Song lyrics, being the poetry that they are, exemplify economy of words. Truly great lyrics can say so much with so little, because the writer has concentrated his or her meaning into a carefully crafted turn of a phrase. These are 50 songs that have great lyrics, whether that greatness be found in the entirety of the song, a verse or chorus that evokes vivid imagery, a particularly clever phrase, or one line that embeds itself into the listeners consciousness like a crossbow bolt, rendering it unforgettable. This allows distant red neon to shiver in the heat, and two train passengers wearied by life to be too tired to sleep. The profundity can be found in the simplicity. Great lyrics can point out that hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way, and that freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. If you've never heard some of these songs, I encourage you to ignore the genre, seek them out on Spotify or YouTube, and carefully listen to the artful lyrics.
