What are some of your favorite lyrics?

Q&A With Shay Each Sunday

As promised several weeks ago in my post about music (here), I’ll tell you some of my favorite lyrics this week and if they have made appearances in my writing.

Q: What are some of your favorite song lyrics, and have you incorporated them into your writing?

A: First, I have incorporated lyrics and mentioned songs in my writing. As a music lover, it’s hard not to create characters who also love music. In my first novel, the narrator was a big fan of nineties grunge (shocking) and she would incorporate a subtle song lyric into her sketches, making it part of the image. She would also listen to music while she was drawing or painting. There were lots of Nirvana lyrics in that novel. I might end up drastically editing it at some point, but it’s always fun to let lyrics take on the meaning you want them to when trying to link them to a character. I’ve also incorporated some lyrics into my novel FRACTURED, but music is a bit less a part of that one.

Side note: if you are a writer, something many authors don’t know is that you cannot put the entire song in your writing without getting permission. That’d probably bog down the story anyway. So, stick to a lyric here and there if it fits:)

As for my favorite lyrics, just to name a FEW:

“Like a rolling thunder chasing the wind.” LIVE

“With the birds I’ll share this lonely view.” Red Hot Chili Peppers

“See my heart I decorate it like a grave.” Alice in Chains

“I’m not like them, but I can pretend.” Nirvana

“Breathing is the hardest thing to do.” Stone Temple Pilots

“I’m never alone. I’m alone all the time.” Bush

“I’d share with you, could I only speak. Just how much this hurts me.” AFI

“I’ve heard the outer darkness is really nice this time of year.” Brand New

Also, the lyrics in the song “Mad World” always get me. One of my favorite songs of the moment is “Ghost” by Badflower—it’s dark and deep, which I’m sure you can see I’m into by now. And an abundance of others by these artists and many more. Thank you, bands, for speaking to my soul.

Let me leave you with one fitting lyric to end the post: “A lonely life where no one understands you. But don’t give up because the music do.” And that’s Korn with a wrap until next week. Stay tuned—literally.