Music, Pop Culture

The Best Song Lyrics for Facebook Status Updates

People like quoting song lyrics as Facebook/Twitter updates typically for one of two reasons- 1.) They’ve run out of things to say 2.) They think it makes them sound interesting.

However, people often have really shitty taste in music. Take for example this article sent to me by Austin Carnivore from the men’s lifestyle blog MadeMan- “10 Good Music Lyrics for Facebook Status”
#1  is Linkin Park’s “The Catalyst” and includes moving lyrics such as- “God bless us everyone. We’re a broken people living under a loaded gun.

Damn. That’s some good shit right there. I’m sure men everywhere are thanking you, MadeMan, for representing the male species’ under-appreciated taste in music.

Most of the lyrics I see Tweeted or FB‘d are usually pretty hipstery songs that give the illusion that the poster is wise and insightful. Or give the illusion to the poster that they are giving the illusion that they are wise and insightful. Lot’s of indie crap and references to Joy Division.

Forget Lady Gaga and Katy Perry- here is what people should be posting on their social media profiles if they want to look pretentious.

Add your favorite song lyric to FB/Tweet in the comments below!

1.) “You got your hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby”– “Boys of Summer” by Don Henley

At some point everyone collectively decided that this song was cool. Like way cool. Long time ago it was not cool. It was a song by the super white dude who sounded like your Dad who was in a band that your Dad used to love. Everything about Don Henley just screamed, “Hey, Dad Dad Daddio Daddy Dad!” Then one day we all grew up and we’re like, “Shit, I really wish I was my Dad right now because I totally want to be nostalgic for Deadhead stickers on Cadillacs and hanging out at the beach.” On particularly inspired days, everything about this song makes you feel as though you’re a Bret Easton Ellis character and no song lyric captures 80’s Southern California cool better than the line above. This is the sort of line that makes you miss a time that you never experienced and will make your social media friends who did live during that time comment that it really wasn’t that great.

2.)  “I hear everybody that you know is more relevant than everybody that I know“- “Losing My Edge” by LCD Soundsystem

Every line in LCD Soundsystem’s “Losing My Edge” is quotable, but this line sums up the gist of the song perfectly -especially is you live in a city like Austin where being on the forefront (or backfront?) of music is not only encouraged, but expected. If you’re not up on what the hot music trends are then you are ridiculed by having Right Said Fred CDs thrown at you in the town square. Though released in 2002, this song still sums up hipster culture to a T. Actually, it does such a good job that you end up hating yourself and all your friends while listening to it. On the days that you’re feeling particularly self-conscious about your waning knowledge of music, then this is the song to blast on your Facebook profile. The interesting thing about this song? Quoting it will at least make you seem like you’re still kind of hip?

3.) “And you may say to yourself, well, how did I get here?” or “Home is where I want to be pick me up and turn me ’round” – “Once in a Lifetime” and “This Must be the Place (Naive Melody)” by Talking Heads

Talking Heads have always been abstractly quotable due to front man David Byrne’s minimalistic delivery. Byrne was a man of few words and you never found anything flowery or abundant in his production.  He made thought-provoking statements in short sentences and in almost a child-like approach. Possibly Talking Heads most referenced song is the classic “Once in a Lifetime“. Every line from that song is memorable and relatable. Post a “And you may say to yourself, well, how did I get here?” and you’ll have instance response on your social media profiles- from people you actually like. However, if you want to go with a little more sweet, a little more introspective, a little more Sean Penn future-movie referencing, go with a line from “This Must be the Place (Naive Melody)“. Any line will do…and it will make me fall in love with you.

4.) “I am the passenger“- “The Passenger” by Iggy Pop

Short, simple, and to the point. “I am the passenger“…to what? A glass-roofed taxi cab? David Bowie’s rental car? The Popmobile? Everything about this song screams seedy, ominous New York City late 70’s- the time we all secretly wish we were shooting heroin in-, next to a naked transvestite named Sparkles. Choosing one line from this song is a difficult. “So let’s take a ride and see what’s mine” comes as a pretty close second to quality Facebook status updates. This song makes one feel empowered and nihilistic. As though we can drive through the streets at night claiming our turf. On the days you’re feeling particularly tyrannical, this is the song to quote.

5.) “Let’s get together before we get much older“- “Baba O’Reilly” by The Who

This is the sort of song that makes you want to climb up onto a skyscraper and stand there with your arms stretched out for the movie cameras that aren’t there. “Baba O’Reilly” is an inspirational song- even if we have no idea who the hell Sally and the Happy Ones are. “Teenage Wasteland” is arguably the most famous line and the one that people erroneously believe is the title to the song, but I couldn’t go with obvious for this song selection. Around birthdays, when we’re feeling nostalgic for the years of your youth, then “let’s get together before we get much older” is the line to quote. Since we are older now, we need songs like this to give us hope past 30.

6.) “And if it takes shit to make bliss then I feel pretty blissfully“- “The View” by Modest Mouse

Good News for People Who Love Bad News. What an album. The best part of Modest Mouse? Their lyrics make no f’ing sense- but they sound cool. This is one entire album of non-sequiturs. Take for instance the song “The View“. What does “and if it takes shit to make bliss then I feel pretty blissfully” really mean? I’ve never heard the expression that it takes shit to make bliss, have you? I thought bliss was something you typically felt when you were having sex- not when life is taking a big ol’ dump on you. However, that is the beauty of Modest Mouse lyrics- they sound profound enough to quote on social media profiles even though no one knows what the hell you are talking about.

7.) “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine“- “Gloria” by Patti Smith

Quoting anything Patti Smith instantly makes you cool, don’t you know that? Especially since everyone is reading “Just Kids” right now. This is particularly excellent for the twenty-somethings who are going through an existential crisis and want to share it with the world on Facebook. Or for the angsty girl who likes to write poetry. I’ll be honest though, I have barely listened to this song. That is why this blurb is short. So I’m just going to ramble here so it looks like this paragraph about Patti Smith is longer than it actually is. Does this look long enough yet? Hmmm…maybe one more sentence. Robert Mapplethorpelikedtotakepicturesofhisbuttyadayadayada. AND DONE!

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26 Comments

  • Reply theTsaritsa February 22, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    I'll post song lyrics as my FB updates, but they're typically rap songs that I'm either listening to or have stuck in my head. One time my update was "Sick of nagging bosses bitchin while I'm washing dishes" because my boss was annoying me, but I wanted to be subtle.

  • Reply Gracie February 22, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Hilarious post! I am so guilty of quoting Modest Mouse lyrics :-/

  • Reply r3t0dd February 22, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    "That's the way I like it, baby. I don't wanna live forever."
    -Motörhead

  • Reply birkley3030 February 22, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    You could have had an entire sub-post about Radiohead lyrics, which are my fav to quote.


    If I get old, I will not give in
    But if I do, remind me of this
    Remind me that
    Once I was free
    Once I was cool
    Once I was me

    And if I sit down and cross my arms
    Hold me up to this song

    Knock me out, smash out my brains
    If I take a chair, start to talk shit

    If I get old, remind me of this
    That we kissed and I really meant it
    Whatever happens, if we're still speaking
    Pick up the phone, play me this song

  • Reply Higgipedia February 22, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    I've also found that in the 30-something set, we tend to wax nostalgic through lyric posts on FB. One set of "This town was built on miles of hope and I dare you to give me one reason to stay and maybe I won't go away," and see the mid-90's hipsters come running to "like" the status.

  • Reply JennyJenJen February 22, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    dammit, you got me on the patti smith.

  • Reply Johanna February 22, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    What no Prince quote?

  • Reply Scott Tammaro February 23, 2011 at 12:47 am

    …When ya' see me,
    better turn your tail and run,
    'cause I'm angry
    and I'll mess you up for fun…

    "Teenage Head" – Flamin' Groovies

    It really gets the point across when used as your voicemail recording.

  • Reply Garry with 2 Rs February 23, 2011 at 1:33 am

    When I haven't updated for a while and need an attention hit, I usually go with something from the Avalanches' Frontier Psychiatrist.

    eg. Garry was as white as a sheet. And he also made false teeth.

  • Reply ISRAEL CARRASCO February 23, 2011 at 2:05 am

    I like it. Quoting any of those will automatically make you hip and ironic at the same time which is the goal anyway.

  • Reply bobbi February 23, 2011 at 9:07 am

    I just totally fell in love with you for a few reasons. Most of which is the mental image of being pelted with RSF CDs while an angry mob wearing skinny jeans and too much eyeliner call you dirty names. Inappropriately giggled out loud and made people stare at me.

  • Reply bobbi February 23, 2011 at 9:08 am

    I just totally fell in love with you for a few reasons. Most of which is the mental image of being pelted with RSF CDs while an angry mob wearing skinny jeans and too much eyeliner call you dirty names. Inappropriately giggled out loud and made people stare at me.

  • Reply andrea February 23, 2011 at 10:09 am

    What about song lyrics for MSN messenger nicknames? So retro. I am guilty of quoting brand new's first album too often after a break-up when I was 18. Pretty embarrassing.

  • Reply That Chelsea Girl™ February 23, 2011 at 11:47 am

    I sure do believe you nailed it! The Boys of Summer became cool to listen to after The Ataris covered it, haha.

  • Reply Big Mark 243 February 23, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    I am going to post song lyrics for the month of March for status updates thanks to you…

    …or maybe not. To be honest, I have posted lyrics from some songs that I like and am saddend when no one figures out that they are just song lyrics and people offers their concern for my well-being, although one lady DID get what I was doing…

    … I never thought of myself as 'hip' though I liked modest mouse because their album titles (esp. 'This Is A Long Drive… hey, a post idea!!) were so evocative…

    …being a brother from when rap (used to be hip hop, but they aren't the same… I digress) first burst on the scene but still hanging with Geddy Lee in the Temples of Syrnix, no matter what I would do, I was never able to find that crowd … so if I am 'hip' it is purely coincidental…

    …hmmm… kind of rambling… but your journal entry is the one that should have been published or used by that website and not that drivel that you linked to… man, that was some shite..!

    You rock, boo!

  • Reply Hipstercrite February 23, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    @Tsaritsa- HA! Rap songs are the most quotable. Too bad I don't listen to rap. 🙁

    @Gracie- YES! Who doesn't love Modest Mouse, you know? They're sooooo good.

    @r3t0dd- I like it.

    @Birkley3030- I was going to post Radiohead, but I couldn't find one I liked and I ran out of time. What song is the one below?

    @Higgipedia- Ha. Yeah, that sounds about right.

    @Jen- 😉

    @Johanna- Oh, I had one, but decided that my blog has had Prince overkill lately. I was going to put up, "I never wanted to be your weekend lover, I only wanted to be some kind of friend."

    @Scott- HA! What is the reaction you usually get?

    @Garry- I have no idea who that is. Shameful. I must look up now.

    @Israel- EXACTLY! 😉

    @Bobbi- Ha! Thanks! My Mom owns that RSF CD and she loooooves it. Still plays it all the time.

    @Andrea- Ha! Yes! I actually took to looking at Tumblr names for inspiration on this post too!

    @Chelsea- Oh my God! I totally forgot that they covered that song!

    @Mark- Thanks, Mark. Yeah, it sucks when people don't know what song lyrics you posted. However, there is also a joy in knowing that you are the only one that gets it, you know?

  • Reply Avery February 23, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair / do you think it's gonna make him change?

  • Reply birkley3030 February 23, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    @hipstercrite

    The Radiohead song I posted is A Reminder AKA the song that will be played at my funeral. Don't act like you know have a funeral song grrrrl!

  • Reply MG February 23, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    MOTHER EFFER! I was going to say that modest mouse one. I like to post things like "they see me rollin', they hatin'" or "ba-ba-ba-beat it up like a drummer" because it makes me sound hardcore. Pretty sure I just blew my own spot, shit.

  • Reply Hamlet2007 February 24, 2011 at 4:44 am

    You are right about the talking heads. I watched Wall Street 2 flying back to the states from Vienna Monday and when at the movie's end, This Must be the Place plays its like a complete admission that this sequel cant hold a candle to the first movie. That song simply nails a certain 80s vibe and the only other band for me that comes close there is New Order.

    Good luck with the writing.

    And oh yeah, since i'm past 40 I don't even see what the point of a status update is.

  • Reply Music beats for free February 26, 2011 at 11:34 pm

    im guilty with that as well, i tend to post lines from the song that describes my mood at that moment..

    Ledz

  • Reply Brooke Farmer March 11, 2011 at 12:08 am

    How did I miss this post. Awesome.

    Mine?

    Happenstance has changed my plans so many times my heart has been outgrown.

    That fucking song makes me cry every damn time. My brother sat me down one day when my life was taking a turn towards a pile of shit. Again. And made me listen to every word.

  • Reply Rad Capitalist July 13, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    There are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder…

  • Reply InMyTree March 11, 2012 at 2:20 am

    @BigMark243 I know exactly what you mean. I hardly post anything on Facebook as a status other than song lyrics. My sister told me one day that some people had asked her if I was ok. They were worried about my mental stability! 🙂 I loved it!!!

  • Reply andy 27 March 26, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    These suck!

  • Reply Grace May 29, 2012 at 5:24 am

    Just go ahead and hate on me and run ur mouth so everyone can hear
    Hit me with the worst ya got and knick me down baby I don’t care
    keep it up and soon enough you’ll figure out you wanna be, you wanna be, a loser like me:)

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