Usually I only pay attention to the lyrics when they are really in your face, like some big chorus being shouted at you, or after I know the music backwards and forwards. Lyrics add a lot when they are good, however, if the music sucks it doesn't matter how good the lyrics are, the song will still suck.

I think in some bands like, Mclusky or the Modern Lovers, the lyrics are more important. In others, they arent such a big deal.

minimal attention

If the lyrics suck, the song is basically ruined for me. Same goes for the music.

It's pretty rare to find a band that makes great music and writes great lyrics. Most bands seem to get by with one or the other.

Lyrics aren't make or break to me, but some of the best music has terrible/nonsensical/overwordy lyrics. Listening to Jethro Tull's early 70's music and Frank Zappa's music past 1972 I decided that lyrics were icing, rather than utterly necessary.

Frank Zappa in particular was rather candid on the subject, claiming (I remember reading this, but can't find the source) that he put stupid lyrics to some of his songs (a lot of early-mid 70's tunes) to appeal to people who normally wouldn't listen to technically proficient music, or music outside of the mainstream.

i can't stand bad lyrics. for instance too many mentions of the heart or saying love, or fire. death cab broke pretty much all of my rules with the last record.

I think we can all agree that if there are going to be any lyrics at all, they have to be pretty well-written.

What pisses me off, though, is when people tell me my bands should print the lyrics on the liner notes to our albums. I think this is kind of an idiotic practise. The music is just as (if not more) important as/than the lyrics, and if you're giving your fans copies of the words so they can sing along at every show, shouldn't you also include guitar and drum tabs with your albums so they can learn the songs and play along at home?

Mason wrote:What pisses me off, though, is when people tell me my bands should print the lyrics on the liner notes to our albums. I think this is kind of an idiotic practise. The music is just as (if not more) important as/than the lyrics, and if you're giving your fans copies of the words so they can sing along at every show, shouldn't you also include guitar and drum tabs with your albums so they can learn the songs and play along at home?

It's much easier to grasp the music, you don't need any kind of idea of exactly what notes a band is playing to enjoy the song. The same can be said about vocals, to some extent, but if you can't always make out what the words are, it's hard to get the full picture. I can understand not including a lyrics sheet if a band doesn't worry about how well-written they are or if they simply don't make sense. But if the lyrics truly are just as important as the music to them, I think it's only fair (to both the band and the listener) that you're able to appreciate them equally... by being able to know what they are.

A case can be made for someone who wants you to figure out the lyrics on your own, I s'pose.

I'm mostly into instrumentals and with a few exceptions, don't listen to the lyrics so much as how the voice sounds.

If a song is brilliant but the lyrics are shit I'll still listen. If the song is shit but the lyrics are brilliant I won't. If the song is ok but the lyrics are smart and or funny I'd give it a chance (silver jews)