diff --git a/beetsplug/lyrics.py b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
index 03ac7d26a..8b480ce5c 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lyrics.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lyrics.py
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@ LYRICSCOM_NOT_FOUND = (
     'Submit Lyrics',
 )
 def _lc_encode(s):
+    s = re.sub(r'[^\w\s-]', '', s)
     s = re.sub(r'\s+', '-', s)
-    return _encode(s)
+    return _encode(s).lower()
 
 def fetch_lyricscom(artist, title):
     """Fetch lyrics from Lyrics.com."""
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index a16046940..885c2a7c6 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Changelog
   example. Thanks to Lucas Duailibe.
 * The importer output now shows the number of audio files in each album.
   Thanks to jayme on GitHub.
+* :doc:`/plugins/lyrics`: Lyrics searches should now turn up more results due
+  to some fixes in dealing with special characters.
 
 1.1.0 (April 29, 203)
 ---------------------