diff --git a/Filters/VLLilypondType.reader b/Filters/VLLilypondType.reader
index 20b44cb..5cc89f1 100755
--- a/Filters/VLLilypondType.reader
+++ b/Filters/VLLilypondType.reader
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # VLLilypondType.reader - Import lilypond files
 #
 
+$KCODE = 'u'
+
 require File.dirname($0)+'/plistWriter'
 require File.dirname($0)+'/vl'
 
@@ -392,11 +394,15 @@ def parseLilypond
       tokens[0] = nil 
     when '\new'
       if tokens[0] == "Lyrics"
-        stack.push([block, level, ""])
-        block = '\lyricmode'
-        level = nestLevel
-        STANZAS.push(lyrics= [])
-        tokens[0..0] = nil
+        if tokens[1] =~ /^\\/
+          tokens[0..1] = nil
+        else
+          stack.push([block, level, ""])
+          block = '\lyricmode'
+          level = nestLevel
+          STANZAS.push(lyrics= [])
+          tokens[0..0] = nil
+        end
       end
     when '\relative'
       stack.push([block, level, ""])
diff --git a/Filters/plistWriter.rb b/Filters/plistWriter.rb
index fd048ab..ab231ac 100644
--- a/Filters/plistWriter.rb
+++ b/Filters/plistWriter.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,18 @@ class PlistData
   end
 end
 
+def _encodeEntities(string)
+  encoded = []
+  string.unpack('U*').each do |ch|
+    if ch <= 0x7F
+      encoded << ch
+    else
+      encoded.concat("&\##{ch};".unpack('C*'))
+    end
+  end
+  encoded.pack('C*')
+end
+
 def _encodePlist(destination, object, indent)
   destination.print " "*indent
   case object 
@@ -23,7 +35,7 @@ def _encodePlist(destination, object, indent)
   when true then
     destination.print "<true/>\n"
   when String then
-    destination.print "<string>#{object}</string>\n"
+    destination.print "<string>#{_encodeEntities(object)}</string>\n"
   when PlistData then
     destination.print "<data>#{object}</data>\n"
   when Integer then