Musical Close-up: Rock Lyrics

 Spotify playlist containing listening examples referenced below. 

• U2
  • "Pride (In the Name of Love)" from Unforgettable Fire (1984) [lyrics]
    - oblique references (mostly) to the Martin Luther King assassination

Evolution of Rock Lyrics

1950s

• Little Richard
  • "Good Golly, Miss Molly" [lyrics]
• "Long Tall Sally" [lyrics]
• Chuck Berry
  • "School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell" [lyrics]

1960s

• The Byrds
  • "Eight Miles High" [lyrics]
• Jefferson Airplane
  • "White Rabbit" [lyrics]

1970s

• The Rolling Stones
  • "Star Star" (originally titled "Starfucker") [lyrics]

1980s

• Prince
  • "Jack U Off" [lyrics]
  • "When You Were Mine" [lyrics]
  • "Head" [lyrics]
  • "Darling Nikki" [lyrics]
• Twisted Sister
  • "We're Not Gonna Take It" [lyrics]
• Ozzy Osbourne
  • "Suicide Solution" [lyrics]
• Blue Oyster Cult
  • "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" [lyrics]

1990s

• Eminem
  • "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" [lyrics]