"STAND OR FALL" THE FIXX (1982)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 26

Those singles – “Stand or Fall” and “Red Skies” – from The Fixx’s debut album are like a blast from the past. They weren’t close to charting in the Top 40, but I discovered them via MTV and later rediscovered them on my local alt rock station WDRE/WLIR, which had a heavy dose of new wave anthems. What was great about “Stand or Fall” besides its razor sharp guitar hooks and ominous synth riffs is that the lyrics had substance. It wasn’t another teenage romance song helplessly stuck inside some John Hughes universe. With its political rant, it ran on conviction, not hormones.

“Is this the value of our existence? Should we proclaim with such persistence? Our destiny relies on conscience. Red or blue, what's the difference? Stand or fall, state your peace tonight.”

"WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE" LED ZEPPELIN (1969)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 25

That magical blend of blues and hard rock, as if the two genres are slowly making love. That’s what I love most about Led Zeppelin. Plant’s presence is powerful in every song in their extensive catalog – from the ballads to the bangers. I also tend to lean toward the tracks where Page was ripping mind-blowing guitar riffs while Bonzo pounded away on the drums like lightning. But “What Is And What Should Never Be” roped me in with Jonesy’s melodic bass line, paired with such magnificent words.

“And if I say to you tomorrow, ‘Take my hand, child come with me. It's to a castle I will take you. Where what's to be, they say will be.’”

"HOLOCENE" BON IVER (2011)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 24

The lyrics and musicality are joined at the hip in “Holocene”. The union of these two elements is so strong that Justin Vernon’s falsetto murmur feels like another atmospheric instrumental element being played on the track, not sung. Like much of Bon Iver’s catalog, it’s the kind of song that contains a greater power and exudes a deeper resonance when you play it in the middle of the night. “Holocene” just seems to feel at home when there are no other sounds to distract it or us.

“Hulled far from the highway aisle. Jagged vacance, thick with ice. I could see for miles, miles, miles.”

"ORIGINAL SIN" INXS (1984)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 23

Man, I loved this era of INXS music. The guitar riffs are perfectly placed, making their presence known but never overpowering the rest of the music. Pengilly’s sax always finding a way to seamless enter every song without ever feeling forced. On “Original Sin”, Hutchence showed that he wasn’t afraid to go against the grain in his lyrics, deliberately talking about an interracial relationship when that sorta thing was frowned upon in those times. The Swing wasn’t the greatest INXS record by any stretch, but “Original Sin” as a single is one of their finest.

“Dream on black boy. Dream on white girl. And wake up to a brand new day. To find your dreams have washed away.”

"LOST IN THE SUPERMARKET" THE CLASH (1979)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 22

Is that a disco rhythm we hear? This isn’t the anti-establishment, Brit punk outfit we know and love. On “Lost in the Supermarket”, The Clash went far beyond its comfort zone, stretching itself musically. My favorite track off London Calling, Track 8 is a wry commentary on suburban alienation. The lyrics and the way in which they are sung are unforgettable. It may not sound anything like a punk rock song, but therein lies its punk rock essence. The refusal to simply follow suit.

“I'm all lost in the supermarket. I can no longer shop happily. I came in here for that special offer. A guaranteed personality.”

"LUNA" THE SMASHING PUMPKINS (1993)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 21

Languid. Dreamy. Mysterious. On an album stockpiled with alternative bangers, “Luna” ended Siamese Dream like a song for the wee hours. The final jam. It’s one of my favorites from one of the greatest albums of that early 90s grunge - alternative rock era. Corgan’s words had a lot to do with it. A moonlit moment with a lover – and the music that brings them together.

“And those moonsongs that you sing your babies will be the songs to see you through.”

"FEEL YOU" MY MORNING JACKET (2020)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 20

I ignored the early recommendations from other music fans that I should check out My Morning Jacket. A grave mistake given how deep their catalog is and how spectacular Jim James’ songwriting abilities are. I was turned off by the band name. But once I dove in, I was all in. One of my favorite songs from the band came from the original Waterfall recordings in 2015. The song was rediscovered during the pandemic and released as part of Waterfall II. The guitar work is certainly a highlight, but the lyrics are the heart of the song. The words in “Feel You” almost doesn’t quite make sense because often love doesn’t quite make sense either.

“Are we under covers raining blood? REM covers, reign in blood. And all I want to do is feel you.”

"1963" NEW ORDER (1987)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 19

One of my favorite b-sides of all time. The highlight for me on “1963” are the lyrics. This just might be the most well-written song from Bernard Sumner. He created a peculiar fictional narrative around J.F.K., Marilyn Monroe and Lee Harvey Oswald that showcased brilliant storytelling. Then, musically, Sumner’s shimmery riffs give way to Gillian Gilbert’s synth grooves that toggle between dreamy and doom, which worked perfectly with the narrative.

“He told me to close my eyes. My gift would be a great surprise. I saw hatred in his eyes. But he never meant to hurt me.”

"PERFECT DAY" LOU REED (1972)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 18

Is it about romance or addiction? It really doesn’t matter. No matter how you interpret it, “Perfect Day” is hauntingly, achingly beautiful, yet it possesses this unassuming nature. This is where Lou Reed has thrived in his songwriting the most – both in his solo work and with The Velvet Underground. He takes these seemingly everyday moments and gives them a weight that seems unbearable at times. While I love the orchestral instrumentation of the song, it’s the lyrics and Reed’s delivery that are the most powerful elements in “Perfect Day”.

“Just a perfect day. You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else, someone good.”

"FROM THE EDGE OF THE DEEP GREEN SEA" THE CURE (1992)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 17

I could’ve picked from dozens and dozens of different Cure songs to highlight Robert Smith’s unique ability to capture a spectrum of emotions in his lyrics like no one else. Far more complex than just doom & gloom on one end and euphoria on another, Smith understands that human emotions are much more complex and nuanced than that as the closing lines in “From The Edge of the Deep Green Sea” indicate in its feedback-soaked abyss.

“It's always the same. Wake up in the rain. Head in pain. Hung in shame. A different name. Same old game. Love in vain. And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles away from home again.”

"YES I'M CHANGING" TAME IMPALA (2015)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 16

The synth-heavy instrumentation on Currents weaves in and out in a dream state. Many of the songs feel like we’ve unwillingly entered Parker’s head. Once inside, he reveals his thoughts on relationships and identity like pages out of a journal. Yet, “Yes I’m Changing” is also written like a defense statement. Assured, clarifying and maybe a touch too defensive. And I have been able to completely relate to this at different points in my life.

“I was raging, it was late. In the world my demons cultivate, I felt the strangest emotion. But it wasn't hate, for once.”

"TAME" PIXIES (1989)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 15

Ordinary bands sing their lyrics. But the Pixies is no ordinary band. The instrumentation on “Tame” is irresistible with those chunky bass lines and the industrial cacophony on guitar. But the vocals are the centerpiece. This is Black Francis, so rather than sing his lyrics, he whispers, screams and growls his way through two short verses and peaces out in just under two minutes. The words are memorable, but more significantly, it’s the way in. which he delivers them that’s truly unforgettable.

“Got hips like Cinderella. Must be having a good shame. Talking sweet about nothing. Cookie I think you're tame.”

"ALL I WANT" TOAD THE WET SPROCKET (1991)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 14

As I continue to highlight some of my favorite song lyrics this month, I feel inevitably drawn to songs that I often sing along to. Because they just might be the songs with the most powerful lyrics. In 1991, Toad The Wet Sprocket released Fear, an album where I wasn’t just a listener. I was invited in as a participant. The lyrics of “All I Want” are invigorating and liberating with every syllable from the first verse to the end chorus.

“Nothing's so loud as hearing when we lie. The truth is not kind. And you've said neither am I. But the air outside so soft is saying everything. Everything.”

"LOST CAUSE" BECK (2002)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 13

Sad, introspective songs aren’t usually the kind of songs that make you want to sing along. But that’s not the case for me with “Lost Cause” and many of the tracks on Sea Change. It’s easy to sing along to Beck’s personal and melancholy lyrics with these stripped-down, melodic songs. “Lost Cause” feels like a ride on a never-ending carousel. There’s a monotonous rhythm to the song that’s the perfect musical bed for some of Beck’s most personal songs.

“Your sorry eyes cut through the bone. They make it hard to leave you alone. Leave you here wearing your wounds. Waving your guns at somebody new.”

"ALIVE AND KICKING" SIMPLE MINDS (1985)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 12

This is one of the most uplifting songs of the era and one of my favorite Simple Minds anthems. It came on the heels of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, but this one was actually written by Kerr and his bandmates. There are quite a few gems on the entire Once Upon A Time album, including “All The Things She Said” and “Sanctify Yourself”, but this is the one that has had the most staying power. The height of the lyrics lies in the soulful transition between the verses and the chorus.

“What you gonna do when things go wrong? What you gonna do when it all cracks up? What you gonna do when the love burns down? What you gonna do when the flames go up? Who is gonna come and turn the tide? What's it gonna take to make a dream survive? Who's got the touch to calm the storm inside? Who's gonna save you?

"MOTHER" PINK FLOYD (1979)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 11

Of all the great Pink Floyd songs out there – and there are a lot – this is the one whose lyrics never fail to escape me. It had one-liners that had me in stitches, and it had some of The Wall’s most endearing moments. In 9th grade, I must’ve listened to The Wall and watched the movie a hundred times. I didn’t fully understand what the wall was, but the music was helping me to break down my own walls. “Mother” begins with a deep breath before settling in to a series of unforgettable questions and assurances.

“Mother should I build the wall? Mother should I run for President? Mother should I trust the government? Mother will they put me in the firing mine? Ooh ah, Is it just a waste of time?”

"TENUOUSNESS" ANDREW BIRD (2008)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 10

The whistling. The string instruments. The wit. There are many aspects to Andrew Bird’s music that draw me to the music, including his way with words. They can be complex and hard to decipher at times. Many of his songs include long, complicated words, like a modern-day “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. I rarely can repeat the words back, but my ears are glued every single time. “Tenuousness” is one of those classics where Bird started to really play with the sounds and flow of words, not just their meanings.

“From proto-Sanskrit Minoans to Porto-centric Lisboans. Greek Cypriots and harbor sorts who hang around in ports a lot, uh huh.”

"SPACE ODDITY" DAVID BOWIE (1969)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 9

It’s right up there with the most memorable rock & roll lyrics of all time. The thing that made it stand out was that the lyrics themselves defied the established norms of rock lyrics. “Space Oddity” was brilliant because it wasn’t merely a song, it was a story whose words made us imagine Major Tom floating in space. We could actually picture it. “Space Oddity” was more like a novel or movie than a rock song.

“Take your protein pills and put your helmet on. Ground Control to Major Tom (ten, nine, eight, seven, six). Commencing countdown, engines on (five, four, three). Check ignition and may God's love be with you (two, one, liftoff).”

"MR. BRIGHTSIDE" THE KILLERS (2004)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 8

When Hot Fuss came out in 2004, I felt like I was reliving the glory of 80’s new wave all over again. I was back in heaven with those shimmery synth riffs. And Brandon Flowers’ lyrics made for anecdotes that you could really sing along to. Everyone knows the opening guitar chords to the song, but once Flowers starts singing, that’s where the magic happens. Because we join in and sing along, too.

“Jealousy, turning saints into the sea. Swimming through sick lullabies. Choking on your alibis. But it's just the price I pay. Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes cause I'm Mr Brightside.”

"TIME HAS TOLD ME" NICK DRAKE (1969)

I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #31DaySongLyricChallenge

Day 7

For me, at least, the late blooming career of Nick Drake feels more like discovering hidden treasure on a long voyage than wondering and regretting while we didn’t reach shore earlier. His three-album catalog is a gift full of minor key melodies and wise-beyond-his-years lyrics – delivered in his rich, oaky baritone. “Time Has Told Me” is written like it came from an older, reflective man, but Nick was in his twenties when he penned it. They are words that remind us to never stop being content in the right relationship.

“Your tears they tell me there's really no way of ending your troubles with things you can say.

And time will tell you to stay by my side to keep on trying 'til there's no more to hide.”