Lyrics and their Importance

Though some claim that lyrics are immensely important to a song, countless songs have proven otherwise. Sometimes, people either grab only tiny snippets of a song, giving it entirely different meaning, do not even understand the lyrics to begin with, or can't tell what the musician is saying. Other times, music can act as a way to communicate emotions and thoughts that are otherwise difficult to convey. Lyrics are more important for the sounds, not necessarily the meaning. They make music more pleasing to the ear and allow a person to grasp excerpts and express themselves through the lines.

Below are a few songs which came out in the 70's. The lyrics are either often misused, misunderstood, or just plain have no great purpose (nonsensical lyrics).

Albert Morris-- Feelings

"Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down my face,
trying to forget my feelings of love."

-------

"Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
and feelings like I've never had you in my life."

These make sense, but the context the song is used in typically does not. This song was popular at weddings, yet it's about breaking up. How's that for starting off a marriage on the right foot?

Full lyrics here



Janis Ian-- At Seventeen

"To those of us who know the pain
Of valentines that never came,
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball.
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me."

"Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
Indebentures of quality
And dubious integrity."

This song provides teenage girls with an outlet for their feelings. One purpose lyrics have is that they can act as a catharsis, and be a huge relief for people when they realize that they are not alone in their feelings. Even if they feel terrible, others can relate. Since teenage years are hormonal and stressful, having a song for "ugly girls who can't get dates" (as my Dad described it) can be helpful.

The second lines I included serve as a pick-me-up for the girls listening to it, showing that those who just pursue the guys and always get what they want don't necessarily end up with love; eventually they may find themselves cheated of what they had always craved-- true love.


Full lyrics here



Tony Orlando and Dawn-- Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Round the Ole Oak Tree)

"Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
It's been three long years
Do ya still want me (still want me)
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree"

Songs with lyrics like this were aimed at soldiers returning from Vietnam. They hadn't seen their families in years, and e-mail and Facebook didn't exist so they literally could return to strangers. Feelings of apprehension and fear were common, as they knew they could find their family completely different and not even needing them. This is another catharsis example and the song ends inspirationally with one hundred yellow ribbons tied around the tree, showing that not only did the wife still care, but she was eagerly anticipating his return.

Full lyrics here

Wainwright Loudon-- Dead Skunk

"Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose!
Roll up yer window and hold yer nose
You don't have to look and you don't have to see
'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory

You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!

Yeah you got yer dead cat and you got yer dead dog
On a moonlight night you got yer dead toad frog
Got yer dead rabbit and yer dead raccoon
The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon!
You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!"

Here is an example of a nonsense song. Singing about roadkill won't exactly change the world, but music doesn't always need to do that. Sometimes, just having the sounds present makes people enjoy it. It has a more country sound and lyrics are important in country songs merely because they tell a story.



Full lyrics here

So, lyrics may appeal to some people, but they are not what makes a song. In rap and protest music, they are important because rap is literally spoken poetry with music in the background and protest music needs to infuriate people and promote a change. Other than that, lyrics may just provide the sounds with the music that people crave.