When I started this site back at the end of December, I had an idea for a series of posts that would feature some favorite lyrics. I tried and tried to come up with a clever name for the series, maybe something alliterative, but alas nothing seemed to be what I was looking for. There was a disconnect between what I wanted the posts to be and any title I could come up with. Finally, I realized I was trying too hard and decided to just call it what it is – Lyrics!
If you are like me, you love paying attention to song lyrics. Back in the old days when I first started really getting in to music, I loved when I bought an album that had the lyrics printed in the gatefold or on a printed insert sheet. Elton John’s Captain Fantastic had a whole freaking booklet! I would listen to the album and read along to the lyrics as they were being sung. CDs often came with a booklet with the lyrics, and now of course we have the Internet, although I will attest it’s just not the same as absorbing them from something the artist provided.
Of course, the quality of the lyrics can vary. Like any art, some are good at it and some aren’t. Just because someone can write a catchy hook doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a wordsmith, but that doesn’t keep people from trying.
Some lyrics will try to tell a story from start to finish but that isn’t necessary to pull me in to a song. Oftentimes it’s just a snippet or a single line that grabs me or really catches my attention – and that is what I want to feature in this series. Sure, some songs deserve a full lyrical appreciation but sometimes there’s just something special about a single phrase hidden within.
These can be insightful but they can also be silly. They can be evocative, or funny, or thougtful, or inspiring, particularly clever or even nonsensical. But they all have something in common for me, they stand out for some reason, and when I listen to the song they come from I react to them. I may get goosebumps or a knot in my stomach, I might shake my head in amazement, I might say ‘whoah’ in my head or I might tell Gina “I have always loved that line.” I might smile, or feel sad, or laugh. It might touch my heart or repulse me – but it does something and I recognize it every time.
I am really excited to get this going and I have a huge backlog of ideas for this so hopefully it will be a frequent thing. I hope you enjoy it.
Your thoughts?