I know that particularly good lyrics can make me like a song more, but a lot of the songs I listen to (alternate rock) seem to make no sense lyrically. Because of this, I've gotten into the habit of not caring that much about lyrics when I'm listening to a song for the first time.

To me, music has become more about entertainment than self-expression. I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. I do have moments when I just want to listen to rock or particular rappers in order to identify with the music, but I have to be in a certain mood.

What about you?

EideticMemory :

Very much so.

They lyrics to the song is what gives a song character, and even makes it relatable/likeable.

I prefer not to listen to songs with ideals, I don't care for/disagree with. Plus, if someone else here's me listening to that tune, what does that say about me?

Music is beautiful. Lyrical themes that are actually good aren't too hard to find, but I will say this, I'm tired of all the romantic songs, (much like romantic books). Romance is fine, if taken in balance and cleanly. Song's about sex though are pretty gross.

I've really enjoyed the Sonic the Hedgehog rock songs over the years. Probably because the songs were made to tell a story, rather than just one small thing, let alone repeating it over and over and over again.

Live and Learn FTW.

I actully don't really care about the lyrics at all, usually for me I only listen to a song if the music itself is good and pay no attention t the lyrics but after listemning to the song over and over just for the music, then I start to like the lyrics.

Depends on the song. If the lyrics make sense, I can find them very interesting and I would like to learn more about them. But if they don't, I usually remember the main lines and that's it.

I absolutely do care about good lyrics. I can't listen to club music that has nonsensical lyrics, but has a good beat, or a catchy chorus... 

Wait a minute... But I do listen to a lot of Japanese/Korean music... Even though I don't speak the languages, and when translated, the lyrics can be kind of nonsensical... Oh, man. This question just got a lot harder to answer than I previously thought... Uh...

Uh...

Uh... I like... Good music! 

Absolutely. I'm not the biggest fan of music that makes me feel bad. Music is one of the most powerful influences for good or evil. That said, only listening to hyper-religious music would likely make you crazy! I am trying to strike a balance between religious and popular music. I like religious music more overall, but a good popular song with a sweet beat can excite like little else. "Happy" by Pharell Williams comes to mind. I won't call out any songs that I dislike here because I don't want to stir up controversy. I just want to focus on good stuff. Stuff that makes me feel happy.

Not at all to be honest. I only listen to songs if it's catchy. This is evident due to the amount of anime openings I watch and get hooked on.

However if the lyrics are noticeably idiotic or vulgar then I would probably care a little and may be repelled from listening to it.

But some of my favourite songs are foreign so I don't really care about lyrics 95% of the time. I just listen because I enjoy it.

Typically I have to like the lyrics in some way if im gonna listen to the song. one thing that usually gets me is when they do the song and its hard to understand the lyrics and then you are watching a lyric video to figure out what is up. 

I tend to listen to music without lyrics, but I do have to say that lyrics do matter. If the lyrics are interesting to listen too, and tells a story or something similar, I'll like the song better. That's why I tend to like video game songs more than radio songs, because video games tell a story and the lyrics tend to reflect on that. Also, about 90% (at least, that's what it seems like) of the songs on the radio is purely about love. Not to say those songs are bad, (I like some of the songs) but I wish the community would cut down on love songs. They just annoy me, you know. 

Bottom line is, lyrics do matter.

The lyrics are everything for a song! They matter a lot. If music has them, it matters very much to me what they say. That is why I love christian music. The lyrics remind me of what is really important in this life. On the other hand, I also love music without the lyrics, because I can listen to any style of tune. It's the words that make or break a song for me. 

Absolutely. Great lyrics are what make me love certain songs and keep me listening to particular artists. Music is obviously important too, but for me, it's the lyrics that make a song. They can be uplifting, heartbreaking, inspirational, doesn't matter, but if it's well written and I can feel the sincerity and emotion behind the words, I'll definitely be more inclined to listen. 

While at times it is pretty easy to ignore lyrics, I still think they are very important to a song. They add another dimension to the music-listening experience, especially when you don't understand them the first time. Complicated and interesting lyrics give a song replay value. Figuring out what a song means over varied listens is like solving a puzzle in your head, and it makes music that much more enjoyable. 

The lyrics are usually important to me. Sometimes it is the explicit or implicit message that makes me decide if I want to continue listening to it or not. If it contains inappropriate language, chances are I am not going to listen to it. Although I am a Christian, the song does not need an explicitly Christian message for me to enjoy it. A prime example for me is Not Alone by All That Remains.

EideticMemory: 110% agree with you. I'm mostly a big alternative metal fan, and I don't really listen to the words anymore either, whether they're good or bad. However if I'm in my car by myself, depending on what mood I'm in, I'll sing along with the song ( if I know the words ) but I don't really know what I'm singing about. I just like the beat and/or rhythm of the music, and I don't really care about the lyrics, even if I do know what they are.

I sing along with most Shinedown songs, I find. They're not my favorite band in the world, but I guess most of their songs are catchy enough and easy enough to remember the words for me to sing along with it.

I don't necessarily care for the lyrics when I listen to music. Most of the music I listen is in video games and has no words, actually. However, I do occasionally listen to other types of music. I don't really listen to the lyrics unless it's trying to tell me a sort of message, in which some songs do. But, I have to care for the message for me to actually listen to it.

Yes and no. It's either I do care about the lyrics when I listen to music, or I just like the beat and rhythm of the music enough that I really don't bother to know what kind of song I am hearing. Especially because most music I listen to is Japanese language, I most likely have to do myself a favor of looking up the lyrics if I want to know what it's about it.

Usually, when I listen to a song, I just listen to for the beat and rhythm, and I might like it. I don't really bother to look up the lyrics half the time since I don't feel the need to do so. On the other hand though, for me, the lyrics to some songs makes the entire song much more enjoyable for me to listen to. If I really like what the lyrics are about, I'll most likely like the song even more than I already have.

In the end, it all really depends on if I want to do myself the favor of looking up lyrics to songs or not.

For me, if a song has lyrics, they have to be good. I can't stand idiotic or vulgar lyrics. It just ruins the rest if they're terrible.

I very much agree with you EM.

While in SOME songs, I really do care about the lyrics, it's usually not the first thing I'll hear in a song. It take about 3 listens before I start hearing the words, before that I'm listening to the instruments (including the vocal melody), but not as much the meaning.

I think it's because I love classical and other orchestrated music, and so I'm used to focusing on the music that the lyrics are just a bonus.

Lyrics are the centerpiece. You can't eat a full course meal without getting to the steak.

I may be slightly vegan in my tastes for electronic music that doesn't have lyrics, but that's beside the point. If a song has lyrics, they are what you should focus on.

Well It depends on what mood I'm in really... sometimes I have to listen to lyrics and sometimes I'm just like whatever and I just do it for entertainment. Music is a huge part of my life, it helps me cope with some rough things that I have been through . Lyrics are part of it yes but sometimes I just really don't care. Usually rap lyrics though.