Songs With Lyrics That Inspire You

General Music Discussion
#1

What songs have lyrics that really inspire you?

I made this thread after thinking about a song that was one of my best friend’s favorites. He turned me on to this song and I’m glad he did because this is powerful!

Henry Rollins hiself is an inspiring man. He’s done so much with his life - singing in bands, writing books, doing spoken word performances which are incredible, acting in movies.it just goes on and on. He is one productive guy. If you’ve heard his music, his voice, ad he admits this, isn’t a great voice. But he makes the absolute most of it.

I think you got a low self opinion man
I see you standing all by yourself
Unable to express the pain of your distress
You withdraw deeper inside
You alienate yourself
And everybody else
They wonder what’s on your mind
They got so tired of you
And your self ridicule
They wrote you off and left you behind

You sleep alone at night
You never wonder why
All this bitterness wells up inside you
You always victimize
So you can criticize yourself
And all those around you

The hatred you project
Does nothing to protect you
You leave yourself so exposed
You want to open up
When someone says
Lighten up
You find all your doors closed
Get yourself a break from self rejection
Try some introspection
And you just might find
It’s not so bad and anyway
At the end of the day
All you have is yourself and your mind

You sleep alone at night
You never wonder why
All this bitterness wells up inside you
You always victimize
So you can criticize yourself
And all those around you

The self hatred that blinds you
Binds you grinds you keeps you down
The world falls down around you
You build up walls around you
You wear disgust like a crown

If you could see the you that I see
When I see you seeing me
You’d see yourself so differently
Believe me

I know the self doubt that runs inside your mind
I know the self doubt that treats you so unkind

If you could see the you that I see
When I see you
You would see things differently
I assure you

#2

Music does not lead me to introspection, perhaps it takes me to other places… for lyrics, something like this would be something very appealing to me:

#3

In fact… it could be that most of my favorite lyrics are in languages that I don’t understand very well, like this:

#4

Don’t look back
A new day is breakin’
It’s been too long since I felt this way
I don’t mind where I get taken
The road is callin’
Today is the day

I can see
It took so long just to realize
I’m much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I’ll turn it around (Oh, yes I will)

I finally see the dawn arrivin’
I see beyond the road I’m drivin’

It’s a bright horizon and I’m awake now
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin’
The clouds are breakin’
'Cause I can’t lose now, there’s no game to play

I can tell
There’s no more time left to criticize
I’ve seen what I could not recognize
Everything in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong (Oh, yes I can)

I finally see the dawn arrivin’
I see beyond the road I’m drivin’
Far away and left behind (left behind)

Oh, the sun is shinin’
And I’m on that road

Don’t look back
A new day is breakin’
It’s been too long since I felt this way
I don’t mind where I get taken
The road is callin’
Today is the day

I can see
It took so long just to realize
I’m much too strong
Not to compromise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I’ll turn it around (Oh, yes I will)

I finally see the dawn arrivin’
I see beyond the road I’m drivin’
Far away and left behind

Don’t look back
Don’t look back
Don’t look back
Don’t look back

#5

I remember that song! They used to play it on the radio in Washington DC (DC101) a lot. Nice lyrics!

1 Like
#6

and this one…just that repeating chorus

Some things ain’t ever gonna change (Change)
It doesn’t matter who you are
It’s all the same
What’s in your heart will never change

#7

We’re not indestructible
Baby, better get that straight
I think it’s unbelievable
How you give in to the hands of fate

Some things are worth fighting for
Some feelings never die
I’m not askin’ for another chance
I just wanna know why

There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
There’s no easy way out
Giving in can’t be wrong

I don’t wanna pacify
I don’t wanna drag you down
But I’m feeling like a prisoner
Like a stranger in a no name town

I see all the angry faces
Afraid that could be you and me
Talking about what might have been
I’m thinkin’ about what I used to be

There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
There’s no easy way out
Giving in can’t be wrong

Baby, baby, we can shed this skin
We can know how we feel inside
Instead of going down an endless road
Not knowing if we’re dead or alive

Some things are worth fighting for
Some feelings never die
I’m not asking for another chance
I just wanna know why

There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
There’s no easy way out
Giving in, giving in can’t be wrong, no

There’s no easy way out (there’s no easy way out)
There’s no shortcut home (there’s no shortcut home)
There’s no easy way out (there’s no easy, no easy, no easy way out)

There’s no easy way out (there’s no easy way out)
There’s no shortcut home (there’s no shortcut home)
There’s no easy way out (there’s no easy, no easy, no easy way out)

There’s no easy way out
There’s no shortcut home
There’s no easy way out

#8

The original is by Tears for Fears, but my favourite version is a cover by Gary Jules:

#9

Everywhere are hearts and empty hands,
With no one there, to understand,
Future dreams, you’re searching for a clue,
That sun don’t shine, you never mind.

Don’t get too discouraged in this life,
It’s just a game, for now we play.
And soon or later things can work out right
This you must know, just wait and see
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won.

All across the view, hills of desires,
The Knights, the Kings, the Queens, The Squires.
The serenading dreams, bound tears of hope,
They start to fall, keep standing tall.

So, don’t get too discouraged in this life,
It’s just a stage, we act upon.
Soon or later things, they work out right,
The sun will shine, the night will dawn.
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won.

So don’t get too discouraged in this life,
Our thoughts can breathe, sonnets of love.
Soon the winds of change will make it right,
This you must know, just wait and see.
And after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won–

In this life,
We’ll set the sail, inside above.
Soon or later things they work out right
This you must know, just wait and see.
Lord, after everything is said and done,
This can be another battle we have won

2 Likes
#10

Those are some nice lyrics. I hadn’t heard of this before. Interesting.

#11

Bob Dylan - “Most of the Time” - from “Oh Mercy”

Most of the time
I’m clear focused all around
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground
I can follow the path
I can read the signs
Stay right with it
When the road unwinds
I can handle whatever
I stumble upon
I don’t even notice
She’s gone
Most of the time

Most of the time
It’s well understood
Most of the time
I wouldn’t change it if I could
I can make it all match up
I can hold my own
I can deal with the situation
Right down to the bone
I can survive,
And I can endure
And I don’t even think
About her
Most of the time

Most of the time
My head is on straight
Most of the time
I’m strong enough not to hate
I don’t build up illusion
'till it makes me sick
I ain’t afraid of confusion
No matter how thick
I can smile in the face
Of mankind
Don’t even remember
What her lips felt like on mine
Most of the time

Most of the time
She ain’t even in my mind
I wouldn’t know her if I saw her
She’s that far behind
Most of the time
I can’t even be sure
If she was ever with me
Or if I was ever with her

Most of the time
I’m halfway content
Most of the time
I know exactly where it all went
I don’t cheat on myself
I don’t run and hide
Hide from the feelings
That are buried inside
I don’t compromise
And I don’t pretend
I don’t even care
If I ever see her again
Most of the time

Leonard Cohen - “The Letters” - from “Dear Heather”

You never liked to get
The letters that I sent.
But now you’ve got the gist
Of what my letters meant.

You’re reading them again,
The ones you didn’t burn.
You press them to your lips,
My pages of concern.

I said there’d been a flood.
I said there’s nothing left.
I hoped that you would come.
I gave you my address.

Your story was so long,
The plot was so intense,
It took you years to cross
The lines of self-defense.

The wounded forms appear:
The loss, the full extent;
And simple kindness here,
The solitude of strength.

You walk into my room.
You stand there at my desk,
Begin your letter to
The one who’s coming next.

1 Like
#12

I got the devil on my shoulder- hollering- beating his red wing
Saying “polly wanna dollar, I don’t care if you can sing”
And “put down that guitar, now, darlin’, you can’t really play it
Don’t matter what you got to say- you don’t know how to say it”

Mama told me, don’t let go the ground
Somebody hold me, hold me down

What’s this coming? what’s this coming? coming over me
I can’t stand myself, I can’t even stand on my own feet

These ones are going into a hidden thingy until you’ve heard the song:

Summary

What do we have that they should want?
We have a wall to work upon!
We have work and they have none
And our work is never done
My children, my children
And the war is never won
The enemy is poverty
And the wall keeps out the enemy
And we build the wall to keep us free
That’s why we build the wall
We build the wall to keep us free

We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
We are choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside
This holy reality, this holy experience.
Choosing to be here in

This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal
All this pain is an illusion.

#13

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)

I drive these brothers crazy,
I do it on the daily,
They treat me really nicely,
They buy me all these ices.
Dolce & Gabbana,
Fendi and NaDonna
Karan, they be sharin’
All their money got me wearin’ fly
But I ain’t askin,
They say they love my ass in,
Seven Jeans, True Religion’s,
I say no, but they keep givin’
So I keep on takin’
And no I ain’t taken
We can keep on datin’
I keep on demonstrating.

My love, my love, my love, my love
You love my lady lumps,
My hump, my hump, my hump,
My humps they got u,
She’s got me spending.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me and spending time on me.
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me, up on me, on me

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
What u gon’ do with all that ass?
All that ass inside them jeans?
I’m a make, make, make, make you scream
Make u scream, make you scream.
Cos of my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely lady lumps. (Check it out)

I met a girl down at the disco.
She said hey, hey, hey yea let’s go.
I could be your baby, you can be my honey
Let’s spend time not money.
I mix your milk wit my cocoa puff,
Milky, milky cocoa,
Mix your milk with my cocoa puff, milky, milky riiiiiiight.

They say I’m really sexy,
The boys they wanna sex me.
They always standing next to me,
Always dancing next to me,
Tryin’ a feel my hump, hump.
Lookin’ at my lump, lump.
U can look but you can’t touch it,
If you touch it I’ma start some drama,
You don’t want no drama,
No, no drama, no, no, no, no drama
So don’t pull on my hand boy,
You ain’t my man, boy,
I’m just tryn’a dance boy,
And move my hump.

My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump.
My lovely lady lumps (lumps)
My lovely lady lumps (lumps)
My lovely lady lumps (lumps)
In the back and in the front (lumps)
My lovin’ got u,
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me and spending time on me.
She’s got me spendin’.
(Oh) Spendin’ all your money on me, up on me, on me.

What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
What you gon’ do with all that ass?
All that ass inside them jeans?
I’ma make, make, make, make you scream
Make you scream, make you scream.
What you gon do with all that junk?
All that junk inside that trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get you drunk,
Get you love drunk off this hump.
What you gon’ do wit all that breast?
All that breast inside that shirt?
I’ma make, make, make, make you work
Make you work, work, make you work.

She’s got me spendin’.
Spendin all your money on me and spendin’ time on me
She’s got me spendin’.
Spendin’ all your money on me, up on me, on me.

[Will.i.am]
So Real [x17]

1 Like
#14

It is the fire that lights itself
But it burns with a restless flame
The arrow on a moving target
The archer must be sure of his aim

It is the engine that drives itself
But it chooses the uphill climb
A bearing on magnetic north
Growing farther away all the time

Can’t stop moving
Can’t stop moving
Can’t stop…

You may be right
It’s all a waste of time
I guess that’s just a chance I’m prepared to take
A danger I’m prepared to face
Cut to the chase

It is the rocket that ignites itself
And launches its way to the stars
A driver on a busy freeway
Racing the oblivious cars

It’s the motor of the western world
Spinning off to every extreme
Pure as a lover’s desire
Evil as a murderer’s dream

Young enough not to care too much
About the way things used to be
I’m young enough to remember the future
The past has no claim on me

I’m old enough not to care too much
About what you think of me
But I’m young enough to remember the future
And the way things ought to be

Cut
Cut…

Cut to the chase
You may be right
It’s all a waste of time
I guess that’s just a chance I’m prepared to take
A danger I’m prepared to face
Cut to the chase
What kind of difference can one person make?
Cut to the chase

#15

Wow, this is a really facinating topic for me as I generally make zero effort in listening to lyrics. Most songs I listen to, I haven’t got a damn clue what the song is about lol (unless its blatently in the song title or if the song is say a literal narration of a story), but even if I do I can’t say that off the top of my head I can think if any really inspiring ones. I know its bad, but I generally get all the vibes from the music and how the vocals are delivered. My soul must be dead!

Anyway, no need to get distracted, keep posting peeps!

#16

I like this thread!

The first verse, at least, is

"And the lamp doesn’t burn // and the calendars lie // and if you’ve long wanted to tell me something // just say it

Any deceitful sound // is worse than silence // when a glass of wine falls from your hands // in the middle of a party"

Annnnnd:

Rough translations of lyrics are in the video description.

Russian “bard songs” have a tradition of beautiful bleak lyrics, especially Vysotskij. Really the best reason to study Russian.

#17

As a man of a certain age this inspires me.
It could be easily laughed off but someone took the time to do it so I listened and while I wouldn’t bump it in the hood it’s got a good message imho.
1 Like
#18

I’m a huge fan of hip-hop, and as it’s a genre particularly focused on lyrics, I could suggest many great songs and artists, but I’ll focus on one here!

One of my favorite artists is Kendrick Lamar. He won the Pulitzer for music last year for his album DAMN. and I think it’s well deserved. From the NYT:

not only the first rapper to win the award since the Pulitzers expanded to music in 1943, but he is also the first winner who is not a classical or jazz musician.

Definitely recommend all his albums. This song in particular is very inspirational:

Some other favorite lyricists include: Nas, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def, Run the Jewels. Just recently saw a great concert with Sammus and Open Mike Eagle, two more very impressive rappers / lyricists.

3 Likes
#19

I don’t know a lot about rap but there’s a band I like that has an almost rap like approach to their vocals - it’s really quite unlike any other band I’ve heard. The band is Clutch and this is Rock 'n Roll Outlaw

In the north they call us Rebels,
In the south they call us Yankees,
Because every other sucker’s born to do the hokey pokey
With the skillet lickin’ time keepers,
The grinning reapers
Of a missionary rock star.

You can rock it like Sir Sisyphus,
But even in it’s genesis
It’s really quite ridiculous,
'Lectric hobo, so now you know
Not to clock the Weeble Wobble hot rod gang,
Revelator big bang.

You can’t hang with the heavinesses hung
Among the houses of the rising tongue.
No fun to crack the axle,
But it’s got to be done
Because whenever you wobble the weebles
You know that they get ticked off.

And in the season of boll-weevil speaking evil in your ear,
And a pile of manure fertilizing all your fears,
We yabbadabbadoo all the way to Shangri-la.
Here it is with the rock and roll outlaw.

Where rock is criminal, criminals rock.
Where rock is criminal, they rock like this.
Where rock is criminal, criminals rock.
Where rock is criminal, they rock like this.

Hee haw, hee haw, hee haw, hee haw,
I’m a rock and roll outlaw.Where rock is criminal, criminals rock.
Where rock is criminal, they rock like this.

#20

Great pick. This album is super intense.