Good Music Can’t Save Bad Lyrics

A songwriter’s take on why words matter more than sound

Leonard Cohen, multi-tasking

I saw a poll last week on New Bands for Old Heads asking people whether they cared more about music or lyrics. Seventy-two percent said music. I actually had to reread it to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.

Full disclosure: I’m a musician. For those of you who haven’t seen me play a show, I’m the kind of performer who expresses myself in a very loud and very physical way. Noise is an extension of who I am. When I play shows, it’s as though the music is what animates my body. So, I get it — sound is visceral. It hits first. Music is powerful, with or without words. We’ve all seen those movie scenes where someone’s sobbing at the opera, profoundly moved by a performance, even though it’s in a language they don’t understand. Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, crying on the balcony like she just discovered feelings for the first time. That’s how potent pure sound can be. You don’t need to know what’s being said to feel something.

But for me, if a song has words and those words are bad, I’m out. I don’t care how rad the chord progression is or how catchy the melody gets. If you’re saying nothing, you’ve already lost me.

Good lyrics can save bad music, but bad lyrics can ruin good music.

And here’s why: words are what make you connect to someone. Notes can move you, but words make you remember. You don’t fall in love with a song because of the snare tone — you fall in love because some line punched you in the gut and made you feel like someone finally said what you couldn’t. Music can make you cry; lyrics make you feel seen.

I relate to stories, not sounds. I cling to words, not notes. The songs that stay with me and become part of my DNA do so because of what was said, not just what was played. There are exceptions, sure, but not enough to change my mind.

When I said this, Gabbie from New Bands for Old Heads replied, “Just write poetry then.”

But it is not the same! Honestly, most poetry makes me want to walk into traffic. It’s too self-serious, too performative, too precious. Lyrics don’t have to be that way. In fact, they’re better if they’re not.

Music is the vehicle, not the message. It’s what carries the words. Yes, sound inspires words just as much as words inspire sound. They’re both essential to good songs. But if I had to pick one, it would be the lyrics. Every time. (Fight me, Gabbie. Fight me.)

one of my favorite poems by Billy Collins. See? I can be deep.

Does gender play a role in our preference over music vs. lyrics? A lot of the men I know in music can spend six hours talking about fuzz pedals and vintage amps, but go blank when you ask what a song means. Somehow the words are irrelevant as long as there’s perfect production, cool tones, and boutique bullshit to nerd out over.

I could really give a fuck how cool your guitar tone is if you have nothing to say.

Of course, there are plenty of men who are incredible lyricists (I just don’t personally know them) so I’m not sold on gender being that big of a factor.

Perhaps it’s a matter of genre, though? Are lyrics more valued in genres outside of rock? I’d argue that words are more important in folk and country songs than metal (I know, I know, metal heads take their lyrics about satanism and gnomes and whatever else they go on about very seriously).

Personally, I was a writer before I was a rock musician. I wrote lyrics before I could play an instrument. I don’t sing because I like singing, I sing because I have words to spit. I’m drawn to storytellers, not technicians. I’m more impressed by a line that hits me in the gut than by someone who can shred or perfectly recreate their favorite band’s sound.

The ones who can do both are special. Off the top of my head, I think: Kendrick Lamar, PJ Harvey, Billie Eilish, Nick Cave, Radiohead, Lana Del Rey, Fiona Apple, Isaac Brock, Lauryn Hill, Kristin Hersh, Sufjan Stevens, Wu-Tang Clan, Little Simz, Mos Def, Courtney Love.

Fiona. One of the best lyricists of all time, imo.

These people write songs that mean something and sound great. That’s the holy grail. I’m always looking for new acts whose lyrics blow me away. If you’ve got suggestions, drop them in the comments.

Just because people can write good lyrics, doesn’t mean I like their music. But I have more patience and respect for them than the artists who write bad lyrics.

I think Courtney Barnett has great lyrics, but her music doesn’t do it for me.

Leonard Cohen? brilliant words, meh music (for the most part). I suspect that’s why Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah is more popular than the original.

Springsteen’s a killer storyteller, but most of his music makes me change the station. Nebraska is an exception, and, of course, State Trooper is my jam. Both the lyrics and the music are fantastic.

Before you ask — no, I didn’t “forget” Patti Smith. I just don’t like her. She has a couple of good songs, sure, but otherwise she’s exhausting. Yes, even Just Kids. That book confirmed everything I suspected: Patti is unbearable. If that makes you wanna unsubscribe, go ahead. I won’t lose sleep.

Let’s do a competing poll just to see if my readers have a different take than Gabbie’s. That’s right, dueling poll time:

With the exception of my song Ike Turner, in which I rhyme Jesus with Penis, the best lyrics I ever wrote are probably on my first LP, Get a Witness. It’s a total mess (off-time, lo-fi, completely improvised). The vocals were recorded in one-take, the bass is sloppy (I’m not a good bassist), and the drums are...just bad. BUT, the lyrics made that record. At least, they did for me.

Get A Witness

This is the last trip to Hawaii

Spread the ashes

Into the sand where we buried our heads

You’re no martyr just ‘cause you chose to stay on a sinking ship

Closing your eyes harder won’t take you back to the start

The womb is a tomb

The womb is a tomb

You see

This is the last straw

It may break mother’s back

Into a million pieces on which

We made our beds

I’m no martyr just ‘cause I chose to stay on this sinking ship

And I’d try harder if I could just get back to the start

The womb is a tomb

The womb is a tomb

You see

Music is what we hear first. But the lyrics are what stay. They’re what haunt us. What we quote years later. What we tattoo on our arms.

So yeah, music is powerful, but having something to say matters more. Maybe more than anything. Maybe now more than ever.

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c u next tuesday.

XX CARRÉ

PS: agree or disagree? are you team words or team music? share some of your favorite lyrics in the comments.

PPS: Recently, I wrote about my friend, Sean, who is currently fighting stage iv cancer. Thanks to everyone who shared and donated to the GoFundMe. If you missed it, please take a minute to check it out and give if you can.