On August 28th, 2015, just before receiving my Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania, I found myself in the office of Dr. James Pennebaker, a distinguished researcher in language and emotions. My purpose was clear: to discuss the profound impact of words, specifically Songs Lyrics, and their significance. I was eager to explore how lyrics shape our world, hoping for resources to support my burgeoning hypothesis as I embarked on my capstone project. I anticipated a vibrant discussion about favorite lyrics and the transformative power of music.
With my iPhone recording, I posed what seemed like an obvious question: “Do you think lyrics impact well-being?” My conviction stemmed from two key aspects of my life. Firstly, as a singer-songwriter (Tricia Fox Music), lyrics have always been central to my musical experience, providing solace and influencing my emotional state. Secondly, my work with children facing immense challenges – cancer treatment, end-of-life care, addiction recovery, and juvenile detention – had shown me firsthand the power of songwriting. Witnessing the impact of their self-composed songs lyrics fueled my application to the MAPP program, driving my exploration into the connection between music and emotional health.
My capstone question, “Message in the music: Do lyrics influence well-being?”, felt almost rhetorical. I was sure the answer was a resounding “Yes!” Therefore, Dr. Pennebaker’s response was truly unexpected. This pioneer in expressive writing and writing therapy simply shrugged and stated, “No, I don’t think lyrics influence well-being. In fact, I don’t really listen to lyrics.”
This moment marked the beginning of a journey to investigate whether my seemingly obvious assumption was, in fact, not only unproven but potentially incorrect. While definitive studies were scarce, my research uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that songs lyrics do indeed influence emotional health, both individually and potentially on a global scale.
The Interplay of Music and Words in Songs
One undeniable truth is music’s fundamental role in society throughout history. Imagine a world devoid of music – no wedding first dances, silent commutes, movies without soundtracks, concerts replaced by silence, campfires without singalongs. Such a world is almost unimaginable because music has been present in documented human history (Levitin, 2006). Music is ubiquitous across human societies (MacDonald et al., 2012), integral to celebrations, mourning, sporting events, and weddings across cultures. The profound emotional impact of music, both positive and negative, is so widespread that it holds potential as a public health tool due to its accessibility (Västfjäll et al., 2012). Victor Hugo eloquently stated, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.” Yet, music in its purest form is primarily a composition of notes and silences. What happens when we add words, when music is imbued with songs lyrics?
Image: Headshot of James Pennebaker, a researcher in language and emotional experiences, relevant to the discussion about the impact of songs lyrics on well-being.
Lyrics, in this context, refer to the words within a musical piece. It’s impossible to discuss songs lyrics in isolation from music. Music and lyrics are synergistic, each enhancing the other to create a unified experience that would be diminished by the absence of either element. Consider The Beatles’ uplifting anthem, “Here Comes The Sun.” The cheerful melody perfectly complements the hopeful songs lyrics, “Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s alright.” Would the song evoke the same feeling if set to a dark, minor key, or if the lyrics were replaced with “and darkness stays, and I say, burn it down”? While the relative influence of music versus lyrics is debatable, music’s inherent ability to influence emotion is well-documented (Bharucha et al., 2006; Clark, 2013; Juslin, 2001; Juslin, 2003; Levitin, 2007; Västfjäll et al., 2012).
Music is not alone in its capacity to influence well-being; words themselves also wield significant emotional power. Research into expressive writing demonstrates that just 15 minutes of daily writing can markedly improve well-being by fostering motivation, self-efficacy, flow, and self-regulation (Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999). These studies often focus on writing about personal experiences. However, the words we consume through reading also have a profound impact. Studies indicate that reading classic novels can alleviate depression by “increasing self-awareness and enhancing the ability to articulate profound issues of self and being” (Billington, J, Dorwick, C, Robinson, J, Hamer, A, Williams, C., 2011).
The Powerful Combination: Music Enriched with Songs Lyrics
Research confirms the individual emotional impact of both music and words. But what about their combined effect in songs lyrics? This area presented a research challenge. Songs lyrics are less frequently studied than music alone, despite their common partnership (Juslin, 2005). However, studies have explored the relationship between language and music, highlighting how music can enhance language skills.
The OPERA hypothesis posits that music and speech share neural networks, and we can leverage neuroplasticity under specific conditions. These conditions are: “(1) Overlap: anatomical overlap in brain networks processing acoustic features in music and speech, (2) Precision: music demands higher processing precision in these shared networks than speech, (3) Emotion: musical activities engaging these networks evoke strong positive emotions, (4) Repetition: frequent repetition of these musical activities, and (5) Attention: focused attention associated with these activities” (Patel, A.D., 2012). Patel’s OPERA hypothesis suggests that setting words to music, creating songs lyrics, amplifies their individual impact, creating a synergistic effect.
Image: Tricia Fox performing music, illustrating the role of a singer-songwriter who understands the emotional impact of songs lyrics through performance and creation.
Musical taste and engagement are subjective, varying from person to person, season to season, or even day to day. Yet, music and songs lyrics have consistently been part of every society (Levitin, 2006). From Gregorian chants, used to memorize religious texts (Apel, 1958), to civil rights protest songs (Rodnitsky, 1969), the influence of songs lyrics is evident throughout history. Popular radio, Grammy nominations, and personal music collections overwhelmingly feature songs with words. These songs lyrics add a potent layer to our musical experiences. The field of songs lyrics research is ripe with potential. Yip Harburg, renowned lyricist of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” captured the essence of songs lyrics: “Words make you think… music makes you feel…but a song makes you feel thoughts” (Alonso, 2012, Preface section, para. 12). This beautifully encapsulates the unique power of songs lyrics to blend intellect and emotion, profoundly impacting our well-being.
References
- Alonso, H. (2012). Yip Harburg: legendary lyricist and humanist. Wesleyan University Press.
- Apel, W. (1958). Gregorian chant. Indiana University Press.
- Bharucha, J. J., Curtis, M. E., & Paroo, I. Q. (2006). Varieties of musical experience. Perception & Psychophysics, 68(6), 999-1010.
- Billington, J., Dowrick, C., Robinson, J., Hamer, A., & Williams, C. (2011). An investigation into the therapeutic benefits of reading in relation to depression and well-being. Arts & Health, 3(1), 62-79.
- Clark, M. E. (2013). Emotion and embodiment: implications for music therapy. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 22(2), 115-131.
- Juslin, P. N. (2001). Emotional responses to music: Towards a mechanistic perspective. In Music and emotion (pp. 71-103). Oxford University Press.
- Juslin, P. N. (2003). Musical emotions explained: Unlocking the secrets of musical feeling. Oxford University Press.
- Juslin, P. N. (2005). Emotional communication in music performance: A functionalist perspective. Music Analysis, 24(1-2), 7-31.
- Levitin, D. J. (2006). This is your brain on music: The science of a musical obsession. Penguin.
- Levitin, D. J. (2007). الموسيقى في ستة دروس سهلة. دار الكتاب العربي.
- MacDonald, R., Kreutz, G., & Mitchell, L. (Eds.). (2012). Music, health, and wellbeing. Oxford University Press.
- Patel, A. D. (2012). Cross-domain transfer of learning between music and language: evidence from the OPERA hypothesis. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367(1598), 1525-1538.
- Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243-1254.
- Rodnitzky, J. L. (1969). The new left and the origins of the contemporary folk music revival. Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 171-195.
- Västfjäll, D., Juslin, P. N., & Hartig, T. (2012). Gratifications and well-being: Exploring experienced and anticipated affective reactions to music. Psychology of Music, 40(1), 71-92.
