I was listening recently to a playlist of mostly late 1960s, early ’70s music that is right in my wheelhouse. I graduated high school in 1971, and that’s when my music preferences were set in stone.
Anyway, the Guess Who’s ‘Undun’ was playing, and I was struck by a certain line that for some reason resonated with me, considering the political environment we’re enduring in the 2020s. These lyrics speak pretty loudly to today’s world even if they were written in the 1960s:
‘Too many mountains and not enough stairs to climb
Too many churches and not enough truth
Too many people and not enough eyes to see
Too many lives to lead and not enough time’
You can decide for yourself who has the best grasp of ‘truth.’ Listen to the entire song below, and tell me how it hits you in 2026.
So, as I contemplated those lyrics, I got to thinking about other lyrics that are meaningful to me. It might be nostalgia on my part or that I’m taken with certain lyrics that advocate political change, or songs that to me just have memorable lines.
The breadth and depth of my musical knowledge is pretty shallow, so there are millions of songs I’ve never heard that have just as much meaning to their listeners. But here are some of the most meaningful lyrics to me that I’ve heard across the decades.
In My Life by The Beatles
This is definitely on my funeral playlist. I’ve already heard it played at the funeral of a former Oklahoman colleague within the past decade. I’ve written about how the Beatles were masters at songwriting in an earlier post that you can read here.
‘Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more’
Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel
The last few lines of Paul Simon’s Mrs. Robinson are so memorable to me. It’s baseball, the passage of time and the loss of our heroes. I thought the song was perfect fit for The Graduate, as well.
‘Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you, wo wo wo
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson
‘Joltin Joe’ has left and gone away…’
I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash
I think I was a senior in high school when this song really caught my attention. I loved Johnny’s deep bass voice and the way he hummed before each stanza. The words are about fidelity in a relationship … and then I saw the Gregory Peck movie by the same name, which had an ironic theme of total infidelity. Both song and movie stuck with me. More on Johnny Cash here.
‘I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line
I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day’s through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you’
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
What list of memorable lyrics would be complete without a Green Day song? Stop laughing. I’m serious. Boulevard of Broken Dreams is all about the loneliness of an outsider.
‘My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes, I wish someone out there will find me
‘Til then, I walk alone
What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes
I discovered this 1990s song less than a year ago, and it’s become a favorite. It’s a plea for change that is even more relevant in 2026 than in 1995.
And I try
Oh my God, do I try
I try all the time
In this institution
And I pray
Oh my God, do I pray
I pray every single day
For revolution
And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
Just to get it all out, what’s in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
“What’s going on?”
Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones
These are not just throw-away lyrics by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. I’ve always thought of the Stones as wild, loud, trash-the-hotel type performers, but these lyrics from the devil’s point of view are pretty deep.
‘I was ’round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzlin’ you
Is the nature of my game
Stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Tsar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
Won’t get fooled again by The Who
Of all the rock anthems that I’ve listened to over the years, The Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again might rock the hardest and offer the most overt political message, even if it’s the most cynical. Overthrow the establishment and end up right where you started.
‘I’ll tip my hat to the new Constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again, no, no
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss’
Further on Up the Road by Johnny Cash
Another funeral list song delivered so well by Johnny Cash. I was surprised to discover that this song was written by Bruce Springsteen, It’s full of expectation and anticipation of one’s own demise. Cash recorded it shortly before his death in 2003.
‘Where the road is dark and the seed is sowed
Where the gun is cocked as the bullet’s cold
Where the miles are marked in the blood and the gold
I’ll meet you further on up the road
Got on my dead man’s suit and my smilin’ skull ring
My lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing
I’ve got a song to sing, it keeps me out of the cold
And I’ll meet you further on up the road
Where the way is dark and the night is cold
One sunny morning, we’ll rise, I know
And I’ll meet you further on up the road
Crime of the Century by Supertramp
I recently stumbled across this song by Supertramp, recorded in 1974, that seems to be a perfect fit for the political turmoil of 2026. I’ll leave it up to you to interpret what inspired the songwriters, Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson. It’s pretty clear why it’s so appropriate for today’s world. These are the entire lyrics to the song.
‘Now they’re planning the crime of the century
Well, what will it be?
Read all about their schemes and adventuring
Yes, it’s well worth a fee
So roll up and see
How they rape the universe
How they’ve gone from bad to worse
Who are these men of lust, greed and glory?
Rip off the masks and let’s see
But that’s not right, oh, no, what’s the story?
But there’s you and there’s me’
Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Finally, one that I went back and forth on including. Decided it would stay. Smells Like Teen Spirit was a huge hit on MTV back in the day when I watched it again and again. I wasn’t a teen and it was hard to decipher the lyrics, but I was taken by the energy and how different Nirvana’s music was. If you can understand Kurt Cobain’s screetchy wailing, these are lyrics that spoke loudly to their audience at the time. Don’t ask me to explain them.
‘With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hey, yay
I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift, I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end’
BONUS CONTENT
Other songs with lyrics that are memorable to me:
The Logical Song by Supertramp
Beware of Darkness by George Harrison
Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young
London Homesick Blues by Jerry Jeff Walker
Revolution by the Beatles
Imagine by John Lennon
Sweet Child ‘O Mine by Guns & Roses
I’m 18 by Alice Cooper
Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry
Golden Slumbers by the Beatles
Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell
A Day in the Life by the Beatles
This list could go on and on. What are some songs that have lyrics that are memorable to you? Post them in the replies to this post.
DOUBLE BONUS CONTENT — My friend Kent Taylor had some thoughts after reading this post. He said I could post them at the bottom, so here’s what he wrote:
‘Enjoyed your song list. Knew all the songs even tho ur a decade ahead of me.
So many songs I remember that bring back memories…hard to choose!
Beatles – best album cover, St. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. All hits, played the title song in high school pep band. But can’t look past, “When I’m 64” since It’s a stones throw away!
I’d have to include most any CCR, Three Dog Night, Don McLean’s American Pie, certainly The Who’s Pinball Wizard, The Animals House of the Rising Sun, Queen, Rolling Stones, just so many.
So question – one that I’ve had many conversations w/friends over the years.
From each decade beginning with the 50s and going thru the 90s (primarily because I’m frozen in time thru the early 80s and don’t think I can name even 5 groups from the 90s forward) who is/are the top 2-3 groups/soloists from each decade that had the biggest impact on Rock-n-Roll? For example, I’d have to include Elvis and Chuck Berry from the 50s. But how do you eliminate names like: Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, & Little
Richard?
Could do this with country music as well. I also played so many golden oldies in bands so I also have lists from the big band era.’
TRIPLE BONUS CONTENT — Ron Hadfield, an old friend and ACU classmate from back in the day, weighed in with his thoughts on music and lyrics. Ron approved my posting them at the end of this post.
‘Nice work, my friend. You were clearly more of a rocker than I was … listening to Supertramp, Nirvana, Guns & Roses. Those do not compute for me, good lyrics or not. I grew up in Detroit listening to Motown and Bob Seger and classic country and the early Eagles. I had more eclectic tastes than those, for sure, such as Neil Diamond and John Denver and a healthy dose of Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Bachman Turner Overdrive. My first Texas tenure expanded my horizons to Jerry Jeff and his assorted buddies, and now after I have been naturalized, I am a big fan of everything from bluegrass to Western swing and such. As I age, I am growing increasingly wistful. The music I have lived and loved all my life means more and more. I have little patience for songs in which the instruments or rhythm makes the lyrics hard to decipher… So you are right: the words/lyrics matter, and potentially endure. We need to roll down the windows and go on a long car drive through the backroads to Kingsville and Padre Island, and explore the music that made us who we are. Well, perhaps wait for a warmer day first. ‘
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