Such a permission involves use of the author's publicity rights, and these belong to the author or his heirs rather than to publishers. It is possible that the book publisher might be confused about this issue. We advise any client planning to use an author's name only to make contact with the author's agent, the author himself or the author's estate. A careful user makes this distinction and discusses it right up front. Clearances to use the lyrics only from a song are handled by publishers too, but they are music publishers with lots of experience.
Music publishers charge what many people view as high fees for use of song lyrics.
Be advised that you should find out what the cost will be before you proceed on a project involving the use of lots of song lyrics. Consider Public Domain Many world-famous authors' texts lie in the public domain and can be used by anybody for any purpose and in any way, free . Remember too, that the texts of speeches and official papers by federal officials while in office are always in the public domain. That includes quotes from such famous inaugural addresses as those of Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. But their speeches or writings of any kind out of office are off-limits unless you get permission.