Song lyrics are very much like poetry. And just like prose, they can contain some real pearls of wisdom. I’m not talking about the sort of stuff that takes up the majority of the Top 40. The deepest words you would find in there would be; ‘Life is a rollercoaster; you just have to ride it.’ Yeah, sure thing Ronan. However, ‘I like it best when you say nothing at all…’

If you read through the lyrics to more serious songs then you can often some very wise words indeed. Someone once said that we ‘do not need to go to school; we only have to listen to Dark Side of the Moon.’ That may be taking things a little too far, I mean who would fill those locum doctors jobs. But there are certainly plenty of knowledgeable nuggets waiting to be discovered in the words of many songs.

How about this piece of advice to bad-ass teens from Michael Franti?

‘The bass, the treble,

don’t make the rebel…

having your life together does.’

Pretty good stuff from such a hip guy.

And that is only one good example. Here are a few others-

‘Life is a one-way street, ain’t it?

If I could paint it, I’d chalk myself going in the right direction.

So I go all the way, like I really, really know,

But the truth is, I’m only guessing.’

‘Just a Thought’

Gnarles Barkley.

‘Give me your eyes that I might see

The blind man kissing my hands.’

‘A Strange Day’

The Cure.

‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word.
And love dares you to care
For the people on the edge of the night.
And love dares you to change our way
Of caring about ourselves.’

‘Under Pressure’

David Bowie and Queen.

‘Life is a strange thing…

Just when you think you’ve learnt how to use it;

It’s gone.’

‘Hello, Hello? (Turn Your Radio on)’

Shakespeare’s Sister.

‘And if I ever lose my legs
I won’t moan and I won’t beg.
Oh, if I ever lose my legs
Oh well…
I won’t have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth
All my teeth, north and south,
Yes, if I ever lose my mouth
oh well…
I won’t have to talk…’

‘Moonshadow’

Cat Stevens.