Why do judges hate lyrics?

Its not judges, its the rules. If you look at international skating competitions, do you hear any of the freeskaters with music with words? No, they have completely instrumental programs. The main problem with words is it tends to highly distract from the program, and its severely limits interpretation of the music. The no lyric rule is set by the ISU around 1990, in an effort to distance competitive figure skating from show figure skating.

Dance allows it because much of Dance music, ballroom, swing, tango has words to it. Though many ice dancers don't take advantage of it.

And really, do you want a senior skater skating to lady Gaga at worlds? no, I don't think so, you'd be far into the music rather than watching the skater.

But basically minor lyrics or singing will result in deducted marks, within the groups that don't allow music. But if one was to use a song full of lyrics it would cause the skater to be qualified. As the artistic category includes interpretation of the music not lyrics as being able to interpret music over lyrics is much more challenging.

Edit: Haha! found it! http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,1104... That's the official rules and in each the singles and pairs Rules 511-1b, 512-1, 520-1b. Which say "No extra marks are obtained by extending the program to the maximum time allowed if this is unnecessary. The music is chosen by each Competitor, but vocal music with lyrics is not permitted;"

And before you go saying that only applies to seniors and juniors, local competitions keep to that rule since its a) set by the ISU, and gets any and all skaters used to the instrumental music if they hit those higher levels of competition.

Figure skating is a sport of grace and that's how it should be judged. But then you say, "Why do people skate to lyrical songs in shows?" It's a show it's just for fun. Take this for example. Say we're playing competitive volleyball. Let's just take out the lines because it's funner. That way we can hit the ball wherever we want. Doesn't that ruin the sport? It's okay if you and your friend are playing volleyball and you hit ball way out of bounds, no one cares. Does it make more sense that way?

Not to mention the music would also be distracting. It's a rule for the fairness and judging of the sport.

It isn't that judges don't like them, songs with lyrics in them aren't allowed, per USFS regulations and most ISI events. You can uses them for certain events such as showcase and artistic but these aren't the competitions that you see on television or even local competitions, unless of course its an artistic event. Hope this helps!!

Its because it draws attention away from the gracful skating.

i think it's because it's distracting. and they don't want people skating to stuff like lady gaga.