Non-lexical vocables—your fa-la-la’s and hey-nonny-no’s—didn’t originate as nonsense filler-syllables for brightening up a song. In Renaissance England, they were used to advance a song’s satirical critique of society or as a lyrical surrogate for something that couldn’t be expressed explicitly. 

 

Newberry research fellow Katie Bank tells us all about the history and legacy of non-lexical vocables.

 

Host: Newberry Fellowships Manager Keelin Burke