Rock poetry vs rock lyrics: the problem of correlation of concepts

The article considers correlation of ‘lyrics’ and ‘poetry’ within rock music. Addressing their difference in Western (English-speaking) and Russian critical tradition, the author reveals both their distinctive characteristics and likeness (as well cross- character) in historical and socio-cultural aspects. The author comes to the following conclusion: as a syncretic and evolving form of art, not only rock poetry does overcome the boundaries of lyrics as a sub-genre, it also reveals itself in a broader perception of lyrics as a division of literature, in the sense of poetry, serving an object for literary criticism.