“In the Night” by Young Guns

Key Lyrics:
“Oh what has become of me? Turn the lights out cos I don’t want to see.” – you can feel the pain in the words about turning the light out so he can’t see himself. Obviously the way he is will not be changed by the fact that the light is turned out, yet he embraces the darkness.

“so I’ll sit on the tracks and I’ll wait, and I’ll raise my glass, sing a toast to the end of all things baby, but I’m drinking alone” – another great line depicting a paradox between happiness and sadness. Raising his glass and singing a toast, yet it’s to the end of all things and he is drinking alone.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World

Key Lyrics:
“It just takes some time, little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride.” – these lyrics are so powerful because they are the underlying meaning of life. Everybody wants to reach their goals, conquer their demons and find meaning in everything too quickly. It doesn’t work that way. It takes time and as the lyrics of the song go, “you’re in the middle of the ride” so enjoy yourself and give it time to unwind and become clearer.

“So don’t buy in. Live right now.” – Emo is about being yourself and not buying in to the crowd and being a copycat just for the sake of being liked. Don’t buy in!

“It’s only in your head you feel left out” – This is the main line of the chorus. We all feel left out at times, but often it’s just in our heads. Don’t be fooled into believing that you’re so different and that you don’t fit in. This is often only in your mind.




“Screaming Infidelities” by Dashboard Confessional

Key Lyrics:
“I’m missing your laugh
How did it break?
And when did your eyes begin to look fake?
I hope you’re as happy as you’re pretending.”

The words start with a sadness and longing for her laugh, but immediately transform into a sort of hatred and disrespect for her as he says that her eyes began to look fake and that he believes her happiness is only a fake facade. The question is whether it is really an attack at her or simply a way of him letting her know that he doesn’t believe she is really happy and that he longs for her to be with him. The song continues with the words “I am alone In my defeat I wish I knew you were safely at home” which shows that he truly does still care for her and that it’s just the pain speaking.

“Thanks for Nothing” by My Passion

Key Lyrics:
“You are evil now
Love you even now” – How do you even start interpreting these lyrics? You are evil now yet I love you despite that. Quick twist on the words, a little paradoxical, and somehow it works perfectly.

“Life is a fashion magazine of woe
And I wear black ’cause it’s the way to go” – Fashion magazines try to dictate what we should be wearing or feeling. Life is being compared to a fashion magazine parading woe. You can practically feel the pain as you thumb through the pages, yet this is acceptable and not meant to be wrong. The reference to wearing black ties in with the fashion magazine as well as the woe and of course black is classic Emo so it all ties in so perfectly.

“Children of the Night” by The Blackout

“Dance Dance” by Fall Out Boy”