I'm Clifford Stumme, and I use literary analysis and research to explain the deeper meanings of pop songs. Feel free to leave a comment or to email me at clifford@popsongprofessor.com with questions or ideas!
All in song lyrics meaning
The internet is helpless in the face of Mumford & Sons's latest lyrical enigma. What in the world does "Snake Eyes" from Wilder Mind mean after all? No one seems to know. The internet is a song interpretation wasteland. Thin, wavering voices call for clarity. But no one speaks... Until now.
Everybody's talking about Mumford & Sons' new bango-less sound, but the depth of meaning and vulnerability in the bare lyrics of "Believe," the band's first single from Wilder Mind, should be enough to keep everyone happily occupied, even if they don't like the new style.
"Stressed Out" is about the transition from childhood to adulthood. The music is intense and varied with a wide array of styles being mashed into the only 3:45 long, also-unique music video, in which Tyler and Josh revisit their childhood homes and families to ride kid's three wheelers and perform in their old bedrooms. But most interesting of all, the lyrics of "Stressed Out" are perhaps even deeper than those of the previous two songs from Blurryface, though they are a bit less symbolic and more sincerely clear.
I'm distressed because researching "Style" by Taylor Swift had me Googling "what color are Harry Styles's eyes?" But this post was worth it; as usual with pop songs, there's more than meets the listener's ears.
Most believe this song to be a commentary on Swift's past relationship with One Direction's Harry Styles. You've probably heard the song on the radio or seen it peak at #6 on the Hot 100 Billboard. It's catchy, edgy, serious, and about a relationship. So, it's gold in the current pop music market.
Think theology has no place in pop music? "Prayer in C" by Lilly Wood & The Prick has got a lot of theological argument in its lyrics, and it's mainly anti-theological.
What's the most intense and scary song that I could find on the local top 40 station? Definitely "Take Me to Church" by Hozier. There's no question. This song is heavy and full of meaning. And it happens to be very culturally relevant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw
Mumford and Sons just released the next installment from their soon-to-come album, Wilder Mind. The song is called "The Wolf," and it's a departure from their earlier music. Gone are the days of hipster alternative blends of folk instruments and crooning, soulful harmonies. "The Wolf" retains some of the familiar harmonizing, but everything is more intense. While his voice stays recognizable, the music surrounding Marcus Mumford's vocals is much grittier and much more rockin' & rollin'.
Twenty One Pilots just came out with their next single from Blurryface, “Tear in My Heart,” and it’s a departure for them. Few of their songs are quite this upbeat or positive musically, and the lyrics are interesting because, in them, Tyler uses fairly dark imagery to suggest a positive meaning. Overall, the song’s really something special, especially for Twenty One Pilots to be creating. I think you’re going to like it.
“Fairly Local,” a single from Blurryface, was released last week, and it’s really good. While I’m afraid that it lacks a little bit of the lyrical depth of other Twenty One Pilots songs, the music is intense and interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing whether this is a precursor to a likewise album, or if they released it first because of it’s blood-pumping, energizing feel, and decided to save the even better stuff for later.
