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Lyrics to Live By

Sometimes the stress that comes hand-in-hand with growing up can seem to be too much to handle. Between worrying about school, balancing homework with a decent social life, and attempting to figure out what you want to do with your life, there isn’t much time to remember to just enjoy the ride.

At the risk of sounding too much like a struggling self-help author or an inspirational writer, I’ve compiled a list of songs, in no particular order, that have some great lyrics to do with life, love, and living in the moment. Here are some lyrics to live by:

1. Trooper – Raise a Little Hell
Lyric to live by - "If you don’t like what you got / why don’t you change it?"

The boys in the bright white sports car encourage us to take a stand against what we don’t like, what’s screwed up and what’s wrong. At times, it’s hard to fight to make things right in our lives, but according to Trooper, you’ve just got to dig in your heels and see how it feels, to raise a little hell of your own.

2. The Tragically Hip – World Container
Lyric to live by - "Go suck some souls, be a reader, get used / laugh at a funeral or two..."

The lyrics in this Hip song are somewhat ambiguous and more than slightly hard to understand, as are most of Gord Downie’s lyrics. However, I see this song as an anthem to all those who aren’t really sure what they’re supposed to be doing with their lives. That’s a difficult question to answer, but in the meantime, go out and do things, learn things, take risks…Live a little!

3. John Lennon – Imagine
Lyric to live by - "Imagine all the people / living life in peace..."

Enough said.

4. Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
Lyric to live by - "When you get the choice to sit it out or dance / I hope you dance..."

This song has probably been played at every graduation, 18th birthday celebration, or any other coming of age event in the 10 years since its release – and for good reason, too. Womack beseeches us to never become jaded, forget our youth, or take things for granted. She’s even got some great advice for musicians: When you come close to selling out / reconsider !

5. Rascal Flatts – "My Wish"
Lyric to live by - "...That this life becomes all that you want it to / Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small / You never need to carry more than you can hold..."

In the next five to 10 years, it’s highly likely that this song is going to replace Womack’s I Hope You Dance at any sort of inspirational celebration. I don’t know what it is about Gary Levox, but that man is able to write about absolutely anything and have it neatly toe the line between inspiring and sappy. Sounds great, too.

6. Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
Lyric to live by - "Don’t worry about a thing / ‘cause every little thing’s gonna be alright"

Just hearing the first 10 seconds of this song will immediately spark a smile. Marley’s reggae jams have the kind of rhythm and lyrics that can chill anyone out. We don’t have to live in Jamaica to smile with the rising sun. One love!

7. Tim McGraw – Live Like You Were Dying
Lyric to live by - "Some day I hope you get the chance / to live like you were dyin’…

Many people dismiss country music without giving the genre a proper chance. Regardless of whether or not the steel guitar or the fiddle are among your preferred instruments, the lyrical strength in many country songs is undeniable. In Live Like You Were Dying, McGraw croons about a man who faced only a limited amount of life left to live, and what he chose to do with the time that remained to him. This song certainly strikes a chord within the heart and reminds us not to take any day for granted.

8. Lifehouse – We’ll Never Know
Lyric to live by - "We’re not going to live forever / can you tell me is it now or never?"

When I first heard this song, my initial thought was, “Wow, Jason Wade’s got it figured out.” And he does - Lifehouse packs a short and sweet dose of reality into this track, inspiring us to remember our dreams, live in the moment and basically, just keep on truckin’.

9. MGMT – Time to Pretend
Lyric to live by - "Yeah, it's overwhelming / but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices / and wake up for the morning commute..."

Even though the glamour of fame seems to be blinding the boys of MGMT in this track, they’ve got the right idea. This isn’t to say that the daily grind can’t be a rewarding way of life, but hey; we’re young and naïve and in the prime of our lives. We have the world waiting on our doorstep! Cut out the heroin and the cocaine, of course, and we’ll be living fast (and not dying young). I’m thinkin’ that the office can wait.

10. Sam Roberts – Uprising Down Under
Lyric to live by - "Whoever said you can’t be saved by a song?"

Well, I sure didn’t.