Nine Song Lyrics - Part 3 | Lists
I still love music and a well-turned phrase so naturally, it's time to add onto this list series and praise a couple of the lyrics I've been loving recently. It's a silly little thing but I quite like compiling this. I'm such a sucker for language and when it's melded together with music and presented beautifully, I just freaking melt. I don't really do any other series of lists and I know very little about music, other than I just like what I like. But I suppose that's enough? The music might be what draws me in but it is always the lyrics that will determine how much I will like a song.
It is still quite surreal to me that I didn't start properly, daily, listening to music until I was like fifteen. Now it's such a lovely part of my life. I listen to music while I commute. I listen to music while I write. I listen to music when I'm anxious. I listen to music to chill out. Music can be so many different things for you and I have been compiling, or rather saving favourite songs of mine on Spotify for a couple of years. I usually listen to the few recent tracks as they are my current new faves but I do also love a good shuffle and I will often get reintroduced to a number I loved but forgot about.
Gradually, I've been more and more open to discovering music from new artists that I've never listened to before. I don't just play the same handful of artists on repeat again and again. Well, not always but I do have those days as well. This year I am going to an amazing amount of concerts and I'm not even sure how that happened. It's an impressive list of so many of my faves as well - Lukas Graham, dodie, Troye Sivan, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande. I'm going to some concerts with friends and others I will be attending alone. I don't mind either though. I'm here for the vibe and the music but it is lovely to share the experience with someone if they like the artist as much as you do.
But enough of my rambles! Let me get on to introduce the nine song lyrics that I have picked out for this list. Let me express why these lyrics in particular stood out to me in the sea of amazing lyrics produced by talented people.
I love this one because of the contrast. Not only it is the use of two number related phrases flawlessly, which do fit wonderfully together. It's the little beat and then the counting starts in a small whisper completely contradicting the words spoken beforehand. I love a good contradiction and my ears always focus in after the question to anticipate the little whisper and it does sometimes give me chills.
I don't listen to this band that often but every once in a while, I'll fall hopelessly for one of their songs and they are always very beautifully written. Here, I just couldn't help but adore the imagery and the symbolism. No one is born with thick skin, you only gain it by getting hurt and learning from your mistakes. It leaves a scar but it also leaves you wisdom on how to avoid getting hurt like that again.
The similarity in the words being used was the thing that got me to love this specific line this song. I've never heard anything from the artist before but it's a beautiful song. Pressure and precious sound so flipping similar (/ˈpreʃə(r)/ versus /ˈpreʃəs/) and for me that hammers the point of the line in so much more because of how it is worded. It's very cool when language can emphasise a point like that.
This song can be very shouty and angry at times but I must admit that it's quite cathartic when you're in the mood to vent a little. The opening lines showed above additionally made me like it quite a lot. We're back with imagery and using well-known phrases. I like how two common phrases are picked out and then presented with an explicit contradiction to the actual words, which works on another level as well.
This one hit me in the chest for a multitude of reasons, including my attachment to the artist, the beautiful music video I saw as I heard the song for the first time and the topic at heart being so relevant and relatable to my situation. The line I picked out from the song is the one that always make my heart stutter just a little. It's such a common thing for people to ask you not to change and it's not coming from a bad place - they just love how you are now and they don't want you do lose your way or change for the worse. But telling someone not to change is not the right way to approach it. Change is inevitable and all you can do it try to grow positively to adapt and change to become better. It becomes especially important when you're moving on to do something big and scary and you might long for a simpler time - and a simpler you. It is very reasonable to fear becoming too detached from the perhaps innocent person you were before you began to tackle life outside of your family's embrace. Thomas' voice and his almost hesitance at voicing the fear is stunning.
Another banging opening line that I just couldn't resist. This song was one that came on as a recommendation after the album I was listening to ran out but it caught me at the very first line. Imagery and symbolism present again as with a lot of the others. I'm not a religious person but I still love how it is used here, especially the phrase "chance in hell" not only working as the phrase but also as a place to counteract heaven. I appreciate the construction of those lyrics and the banging opening tones that accompany the words very much.
I love the whole soundtrack from this film so very much and I actually had a hard time picking whether I would have lyrics from this song or The Other Side which is another one of my lyrical favourites from the film. But in the end I had to go with this one, it's the opening song and it sets the bar very freaking high. I couldn't resist the whole double use of the word run, in form of runaways and running. It might be because of the background of runaways having a tendency to find refuge at the circus and here it is emphasised how they are thriving and actually running the show. Masterful. I also especially appreciate Panic! At The Disco's version of this song.
It will be the surprise to absolutely no one who knows me that a song from Lukas' new album had to make it onto the list. Again, I had a lot of contenders for most touching lyric amongst his songs and I did actually consider just writing a whole post on his third album. He is such an amazing songwriter and this has got to be one of my favourites. I picked out two elements of the lyrics. The first just hit me in the chest because it's such a relatable feeling as a young adult, reaching for the stars but perhaps not realising how many people have helped built the foundation you already have under you. The second part comes back to my love for contrast and here the change in the words is minimal but it completely changes the meaning of the sentence. It might seem stupid to confess that you could apologise forever and then with the next breath admitting that you can't do it but it's a beautiful representation of life. You might want to apologise for all the missteps but deep down, you know you cannot do that because all that stuff also lead you to becoming the person you are now. You can definitely feel how his maturity level, depth and life perception just increased with the birth of his first child.
And last but not least, of course, my boy Troye also managed to sneak onto the list. He is the only artist that has managed to make it onto every one of these posts. Again though, I've found myself more attracted to his album songs that never make it to the prestigious single level. I don't quite know what it is about Plum but it is my favourite for reasons I can't vocalise. I do know that I appreciate the imagery and comparison of relationships to fruits and the numerous fruit mention. These lyrics in particular hit you hard in the chest and in my inner eye, I can always see a plum slowly but surely losing it's plumpness.
And that was it! So many lovely songs and lyrics in this one. I've been listing back to all of the songs as I've been writing this post and damn, it's some good songs. Like I've said in previous posts like this, it's not necessarily my favourite songs that I compile here but they have all touched me in one way or another that made their lyrics stand out to me and stick in my mind. It might be a little annoying to get a song stuck in your head at times, but I can also find it comforting and am I one of those people singing my favourite parts of songs (or just the ones I remember) over and over again to myself? Yes, I am and I'm not scared to admit it.
However, before I officially close out this post, I need to address tradition of the secret track no. 10. On the two previous lists I've added whole bonus songs that are not necessarily polished and released songs - or made by individuals that consider themselves singers or songwriters. It wouldn't be much of a tradition if I didn't have one up my sleeve for this one. Frankly, it was the easiest choice of the bunch. It is a song that as far as I know doesn't even have an official name but it is still very close to my heart. The lyrics are a little clumsy at times but purposefully and adorably so. It is only a song that has been presented live and as such there exist no proper published version that I can share here. However, I had the joy to watch it live at Interactive Introverts in May. It's the closing song of the beautifully crafted stage show by Dan and Phil. Like The Internet Is Here from TATINOF, this song is littered with little references that only someone in-the-know would pick up and appreciate. It's not the most acclaimed song or a lyrical masterpiece but it holds a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. Interactive Introverts (and thereby the song) is available on DVD and I have a copy myself that I have yet to watch it but I will get around to it soon. I know it'll be an experience to relive everything.
I have gushed about my adoration so much in this post and I'll stop myself before it drags on even further. I do love taking a moment to appreciate art like these lyrics though. All of the songs listed here, have been on repeat for me at one point or another and they brighten my day and reaffirm my appreciation for language and what it can do in the hands of a musical artist. It's a very lovely thing and the reason I feel compelled to continue to jot down snippets of my favourite lyrics.
It is still quite surreal to me that I didn't start properly, daily, listening to music until I was like fifteen. Now it's such a lovely part of my life. I listen to music while I commute. I listen to music while I write. I listen to music when I'm anxious. I listen to music to chill out. Music can be so many different things for you and I have been compiling, or rather saving favourite songs of mine on Spotify for a couple of years. I usually listen to the few recent tracks as they are my current new faves but I do also love a good shuffle and I will often get reintroduced to a number I loved but forgot about.
Gradually, I've been more and more open to discovering music from new artists that I've never listened to before. I don't just play the same handful of artists on repeat again and again. Well, not always but I do have those days as well. This year I am going to an amazing amount of concerts and I'm not even sure how that happened. It's an impressive list of so many of my faves as well - Lukas Graham, dodie, Troye Sivan, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande. I'm going to some concerts with friends and others I will be attending alone. I don't mind either though. I'm here for the vibe and the music but it is lovely to share the experience with someone if they like the artist as much as you do.
But enough of my rambles! Let me get on to introduce the nine song lyrics that I have picked out for this list. Let me express why these lyrics in particular stood out to me in the sea of amazing lyrics produced by talented people.
You did a number on me
But, honestly, baby, who's counting?
Who's counting?
1, 2, 3
I love this one because of the contrast. Not only it is the use of two number related phrases flawlessly, which do fit wonderfully together. It's the little beat and then the counting starts in a small whisper completely contradicting the words spoken beforehand. I love a good contradiction and my ears always focus in after the question to anticipate the little whisper and it does sometimes give me chills.
But you don’t get thick skin without getting burnt
I don't listen to this band that often but every once in a while, I'll fall hopelessly for one of their songs and they are always very beautifully written. Here, I just couldn't help but adore the imagery and the symbolism. No one is born with thick skin, you only gain it by getting hurt and learning from your mistakes. It leaves a scar but it also leaves you wisdom on how to avoid getting hurt like that again.
Under pressure precious things can break
The similarity in the words being used was the thing that got me to love this specific line this song. I've never heard anything from the artist before but it's a beautiful song. Pressure and precious sound so flipping similar (/ˈpreʃə(r)/ versus /ˈpreʃəs/) and for me that hammers the point of the line in so much more because of how it is worded. It's very cool when language can emphasise a point like that.
White lies, but they’re getting dark
Blurred lines, but they’re getting clearer
This song can be very shouty and angry at times but I must admit that it's quite cathartic when you're in the mood to vent a little. The opening lines showed above additionally made me like it quite a lot. We're back with imagery and using well-known phrases. I like how two common phrases are picked out and then presented with an explicit contradiction to the actual words, which works on another level as well.
They said: “Son, don’t change”
And I keep hoping they won’t see how much I have
This one hit me in the chest for a multitude of reasons, including my attachment to the artist, the beautiful music video I saw as I heard the song for the first time and the topic at heart being so relevant and relatable to my situation. The line I picked out from the song is the one that always make my heart stutter just a little. It's such a common thing for people to ask you not to change and it's not coming from a bad place - they just love how you are now and they don't want you do lose your way or change for the worse. But telling someone not to change is not the right way to approach it. Change is inevitable and all you can do it try to grow positively to adapt and change to become better. It becomes especially important when you're moving on to do something big and scary and you might long for a simpler time - and a simpler you. It is very reasonable to fear becoming too detached from the perhaps innocent person you were before you began to tackle life outside of your family's embrace. Thomas' voice and his almost hesitance at voicing the fear is stunning.
We were banging on the doors of heaven before
But we didn't have a chance in hell
Another banging opening line that I just couldn't resist. This song was one that came on as a recommendation after the album I was listening to ran out but it caught me at the very first line. Imagery and symbolism present again as with a lot of the others. I'm not a religious person but I still love how it is used here, especially the phrase "chance in hell" not only working as the phrase but also as a place to counteract heaven. I appreciate the construction of those lyrics and the banging opening tones that accompany the words very much.
When it's covered in all the colored lights
Where the runaways are running the night
I love the whole soundtrack from this film so very much and I actually had a hard time picking whether I would have lyrics from this song or The Other Side which is another one of my lyrical favourites from the film. But in the end I had to go with this one, it's the opening song and it sets the bar very freaking high. I couldn't resist the whole double use of the word run, in form of runaways and running. It might be because of the background of runaways having a tendency to find refuge at the circus and here it is emphasised how they are thriving and actually running the show. Masterful. I also especially appreciate Panic! At The Disco's version of this song.
I tried to make it to the top, you see
The only thing I didn't get is
You've always given me the help I need
————————————————————
I could apologize forever
For everything I couldn't be
I can't apologize forever
For everything that isn't me
It will be the surprise to absolutely no one who knows me that a song from Lukas' new album had to make it onto the list. Again, I had a lot of contenders for most touching lyric amongst his songs and I did actually consider just writing a whole post on his third album. He is such an amazing songwriter and this has got to be one of my favourites. I picked out two elements of the lyrics. The first just hit me in the chest because it's such a relatable feeling as a young adult, reaching for the stars but perhaps not realising how many people have helped built the foundation you already have under you. The second part comes back to my love for contrast and here the change in the words is minimal but it completely changes the meaning of the sentence. It might seem stupid to confess that you could apologise forever and then with the next breath admitting that you can't do it but it's a beautiful representation of life. You might want to apologise for all the missteps but deep down, you know you cannot do that because all that stuff also lead you to becoming the person you are now. You can definitely feel how his maturity level, depth and life perception just increased with the birth of his first child.
Baby, we're barely holding on
Even the sweetest plum
Has only got so long
And last but not least, of course, my boy Troye also managed to sneak onto the list. He is the only artist that has managed to make it onto every one of these posts. Again though, I've found myself more attracted to his album songs that never make it to the prestigious single level. I don't quite know what it is about Plum but it is my favourite for reasons I can't vocalise. I do know that I appreciate the imagery and comparison of relationships to fruits and the numerous fruit mention. These lyrics in particular hit you hard in the chest and in my inner eye, I can always see a plum slowly but surely losing it's plumpness.
And that was it! So many lovely songs and lyrics in this one. I've been listing back to all of the songs as I've been writing this post and damn, it's some good songs. Like I've said in previous posts like this, it's not necessarily my favourite songs that I compile here but they have all touched me in one way or another that made their lyrics stand out to me and stick in my mind. It might be a little annoying to get a song stuck in your head at times, but I can also find it comforting and am I one of those people singing my favourite parts of songs (or just the ones I remember) over and over again to myself? Yes, I am and I'm not scared to admit it.
However, before I officially close out this post, I need to address tradition of the secret track no. 10. On the two previous lists I've added whole bonus songs that are not necessarily polished and released songs - or made by individuals that consider themselves singers or songwriters. It wouldn't be much of a tradition if I didn't have one up my sleeve for this one. Frankly, it was the easiest choice of the bunch. It is a song that as far as I know doesn't even have an official name but it is still very close to my heart. The lyrics are a little clumsy at times but purposefully and adorably so. It is only a song that has been presented live and as such there exist no proper published version that I can share here. However, I had the joy to watch it live at Interactive Introverts in May. It's the closing song of the beautifully crafted stage show by Dan and Phil. Like The Internet Is Here from TATINOF, this song is littered with little references that only someone in-the-know would pick up and appreciate. It's not the most acclaimed song or a lyrical masterpiece but it holds a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. Interactive Introverts (and thereby the song) is available on DVD and I have a copy myself that I have yet to watch it but I will get around to it soon. I know it'll be an experience to relive everything.
I have gushed about my adoration so much in this post and I'll stop myself before it drags on even further. I do love taking a moment to appreciate art like these lyrics though. All of the songs listed here, have been on repeat for me at one point or another and they brighten my day and reaffirm my appreciation for language and what it can do in the hands of a musical artist. It's a very lovely thing and the reason I feel compelled to continue to jot down snippets of my favourite lyrics.
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