The Most Expensive Lyrics Ever Sold

Collectors aren’t just after rare vinyl records or vintage instruments—sometimes, it’s the lyrics themselves that hold the most value. Whether scribbled on hotel stationery or carefully typed and revised, original lyric sheets offer a glimpse into the raw, unfiltered creativity behind timeless songs. These pages capture a moment when melody met meaning, before the words were ever sung to millions.

What makes a set of lyrics fetch six or even seven figures at auction? It’s not just the fame of the artist—it’s the context, the uniqueness of the page, and the history behind the words. Edits in the margins, scratched-out verses, or alternate lines that never made it to the final recording all help elevate a lyric sheet from interesting to iconic.

While many lyric sheets have surfaced over the years, only a few have reached staggering price tags that reflect both musical and cultural significance. The following examples represent more than just ink on paper—they’re pieces of music history that sold for jaw-dropping amounts.

Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone”

When a draft of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” went up for auction in 2014, it didn’t just sell—it shattered expectations. The final price? A staggering $2.045 million. That figure didn’t just raise eyebrows; it set a new world record for the most expensive music manuscript ever sold at the time, signaling how deeply collectors value Dylan’s cultural impact and lyrical genius.

The manuscript, which spanned four pages, was handwritten in pencil and filled with more than just lyrics. It featured stray thoughts, crossed-out lines, and even whimsical doodles, offering a window into Dylan’s mind as he worked on one of the most iconic songs in rock history. The pages were written on stationery from the Roger Smith Hotel in Washington, D.C., adding another layer of authenticity and historical intrigue.

What makes this particular draft so valuable is that it’s reportedly the only surviving final version of the song. That rarity, coupled with Dylan’s towering influence on both music and literature, made it a collector’s dream. It wasn’t just a relic—it was a piece of living, breathing history that captured the very act of artistic creation.

The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”

In 2020, a page of lyrics to The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” stunned auction-goers when it sold for $910,000—nearly nine times the expected amount. Part of a larger sale featuring over 250 Beatles memorabilia items, this single lyric sheet turned out to be one of the most coveted pieces of the entire collection.

The sheet was handwritten by Paul McCartney during a 1968 recording session. While it appears to be a single, hastily scribbled page, it holds incredible significance. It also came with a red cover sheet noting the song title and the names of both Paul McCartney and John Lennon, further cementing its value and provenance.

Despite its unassuming appearance, the lyric sheet carries the energy of the studio session where one of The Beatles’ most beloved songs was being finalized. The fact that it remained intact and surfaced decades later only fueled its allure. For fans and collectors alike, it was a rare chance to own a moment in the evolution of a global classic.

David Bowie’s “Starman”

David Bowie’s lyric page for “Starman” took the auction world by surprise in late 2022. Initially expected to fetch around $66,000, the final sale price rocketed to $334,958. The winning bid came from a museum in Tasmania, whose director later admitted he got “carried away”—but made no apologies.

The single page showed Bowie’s unmistakable handwriting and included small changes that hinted at how the lyrics were shaped. It wasn’t just a song on paper—it was a snapshot of the creative force behind Bowie’s groundbreaking Ziggy Stardust era. Every crossed-out word and margin note added depth to the document’s story.

Despite the steep price tag, the museum considered it a worthy investment. Bowie’s cultural reach continues to grow, and “Starman” remains a touchstone in his career. As a result, the lyric sheet wasn’t just a high-ticket item—it was a meaningful artifact destined for public display and academic study.

Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind”

When a lyric sheet for Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind” hit the auction block in 2019, it stirred up significant interest—not just for the song’s legacy, but for its backstory. The page hadn’t been included in Bernie Taupin’s major manuscript auction the previous year, because it had been in the possession of his ex-wife.

The auction house placed an estimate between $150,000 and $200,000, but bidding quickly escalated. By the end, the final sale reached $442,500. The page included several early versions and edits, including an initial draft that began with “Goodbye Marilyn Monroe,” a striking detail considering how the lyrics would eventually evolve.

What made this lyric sheet stand out was how much of Taupin’s writing process it revealed. The presence of discarded lines and revised verses gave insight into the decisions that shaped one of Elton John’s most emotionally resonant ballads. To collectors, it was more than memorabilia—it was a glimpse into the songwriting partnership that defined a generation.