The Business of Simplicity Part 4: How Soon is Now? The Simplicity of Lyrics

Many people have their favourite songs, albums, or artists. Often, these are pieces we grew up listening to or that defined certain periods of our lives. At eight years old, I would repeatedly listen to a vinyl record from my parents' collection. The lyrics were neatly outlined on the back cover, while the front cover featured numerous people overlooking the Beatles, dressed in brightly coloured suits. Whenever I hear a track from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," it transports me back to my childhood. It's something about the music combined with the album cover and images in my mind conjured up while listening to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

As I grew older, I will also forever associate the summers of 1995 and 1996 with Britpop, leaving school, and forming new friendships. It felt as though the music of that time was created just for me.

Studies have indicated that listening to music can alleviate anxiety, lower blood pressure, and reduce pain. Additionally, it can enhance sleep quality, boost mood, increase mental alertness, and improve memory.

Sometimes, you can't get a melody out of your head, and the moment the song comes on the radio, it can transport you back to a specific time in your life like nothing else can. However, lyrics tend to hold deeper meaning as we interpret them through our own experiences and feelings. I can rarely remember complex or detailed lyrics, but at the same time, something too simple holds little meaning or association. Sometimes, it's the perfect combination of simplicity and impact that ties you to a lyric for life.

Some simple but defining lyrics from the original artist.

Blackbird, The Beatles

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise"

Songwriters: Paul McCartney, John Lennon

Heroes, David Bowie

"I, I can remember (I remember)

Standing, by the wall (by the wall)

And the guns shot above our heads (over our heads)

And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)

And the shame was on the other side

Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever

Then we could be heroes, just for one day"

Songwriters: Brian Eno, David Bowie

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Watching the Wheels, John Lennon

“Ah, people asking questions

Lost in confusion

Well, I tell them there’s no problem

Only solutions

Well, they shake their heads and they look at me,

as if I’ve lost my mind

I tell them there’s no hurry, I’m just sitting here doing time“

Songwriters, John Lennon

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Hey You, Pink Floyd

Hey you, out there in the cold

Getting lonely, getting old?

Can you feel me?

Hey you, standing in the aisles

With itchy feet and fading smiles?

Can you feel me?

Hey you, dont help them to bury the light

Don't give in without a fight.

Songwriter, Roger Waters

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How Soon is Now? The Smiths

"I am the son

and the heir

of a shyness that is criminally vulgar

I am the son and heir

of nothing in particular"

Songwriters: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey