Music Term
What is a refrain?
Definition
A refrain is a recurring line, phrase, or section that repeats at regular intervals throughout a song -- often at the end of each verse -- distinct from but related to a chorus.
Refrain in music -- explained
The refrain is older than the chorus as a structural concept: it appears in ancient poetry and ballad traditions where a repeated line (often the title or central sentiment) returns after each verse stanza. In many folk traditions, the refrain is a single line or couplet at the verse end, while the verse itself changes. In modern pop terminology, refrain and chorus are sometimes used interchangeably, but technically they differ: a chorus is a full self-contained section with its own melody, harmony, and typically more energy than the verse; a refrain is shorter -- often just one or two lines at the verse's end that repeat the song's title or central idea. Bob Dylan's protest songs often use refrains (The answer is blowin' in the wind); early rock and roll frequently used refrains rather than full choruses. The line between refrain and hook overlaps: a repeated line is a refrain when it is a structural element, a hook when it is the element that grabs the listener's attention.
Notable examples of a refrain
Blowin' in the Wind -- Bob Dylan
The refrain (the answer is blowin' in the wind) returns at the end of each verse, accumulating weight through repetition.
La Bamba -- Ritchie Valens
The la-bamba vocal refrain is repeated after each verse stanza in the traditional structure of the Mexican folk song form.
We Shall Overcome -- Traditional
The repeated title refrain is the structural and emotional anchor of a protest song designed for collective singing.
Related music terms
Frequently asked questions
- What is a refrain in music?
- A refrain is a recurring line, phrase, or section that repeats at regular intervals throughout a song -- often at the end of each verse -- distinct from but related to a chorus.
- What is an example of a refrain?
- A well-known example is Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan: The refrain (the answer is blowin' in the wind) returns at the end of each verse, accumulating weight through repetition.
- How is a refrain used in music?
- The refrain is older than the chorus as a structural concept: it appears in ancient poetry and ballad traditions where a repeated line (often the title or central sentiment) returns after each verse stanza. In many folk traditions, the refrain is a single line or couplet at the verse end, while the verse itself changes.
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