diff --git a/include/vrv/options.h b/include/vrv/options.h
index c81516b128..7bfb7f0d9f 100644
--- a/include/vrv/options.h
+++ b/include/vrv/options.h
@@ -714,6 +714,7 @@ class Options {
     OptionDbl m_ledgerLineThickness;
     OptionDbl m_ledgerLineExtension;
     OptionIntMap m_lyricElision;
+    OptionDbl m_lyricHeightFactor;
     OptionDbl m_lyricLineThickness;
     OptionBool m_lyricNoStartHyphen;
     OptionDbl m_lyricSize;
diff --git a/include/vrv/syl.h b/include/vrv/syl.h
index 47d0f654a2..23f4d62970 100644
--- a/include/vrv/syl.h
+++ b/include/vrv/syl.h
@@ -118,7 +118,9 @@ class Syl : public LayerElement,
      * The verse number with multiple verses
      * Value is 1 by default, set in PrepareLyrics
      */
-    int m_drawingVerse;
+    int m_drawingVerseN;
+    /** The verse place (below by default) */
+    data_STAFFREL m_drawingVersePlace;
 
     /**
      * A pointer to the next syllable of the word.
diff --git a/include/vrv/verse.h b/include/vrv/verse.h
index c67711eb1b..514e4a2edb 100644
--- a/include/vrv/verse.h
+++ b/include/vrv/verse.h
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@ class Syl;
 // Verse
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-class Verse : public LayerElement, public AttColor, public AttLang, public AttNInteger, public AttTypography {
+class Verse : public LayerElement,
+              public AttColor,
+              public AttLang,
+              public AttNInteger,
+              public AttPlacementRelStaff,
+              public AttTypography {
 public:
     /**
      * @name Constructors, destructors, and other standard methods
diff --git a/include/vrv/verticalaligner.h b/include/vrv/verticalaligner.h
index d5ce55c864..8b09af337c 100644
--- a/include/vrv/verticalaligner.h
+++ b/include/vrv/verticalaligner.h
@@ -195,9 +195,12 @@ class StaffAlignment : public Object {
      * The position is calculated from the bottom.
      */
     ///@{
-    void AddVerseN(int verseN);
+    void AddVerseN(int verseN, data_STAFFREL place);
     int GetVerseCount(bool collapse) const;
-    int GetVersePosition(int verseN, bool collapse) const;
+    int GetVerseCountAbove(bool collapse) const;
+    int GetVerseCountBelow(bool collapse) const;
+    int GetVersePositionAbove(int verseN, bool collapse) const;
+    int GetVersePositionBelow(int verseN, bool collapse) const;
     ///@}
 
     /**
@@ -402,9 +405,10 @@ class StaffAlignment : public Object {
      */
     int m_yRel;
     /**
-     * Stores the verse@n of the staves attached to the aligner
+     * Stores the verse@n of the staves attached to the aligner (above and below)
      */
-    std::set<int> m_verseNs;
+    std::set<int> m_verseAboveNs;
+    std::set<int> m_verseBelowNs;
 
     /**
      * @name values for storing the overflow and overlap
diff --git a/include/vrv/view.h b/include/vrv/view.h
index 56cdedebee..a07a9742d2 100644
--- a/include/vrv/view.h
+++ b/include/vrv/view.h
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ class View {
     std::u32string IntToTimeSigFigures(unsigned short number);
     std::u32string IntToSmuflFigures(unsigned short number, int offset);
     int NestedTuplets(Object *object);
-    int GetSylYRel(int verseN, Staff *staff);
+    int GetSylYRel(int verseN, Staff *staff, data_STAFFREL place);
     int GetFYRel(F *f, Staff *staff);
     ///@}
 
diff --git a/src/adjustfloatingpositionerfunctor.cpp b/src/adjustfloatingpositionerfunctor.cpp
index 969ee0fc86..2afc2983b6 100644
--- a/src/adjustfloatingpositionerfunctor.cpp
+++ b/src/adjustfloatingpositionerfunctor.cpp
@@ -34,20 +34,34 @@ FunctorCode AdjustFloatingPositionersFunctor::VisitStaffAlignment(StaffAlignment
 
     staffAlignment->SortPositioners();
 
-    const bool verseCollapse = m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricVerseCollapse.GetValue();
     if (m_classId == SYL) {
+        const bool verseCollapse = m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricVerseCollapse.GetValue();
         if (staffAlignment->GetVerseCount(verseCollapse) > 0) {
             FontInfo *lyricFont = m_doc->GetDrawingLyricFont(staffAlignment->GetStaff()->m_drawingStaffSize);
-            int descender = m_doc->GetTextGlyphDescender(L'q', lyricFont, false);
-            int height = m_doc->GetTextGlyphHeight(L'I', lyricFont, false);
-            int margin = m_doc->GetBottomMargin(SYL) * drawingUnit;
-            int minMargin = std::max((int)(m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricTopMinMargin.GetValue() * drawingUnit),
-                staffAlignment->GetOverflowBelow());
-            staffAlignment->SetOverflowBelow(
-                minMargin + staffAlignment->GetVerseCount(verseCollapse) * (height - descender + margin));
-            // For now just clear the overflowBelow, which avoids the overlap to be calculated. We could also keep them
-            // and check if they are some lyrics in order to know if the overlap needs to be calculated or not.
-            staffAlignment->ClearBBoxesBelow();
+            int verseHeight = m_doc->GetTextGlyphHeight(L'I', lyricFont, false)
+                - m_doc->GetTextGlyphDescender(L'q', lyricFont, false);
+            verseHeight *= m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricHeightFactor.GetValue();
+            if (staffAlignment->GetVerseCountAbove(verseCollapse)) {
+                int margin = m_doc->GetTopMargin(SYL) * drawingUnit;
+                int minMargin = std::max((int)(m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricTopMinMargin.GetValue() * drawingUnit),
+                    staffAlignment->GetOverflowAbove());
+                staffAlignment->SetOverflowAbove(
+                    minMargin + staffAlignment->GetVerseCountAbove(verseCollapse) * (verseHeight + margin));
+                // For now just clear the overflowBelow, which avoids the overlap to be calculated. We could also keep
+                // them and check if they are some lyrics in order to know if the overlap needs to be calculated or not.
+                staffAlignment->ClearBBoxesAbove();
+            }
+            if (staffAlignment->GetVerseCountBelow(verseCollapse)) {
+                int margin = m_doc->GetBottomMargin(SYL) * drawingUnit;
+                int minMargin = std::max((int)(m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricTopMinMargin.GetValue() * drawingUnit),
+                    staffAlignment->GetOverflowBelow());
+                staffAlignment->SetOverflowBelow(
+                    minMargin + staffAlignment->GetVerseCountBelow(verseCollapse) * (verseHeight + margin));
+                // For now just clear the overflowBelow, which avoids the overlap to be calculated. We could also keep
+                // them and check if there are some lyrics in order to know if the overlap needs to be calculated or
+                // not.
+                staffAlignment->ClearBBoxesBelow();
+            }
         }
         return FUNCTOR_SIBLINGS;
     }
diff --git a/src/alignfunctor.cpp b/src/alignfunctor.cpp
index 25aa777e5f..80c012544a 100644
--- a/src/alignfunctor.cpp
+++ b/src/alignfunctor.cpp
@@ -640,9 +640,9 @@ FunctorCode AlignVerticallyFunctor::VisitStaff(Staff *staff)
     std::vector<Object *>::const_iterator verseIterator = std::find_if(
         staff->m_timeSpanningElements.begin(), staff->m_timeSpanningElements.end(), ObjectComparison(VERSE));
     if (verseIterator != staff->m_timeSpanningElements.end()) {
-        Verse *v = vrv_cast<Verse *>(*verseIterator);
-        assert(v);
-        alignment->AddVerseN(v->GetN());
+        Verse *verse = vrv_cast<Verse *>(*verseIterator);
+        assert(verse);
+        alignment->AddVerseN(verse->GetN(), verse->GetPlace());
     }
 
     // add verse number to alignment in case there are spanning SYL elements but there is no verse number already - this
@@ -653,9 +653,13 @@ FunctorCode AlignVerticallyFunctor::VisitStaff(Staff *staff)
         Verse *verse = vrv_cast<Verse *>((*sylIterator)->GetFirstAncestor(VERSE));
         if (verse) {
             const int verseNumber = verse->GetN();
+            const data_STAFFREL versePlace = verse->GetPlace();
             const bool verseCollapse = m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricVerseCollapse.GetValue();
-            if (!alignment->GetVersePosition(verseNumber, verseCollapse)) {
-                alignment->AddVerseN(verseNumber);
+            if ((versePlace == STAFFREL_above) && !alignment->GetVersePositionAbove(verseNumber, verseCollapse)) {
+                alignment->AddVerseN(verseNumber, verse->GetPlace());
+            }
+            if ((versePlace != STAFFREL_above) && !alignment->GetVersePositionBelow(verseNumber, verseCollapse)) {
+                alignment->AddVerseN(verseNumber, verse->GetPlace());
             }
         }
     }
@@ -685,7 +689,7 @@ FunctorCode AlignVerticallyFunctor::VisitSyllable(Syllable *syllable)
     StaffAlignment *alignment = m_systemAligner->GetStaffAlignmentForStaffN(m_staffN);
     if (!alignment) return FUNCTOR_CONTINUE;
     // Current limitation of only one syl (verse n) by syllable
-    alignment->AddVerseN(1);
+    alignment->AddVerseN(1, STAFFREL_below);
 
     return FUNCTOR_CONTINUE;
 }
@@ -720,7 +724,7 @@ FunctorCode AlignVerticallyFunctor::VisitVerse(Verse *verse)
     if (!alignment) return FUNCTOR_CONTINUE;
 
     // Add the number count
-    alignment->AddVerseN(verse->GetN());
+    alignment->AddVerseN(verse->GetN(), verse->GetPlace());
 
     return FUNCTOR_CONTINUE;
 }
diff --git a/src/iomei.cpp b/src/iomei.cpp
index a6a4fe2b25..9ed20dc3a3 100644
--- a/src/iomei.cpp
+++ b/src/iomei.cpp
@@ -2870,6 +2870,7 @@ void MEIOutput::WriteVerse(pugi::xml_node currentNode, Verse *verse)
     verse->WriteColor(currentNode);
     verse->WriteLang(currentNode);
     verse->WriteNInteger(currentNode);
+    verse->WritePlacementRelStaff(currentNode);
     verse->WriteTypography(currentNode);
 }
 
@@ -7163,6 +7164,7 @@ bool MEIInput::ReadVerse(Object *parent, pugi::xml_node verse)
     vrvVerse->ReadColor(verse);
     vrvVerse->ReadLang(verse);
     vrvVerse->ReadNInteger(verse);
+    vrvVerse->ReadPlacementRelStaff(verse);
     vrvVerse->ReadTypography(verse);
 
     parent->AddChild(vrvVerse);
diff --git a/src/options.cpp b/src/options.cpp
index 1fcbb2c101..6caefe7cd7 100644
--- a/src/options.cpp
+++ b/src/options.cpp
@@ -1371,6 +1371,10 @@ Options::Options()
     m_lyricElision.Init(ELISION_regular, &Option::s_elision);
     this->Register(&m_lyricElision, "lyricElision", &m_generalLayout);
 
+    m_lyricHeightFactor.SetInfo("Lyric height factor", "The lyric verse line height factor");
+    m_lyricHeightFactor.Init(1.0, 1.0, 20.0);
+    this->Register(&m_lyricHeightFactor, "lyricHeightFactor", &m_generalLayout);
+
     m_lyricLineThickness.SetInfo("Lyric line thickness", "The lyric extender line thickness");
     m_lyricLineThickness.Init(0.25, 0.10, 0.50);
     this->Register(&m_lyricLineThickness, "lyricLineThickness", &m_generalLayout);
diff --git a/src/preparedatafunctor.cpp b/src/preparedatafunctor.cpp
index 49484e8b06..636bfecf39 100644
--- a/src/preparedatafunctor.cpp
+++ b/src/preparedatafunctor.cpp
@@ -1041,7 +1041,8 @@ FunctorCode PrepareLyricsFunctor::VisitSyl(Syl *syl)
 {
     Verse *verse = vrv_cast<Verse *>(syl->GetFirstAncestor(VERSE, MAX_NOTE_DEPTH));
     if (verse) {
-        syl->m_drawingVerse = std::max(verse->GetN(), 1);
+        syl->m_drawingVerseN = std::max(verse->GetN(), 1);
+        syl->m_drawingVersePlace = verse->GetPlace();
     }
 
     syl->SetStart(vrv_cast<LayerElement *>(syl->GetFirstAncestor(NOTE, MAX_NOTE_DEPTH)));
diff --git a/src/syl.cpp b/src/syl.cpp
index 1e777512da..03c35caf6f 100644
--- a/src/syl.cpp
+++ b/src/syl.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ void Syl::Reset()
     this->ResetTypography();
     this->ResetSylLog();
 
-    m_drawingVerse = 1;
+    m_drawingVerseN = 1;
+    m_drawingVersePlace = STAFFREL_below;
     m_nextWordSyl = NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/verse.cpp b/src/verse.cpp
index 66013ee926..cba1f9d2e9 100644
--- a/src/verse.cpp
+++ b/src/verse.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Verse::Verse() : LayerElement(VERSE, "verse-"), AttColor(), AttLang(), AttNInteg
     this->RegisterAttClass(ATT_COLOR);
     this->RegisterAttClass(ATT_LANG);
     this->RegisterAttClass(ATT_NINTEGER);
+    this->RegisterAttClass(ATT_PLACEMENTRELSTAFF);
     this->RegisterAttClass(ATT_TYPOGRAPHY);
 
     this->Reset();
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ void Verse::Reset()
     this->ResetColor();
     this->ResetLang();
     this->ResetNInteger();
+    this->ResetPlacementRelStaff();
     this->ResetTypography();
 
     m_drawingLabelAbbr = NULL;
diff --git a/src/verticalaligner.cpp b/src/verticalaligner.cpp
index 2093b5d993..86cf658fc8 100644
--- a/src/verticalaligner.cpp
+++ b/src/verticalaligner.cpp
@@ -314,7 +314,8 @@ FunctorCode SystemAligner::AcceptEnd(ConstFunctor &functor) const
 StaffAlignment::StaffAlignment() : Object(STAFF_ALIGNMENT)
 {
     m_yRel = 0;
-    m_verseNs.clear();
+    m_verseAboveNs.clear();
+    m_verseBelowNs.clear();
     m_staff = NULL;
     m_floatingPositionersSorted = true;
 
@@ -436,39 +437,73 @@ void StaffAlignment::SetRequestedSpaceBelow(int space)
     }
 }
 
-void StaffAlignment::AddVerseN(int verseN)
+void StaffAlignment::AddVerseN(int verseN, data_STAFFREL place)
 {
     // if 0, then assume 1;
     verseN = std::max(verseN, 1);
-    m_verseNs.insert(verseN);
+    (place == STAFFREL_above) ? m_verseAboveNs.insert(verseN) : m_verseBelowNs.insert(verseN);
 }
 
 int StaffAlignment::GetVerseCount(bool collapse) const
 {
-    if (m_verseNs.empty()) {
+    return (this->GetVerseCountAbove(collapse) + this->GetVerseCountBelow(collapse));
+}
+
+int StaffAlignment::GetVerseCountAbove(bool collapse) const
+{
+    if (m_verseAboveNs.empty()) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    else if (collapse) {
+        return (int)m_verseAboveNs.size();
+    }
+    else {
+        return (*m_verseAboveNs.rbegin());
+    }
+}
+
+int StaffAlignment::GetVerseCountBelow(bool collapse) const
+{
+    if (m_verseBelowNs.empty()) {
         return 0;
     }
     else if (collapse) {
-        return (int)m_verseNs.size();
+        return (int)m_verseBelowNs.size();
+    }
+    else {
+        return (*m_verseBelowNs.rbegin());
+    }
+}
+
+int StaffAlignment::GetVersePositionAbove(int verseN, bool collapse) const
+{
+    if (m_verseAboveNs.empty()) {
+        // Syl in neumatic notation - since verse count will be 0, position is -1
+        return -1;
+    }
+    else if (collapse) {
+        auto it = std::find(m_verseAboveNs.begin(), m_verseAboveNs.end(), verseN);
+        int pos = (int)std::distance(m_verseAboveNs.begin(), it);
+        return pos;
     }
     else {
-        return *m_verseNs.rbegin();
+        return verseN - 1;
     }
 }
 
-int StaffAlignment::GetVersePosition(int verseN, bool collapse) const
+int StaffAlignment::GetVersePositionBelow(int verseN, bool collapse) const
 {
-    if (m_verseNs.empty()) {
+    if (m_verseBelowNs.empty()) {
         // Syl in neumatic notation - since verse count will be 0, position is -1
         return -1;
     }
     else if (collapse) {
-        auto it = std::find(m_verseNs.rbegin(), m_verseNs.rend(), verseN);
-        int pos = (int)std::distance(m_verseNs.rbegin(), it);
+        auto it = std::find(m_verseBelowNs.rbegin(), m_verseBelowNs.rend(), verseN);
+        int pos = (int)std::distance(m_verseBelowNs.rbegin(), it);
         return pos;
     }
     else {
-        return (*m_verseNs.rbegin()) - verseN;
+        return (*m_verseBelowNs.rbegin()) - verseN;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/view_control.cpp b/src/view_control.cpp
index 538acc581c..b4d0736edb 100644
--- a/src/view_control.cpp
+++ b/src/view_control.cpp
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ void View::DrawSylConnector(
     assert(syl->GetStart() && syl->GetEnd());
     if (!syl->GetStart() || !syl->GetEnd()) return;
 
-    const int y = staff->GetDrawingY() + this->GetSylYRel(syl->m_drawingVerse, staff);
+    const int y = staff->GetDrawingY() + this->GetSylYRel(syl->m_drawingVerseN, staff, syl->m_drawingVersePlace);
 
     // Invalid bounding boxes might occur for empty syllables without text child
     if (!syl->HasContentHorizontalBB()) return;
diff --git a/src/view_element.cpp b/src/view_element.cpp
index cad7563ea2..e96180b769 100644
--- a/src/view_element.cpp
+++ b/src/view_element.cpp
@@ -1753,7 +1753,7 @@ void View::DrawSyl(DeviceContext *dc, LayerElement *element, Layer *layer, Staff
     }
 
     if (!m_doc->IsFacs() && !m_doc->IsTranscription() && !m_doc->IsNeumeLines()) {
-        syl->SetDrawingYRel(this->GetSylYRel(syl->m_drawingVerse, staff));
+        syl->SetDrawingYRel(this->GetSylYRel(syl->m_drawingVerseN, staff, syl->m_drawingVersePlace));
     }
 
     dc->StartGraphic(syl, "", syl->GetID());
@@ -1871,7 +1871,7 @@ void View::DrawVerse(DeviceContext *dc, LayerElement *element, Layer *layer, Sta
 
         TextDrawingParams params;
         params.m_x = verse->GetDrawingX() - m_doc->GetDrawingUnit(staff->m_drawingStaffSize);
-        params.m_y = staff->GetDrawingY() + this->GetSylYRel(std::max(1, verse->GetN()), staff);
+        params.m_y = staff->GetDrawingY() + this->GetSylYRel(std::max(1, verse->GetN()), staff, verse->GetPlace());
         params.m_pointSize = labelTxt.GetPointSize();
 
         dc->SetBrush(m_currentColor, AxSOLID);
@@ -2098,22 +2098,34 @@ int View::GetFYRel(F *f, Staff *staff)
     return y;
 }
 
-int View::GetSylYRel(int verseN, Staff *staff)
+int View::GetSylYRel(int verseN, Staff *staff, data_STAFFREL place)
 {
     assert(staff);
 
+    StaffAlignment *alignment = staff->GetAlignment();
+    if (!alignment) return 0;
+
     const bool verseCollapse = m_options->m_lyricVerseCollapse.GetValue();
     int y = 0;
-    StaffAlignment *alignment = staff->GetAlignment();
-    if (alignment) {
-        FontInfo *lyricFont = m_doc->GetDrawingLyricFont(staff->m_drawingStaffSize);
-        int descender = -m_doc->GetTextGlyphDescender(L'q', lyricFont, false);
-        int height = m_doc->GetTextGlyphHeight(L'I', lyricFont, false);
-        int margin = m_doc->GetBottomMargin(SYL) * m_doc->GetDrawingUnit(staff->m_drawingStaffSize);
 
+    FontInfo *lyricFont = m_doc->GetDrawingLyricFont(staff->m_drawingStaffSize);
+    const int descender = m_doc->GetTextGlyphDescender(L'q', lyricFont, false);
+    const int height = m_doc->GetTextGlyphHeight(L'I', lyricFont, false);
+
+    int verseHeight = height - descender;
+    verseHeight *= m_doc->GetOptions()->m_lyricHeightFactor.GetValue();
+    int margin = m_doc->GetBottomMargin(SYL) * m_doc->GetDrawingUnit(staff->m_drawingStaffSize);
+
+    // above the staff
+    if (place == STAFFREL_above) {
+        y = alignment->GetOverflowAbove()
+            - (alignment->GetVersePositionAbove(verseN, verseCollapse)) * (verseHeight + margin) - (height);
+    }
+    else {
         y = -alignment->GetStaffHeight() - alignment->GetOverflowBelow()
-            + alignment->GetVersePosition(verseN, verseCollapse) * (height + descender + margin) + (descender);
+            + alignment->GetVersePositionBelow(verseN, verseCollapse) * (verseHeight + margin) + verseHeight - height;
     }
+
     return y;
 }