We put so much meaning into the music we listen to. Really, think about it, we could describe our life in music - from slow-dancing in middle school, to college dorm bangers, to nostalgia-filled music evenings with family. Read on to take the trip down memory lane (or maybe add some new tunes to your playlist) with the 40 most iconic lyrics! Can you remember them by heart?
1. The Beatles – “When I’m Sixty Four”
“When I get older losing my hair/ Many years from now/ Will you still be sending me a Valentine/ Birthday greetings bottle of wine?”
This playful love song filled our hearts with happiness. The Beatles are kings of creating songs about subtle love - the kind we will all need in old age. It’s adorable, whimsy, and just the right amount of silly.
2. Patti Smith – “Gloria”
“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine/ Meltin’ in a pot of thieves/ Wild card up my sleeve/ Thick heart of stone/ My sins my own/ They belong to me.”
These intro lines launched a thousand punk bands in their time. Patton Smith is the badass girl image so many wanted to follow. Although the song is almost 6 minutes long, every send of it is worth listening to.
3. Eagles – “Hotel California”
“There she stood in the doorway/I heard the mission bell/ And I was thinking to myself/ This could be Heaven or this could be Hell.”
This song has stood the test of time for sure. The intricate meaning behind the lyrics is mindblowing - the Eagles wrote the song as a metaphor for life in a successful rock band and somehow made half the world relate to it.
4. My Chemical Romance - “Welcome to the Black Parade”
"When I was a young boy/ My father took me into the city/ To see a marching band/ He said, "Son, when you grow up/ Would you be the savior of the broken/ The beaten and the damned?""
The first chords of this era-defining song make the hearts of 2000’s emo kids’ hearts tremble. But then come the lyrics sung by Gerard Way’s emotional voice and there it is - the perfect feeling of nostalgia.
5. ABBA – “The Winner Takes It All”
“I don’t wanna talk/ About the things we’ve gone through/ Though it’s hurting me/ Now it’s history/ I've played all my cards/ And that's what you've done too/ Nothing more to say/ No more ace to play"
The breakup song that transcended languages, continents, time, and contexts. “The Winner Takes It All”, one of the most recognizable ABBA’s songs, was written by Björn Ulvaeus about his heartbreaking divorce from a bandmate Agnetha Fältskog.
6. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
“Coming out of my cage / And I've been doing just fine / Gotta gotta be down / Because I want it all / It started out with a kiss / How did it end up like this?"
Arguably one of THE most iconic songs of all time, period. The edgy storytelling The Killers brought us captivated the attention of generations. Everyone gathered around lyrics, who the hell is this Mr. Brightside?
7. Simon & Garfunkel - "The Sound of Silence"
“Hello darkness, my old friend/ I've come to talk with you again/ Because a vision softly creeping/ Left its seeds while I was sleeping.”
Once a hit, then turned into a meme, this song navigated its way through generations with ease. The lyrics of “The Sound of Silence” are burned into the core memory of so many. We bow down to you, Simon and Garfunkel, for creating the universal lyrically genius record.
8. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - “Yo Home to Bel-Air”
“Now this is a story all about how / My life got flipped turned upside down / And I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there / I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air.”
The most 90s song there is. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was on everyone’s TV in the 90s. The quirky Will Smith’s character made the sitcom a staple in American culture - partly because of its catchy theme song.
9. Prince and The Revolution - "Let's Go Crazy"
“Dearly beloved/ We are gathered here today/ To get through this thing called "life"/ Electric word, life/ It means forever and that's a mighty long time.”
Ahh, Prince, please come back and give us some more gems like this one! The eary beginning of “Let’s Go Crazy” sets the song up perfectly - in this fragile “life” why not just go crazy and let loose?
10. Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"
“At first, I was afraid, I was petrified/ Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side/ But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong/ And I grew strong."
No matter where one knows this song from - Gloria, Diana Ross, or maybe even Shrek, we all love it just the same. This iconic “I am better without you” song gets everyone lip-syncing and dancing in a second!
11. Queen - “Don't Stop Me Now”
“Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time/ I feel alive/ And the world I'll turn it inside out, yeah/ I'm floating around in ecstasy/ So, (don't stop me now).”
This is not the only Queen song on the list, for obvious reasons, but it’s the one that gets everyone hyped with its fast beat and catchy lyrics!
12. The Animals - "The House of the Rising Sun"
“There is a house in New Orleans/ They call the Rising Sun/ And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy/ And God, I know I'm one.”
This one is for the older folks. Released in 1964, the song describes an actual brothel in New Orleans that was open from 1862 to 1874 and closed for noise complaints. Those are the “poor boys”!
13. The Beatles - "Let it Be"
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me/ Speaking words of wisdom, let it be”
There is not a single “Iconic songs” list without the Beatles! “Let It Be” is the anthem of calming down in difficult situations and letting go of the past. Something in this song makes the generations come back to it year after year and we think it’s lyrical magic.
14. Lady Gaga - “Bad Romance”
"Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah/ Roma, roma-ma/ Gaga, ooh-la-la/ Want your bad romance/ I want your ugly, I want your disease/ I want your everything as long as it's free/ I want your love, love, love, love/ I want your love"
OK, OK, we said “iconic,” not “smart” - This song has proved one of the US star's biggest ever hits and still gets everyone up dancing and singing when it comes on in clubs and bars!
15. Black Eyed Peas - “My Humps”
"Whatcha gonna do with all that junk/ All that junk inside your trunk/ I'ma get get get get you drunk/ Get you love drunk off my hump"
This INCREDIBLY cheeky number got all the pop music lovers by surprise. Well, guess what, it still charts thanks to Fergie’s iconic lyrics!
16. Katy Perry - "Firework"
"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag/ Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?/ Do you ever feel, feel so paper-thin/ Like a house of cards, one blow from cavin' in?"
Do you? Katy Perry’s storytelling and vocal abilities in this song secured her a spot on the pop divas pandemonium and rightfully so. “Firework” was one of the biggest 2010’s hits!
17. Leonard Cohen - "Hallelujah"
"Maybe there's a God above/ But, all I've ever learned from love/ Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you?/ And it's not a cry, that you hear at night/ It's not somebody, who's seen the light/ It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah"
Weirdly enough, this song qualifies as a Christmas song, slow-dancing song, meme song, sad song, AND the soundtrack to the best moment of Shrek 1. Only the most multifaceted iconic song on the list.
18. Billy Joel - "Vienna"
"But you know that when the truth is told/ That you can get what you want/ Or you can just get old/ You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through (Oooh)/ When will you realize... Vienna waits for you?"
This soft rock ballad is a great reminder to slow down, look around and see what we are doing with our lives. Maybe we should all “lose a day or two” in Vienna once wan can all safely travel in 2021!
19. Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"
"And, if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all, to be a rock and not to roll. And she's buying a stairway to Heaven."
This song in the repertoire of, it seems like, every guitar enthusiast on the planet. But besides the instrumental, the lyrics are so deeply touching and true. Give them a read!
20. ABBA - “Dancing Queen”
“You are the dancing queen/ Young and sweet/ Only seventeen/ Dancing queen/ Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah/ You can dance/ You can jive/ Having the time of your life/ Ooh, see that girl/ Watch that scene/ Digging the dancing queen”
Every 17 years old (and older) girl in the world knows these lyrics by heart. We can trust ABBA by giving us the biggest dancing bangers. Released in the late 70s, the song hasn’t left the dance floors since then!
21. Los Del Rio - “Macarena”
“Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena/ Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría y cosa buena/ Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena/ Hey Macarena”
Some might not know the meaning of the words, but as soon as they see “Macarena” the unforgettable instrumental starts playing in their head! Every wedding, prom, and vacation Los Del Rio’s 90’s hit is there to bring everyone to the dance floor, do the dance for the 100th time and laugh it off. What a bop!
22. Jim Croce - "Time in a Bottle"
"If I could save time in a bottle/ The first thing that I'd like to do/ Is to save every day/ Till eternity passes away/ Just to spend them with you/ If I could make days last forever/ If words could make wishes come true/ I'd save every day like a treas."
The ULTIMATE love song. Just read into it, “The first thing that I'd like to do is to save every day just to spend them with you.” Such raw and real love, something we all need from time to time. The golden lyrics in combination with the instrumental bring you the eternal “Time in a Bottle.”
23. Bee Gees - “Stayin’ Alive”
“Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother/ You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive/ Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'/ And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive/ Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive/ Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive”
Bee Gees’ disco hit was written for the movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta. It was actually one of the five songs the bang had composed for the show. Stayin’ Alive was picked out for its uplifting lyrics and melody. And thank Got it was picked! Can anyone imagine life without “Stayin’ Alive” as a cultural phenomenon?
24. Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Mama, just killed a man/ Put a gun against his head/ Pulled my trigger, now he's dead/ Mama, life had just begun/ But now I've gone and thrown it all away/ Mama, ooo/ Didn't mean to make you cry/ If I'm not back again this time tomorrow/ Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters”
What is there to say? “Bohemian Rhapsody” has been crowned time and time again for its genius lyricism. Is it deserved? Heck yeah! This song is the epitome of what Queen was and will be remembered for. What a beautiful legacy.
25. Bob Dylan - "To Make You Feel My Love"
"The storms are raging on the rolling sea/ And on the highway of regret/ The winds of change are blowing wild and free/ You haven't seen nothing like me yet/ I could make you happy, make your dreams come true/ Nothing that I wouldn't do/ Go to the ends of the earth for you/ To make you feel my love”
The song was originally written by Dylan, but the general public first heard it as a Billy Joel song. Both Bob and Billy do a wonderful job of showing the emotional imagery of a true lover with their voices. This song is worth a listen - but try to not fall in love with the singers after the first listen!
26. Louis Armstrong - “What a Wonderful World”
“I see trees of green, red roses too/ I see them bloom, for me and you/ And I think to myself/ What a wonderful world/ I see skies of blue and clouds of white/ The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights/ And I think to myself/ What a wonderful world”
For the past 40 years, this song has been loved by everyone in the world. Written in 1968, the song was meant to bring hope and encouragement to people during the Vietnam War. The meaning of “What a Wonderful World” transcended just the Vietnam War and is frequently used in situations with no hope.
27. Dolly Parton - “Jolene”
“I had to have this talk with you/ My happiness depends on you/ And whatever you decide to do/ Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/ I'm begging of you please don't take my man/ Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene/ Please don't take him even though you can/ Jolene, Jolene”
Everyone has heard of the mysterious Jolene. Well, this story about a homewrecker brought Dolly Parton worldwide recognition -- Jolene charted #1 in both the U.S and Canada and released Top 10 in the UK and Ireland. A true international hit!
28. Billy Joel - "Piano Man"
"He says, 'Son, can you play me a memory? I'm not really sure how it goes. But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete when I wore a younger man's clothes.'"
Billy Joel’s trademark song has to be one of the most iconic songs of the early ’70s. The song’s story unfolds as the life of the bar pianist is described. All the loneliness and the tiredness but at the same time content with life - truly amazing writing!
29. Taylor Swift - "All Too Well"
“I remember it all too well/ And you call me up again/ Just to break me like a promise/ So casually cruel in the name of being honest/ I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here/ 'Cause I remember it all, all, all/ Too well"
Taylor has deserved her place in the line of the best pop songwriters of the new generation. Swift knows how to translate exactly what the audience wants her to - every love song and every break-up banger, her energy in songwriting is unmatched. “All Too Well” is definitely in the Top 10 TayTay’s songs of all time!
30. The Rolling Stones - "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
"You can't always get what you want. But, if you try sometime, you find you get what you need."
This Rolling Stone’s classic made us all question “Is this something I really need or just want?” As the song was released in 1969, the world has been wondering for over 40 years.
31. Taylor Swift - "this is me trying"
"They told me all of my cages were mental/ so I got wasted like all my potential/ And my words shoot to kill when I'm mad/ I have a lot of regrets about that/ I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere"
Although “this is me trying” is a song from Taylor’s more recent work, “folklore,” it is destined to be iconic (along with the whole album). The subtle wordplay makes the fans come back to the songs time and time again only to discover something new about each line. The never-ending world-building is what Swift is gaining more fame for.
32. Fleetwood Mac - “Landslide”
“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing/ ‘Cause I’ve built my life around you / But time makes you bolder / Even children get older / And I’m getting older too”
“Landslide” from Fleetwood Mac’s iconic self-titled 1975 album is one of the bands’ most recognized songs. Nicks wrote it inspired by the Colorado mountains and reflecting on life’s fragility. That is where the metaphor for “snowy mountain avalanche” came from.
33. Celene Dion - “My Heart Will Go On”
“Near, far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on, Once more, you open the door, And you're here in my heart, And my heart will go on and on”
Mic drop. This is THE love song! Celene snatched 2 Grammys and an Oscar for this song. The timeless soundtrack to James Cameron’s Titanic had everyone weeping for nearly 2 decades. The powerful voice of Dion fills the lyrics with all the pain of losing the person you love - a truly majestic performance!
34. Whitney Houston - “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
“I've done alright up 'til now/ It's the light of day that shows me how/ And when the night falls/ Loneliness calls/ Oh, I wanna dance with somebody/ I wanna feel the heat with somebody/ Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody/ With somebody who loves me”
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was Whitney’s biggest hit until the release of “I Will Always Love You.” This song can gather a crowd of passionate fans to this day with ease! The combination of powerful vocals, cute lyrics, and a catchy beat bet everyone hyped every time.
35. Journey - “Don’t Stop Believin’”
“Some will win, some will lose / Some were born to sing the blues / Oh, the movie never ends / It goes on and on and on and on”
What a timeless song - the true motivator in a lyrical form. The track was released in 1981 as a part of the hugely successful album “Escape.”
36. Chaka Khan - “I’m Every Woman”
“I'm every woman/ It's all in me/ Anything you want done, Baby/ I'll do it naturally /I'm every woman/ It's all in me/ I can read your thoughts right now/Everyone from A to Z”
This disco song portrays the joys of being a woman and the connectedness women feel with each other like a sisterhood. The 1978 hit helped Chaka establish herself as a powerful singer; the song was later revived by Whitney Houston giving it a second breath. Sung by Chaka or Whitney - the song is powerful either way!
37. Frank Sinatra - "My Way"
“And now, the end is near/ And so I face the final curtain/ My friends, I'll say it clear/ I'll state my case of which I'm certain/ I've lived a life that's full/ I traveled each and every highway/ But more, much more than this/ I did it my way”
This 1969 song that sounds awfully like a farewell has earned its place at the top of Sinatra’s discography. The worldwide hit was covered by many, including Elvis Presley and The Sex Pistols. The sad tone in Sinatra’s voice adds layers to the already heavy lyrics.
38. Toto - "Africa"
“It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you/ There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do/ I bless the rains down in Africa/ Gonna take some time to do the things we never had”
“Africa” is Toto’s most famous song, reaching Billboard Hot 100 #1 in 1983. The iconic song ridicules the media exposure regular people in Europe and the U.S have to the information about Africa inside a love ballad - true lyrical genius!
39. Elvis Presley - "Can’t Help Falling In Love"
“Wise men say/ Only fools rush in/ But I can't help falling in love with you Shall I stay?/ Would it be a sin/ If I can't help falling in love with you?/ Like a river flows/ Surely to the sea/ Darling, so it goes/ Some things are meant to be”
The world’s most known song about the uncontrollable process of falling for a person. Elvis’ song encapsulates something most people on the planet experience at some point in their life - the pure joy of finding a person perfect for you’ maybe at least for a little while.
40. Beyonce – “Formation”
“I like my baby hair, with baby hair and afros/ I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils/ Earned all this money but they never take the country out me/ I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag.”
Beyonce came back with “Lemonade” after a brief hiatus showcasing scandalous lyrics about love and cheating as well as some quite powerful statements on her identity and human rights. “Formation” felt like her most explicit political statement the singer has ever made.