'lyrics' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'lyrikos', where 'lyra' meant 'lyre' (a stringed instrument).

'lyrikos' passed into Latin as 'lyricus', then into Middle English and Modern English as 'lyric'; the plural form 'lyrics' developed to refer specifically to the words of songs.

Initially, it meant 'relating to the lyre or to singing accompanied by the lyre' and over time evolved to mean 'the words of a song' (and the craft of writing those words).