Lyrical Wisdom

Luscious Jackson: Vivian Trimble (1963-2023), Gabby Glaser, Kate Schellenbach, and Jill Cunniff.

If you really take the time to listen—like really listen—to song lyrics, something remarkable can happen: your entire perspective can shift. One line can validate a feeling you didn’t know how to name, another might challenge your thinking, or unlock a memory long forgotten. Lyrics are tiny poems wrapped in melody, often offering profound truths in just a few words. You might hear your own story told back to you from an unexpected angle, or catch a piece of wisdom that sticks with you for years. In a world full of noise, letting lyrics reach you is a kind of quiet magic—an invitation to feel more, think deeper, and remember that you’re not alone.

Don’t be a drag, participate.
—Chic, “Good Times”

You know you ought to slow down
You been working too hard
And that's a fact
Sit back and relax a while
Take some time to laugh and smile
Lay your heavy load down
So we can stop and kick back
It seems we never take the time to do
All the things we want to, yeah
—The S.O.S. Band, “Take Your Time (Do It Right)”

It's not easy to be honest
Sometimes I'm just astonished
How hard it can be to be true
Why do I lie?
Is it just to get by?
If I give up my lines
Will I die?
—Luscious Jackson, “Why Do I Lie?”