**This was taken from my myspace blog so you could learn a little more about me and my strange self"

I need to go on record here. No pun intended. I am, always have, and always will be a lyrics junkie. There are not too many left of my kind in the world as we know it. I was thinking of this topic the other day and was going to blog on it, but then was reading a blog of someone else and realized therThis was taken from my myspace blog so that you could know a little more about me and my strange self**e really are not a lot of people who KNOW lyrics. I realized this when there were several comments about a songs meaning that I knew years ago when it came out and people were just AMAZED that it meant what it did, although it all but SAYS it. It kind of beats around the bush about it. To me this is and always has been, foreign. How can you listen to a song and not hear the lyrics. To me, that is THE whole point of the song. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love to hear guitars and that thumping bass, as well as a good drum beat, but the heart of the song, in my opinion has to be the lyrics. (**Disregard if we are talking about someone like Steve Vai who make you FEEL his guitar solos. It's just amazing. I highly recommend you give him a listen, if you have not already done so.**).

To me there is no greater joy than to listen to the words of a song and try and figure out the story the song tells. (**again disregard REM's It's the end of the world - as that song has no meaning and Michael Stipe was just putting words together. He has stated there are no "real" lyrics to the song**).

Music is a big part of my life. It always has been. Maybe this is because my brother is an awesome drummer who (in my humble opinion) was never in the right place at the right time, and never got that big break, but should have, hands down. Maybe it was him making me listen to lyrics, rifs, drums, etc. when my love of music blossomed and if it is, I must salute him and thank him, as music has always been the focal point of anything for me. I can wake up in the morning and hear someone say a line, a word, or a phrase, and can pretty much relate it to any song, then I have that song in my head for hours.

I thought everyone listened to music and heard lyrics. That's not the case. I have a good friend who likes Dropkick Murphy's a little bit - but he can't understand their lyrics. How then, can you hear the song? There are some DKM songs that have phenomenal lyrics (i.e. Never Forget and Forever).

I guess growing up in the world of heavy metal ballads through my teen angst years made a lot of difference regarding lyrics. However, I was just as big into Grateful Dead lyrics as I was any metal band. I got really into Black Flag lyrics and hardcore punk music lyrics, as well. Music is not just music, but a story as well. There are great storytellers in music (John Cougar Mellancamp, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Butch Walker, John Lennon - I could go on and on). It is foreign to me that you can listen to a song and not know what it is about. Again, don't misunderstand me, certain songs mean certain things to certain people, but you need to listen to the lyrics to understand some of them. I have a friend who wanted to dance with her father to a certain song at her wedding. When she told me the song I was surprised, because the song is clearly about a man who is in love with a woman and there are several sexual undertones to it. I'm thinking not a good Daddy's little girl song there.

Lyrics junkies don't announce their addiction to other people. However, I think we seem to cultivate to one another. I have two friends, one who I am very close with now, and we thoroughly enjoy listening to lyrics and songs. We also have the same taste in music. My one girlfriend and I feel deep down (although it has never been spoken aloud) that Don't Forget the Lyrics and the Singing Bee should be on daily. I use www.songlyrics.com often if I really want to know certain words to songs, or am just curious in looking around.

If you are one of those people who are not into lyrics, I don't want you to think I think there is something wrong with you. I understand not everyone is "strange" like I am in that respect. If you are one of those people though, do yourself a favor and just listen and hear your favorite song next time it's on the radio. It might open your eyes to a whole new world.