I love singing songs in my car driving in the summer , windows open, hair blowing in the breeze!! I love walking with my headphones on, listening to music and walking to the beat! I cannot cook or bake without listening to music! I sing along or make up the words or sing thinking I know the words then years later I realise I had been singing the wrong words all this time!! So I have to ask, do people really listen to the words of songs anyway?
Last week, my husband and I saw the movie , Blinded by the Light . The movie was based on a true story of a young Pakistani/English man living in a small working class town with big ambitions to be a writer. His life totally changed when he listened to Bruce Springsteen‘s music. The lyrics resonated with the main character and inspired him to pursue his passion in writing rather than what his parents expected of him. His life took on more meaning and he understood that he could have a life outside the confines of his small hometown. I can just hear some of you snicker, “Seriously just by listening to Bruce Springsteen his whole life was opened up ? Come on!!!” But yes this story was true and it really got me thinking about song lyrics. As someone who is married to a devout Bruce Springsteen fan, who has seen “The Boss “in concert on many many occasions with friends and alone , I can attest to the fact that there is definitely something in lyrics that are worth looking into!
Even though I have heard those Springsteen songs many times, after watching the movie I actually was hearing the lyrics for the “first” time. Bruce wrote his music during various times of his life . His words and songs became ” powerful anthums about working class people making their way in the world”. His lyrics speak to people of all backgrounds. The lyrics written for Born to Run were written in New Jersey in early 1974. This song was Bruce Springsteen’s last effort to make it big. The year before, Bruce had released two albums . Whilst they were critically acclaimed, they had very little commercial success.
“The lyrics to the song are appropriately epic for his last-ditch, all-or-nothing shot at the stars, yet they remain rooted in the universal desperation of adolescence: Will you walk with me out on the wire, cause baby I’m just a scared and lonely rider…We gotta get out while we’re young, ‘cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run”
WOW, powerful words indeed and words which I never really heard before. Imagine being on a self growth quest hearing these words! The hope and courage oozing from the lyrics to keep on going is not lost on his fans.
Bruce Springsteen and so many other artists such as Taylor swift are brilliant , talented songwriters that write to their fellow man. People can relate to their lyrics and find that they feel connected and uplifted. Lyrics are an integral part of a song and it is a way to convey messages to people through a non threatening medium. Lyrics are powerful and impactful. Take Pharrell’s “Happy” song, whenever I hear it it definitely makes me happy and want to” clap along” regardless of the mood I am in .
Elton John and so many other successful songwriters and singers wrote their best songs from a place of despair. The lyrics are intoxicating and give many people comfort and support . Not every artist will relate to each person but with so many wonderful songwriters, there is bound to be a song with lyrics that will hit you in a powerful and unexpected way!
Combine the lyrics with music and it is a force to be reckoned with. To be clear here , I am not suggesting that music is not important because often it is the music that can make or break a song regardless of the lyrics .We all know that music is universal and transcends all languages where as lyrics are not if they are written in a language someone does not understand. However,I must repeat that music together with lyrics is a force to be reckoned with.
Never underestimate the power of lyrics.
