How To Find a Song When You Only Know the Lyrics

Use a search engine or lyrics site to find the song name

The fastest way to find a song from its lyrics is to search for a phrase you remember in Google, Bing, or another search engine. Put the words in quotation marks — for example, "I've been waiting for a guide to go along with this" — and the search will look for that exact phrase. The song title and artist usually appear in the first few results.

If a search engine doesn't work, try a dedicated lyrics site like Genius.com or AZLyrics.com. Type in the phrase you remember, and these sites will show you matching songs. Both sites list the artist name right next to the song title, so you'll know exactly what to search for in your music app.

This method works best when you remember at least a few words in a row. The more specific the phrase, the faster you'll find the answer. A unique or unusual lyric will get you results faster than a common phrase like "I love you" or "baby."

Key Takeaways

• Searching for a lyric phrase in quotation marks on Google usually finds the song name and artist in the first few results.
• Lyrics websites like Genius.com and AZLyrics.com let you search by partial lyrics if you don't remember the exact words.
• Shazam can identify songs playing around you in real time, even if you don't know any lyrics.
• If you remember the melody but not the words, you can hum or sing into Shazam or Google's search-by-sound feature to find the song.
• Music streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music have built-in search features that work with lyrics, artist names, or song titles.

Try Shazam if you can hear the song playing

Shazam is an app that identifies songs by listening to them. If the song is playing around you — on the radio, in a store, in a video, or anywhere else — open the Shazam app and tap the big button in the middle. Hold your phone near the speaker for a few seconds, and Shazam will tell you the song name, artist, and album.

You don't need to know any lyrics to use Shazam. The app recognizes the music itself, not the words. Once Shazam identifies the song, you can tap through to listen on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or other streaming services you have installed.

Shazam is free to download on iPhone and Android. You can also use Shazam through a web browser at shazam.com if you don't want to install the app.

Use Google or Shazam's hum-to-search feature

If you remember the melody but not the lyrics, you can hum or sing the tune into your phone. Google's search app has a hum-to-search feature: tap the microphone icon in the search bar, then tap "Search a song." Hum or sing the melody for 10 to 15 seconds, and Google will show you matching songs.

Shazam also has a similar feature. Open the app and tap the "Search" tab at the bottom, then tap the microphone icon. Hum or sing the melody, and Shazam will try to match it to a song in its database.

These features work best with melodies that are distinctive or memorable. If you're humming a very common tune or a simple melody, you may get multiple results. Listen to a few to find the one you're thinking of.

Search within your music streaming app

Most music streaming services have a search feature that works with lyrics. In Spotify, tap the search icon at the bottom and type in the lyric phrase you remember. Spotify will show you songs with those words, along with the artist and album for each one.

Apple Music works the same way. Open the app, tap the search tab, and type in the lyric. The results will show matching songs and artists. YouTube Music also lets you search by lyrics — just type in the search bar and look for songs that match.

If you already use one of these services, searching within the app is often faster than opening a web browser. You can also save or add the song to a playlist right away without leaving the app.

Check the comments or description if you found the song in a video

If you heard the song in a YouTube video, TikTok, Instagram Reel, or another video platform, the song information is often in the comments or description. On YouTube, scroll down to read the comments — other viewers may have already asked what the song is, and someone may have answered. The video uploader sometimes pins a comment with the song name and artist.

On TikTok, the song name appears at the top of the video if the creator used a sound from TikTok's library. Tap on the song name to see all videos using that sound, and you'll find the artist and full song title.

If the video doesn't list the song, you can still use Shazam while the video plays. Open Shazam and let it listen to the audio from your phone's speaker or headphones.

Search by artist or album if you know part of the context

If you remember who sang the song or what album it was on, search for the artist name in your music app or on Google. Browse their discography — the list of all their songs — and listen to a few until you find the one you're thinking of. This works well if you remember the artist but forgot the song title.

You can also search by context clues. If you remember the song was from a movie, TV show, or video game, search for the soundtrack. For example, if you remember hearing a song in "The Office," search for "The Office soundtrack" and browse the list of songs from the show.

This method takes longer than searching by lyrics, but it's useful when you remember other details about the song besides the words themselves.

Try reverse image search if you have a screenshot of the lyrics

If you took a screenshot or photo of the lyrics — from a video, a social media post, or anywhere else — you can use reverse image search to find the song. On Google, go to images.google.com, click the camera icon, and upload your image or paste the image URL. Google will search for matching images and may show you the song title and artist.

This method works best if the lyrics are clearly visible and the image is a decent quality. If the text is blurry or cut off, the search may not find a match.

Reverse image search is less common than text-based search, so it's worth trying only if the other methods haven't worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I only remember one or two words from the song?

One or two words may not be enough to find the song, especially if they're common words like "love" or "night." Try to remember more of the phrase, or use Shazam if you can hear the song again. If you remember the melody, use the hum-to-search feature in Google or Shazam.

Does Shazam work if the song is playing quietly or there's background noise?

Shazam works best in quiet environments, but it can identify songs even with some background noise. If the song is very quiet or there's a lot of noise around you, move closer to the speaker or use headphones so Shazam can hear the music more clearly.

Can I search for lyrics on Spotify if I don't have the app installed?

Yes. Go to spotify.com in a web browser, click the search icon, and type in the lyric phrase. The web version of Spotify works the same way as the app. You'll need a Spotify account to listen to full songs, but you can search without one.

What if the search results show multiple songs with the same lyrics?

Different artists sometimes cover the same song, or songs may have similar lyrics. Listen to a few of the results to find the version you're thinking of. Pay attention to the artist name and release date — the original version is often the most well-known, but you may be looking for a cover or a newer song.

Is there a way to find a song if I only remember the genre or mood?

Searching by genre or mood alone is difficult because thousands of songs fit any single mood or style. Try to remember at least one lyric, the artist name, or when you heard the song. If you can narrow it down to a specific playlist, movie, or time period, that will help you find it faster.