Article written by Rory Hawkins (literature) and Caitlyn Saliba (guest writing for Music).
Coming to you faithful readers as an all-time first collaboration between ourselves, Literature’s Rory and Editor-in-Boss Caitlyn, on something we’re both extremely passionate about: lyrics. We’ll explore our thoughts and opinions on lyrics, both in general and in songs that piqued our interest. We’re happy to have an all-Australian cast of examples! Thanks to cultural tastes, local music scenes and the likes of Triple J, Australia is home to a stunning number of lyricists (yes, that is a word!).
Rory:
Music is my best coping mechanism. When life gets shitty or I don’t know what to do or think, my first step is finding music to match how I feel. Lyrics are a big part of that. Now, I’m a literal person, so I try to find artists that carry a clearer version of whatever mess is going on in my head. Upbeat? Bopping to MisterWives. Wallowing? Bingeing Damien Rice.
It goes without saying how classical music is so different to other genres. Listen to Holst’s The Planets: Jupiter – the grand scope and scale an orchestra creates. But it doesn’t feel intimate. We can’t make music seem as personal or thought-driven without lyrics to voice a story or feelings. They may not be everything, but lyrics are important to music because they can make a song all that much better.
Kat:
Music is different to me. Due to my industry ties here in Brisbane, in my eyes it’s much more like a business. Lyrics become make or break for any band or artist.
When done right, lyrics can take us on a journey, through the artist’s life or even just through a specific event or idea. Others are meaningless and make no sense whatsoever – they’re just another sound that suits. I think you can see which one I prefer.
I agree that the most important thing for lyrics to do in a song is to make their audience have that personal connect, relate to them. It needs to look personal enough coming from whoever’s performing – fans see an intimate side that makes them feel closer to the band or artist. That’s super important because when someone feels personally connected to an artist or band, whether through shared experiences or ideas, they are more likely to be devoted listeners and followers of everything they do.
Vance Joy, Riptide.
Kat:
The melody’s not only super relaxed but also upbeat, which is a balance truly hard to master in a song. Vance Joy’s tone is almost like an unconventional lullaby, but it suits the ukulele perfectly. The line “I just wanna know / If you’re gonna stay… I can’t have it any other way” definitely tells the story of these two people in the song and how they feel about each other. “I swear she’s destined for the screens / Closest thing to Michelle Pfiefer that you’ve ever seen oh” sounds so personal and picturesque, it’s hard not to fall in love with this song's story.
Rory:
With just this release, I think Vance Joy cemented himself as the Australian Jack Johnson (Better Together, Banana Pancakes). Vocals follow that easy beach-music theme, but for me it’s particular lyrics that tweak it in a personal direction: “I was scared of dentists and the dark / I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations off.”
From the first line, you’ve already got that quirky, awkward tone that Vance Joy and Riptide do so well together. Whether writing music for yourself or others, fitting the tone of a voice to lyrics is necessary in giving a song a naturally personal edge. Seeing all of the song written out though, it isn’t much.
Too much repetition in places betrays one of the reasons why it was and still is so popular across mainstream radio. You have to admit though, it’s catchy. Lyrically, Riptide sounds great and does well in keeping to what we expect and enjoy.
Gang of Youths, Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane
Kat:
The guitar sounds very rock, and yet most of the time the instrumental is so laid back and relaxed. For me, the lyrics were hard to understand – half the time, they’re mumbled. Rolling Stone Australia describes it as: “A haunting seven-and-a-half-minute ballad that extends to nearly nine minutes if the preceding instrumental “L'imaginaire” is included. Front man Dave Le'aupepe “recounts a recurring dream in which his imaginary wife and child are killed in a car accident while he’s at home, drunk in the basement.”
The story in this song is so tragic, but at the same time so baffling. I can’t even begin to explain the amount of tears that flowed, this being my first time listening to the song.
Whether intended or just the darkest of subconscious fears, I think the song includes a few very important messages to listeners. For one, alcoholism is a real problem. I think this song so clearly displays the horrific possibilities that sometimes it’s hard to listen, understand and act upon it.
Rory:
I think Gang of Youths’ sound is something all their own. To me, how they use lyrics and melody to play off each other really sets their music apart. Instruments play steadily, but for the most part are almost a backdrop to Le’aupepe’s voice. Yet they still use his tone as if it’s simply another instrument – and I agree with that.
As much as I like listening, I don’t think his vocals are powerful enough to always carry the song. But this way, his lyricism comes as a blessing. Range at a lullaby tone, for me it’s more like poetry put to music: “I live with this girl and our kid / I’m happy as a pig rolled in sh*t / It’s postcard, I’m settled, a pirate no more / A gypsy at most with no mortgage.”
If anything, it lets him charge the words he wants with more audible emotion, rather than just using the spectacle of their volume. Having meaningful lyrics that somehow still fit to rock keeps me listening. Rather than using lyrics to showcase the singer’s range, Gang of Youths lets Le’aupepe show how their substance can contend with the rest of a song.
Gotye feat. Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know
Kat:
I absolutely love the little intro to this; it’s so unique and upbeat. The song tells the story of a failed relationship, from both sides. The video clip, however strange it might have been, has little to no relation to the song itself. The monotone feeling of the verses contrasts beautifully with the upbeat, high range chorus.
The music itself does the same. While somewhat simplistic in the verses, it gains momentum throughout the song, as does the singing. “Now and then I think of all the times you’ve screwed me over” is possibly the most relatable line in this entire song. Everyone’s been in a relationship like this. This is carried throughout the entire song, which makes it relatable, and probably why it was such a great hit.
Rory:
When this song came out it in England, it must’ve been on the radio at least once every half-hour. Rather than Gang of Youths’ music, switching between instrumental and vocal, Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know plays between the two.
You know, those odd twangs to the words, “But you didn’t have to cut me off / Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing.” Discordant instruments create the impression of uncertainty, but it’s Gotye and Kimbra that voice clear anger. I think the contrast between lyrics and background melody really shows how much of two minds you can be in such a morally grey situation.
Illy feat. Ahren Stringer, Youngbloods
Kat:
I love this song. It’s one of my favourite bands, and they’re from Australia! All of their songs are filled with stories. The beat is so energetic and upbeat, and the lyrics stand by that. Their songs are also all very, very personal to them and I think that’s really important for bands to connect with their fanbases.
Example 1: “Now, I would never claim to have the answers / Shit, I failed as many tests as I advanced in / But I rised above.” While the editor in me hates the fact that they used the word (not a word) ‘rised’, I think this statement still holds so much impact and relatability for the audience.
Example 2: “We bring it like Freedom Fighters to the tanks / If they act up we gon' act right back like / Rebels with a cause / Weather in a storm / Devil on the shoulder / Heaven's at the door, so / Knock, knock.” This is such an impactful statement to this generation. I think it accurately sums up not only the determination of young people with a cause, but also to anyone who’s ever had a goal that they’re working towards. It also gives us an incredible insight to how these boys have fought for their place in the industry.
Rory:
I’m not the biggest listener of rap, but even I know to admit that song-wise it’s the most lyric heavy and dependant genre. Becoming a rapper, you need to know exactly what kind of message you want to send in your songs. Lyrics need to punch, flow better and still carry that message. There’s an added debuff: you can’t use instruments the same time to intensify mood. Again, it all comes down to lyrics. They need to be genuine enough in the context – and that’s hard.
My favourite line: “A lot of people tell you what you’re meant to do / But only one can decide on what’s best for you: You / Me? I’m just tryin’ to get the message through / It goes like, “Save the drama, spend your youth.” Truth.”
It’s to the point and it does seem to carry an amount of genuine care for the audience. As in a lot of Illy’s music, you can hear with almost every line some kind of message to the listener, like “life pushes you down but you need to show it who’s boss.” It’s easy to see why he’s got such a following.
Overall, we both agree that in order for a song to outshine all others and do well in the charts, it needs to have lyrics with a personal touch. Whether telling a story or exploring an emotion, if listeners can relate to the lyrics, then it’s bound to gain traction.
How lyrics can fit into a song is a different matter altogether. In rap, they’re the centrepiece –they need to carry the melody and capture attention. In pop, the exposition gets toned down but it still needs to carry emotion. The contrasting sound and range can make all the difference. In rock, it’s almost like another instrument – complementary in what a band or artist is building up.
But, however they’re done, the music we so enjoy today wouldn’t be the same without lyrics.
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