The words in music...

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do you take the words in songs literally?


Because I do

Not sure what you mean.

I've probably worded it wrong but when I listen to music I just concentrate on the words rather than it being nice music if that makes sense?

I listen to the words, but I also love music in itself. Yes, I take it literally, like when someone sings 'this is heaven,' and as a child the image of heaven jumps into my head, aspie paradise, with nature, animals, no people (naturally) and running water. what could be better?

To me the music itself comes first, I even if lyrics are decent or really good if they are going along with intolerable music I still wouldn't be able to stand it, also if I do not like the vocals like how they sing it. I'd rather listen to something psychedelic with no lyrics than something with good lyrics going with music I don't like.

As for taking the lyrics literally, I do not really do that...a lot of bands I like have had more satirical lyrics I guess or whatever it is when they have lyrics about something they don't really agree with in order to sort of criticize it. If I took all the lyrics literally I'd think Pink Floyd are fascists(due to some songs on their album the wall, but no they are criticizing oppression and such not actually supporting it) or I would think System of a Down advocates all kinds of horrible things when they where criticizing those things. So in a lot of cases lyrics should not be taken literally, and for various reasons aside from what I mentioned as well.

The music usually gets my interest more than the words, though I notice both if I can hear the words. When I was a teenager I made this comment on first hearing one record that had a good melody and obscure lyrics: "I don't know what he means, but I definitely agree with him."

I don't take the lyrics literally unless they seem intended that way, but I don't always catch the symbolism.

I don't hear the lyrics in songs. I hear the singing as another instrument that is part of the music that makes up the over all song. I'm visually based and need something visual to tie into the words. I used to read the album cover and inserts that came with the record/cassette/cd or watch the video on MTV in order to catch the lyrics.

I take them literally. I usually can't comprehend though the words without a lyric sheet so since my first exposure to any music is usually live in concert through a cheap PA I tend to get into the instrumental component of it and maybe the one chorus line that is sang quite clear. Then I look into the rest if I thought enough of what I heard.

You want some hard words? Go to YouTube and put in "Why Me" by Krizz Kaliko and guarantee you'll feel those damn words. That song has the Autism blueprint written all over it--he probably just didn't know it.

I sometimes literaly visualize the lyrics but try not to take them as such.
To me the singing is like an instument,there can be as much emotion in lyrics as there can be in instruments and when the two are in sync it can be an emotional roller coaster.

Lyrics are words
In my mother tongue there are less words than in English
So lyrics helped me explore
Not so much a matter of taking them literally
More like another way of learning
About all sorts that wasn't part of my world when I grew up.

It depends on the song. If it's a song I can relate to, then I usually focus on the lyrics. If not, then I usually just enjoy them. I do take some songs seriously though. I can't listen to certain songs because I end up taking them to heart. :/

Yes, unfortunately, I DO take some songs literally. I always HATED the song "MacArthur's Park", because it has a line in it, that goes: "Someone left the cake out, in the rain....." WTH!! I'm sure it's suppose to be abstract----or a metaphor, or something----but, that song almost drove me to DRINK!! LOL

Also, there's a song that I didn't know was so DEEP..... My uncle used to absolutely bawl when he heard "The Gambler"----not weep, not sob, BAWL!! I thought it truly was about playing poker!! LOL I couldn't get enough of that song, after I knew what it meant----it's one of the best songs, of all-time, IMO.