Lilypond: how to align lyrics vertically if the melody is split into variables?

Question

In Lilypond, I'd like to split a melody into variables in order to easily see which syllables belong to which notes. Unfortunately, I am doing it in a way that seems to mess up the vertical alignment of the lyrics.

Lilypond example code:

barI = {
  \relative c {
    c g e e' |
  }
  \addlyrics {
    Ve -- ry first bar.
  }
}

barII = {
  \relative c' {
    c c c c
  }
  \addlyrics {
    and the se -- cond.
  }
}

% ------------------------------------------------
% Staves
% ------------------------------------------------
bass = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = #"Bass "
  shortInstrumentName = #"B "
} {
  \clef "bass"
  \key g \major
  \barI \barII
}

% ------------------------------------------------
% Document
% ------------------------------------------------
\header {
  title = "Vertical Lyrics"
  composer = "The famous"
  opus = "DWV 42"
}

\score {
  <<
    \bass
  >>

  \version "2.20.0"
  \midi { }
  \layout { }
}

This is what the output looks like.

Question: What is the best practice to see the notes and lyrics as close as possible in the code, and at the same time get lyrics reasonably aligned vertically in Lilypond's output?

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

I'm not sure if there is an easier method, but splitting like this works:

barImelody = \relative c {
  c g e e' |
}
barIlyrics = \lyricmode {
  Ve -- ry first bar.
}

barIImelody = \relative c' {
  c c c c
}
barIIlyrics = \lyricmode {
  and the se -- cond.
}

bass = \new Staff \with {
  instrumentName = #"Bass "
  shortInstrumentName = #"B "
} {
  \clef "bass"
  \key g \major
  {
    \barImelody \barIImelody
  }
  \addlyrics {
    \barIlyrics \barIIlyrics
  }
}