How to Add Lyrics to Your iPod Songs Automatically

Music and Lyrics go together like Turkey and Cranberry Sauce. Have one without the other and it just wouldn't be a song...or Thanksgiving dinner. Apple's iTunes has given you the option to add the lyrics for each song in your library, however it's a highly manual and rather time-consuming process if you have an extensive music library. Third-party software gives the music lover an easy, automated way to track down and add the lyrics to each song in their iTunes Library. Eternal Storms Software's GimmeSomeTune, a small helper script and a bit of time is all you need. Be aware that the following instructions are for Macintosh users only.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Apple Computer running Mac OSX (v. 10.3.9 +)
• GimmeSomeTune Program (download in Resources below)
• NeedleDrop Script (download in Resources below)

1. Launch iTunes
2. Download, Install & Launch GimmeSomeTune.
3. Download, Install & Launch NeedleDrop. Install the NeedleDrop script by selecting both the script and the readme.txt file and dragging them onto the Install icon.
4. Click on the musical notes in the Menu Bar (the bar on top with the time in the upper right corner). This is GimmeSomeTune's menu.
5. Select "Preferences."
6. Click on the "Artwork, Lyrics" option.
7. Select the check box next to "Fetch lyrics from internet, when song has none."
8. Close the Preferences window by clicking the red button on the top left corner.
9. Switch to iTunes and start playing your songs.
10. Select the Script Icon which looks like a scroll rolled up on the top and bottom. It should be between "Window" and "Help" on the Menu Bar when you're in iTunes.
11. Select "NeedleDrop."
12. Type in 10 when the window pops up asking, "How many seconds into each track to start playing?" and then hit the "Return" key.
    
    DropNeedle will play each song for 10 seconds or until it finds and inputs the lyrics to your songs.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a large library, this process may take a few days since GimmeSomeTune has to "listen" to each song for 10 to 15 seconds.
• You can also fetch each Album Cover with GimmeSomeTune. In the Artwork, Lyrics section of GimmeSomeTune's "Preferences," select "Fetch cover artwork from the internet, when song has none." This also works with the NeedleDrop script.
• GimmeSomeTune will also display the lyrics to each song as iTunes plays it. Launch GimmeSomeTune and click the musical note on the Menu Bar. Click "Show Lyrics" to display the lyrics in iTunes. To hide the lyrics, click the "X" button in the top left of the lyric window or select "Hide Lyrics" from the GimmeSomeTune menu.
• Slight misspellings and errors in the song tags and titles will prevent GimmeSomeTune from retrieving the lyrics.
• As always, be aware of what you're downloading. Whenever you install and use third-party programs, you run a risk of possible crashes or other malfunctions. Be sure you back up your computer regularly and keep your install disks and documentation.