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Lyrics that represent us all: 12 song lines we can all relate to

Image: Jonas Leupe

Song lyrics can be as bad or as good as talent, inspiration, and craft allow. From a superficial line to a profound and touching idea, and everything in between. Take a look at the following 12 lines taken from songs you know and songs you don’t know. Which one is your favorite?

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"I’m losing my edge. To all the kids in Tokyo and Berlin. I’m losing my edge to the art-school Brooklynites in little jackets and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered eighties."

This song reflects on aging and coming to terms with who you’re becoming. It captures that uneasy shift from feeling current to feeling left behind. Years before "hipster" was a trend, James Murphy, in his 30s, sang about younger, cooler kids with beards and trucker hats catching up to him.

Image: Dolo Iglesias

"I don’t believe in an interventionist God. But I know, darling, that you do. But if I did, I would kneel down and ask Him. Not to intervene when it came to you."

Nick Cave, known for his dark intensity, had shown emotion before, but here he stood fully exposed, expressing deep affection without his usual armor.

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"A skinny man died of a big disease with a little name. By chance, his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same."

Prince’s lyrics often reflected his sensual, otherworldly persona, seemingly detached from real-world struggles. That changed with this track, which tackled gang violence, AIDS, political unrest, and natural disasters.

Image: Bob Osias

"There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell. And I was thinking to myself. This could be Heaven or this could be Hell."

"Hotel California" is the biggest hit from the Eagles, soft rock giants of the '70s. By decade’s end, they were weary of fame and each other. The fictional hotel symbolizes the trap of rock stardom—enticing but inescapable. Its surreal lyrics were inspired by an eerie, late-night drive through deserted Los Angeles streets.

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"If I had a box just for wishes and dreams that had never come true, the box would be empty, except for the memory of how they were answered by you."

Jim Croce was a master craftsman of words, and this line is a superb example. The first line hints at a sad story, only to be proven wrong by the second one, filled with love and optimism.

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"I see friends shaking hands, saying, 'How do you do.' They're really saying, 'I love you.'"

This song, made famous by Louis Armstrong, was penned by Bob Thiele (as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss. It expresses a cheerful vision of life, and it has been used as a gentle mood uplifter since.

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"Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be. I could fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings."

We have seen a couple of love declarations in the list so far, and Bette Midler knows how to deliver one, being the queen of musicals and romantic movies that she is.

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"You can't always get what you want. But, if you try sometime, you find you get what you need."

A song with a philosophical message that often makes an appearance in movies where a character ends up in a situation that was not the ideal one, but it is a good one, still.

Image: Markus Spiske

"There are places I'll remember all my life, though some have changed. Some forever, not for better. Some have gone, and some remain. All these places had their moments with lovers and friends, I still can recall. Some are dead, and some are living. In my life, I've loved them all."

An ode to aging, written by young men who didn’t know at the time that they were writing a piece of history.

Image: Michael Hystead

"It's got to be more than flesh and bone. All that you've loved is all that you own."

"Take It With Me" may be the greatest song by one of the greatest songwriters. In just five minutes, it describes the entire spectrum of human experience.

Equally fitting for weddings or funerals, its message resonates deeply. At its core is a line credited to Waits’ wife, Kathleen Brennan—a simple truth that gives the song its soul.

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"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

The second Lennon entry on the list also captures life’s truths with disarming simplicity. He wrote what everyone feels, but few could express so clearly.

Image: Jefferson Santos

"She coulda turned out to be almost anyone, almost anyone. With the possible exception of who I wanted her to be"

Jackson Browne, a leading voice of the ’70s singer-songwriter era, crafted this line that strikes a unique emotional chord. In it, he transformed a personal story into a shared sense of longing and emptiness that we've all experienced.

How about Ezra?

Time for a comeback: 12 great names that nobody uses anymore

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As with many other things in life, baby names follow trends. In certain decades, thousands of Michaels seem to appear from everywhere, only to be overshadowed by legions of James in the next. For this very reason, we don’t hear of many babies named Herbert, or Edna anymore. So, if you are in the market for a baby name, maybe you can pick one that is not being over-used these days. Here are 12 suggestions for you!

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As George Carlin once said, strong names create strong men. So, why not give your boy a good old-fashioned serious name, like Clifford? This name of English and Germanic origin was once a last name meaning "ford by the cliff."

Image: Jeremiah Lawrence

Once a popular name in the past century, Mildred seems to have fallen out of favor in recent decades and it is currently hard to find anybody named Mildred who doesn’t have grey hair. This Anglo-Saxon name is composed of mild ("mild") and þryð ("power), meaning "gentle strength."

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A name that evokes a time gone by, Longfellow is a poetic name that was in demand back in the early 20th century. The name of English origin means, to no one’s surprise, "tall one."

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If the last person named Ethel you remember is Ethel Merman, you are not alone. This aristocratic name means "Noble," and it has been sitting on the bleachers for far too long. Ethel is the short form of Etheldreda and was first used as an independent name in the 1840s.

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A name that was popular in the mid-20th century, Laverne has two different meanings. And one of them is much more flattering than the other, at least for most. According to Roman mythology, Laverna was the goddess of thieves, which doesn’t sound all that great. But the French origin for this name means "springlike." Much more agreeable.

Image: Jamie Coupaud

This name has been used until not so long ago but it has lost some of its popularity in recent years. This boy’s name has Latin origins and it means "bright." Not a bad omen for a baby!

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A popular name when The Flintstones cartoon was originally airing, due to the leading character Wilma Flintstone, this name of German origin is a short version of Wilhelmina, meaning "will helmet."

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Bessie was originally a nickname for Elizabeth but it became a name in its own right quite some time ago. And, while it was a popular name back in the day, it has since fallen out of use.

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A serious name, indeed, Jethro is rarely heard these days. It has a biblical meaning in Hebrew scripture, where Jethro was an illustrious figure, renowned for his wisdom and leadership.

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A strong name for a strong girl, Gertrude is derived from Germanic roots meaning "spear" and "strength." And, if the name sounds too serious, Gertrudes can also go by the shorter nickname, Trudy.

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It may sound like a granny name but no one can deny that it has a lot of character and personality. And, besides, its German roots add a deeper meaning to it, since it translates to "the bright one."

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Yes, it may sound like an antiquated name. Yes, the only known reference to it is the Warner Brothers cartoon, Elmer Fudd. But, still, it is a great name and no one is using it. This name of British origin means "noble" and "famous."