These are excerpts from 10 of the most memorable sets of pop song lyrics of the year 2008.
1. Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
Courtesy EMI
Songwriters Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Chris Martin
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
2. Kid Rock - "All Summer Long"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Songwriters Edward King, Kid Rock, Gary Rossington, Uncle Kracker, Ronnie Van Zant, Robert Wachtel, and Warren Zevon
It was 1989, my thoughts were short my hair was long
Caught somewhere between a boy and man
She was seventeen and she was far from in-between
It was summertime in Northern Michigan
Splashing through the sand bar
Talking by the campfire
It's the simple things in life, like when and where
We didn't have no Internet
But man I never will forget
The way the moonlight shined upon her hair
3. Pink - "So What"
Courtesy LaFace Records
Songwriters Pink, Max Martin, and Shellback
I guess I just lost my husband
I don't know where he went
So I'm gonna drink my money
I'm not gonna pay his rent
I've got a brand new attitude,
And I'm gonna wear it tonight
I'm gonna get in trouble
I wanna start a fight
4. Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
Courtesy XL
Songwriters Adele Adkins and Eg White
I'd build myself up
And fly around in circles,
Waiting as my heart drops,
And my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere
5. Death Cab for Cutie - "I Will Possess Your Heart"
Courtesy Atlantic
Songwriters Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla, Jason McGerr, and Nicholas Harmer
How I wish you could see the potential,
the potential of you and me.
It's like a book elegantly bound but,
in a language that you can't read.
Just yet.
You gotta spend some time, Love.
You gotta spend some time with me.
And I know that you'll find, Love
I will possess your heart.
6. Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Songwriters William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, Estelle Swaray, and Kanye West
Can we get away this weekend?
Take me to Broadway
Let's go shopping maybe then we'll go to a Cafe
Let's go on the subway
Take me to your hood
I neva been to Brooklyn and I'd like to see what's good
7. Taylor Swift - "Love Story"
Courtesy Big Machine
Songwriter Taylor Swift
Romeo, save me
I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come
Is this in my head
I don't know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said
Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad
Go pick out a white dress
It's a love story
Baby, just say yes
8. Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Songwriter Jason Mraz
I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue
9. The Killers - "Human"
Courtesy Island Records
Songwriters Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
Are we human, or are we dancer
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human, or are we dancer
10. Yael Naim - "New Soul"
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Songwriter Yael Naim
I'm a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout how to give and take
But since I came here, felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake
