there.
Stephen Sondheim
59% of people like this quote