Can I just sell my lyrics?

Yes. That's pretty much what Bernie Taupin does.

The trouble is finding someone who wants them. Companies that advertise 'lyrics wanted' are scams. Your best bet would be to find a local collaborator so you can offer a finished product.

yeah, I want to find people in a band that want lyrics, and i could write them and maybe become something in the band, like their manager (bad example, but oh well.)

Don't just sell your lyrics away. Make sure you copyright them and if they are eventually used, you should get credit as the writer and you should receive songwriter royalties. Don't sign anything without an entertainment lawyer OKing it first!

This website may be of interest to you:

http://songwriterresourcenetwork.com

hey I NEED LYRICS im probly not locall with u but if ud let me see one of ur songs thad b awsome ill post later

interesting topic... I've read some articles about it on this site, but still, how do you get copyright for your lyrics?

http://www.copyright.gov/register/performing.html

That should have the info.

You might look for a collaborator. Look for a songwriters message board - they often have sections for collaborators to hook up (lyricist looking for musician, musician looking for lyricist, etc.).

I think Songwriter101.com has one...try google too, I'm sure I've seen others.

Takes 4-5 Months just to get a copywright, so don't be rushed.

Noteboat gave a great example. All Bernie Taupin does is write the lyrics for Elton John's songs. He writes the music, they're an amazing team. You need to find your Elton John!

I believe the quickest way to secure a copyright is to mail the song to yourself, BUT DONT OPEN IT WHEN IT COMES TO YOU! This way there is irreputable proof that you wrote this particular song before the date of the postmark, and this is essentially a legal copyright. After this you can go about getting a government copyright without worrying about time delays and it will serve as added protection.

As far as songwriting, most generally team up with a musician and create and sell their songs that way. The result is that you both own 50% of the songs, so you should make sure you get along with/ trust your partner.

The postmark method does not work.

If you choose to not file a copyright, for whatever reason, you need proof that you actually had the song on a date. The only non-copyright method I've ever heard of was a band who had performed a song on television - the station had broadcast logs and a tape of the performance. Something like that is proof... a postmarked envelope is only proof that you mailed an envelope - it could have been unsealed, with you dropping in the lyrics later on. Nick did some legal legwork on this, and found the exact number of times a postmark copyright has held up in US courts: zero.

Save your postage. Put it towards copyright registration.

This is something I was wondering also, is there any way to say, have a typed document notorized with witnesses or anything like that just to hold it untill copyrights go through ? Because I know of a few people who were ganked of some pretty good songs. Like in that one episode of King of The Hill.. hehe.

There is no real substitute for a properly copyrighted piece of work. In theory, the poor-man's copyright or the notarised manuscript should be sufficient, but the fact of the matter is, that lawyers have been at work, so that the only safe method is the official one. The initial outlay is higher, but, assuming your song is a real gem, the rewards are immeasurably better with a real copyright - and your lawyers fees won't eat all your profits.