Which song lyrics from 2025 most moved our NPR Music critics?

From tear-jerkers to mic-drops, NPR's music critics share the 2025 lyrics that made them laugh, cry and hit replay.

“Tomorrow Never Knows” was one of The Beatles’ first psychedelic tunes, and had pretty far-out lyrics too. There are backward loops and strange lyrics, including, “Turn off your mind/ Relax and float ...

The practice of songwriting underwent a significant change by the 1960s. Prior to the decade, the majority of songs used lyrics that were digestible, clear, light-hearted, and easily intelligible.

Kelly Jakubowski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...