I once read something that said we enjoy the beat of a song when we’re happy and lyrics when we’re sad. I used to think that was insanely accurate. It blew my mind. I understood what they’re saying, when I’m jamming in the car with the windows down I look for songs with a good sound, and when I’m sad I pay close attention to the lyrics of all the songs on my feels playlist (shameless plug). However, I also have found myself really enjoying the lyrics to some of my favorite hype and happy songs. Moral of the story is this, lyrics make us feel. Whether that’s a good or bad feeling, when you finish the song, you feel different. Maybe you’ve gained a new perspective on a topic. Maybe even learned something about yourself through that song, because let’s be real, artists are constantly trying to write songs that relate to us, and most of the time they succeed.

So, I asked you all on my Instagram story to tell me songs that make YOU feel.

There was a wide range of answers, from really…really sad songs that I almost wanted to leave out because the lyrics just HURT. There were also a few happy, upbeat songs that you jam in your car riding down backroads in the middle of the night. There was however a common trend…Miss Taylor Swift. Seriously I think half of the songs answered were hers.

God what a lyrical genius she is.

ANYWAYS! I will be sharing some of the responses, but first, let’s start with a few songs that have a special place in my heart.

1. Vienna – Billy Joel

The first time I heard this song, I fell in love. A song about growing up and getting old. Honestly, I thought I would hate it because growing up is a touchy subject with me. Pleasantly surprised with how much it moved me, the song moved up in the ranks and has landed it’s way onto the top. Yes, this is my favorite song of all time.

So let’s dive in!

Slow down you crazy child
You’re so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you’re so smart tell me,
Why are you still so afraid? (mmmmm)

Damn, right off the bat. I couldn’t leave even cut it down because this whole verse is like…wow. I know I always preach the whole you could die tomorrow, so live your life now. However, this song always reminds me that I do have a whole life ahead of me, so I have to slow down and catch my breath. When he says, “if you’re so smart, why are you still so afraid”, I think to myself how he got it so right. I always see myself as an ambitious, independent person, yet I’m still scared to grow up. Something about living my own life outside of my family and my small town is so exciting yet so terrifying.

But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You’re gonna kick off before you even get halfway through (Oooh)
When will you realize… Vienna waits for you?

You can get what you want, or you can just get old. The truth. THE TRUTH!!!! Seriously I repeat this lyric to myself all the time. Although this song is about slowing down and realizing that you have time, it’s also about making the best of that time. You can get what you want by working hard and accomplishing your dreams or….well you can just grow up, and be old. Nothing special about it.

SO! We all realize now that Vienna waits for us. Old age = Vienna (supposedly).

You got your passion, you got your pride
But don’t you know that only fools are satisfied?

Did you think it couldn’t get any better? Well you’re wrong. Billy said shut up and listen. Seriously this is some good stuff. Only fools are satisfied! I honestly was sad when I heard this first like….I’m never going to be happy with my life? Then I realized that to me, this lyric essentially is saying that you’re never going to be 100% satisfied with your choices, accomplishments, whatever it is, AND THAT IT’S OKAY. You have to slow down and enjoy what you have. Again, Vienna will wait for you.

Slow down you crazy child
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It’s alright, you can afford to lose a day or two (oooh)

Okay okay, last verse I’m going to talk about. I really did leave out a bunch of good stuff because I was afraid you would get bored. So go listen to this song so you can take it all in.

OKAY! In this world full of screens and technology, it’s hard to take a step back from it all. Especially with COVID, it’s really hard to just have a technology detox. I do think this verse really resonates with me though. Take a break from your phone and just live. It’s okay to lose a day to just slow down. This is something I really do have to tell myself because I’ve always been a go go go kinda gal. I like my life moving fast and I try to soak up every single second, afraid I’m going to miss something. These lyrics are my reminder to slow down.

2. It’s Not The Same Anymore – Rex Orange County

I know I know, MEGAN WHY? Why would you remind me how horribly sad this song is. Well, this blog post is all about lyrics that make us feel, and boy does this one make me feel.

I’ll keep the pictures saved in a safe place
Wow, I look so weird here
My face has changed now
It’s a big shame
So many feelings, struggling to leave my mouth
And it’s not that rare for me to let myself down
In a big way

Another first verse that just catches you by surprise. The first time I heard this song I was like oh wow! That hurt! The amount of times I’ve come across pictures from the past and just thought I look so weird here (thank you snapchat memories *eyeroll*). So that lyric was just very very relatable to a lot of people I think. Then there’s, “so many feelings, struggling to leave my mouth and it’s not that rare for me to let myself down”. Yeah, that’s a punch to the gut. Ouch. It’s so painfully relatable that you feel your eyes welling up.

But I had enough time and I found enough reason to accept that
It’s not the same anymore
I lost the joy in my face
My life was simple before
I should be happy, of course
But things just got much harder

Yes, the chorus is just as sad. Well, honestly it kinda just makes you sit there and think. It’s not the same anymore. How much more accurate could that be right now? In our current world? In this pandemic? As positive as I can try and be, as we all can try and be, we have to admit how different our lives are now.

I just feel like this whole chorus is a whole lot of, “well I tried to be positive but when you put it that way, yes! I am sad! I did loose the joy in my face! Life was much simpler before!”. Honestly as sad as that is, you kind of have to admit it. Before you can make any changes to your mental health, you have to admit that there’s an issue to begin with. Anyways, this lyrics are just very sad, yet almost encouraging? He’s just admitting that life isn’t the same as it was. Admitting that as we grow up, things ultimately get harder. I’m obviously sad when I hear the song, but after I just sit there and think, I might as well try and make this new, different life a little better for myself.

3. Long Live – Taylor Swift

There were a million Taylor songs to choose from that had more phenomenal, mind-blowing lyrics than this one. However, I think being fully virtual for junior year makes this song that more excruciating to hear. Although I may have a senior year, just thinking about missing out on these years sucks. Of course, there is so much to be grateful for I know…but let me listen to Taylor and wallow for a little bit, okay?

I said, remember this moment, in the back of my mind
The time we stood with our shaking hands
The crowds in stands went wild
We were the kings and the queens
And they read off our names
The night you danced like you knew our lives
Would never be the same

I seriously don’t think I have to analyze this for you all to get it right?! Although I’m excited to get out of the small, football town I live in, so I can truly blossom into the person I want to become, it hurts to leave those memories behind that I’ll never relive.

I said, remember this feeling
I passed the pictures around
Of all the years that we stood there
On the side-lines wishing for right now
We are the kings and the queens
You traded your baseball cap for a crown
When they gave us our trophies
And we held them up for our town

Again, more lyrics about reminiscing on memories that make me wanna take a deep dive into my snapchat memories. Ouch. THIS SONG JUST HURTS ALRIGHT.

I was going to include the chorus and talk about that but you all should know it. If you don’t, go listen….at your own risk. Anyways, I’m actually crying right now so….moving onto my honorable mentions.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Fine Line – Harry Styles: AN HONORABLE MENTION? For Harry? Harry Sty- YES! Harry Styles is an honorable mention for the sole reason that I couldn’t dissect this song without breaking down. However, I’m thinking of doing another blog post like this and I will push through it if you’d like me to write about this song.

The Spins – Mac Miller: Don’t ask why my favorite songs are honorable mentions. Anyways this is my go to song for a good beat AND lyrics. Bars on bars on bars. This song literally takes the cake for best song to break the sound system in your car!

YOUR SONGS

Now, here are some of the songs you all mentioned!

Ivy – Frank Ocean: I could have literally written an entire post about Frank Ocean’s discography, and I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t include any songs by him in here? There is just so many songs I feel an emotional connection to so I’m thinking I’ll have to write another post. Anyways, this song is a masterpiece, and another song that gets you on the first verse: “I thought that I was dreaming when you said you loved me”.

Walking In The Wind – One Direction: Yeah. I really can’t talk about this song. It’s just….ouch….but also makes me smile? I have mixed feelings.

Illicit Affairs – Taylor Swift: “And you know damn well for you I would ruin myself”. That’s all you need to know if you haven’t listened to this masterpiece yet.

ALRIGHT! If you read this whole blog post, either you’re a music person and are interested in what I have to say (wow thank you), you are really really sad (I love you), or you’re my parents (hi mom and dad!). I love music, lyrics, and how they make us feel. So, here I am, writing about how they make me feel. If you liked today’s post, please let me know. I’d love to do more like this because there are just so many beautifully crafted songs I could talk about. Also, I do recognize that everyone hears a different meaning, this is just how I interpret them. That’s the beautiful thing about music. It can mean one thing to me, but something completely different to you.

xoxo, megs