Now let us see the reason for a peculiarity that must have struck you in reading these lyrics.

2.  A Regular Metre is Rare

Metre is the arrangement of emphatic and unemphatic syllables in verse on a measured plan, and is attained by the use of short syllables of speech varied in different rotations by long syllables.  The metrical character of English poetry depends upon the recurrence of similarly accented syllables at short and more or less regular intervals.  Let us take this as the definition of what I mean by metre in the few sentences in which I shall use the word.

Among recognized poets there has always been a rather strict adherence to regularity of form.  Indeed, at times in the history of literature, poetry, to be considered poetry, had to confine itself to an absolutely rigid form.  In such periods it has been as though the poet were presented with a box, whose depth and breadth and height could not be altered, and were then ordered to fill it full of beautiful thoughts expressed in beautiful words, and to fill it exactly, or be punished by having his work considered bad.

In ages past this rigidity of rule used to apply to the song-poet also, although the minstrel has always been permitted more latitude than other poets.  To-day, however, the poet of the popular song may write in any measure his fancy dictates, and he may make his metre as regular or as irregular as he wishes.  He may do anything he wants, in a song.  Certainly, his language need not be either exact or “literary.”  Practically all that is demanded is that his lyrics convey emotion.  The song-poet’s license permits a world of metrical and literary sinning.  I am not either apologizing for or praising this condition—­I am simply stating a proved fact.

3.  Irregularity of Metre May Even Be a Virtue

Even without “scanning” the lyrics of the eleven songs you have just read their irregularity of metre is plain.  It is so plain that some of the irregularities rise up and smite your ears.  This is why some popular songs seem so “impossible” without their music.  And the reason why they seem so pleasing with their music is that the music takes the place of regularity with delightful satisfaction.  The very irregularity is what often gives the composer his opportunity to contribute melodious punches, for the words of a popular song are a series of catchy phrases.  In some cases irregularity in a song may be the crowning virtue that spells success.

4.  Regularity and Precision of Rhymes Are Not Necessary

There is no need to point to specific examples of the lack of regularity in the recurrence of rhymes in most of the lyric specimens here printed, or in other famous songs.  Nor is there any necessity to instance the obvious lack of precise rhyming.  Neither of these poetic qualities has ever been a virtue of the average popular song-poet.