How to Cite a Song Within a Paper

Citing a Song in APA Style

• 1

  List the last name of the songwriter, followed by a comma. For example: Callahan,

• 2

  List the copyright year of the song, followed by a comma. For example: 2003,

• 3

  List the track number of the song. For example: track 7

• 4

  Enclose the citation in parentheses. For example: (Callahan, 2003, track 7)

• 5

  Position your citation directly after the quoted passage. For example: Of all the lines written for Drag City albums, "we are far from flowers, cut and dried" (Callahan, 2003, track 7) is the most poignant.

Citing a Song in MLA Style

• 6

  List the last name of the songwriter. For example: Callahan

• 7

  Enclose the last name of the songwriter in parentheses. For example: (Callahan)

• 8

  Position your citation directly after the quoted passage. For example: Of all the lines written for Drag City albums, "we are far from flowers, cut and dried" (Callahan) is the most poignant.