\version "2.7.38"
\score{ \relative c'' { \set Score.timing = ##f a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a }
\addlyrics { These words are not real long and yet they do not have much space be -- tween them } 
\layout { ragged-right = ##t }
}
\score{ \relative c'' { \set Score.timing = ##f a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a  a }
\addlyrics { These words are not real long but now they have plen -- ty space be -- tween them } 
\layout { ragged-right = ##t  \context { \Lyrics \override LyricSpace #'minimum-distance = #.8 } }
}