We all know that memes are a big part of society today. We’d be lying if we argued otherwise. Almost everyone has seen one. Many have seen hundreds. One that I rarely see, but strongly agree with, are the music lyric memes.

Most of us always have a powerful connection to the music we listened to in our youth. There are a lot of reasons for that. I feel like I am the last generation to be able to argue that the lyrics ‘in their day’ were intelligent. Poetic, even. And while I admit there were some lyrics growing up that were cringe-worthy, it’s nothing like today. Want some examples? I can even stay within given genres and categories!

There is just enough Christ in me To make me feel almost
guilty Is that why God made us breed To make us see
we’re Humans Being You break this,
I’ll break all that You break my balls with all your
crap Spread your disease like lemmings breeding That’s
what makes us Humans Being Shine on,
Shine on Shine on, Shine on Some low life flat head
scum infects The sickness in his eyes reflects You
wonder why your life is screaming Wonder why your Humans
Being Shine on, Shine on Shine on,
Shine on Humans Humans Being We’re just Humans,
Humans Being That’s what makes us Humans Being……..

-Van Halen (Best of Van Halen 1996)
 
VS
 
(ho!) I don’t think you’re right for him
(hey!) Look at what it might have been if you
(ho!) Took the bus to china town
(hey!) I’ve been standing on Canal
(ho!) And Bowery (hey!)
(ho!) And she’d be standing next to me (hey!)

-The Lumineers (2012)
*Catchy song? Yes, but it’s less like poetry and more like putting a conversation you once had to music.
 
How about pop music?
 
Life goes on as it never ends
Eyes of stone observe the trends
They never say forever gaze if only…
Guilty roads to an endless love
(Endless love)
There’s no control
Are you with me now
Your every wish will be done

-Backstreet Boys (1999)
 
VS
 
Swag, swag, swag, on you
Chilling by the fire why we eating fondue
I dunno about me but I know about you
So say hello to falsetto in three, two swag

-Justin Bieber (2012)
 
How about country?
 
Oh you get me ready in your 56 Chevy
Why don’t we go sit down in the shade?
Take shelter on my front porch
The dandy lion sun scorching,
Like a glass of cold lemonade?
I will do the laundry if you pay all the bills.

Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie sun?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the Cowboys gone?

-Paula Cole (1996)
 
VS
 
Oh, Oh
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble.
Oh, Oh
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble.

No apologies, he’ll never see you cry,
Pretends he doesn’t know that he’s the reason why.

You’re drowning
You’re drowning
You’re drowning

Now I heard you moved on, from whispers on the street,
A new notch in your belt is all I’ll ever be.
And now I see,
now I see,
now I see.

-Taylor Swift (2012)
 
These are only three examples, and of course there are many more. Obviously there are also exceptions. However, it seems as though most of the exceptions I can think of are artists who have been around a minimum of 10 years. Hell, even teeny boppers in the 80s and 90s had a little intelligence in their songs. Not anymore! Today, I listen to my favorite radio station waiting for the new artist who are already getting along in age and the throwback music they play alongside new stuff.
 
I believe me, I know there were plenty of empty lyrics as a grew up, but the artists I’ve grown to love over the years seem very with it. They use symbolism and intrigue in their music. One artist in particular, The Goo Goo Dolls. Even their new material is full of thought. They use figurative language in every song they make. They have imagination.
 
I’m sure not everyone will agree me wholly on this, especially anyone under the age of 18, but that’s why I’m here. I get to say what I think without getting slammed.