I’d be willing to bet that most of you know what hyperbole is. It is used to illustrate exaggeration in many forms of speech, such as poetry, music, and our everyday vernacular.
These days, hyperbole is used more than ever before in many forms of entertainment. If you’re looking for songs with hyperbole in the lyrics, you’ll love the playlist we’ve put together for you below. Some of the songs might surprise you!
Table of Contents
1. Grenade by Bruno Mars
| Genre | Pop, R&B |
| Album | Doo-Wops & Hooligans |
| Year Released | 2010 |
Where hyperbole is used: I’d catch a grenade for ya. Throw my hand on a blade for ya. I’d jump in front of a train for ya. You know I’d do anything for ya.
Meaning: Soul and R&B singer Bruno Mars goes all out on his album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award along with his single “Grenade.” The reason that I think this song appeals to me more than most tracks regarding this topic is that while they all say the same thing, Bruno Mars finds a refreshing and unique way to bring his message. While most artists are singing about how far they would go to see the one they love or how long they have loved them, Bruno Mars uses hyperboles such as catching a grenade and jumping in front of a train for his significant other. Now that’s dedication.
2. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
| Genre | Punk |
| Album | 2004 |
| Year Released | American Idiot |
Where hyperbole is used: I walk this empty street on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, where the city sleeps, and I’m the only one, and I walk alone.
Meaning: Okay, I have to go officially on record as saying that I am a sucker for a good concept album. If all of the songs on the record are cohesive, and they all lay out this amazing tale in front of you, I’m all for it. This is where Green Days punk rock opera “American Idiot” fits into this list. However, it’s not the album’s title track that catches your attention, but rather this slow and melancholy track, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” that steals the spotlight. This track has the main character of the story wondering if he made the right decision with his life and coming to the conclusion that he will always be alone. This is yet another Green Day song filled with alliteration that makes it even more catchy.
3. Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Album | Justified |
| Year Released | 2006 |
Where hyperbole is used: You must have me confused with some other guy. The bridges were burned; now it’s your turn to cry. Cry me a river.
Meaning: Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years, you have undoubtedly heard of the messy split between former Disney channel stars Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. To nobody’s surprise, the couple’s 3-year relationship reached a volatile ending in 2002, which had an extremely negative effect on Spears’ career. When Britney made it apparent that she wanted the couple to get back together, Timberlake wrote this song in response. The meaning of this indicates that no matter how badly Spears wanted the two to get back together, Timberlake says there aren’t enough tears she can cry to make him want to pursue another relationship with her.
4. Genie In a Bottle by Christina Aguilera
| Genre | Pop, R&B |
| Album | Christina Aguilera |
| Year Released | 1999 |
Where hyperbole is used: I feel like I’ve been locked up tight for a century of lonely nights, waiting for someone to release me.
Meaning: Christina Aguilera is yet another former member of the Mickey Mouse Club who came into her own when she reached adulthood, branching out to be taken a little more seriously in her music career. Jimmy, that’s what the hit track “Genie In a Bottle” was all about. The first line of the song says that Christina has been locked up for a century of lonely nights. To me, that represents her career with the Mickey Mouse Club, where she was told what to say, what to do, and what to wear. However, the rest of the song indicates that she will not be taken advantage of. You have to treat her right if you want to be with her.
5. Looks That Kill by Mötley Crüe
| Genre | Hard Rock, Glam Metal |
| Album | Shout at the Devil |
| Year Released | 1983 |
Where hyperbole is used: Now listen up. She’s razor-sharp. If she doesn’t get her way, she’ll slice you apart.
Meaning: By their second album, 1983’s “Shout at the Devil,” Mötley Crüe found their groove thanks to the songwriting team of bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist Mick Mars. The two members had a knack for combining catchy, risque lyrics with heavy and melodic riffs. One of the songs on this album that showcases their talent the best is the catchy single “Looks That Kill,” which uses hyperbole to get its point across. The hyperbole in the section above simply indicates that the woman they are speaking about is quite good-looking, and she is more than willing to use those looks to get whatever she wants.
6. Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Album | Eye Of the Tiger |
| Year Released | 1982 |
Where hyperbole is used: And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night. And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger.
Meaning: in the early 1980s, the Hard Rock Band Survivor was one of the hottest tickets in town. One reason for this is because their track “Eye Of The Tiger” was selected as the theme song for the third installment of the Rocky film franchise. In this track, Dave Bickler uses both the metaphor of being a tiger to indicate how he is hunting down his enemy and the hyperbole of being the last known survivor to indicate that he is one of the last people left to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship in boxing. Watching everybody with the eye of the tiger also indicates that he is always on the lookout for his enemies.
7. It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls
| Genre | Disco, Funk, R&B |
| Album | Success |
| Year Released | 1982 |
Where hyperbole is used: ‘Cause tonight, for the first time, just about half-past ten. For the first time in history, it’s gonna start raining men,
Meaning: The Weather Girls only had one single that cracked the Billboard Hot 100, but it was certainly a memorable one. That track was the 1982 disco and funk classic “It’s Raining Men,” which was covered in 1998 byWeather Girls member Martha Wash and American drag queen and singer RuPaul. This song became an anthem of empowerment for single women everywhere in 1982, using the hyperbole that there would be so many men available, and I can’t believe that there would be plenty enough to go around. In other words, it would seem like it would be raining men. Even goes as far as to tell all the single people listening that they can leave their umbrellas at home.
8. Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana
| Genre | Grunge Rock |
| Album | In Utero |
| Year Released | 1993 |
Where hyperbole is used: She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
I’ve been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks.
Meaning: Nirvana took not only the rock music genre but also the entire musical landscape by storm when they released their triple-diamond-selling quintessential grunge masterpiece “Nevermind.” However, lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain was unsatisfied with the result, saying that it sounded more like a Mötley Crüe album than a punk album. The band released their third album in Utero in 1993 on their terms, featuring this love song to Cobain’s wife. “Heart-Shaped Box” was a song filled with figurative language, including a hyperbole that stated that Cobain could be intimate with his wife for weeks at a time.
9. Deeper Than the Holler by Randy Travis
| Genre | 1988 |
| Album | Old 8×10 |
| Year Released | Country |
Where hyperbole is used: My love is deeper than the holler. Stronger than the river. Higher than the pine trees growing’ tall on the hill.
My love is purer than the snowflakes that fall in late December.
Meaning: Leave it to a good, old-fashioned country song to give you the perfect way to express your love for your partner. In his song “Deeper Than the Holler,” country music superstar Randy Travis lays his heart on the line like only he can. If you have spent any time in the country, then you will understand the hyperbole Travis uses in this tune. Hollers can be pretty deep, rivers can be mighty strong, and the first snow of the winter is the purest thing you’ll ever see. What Travis did was use these poetic terms to declare his love for his partner.
10. She’s Everything by Brad Paisley
| Genre | Country |
| Album | Time Well Wasted |
| Year Released | 2005 |
Where hyperbole is used: She’s a Saturday out on the town and a church girl on Sunday. She’s a cross around her neck and a cuss word ’cause it’s Monday.
Meaning: When Brad Paisley isn’t busy shooting Nationwide Insurance commercials with former NFL superstar Peyton Manning, he is also known for being one of the most talented country music artists in Nashville. In his single “She’s Everything” from 2005’s “Time Well Wasted,” Paisley paints a beautiful portrait of whomever this song means to him. What I like best about the lyrics of this song is the simplicity of them. Brad doesn’t mention anything out of the ordinary or extravagant. Instead, you compare his love to a Saturday night out and plenty of other things that you can only find in a small town.
11. To the Moon and Back by Savage Garden
| Genre | Electronic Pop |
| Album | Savage Garden |
| Year Released | 1997 |
Where hyperbole is used: I would fly you to the moon and back. If you’ll be, you’ll be my baby. Got a ticket for a world where we belong.
Meaning: In 1997, the electronic pop group Savage Garden announced their arrival on the Billboard charts with their self-titled debut album. Although their first album gave them the first number-one hit of their career, it was that album’s lead-off song, “To the Moon and Back,” that would quickly become a fan favorite and also set the tone for that entire record. One of the things that brought Savage Garden instant popularity was the clever use of figurative language. For instance, let’s take the hyperbole used in this track. What they are saying in this track is that their love for each other is practically immeasurable and that they would like a whole world to themselves.
12. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
| Genre | British Pop, R&B |
| Album | Back to Black |
| Year Released | 2006 |
Where hyperbole is used: We only said goodbye with words. I died a hundred times. You go back to her, and I go back to black.
Meaning: Sadly, because she found herself to be an unfortunate member of the “27 Club,” I don’t believe that we ever got the chance to see Amy Winehouse’s full potential, although her 2006 album “Back to Black” is considered to be a modern classic. Winehouse offered a unique sound that was a fusion between modern R&B and 50s and 60s soul, complete with unique lyrics. Her use of hyperbole in the album’s title track is fairly simple but effective. When she says that she died a thousand times after a breakup, we all know that it’s impossible to die that many times, but that’s how horrible it made her feel.
13. I Dare You by Shinedown
| Genre | Rock |
| Album | Us and Them |
| Year Released | 2005 |
Where hyperbole is used: I dare you to tell me to walk through fire. Wear my soul and call me a liar.
Meaning: what I find most appealing about Shinedown is that they are so relatable to everyday people. For instance, let’s take a look at one line from one of their hit songs. One of the most commonly used phrases to tell your significant other how much they means to you is to tell them that you would walk through fire for them. In Shinedown’s hit single “I Dare You” from their debut album “Us and Them,” that’s exactly what lead vocalist Brent Smith is trying to get across to his partner. On this track, Smith is practically begging the object of his affection to give him the chance to show just how much she means to him. This is one of my personal favorite songs with hyperbole used in it.
14. Hello by Adele
| Genre | Pop, R&B, Soul |
| Album | 25 |
| Year Released | 2015 |
Where hyperbole is used: Hello from the outside. At least I can say that I’ve tried to tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart, but it don’t matter. It clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore.
Meaning: English R&B and soul crossover singer Adele has been easily one of the most appreciated artists in the 2010s, both by her fans and by critics alike. Perhaps one reason why she is so beloved is because she has a way of putting her heart and soul into her music and allowing her audience to share in her emotions. That’s what I like about Adele most. She is one of only a handful of singers who can make you feel exactly what she was feeling at the moment she wrote the song. For instance, on the track “Hello,” she uses the hyperbole “It clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore” to show us how disappointed she is in her former partner’s lack of feeling towards her.
15. Killing Me Softly by The Fugees
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop, Soul |
| Album | The Score |
| Year Released | 1996 |
Where hyperbole is used: Strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song.Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song.
Meaning: I have always said that one of the most beautiful and powerful things about music is that it can completely control your emotions. The hyperbole that either the original version of this song or this fantastic cover version from The Fugees discovers a talented musician’s ability to manipulate the emotions of his listeners either with his playing or with his singing. Although the music is performed brilliantly by the hip-hop group, the proverbial cherry on top is the amazing vocals from the one and only Lauryn Hill.
16. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Album | Sunshine on Leith |
| Year Released | 1988 |
Where hyperbole is used: But I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more just to be the man who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door.
Meaning: Although the Scottish rock group The Proclaimers was formed back in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, they didn’t gain attention in the United States until they appeared on the soundtrack for the 1993 romantic comedy Benny & Joon. Of course, this track tackles the popular topic of using figurative language to show your significant other (or the object of your affection) how much you care about them. In this case, the singers are saying that they would be willing to walk a thousand miles just to see this person. Now, that’s what I would call dedication.
17. Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland
| Genre | Country |
| Album | The Incredible Machine |
| Year Released | 2010 |
Where hyperbole is used: There you go making my heart beat again, heart beat again, heart beat again. There you go making me feel like a kid. Won’t you do it and do it one time? There you go pulling me right back in, right back in, right back in, and I know I’m never letting this go.
Meaning: Writing a song with more than one type of figurative language may happen more often than you think it would. For example, let’s take a look at the hit single “Stuck Like Glue” from country music superstars Sugarland. Not only does the group use the simile stuck like glue to illustrate how they are always together, but it also incorporates the hyperbole “There you go making my heart beat again.” This sentence is used to illustrate the feelings of exhilaration that lead vocalist Jennifer Nettles feels when she sees the one that she loves. It’s like seeing her partner gives her the sensation of feeling alive.
18. Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
| Genre | Grunge |
| Album | Superunknown |
| Year Released | 1994 |
Where hyperbole is used: Black hole sun, won’t you come and wash away the rain? Black hole sun, won’t you come?
Meaning: with such classic albums as “Badmotorfinger” and “Superunknown,” there’s no doubt that Soundgarden was one of the first bands to usher in the new grunge sound from Seattle in the 1990s. Don’t be mistaken. Soundgarden had plenty of songs that would send the crowd into a frenzy at any show they played. However, it was the tracks that embraced the overall gloom and doom aesthetic that Soundgarden represented that would make them a household name. For instance, their biggest hit was a song called “Black Hole Sun.” This song uses a strange hyperbole of a black hole consuming a gloomy and rainy day when all a black hole truly would do was make the universe a big point of nothingness.
19. Poison by Alice Cooper
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Album | Trash |
| Year Released | 1989 |
Where hyperbole is used: I wanna taste you, but your lips are venomous poison. You’re poison, running through my veins. You’re poison.
I don’t want to break these chains.
Meaning: although it seems as if Alice Cooper has been on a hiatus for quite a while now, his name is synonymous with shock rock. I guess that we can talk that up to him being an entrepreneur and an avid golfer. However, Cooper has done his part to maintain his title as the “King of Shock Rock,” much like on the 1989 hard-rocking classic album “Trash,” which featured the hit single “Poison.” This song uses hyperbole to drive home the point that although Alice Cooper desperately wants to be with the woman he’s singing about, he also knows that she isn’t any good for him. I guess you could say that she’s poisonous.
20. Spiritual by Jay-Z
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Album | Single |
| Year Released | 2016 |
Where hyperbole is used: And it says, now the works of the flesh are manifest, meaning the things that are in the sinful nature
They always come to the surface. And when they come, when they come to the surface, they come to the surface as demons
Meaning: what I love about rap is how creative the rap artist has to be with his or her lyrics. In fact, if you think about it, rappers are among some of the most clever wordsmiths there ever was, and we can’t discuss some of the greatest rappers in the game without bringing up Jay-Z. Although most of his hits have appeared on full-length albums or eps, the track “Spiritual” was released as a standalone single and has become one of the gifted MC’s most beloved works. One of the things that I appreciate most about rap music is that most rappers are not afraid to let down their guard and show their spiritual side, just like Jay-Z does on this track while he is delivering the message that all things done in darkness shall eventually come to light.
21. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
| Genre | Pop |
| Album | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1: The Score |
| Year Released | 2011 |
Where hyperbole is used: I have died every day waiting for you, darling. Don’t be afraid. I have loved you for a thousand years and I’ll love you for a thousand more.
Meaning: if you are anything like the rest of us, you have spent what seems like a prolonged time. Of time waiting for that certain someone to come around and notice how wonderful and special you are. All you want is the chance for them to notice you so that you can make them feel as special as you think they are. That’s the message being delivered in the track “A Thousand Years,” which was written by Christina Perri for the Twilight film series. In this song, Perry uses the hyperbole of dying every day waiting for this person, which illustrates how she feels dead inside without them. She also says that she has loved them for a thousand years to drive home the point that it seems like forever that she’s loved him.
22. Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Album | Ain’t No Sunshine |
| Year Released | 1971 |
Where hyperbole is used: Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, only darkness every day. Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone and this house just ain’t no home anytime she goes away.
Meaning: there is no way that I could compose a list of songs that best use hyperbole without listing one of the most famous R&B songs of all time, Bill Withers’ classic “Ain’t No Sunshine.” This track is about a man who has lost his partner and is coming to grips with the reality of how dark his life is without her in it. He has even realized that his house doesn’t feel the same without her there. He uses the hyperbole “Ain’t no Sunshine when she’s gone” to illustrate how dark and depressed his mood is without his romantic partner. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. What makes it so fantastic is that you can feel the pain in Bill Withers’ voice as he sings out for his lost love.0
23. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
| Genre | Neo-Soul |
| Album | Girl on Fire |
| Year Released | 2012 |
Where hyperbole is used: Oh, she got both feet on the ground, and she’s burning it down. Oh, she got her head in the clouds, and she’s not backing down. This girl is on fire.
Meaning: when it comes to listing the top artists of the new neo-soul movement, Alicia Keys has got to be at or near the top of everybody’s list. However, rather than using her piano playing in vocal Talent to illustrate how depressed she is since her lover has gone away, Alicia Keys uses this song to show us just how amazing she can be in any situation, with or without anybody by her side. She uses the hyperbole of being on fire to give us a glimpse into how much confidence she has. She knows that there is nothing that she cannot accomplish as long as she puts her mind to doing it. This song is one of the ultimate anthems for female empowerment.
24. Love Shack by The B-52’s
| Genre | Pop |
| Album | Cosmic Thing |
| Year Released | 1989 |
Where hyperbole is used: I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale, and we’re heading on down to the love shack. I got me a Chrysler; it seats about twenty, so hurry up and bring your jukebox money.
Meaning: The B-52s turned a lot of heads in the 1980s with their unique, psychedelic pop sound. Don’t be mistaken. The band had a cult following before hitting it big with their album “Cosmic Thing” in 1989, which produced two Billboard Hot 100 top-five singles. What I think was the major appeal of the B-52’s was that they didn’t focus on heavy topics in their music. They would rather sing about going out and partying and having a good time. “Love Shack” reminds me of being a lot younger and a ton of people piling up into one of our friends’ old beat-up cars to go cruise the strip. The hyperbole about the Chrysler seating 20 people hits home with me because it reminds me of my younger years.
25. Tonight I Climbed the Wall by Alan Jackson
| Genre | Country |
| Album | A Lot About Livin’ |
| Year Released | 1992 |
Where hyperbole is used: We’d built this thing between us. I’m not sure what’s the cause. So I swallowed all my pride, and tonight I climbed the wall.
Meaning: when it comes to country music, very few artists have had as many hit singles as Alan Jackson. The accomplished singer has had 51 songs reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with an incredible 26 of them reaching the top spot on the charts. One of his hits to reach the top five on the Billboard charts is “Tonight I Climbed the Wall,” which was featured on 1992’s six-time platinum “A Lot About Livin’.” This is a powerful song with metaphors and hyperbole to get its point across. First, there is the metaphorical wall that Jackson’s wife has built between the two of them. Secondly, there is the hyperbole of Jackson climbing that wall to get closer to his wife.
26. Chandelier by Sia
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Album | Sia |
| Year Released | 2014 |
Where hyperbole is used: I’m gonna swing from the chandelier. From the chandelier. I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist. Like it doesn’t exist
Meaning: sure, we have all heard songs that use the hyperbole of living like tomorrow doesn’t exist, but I haven’t heard anybody deliver it with so much passion as Sia does on her track “Chandelier,” which was featured on her self-titled debut album. According to the lyrics to the track, Sia is a self-professed party girl who likes to live her life without rules or regrets. She wants to live like tomorrow doesn’t exist. She means that she is going to live for the moment without any of the consequences that tomorrow may bring.
27. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
| Genre | Pop, R&B |
| Album | Thriller |
| Year Released | 1982 |
Where hyperbole is used: She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene. I but what do you mean, I am the one?
Meaning: “Billie Jean” comes from Michael Jackson’s greatest-selling album “Thriller,” which holds the distinction of being ranked at the 12th spot on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. The song tells the story of Jackson having a one-night stand in which the woman becomes pregnant and claims that the baby is his. At the beginning of the song, he uses the hyperbole of the woman being a beauty queen from a movie scene to describe her looks. I have always thought that this was Michael Jackson’s best song as well as a track with a valuable lesson to be learned. Besides, it’s got one of the greatest bass lines ever recorded. Michael Jackson’s songs very often use hyperbole, and he also has many songs that use personification.
28. Firework by Katy Perry
| Genre | Pop |
| Album | Teenage Dream |
| Year Released | 2010 |
Where hyperbole is used: Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, like a house of cards, one blow from cavin’ in?
Meaning: It seems like Katy Perry got popular practically overnight. Becoming a pop sensation practically overnight has got to come with its fair share of challenges. I believe that this track addresses some of those challenges. I especially think that the hyperbole she uses in the opening lines of the track, where she asks if you ever “feel so paper thin, like a house of cards,” is indicative of the way that becoming a celebrity and a singing superstar made her feel. This hyperbole suggests that her sudden rise to fame made her feel quite tired and worn out like she could fall apart at any minute.
29. Love Story by Taylor Swift
| Genre | Pop Country |
| Album | Fearless |
| Year Released | 2008 |
Where hyperbole is used: ‘Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter, and my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet.”But you were everything to me.
Meaning: well, it’s no secret that any song that appears on these lists by Taylor Swift is going to be about a romance gone wrong, which is exactly where “Love Story” is headed. This particular track follows the story of Romeo and Juliet and the subject of forbidden love. Taylor uses the hyperbole of her guy being Romeo and her daddy saying that she was his Juliet. It also goes into The Scarlet Letter a little, suggesting that maybe Taylor was marked as off-limits by her father, especially from this one particular guy that he did not want her seeing.
30. New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
| Genre | Jazz, Big Band |
| Album | Trilogy: Past Present Future |
| Year Released | 1979 |
Where hyperbole is used: I want to wake up in a city that doesn’t sleep and find I’m king of the hill, top of the heap
Meaning: Some people thrive in a city where there is always something to do and the action never stops, and there are those who prefer the simple, quiet life that they can only find in a small town. Apparently, “Old Blue Eyes” belongs to the former because he longs to be in New York so badly. In this track, Sinatra uses the hyperbole that he wants to “wake up in the city that never sleeps,” which means that no matter what time of day, there is always something to do in New York. Well, you know what they say. I guess hindsight is 20/20 because Frank Sinatra seems to thrive in New York, launching a career that has been practically unparalleled in both popularity and length of his career.
31. Halo by Beyoncé
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Album | I Am… Sasha Fierce |
| Year Released | 2008 |
Where hyperbole is used: You’re everything I need and more. It’s written all over your face. Baby I can feel your halo. Pray it won’t fade away.
Meaning: Most of us have been around long enough to have heard the expression “It’s written all over your face” more than once in our respective lives. Depending on the situation, this hyperbole can be used to imply that you are either trying to conceal something good or something bad. When Beyoncé uses it in her hit track “Halo,” she has surrounded herself with a metaphorical wall to keep most people out because she has been hurt a time or two in the past. However, when she says that the young man has it written all over his face that he is everything she needs and more, she is saying that this person is good for her.
32. Ill Mind Of Hopsin 5 by Hopsin
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Album | Ill Mind of Hopsin Series |
| Year Released | 2006 |
Where hyperbole is used: With a past so dark that Satan would jump out of his seat.But still you out in these streets thinking you hot as can be.
Meaning: Marcus Hopsin, known better by his stage moniker Hopsin, is widely known as a “backpack rapper,” which means that he is primarily known for his lyrical prowess and wordplay. His “Ill Mind of Hopsin” series put him on the map, eventually signing a contract with the late Eazy-E’s label, Ruthless Records. In “Ill Mind of Hopsin 5,” he puts his wordplay and use of figurative language on display when he refers to one female whose past is so dark and promiscuous that it would rival Lucifer himself.
33. Nobody’s Fool by Cinderella
| Genre | Hard Rock, Glam Metal |
| Album | Night Songs |
| Year Released | 1986 |
Where hyperbole is used: I count the falling tears; they fall before my eyes.
Seems like a thousand years since we broke the ties.
Meaning: in the 1980s, most rock bands were adapting their sound to fit in with the new glam rock and hair metal genres. However, Cinderella was doing the opposite. They started as a glam metal band and slowly transitioned to a blues rock band, which was a refreshing change of pace for the times. Cinderella’s first song to hit the big time was a Rock ballad found on their debut album “Night Songs,” and that track was called “Nobody’s Fool.” In this song, lead vocalist Tom Keifer uses the hyperbole that it seems like a thousand years since they broke up, meaning that time passes by much more slowly when they are not together. If you’re looking for songs with hyperbole in the lyrics, this is one I highly recommend listening to.
34. Not Afraid by Eminem
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Album | Recovery |
| Year Released | 2010 |
Where hyperbole is used: So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof like my daughters and raise it. You couldn’t lift a single shingle on it ’cause the way I feel, I’m strong enough to go to the club or the corner pub and lift the whole liquor counter up.
Meaning: when Eminem released “Recovery” in 2010, he had just hit addiction to prescription pills. The rapper was in the best shape of his life, and that was certainly evident in “Not Afraid,” the first single from that album. The rapper was so proud of his accomplishment and his newfound physical fitness that he wasn’t afraid to let the entire world know how he felt. The song drew praise from both fans and critics. as well. As he always did in his career, Eminem used many forms of figurative language to get his point across in “Not Afraid,” including hyperbole. Feeling healthier than ever, the rapper vowed to always treat his daughters like the roof and raise them and then threw in the fact that he felt able to lift the whole liquor counter at the club or the corner bar because he felt so well. This is one of those old songs that everyone knows, but not everyone realizes it has hyperbole.
35. We Are Young by Fun
| Genre | Alternative Pop |
| Album | Some Nights |
| Year Released | 2012 |
Where hyperbole is used: Tonight, we are young. So, let’s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun.
Meaning: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I have always found that this song had a somewhat confusing message. At the beginning of the song, Fun lead vocalist Nate Ruess is reminiscing about several bad things that have occurred to end his current relationship, including spousal abuse. However, towards the middle of the song, it seems as though he wants to start the relationship over as if nothing ever happened. He tries to win his former love back over by using the hyperbole that they can set the world on fire and burn brighter than the sun, meaning that they could return to their apparent former glory and have a great time together.
36. Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake
| Genre | Pop |
| Album | Trolls (Original Soundtrack) |
| Year Released | 2016 |
Where hyperbole is used: I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet. I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops.
Meaning: it seems like just yesterday that the movie Trolls was released, and I couldn’t escape this song because it seemed to be everywhere. I heard it practically everywhere I went because my kids had the soundtrack to the film. One thing that I can say that I like about this song is that it has a very positive message. If my kids are going to sing something non-stop, I would much rather them sing something positive. In the song, pop Superstar Justin Timberlake is trying to portray how happy he is by using the hyperbole he’s got sunshine in his pockets and a good soul in his feet. In addition to providing a song for the soundtrack, I also think that Timberlake did well as one of the film’s main characters, Branch.
37. I’ll Be Your Man (Song For a Daughter) by Zac. Brown Band
| Genre | Country |
| Album | Jekyll + Hyde |
| Year Released | 2015 |
Where hyperbole is used: There was a time when I thought I knew love until you came into this world. Time keeps on flying, but you’re always gonna be my baby girl.
Meaning: This is one case in which I find something often referred to as hyperbole to be absolutely true. In this song, Zac Brown says that he never knew love until his daughter came into the world and that she would always be his baby girl, no matter how fast time kept flying. I know that he’s using these hyperboles to define the love that he felt when he first met his daughter in the way he feels as a provider and a protector, but as a father, I can tell you that these feelings never really go away. In fact, as time increases, these feelings only grow stronger. This begs the question, if it’s really true, then is it still hyperbole?
38. Emotions by Mariah Carey
| Genre | Pop |
| Album | Emotions |
| Year Released | 1991 |
Where hyperbole is used: You’ve got me feeling emotions deeper than I’ve ever dreamed of. You’ve got me feeling emotions higher than the heavens above.
Meaning: With a vocal range from G#2 – E7, Mariah Carey is not only an incredibly gifted R&B singer, but she can also compete with the best singers from any genre. Perhaps the most impressive thing about her is that she has incredible talent, and over 220 million albums sold worldwide to back it up. This Talent can be heard on the title track of her album “Emotions.” In the song Emotions, she also uses the hyperbole of feeling emotions then she’s ever dreamed of or higher than the heavens above to describe the way that her romantic partner makes her feel. What’s even more impressive is that the sheer Joy that this person brings to Mariah’s life can be heard in her voice on this track. You can hear her happiness.
39. Changes by Tupac Shakur (Featuring Talent)
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Album | Greatest Hits |
| Year Released | 1998 |
Where hyperbole is used: I see no changes, all I see is racist faces. Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races. We under, I wonder what it takes to make this.
one better place. Let’s erase the waste.
Meaning: much like many other rappers, Tupac Shakur was known for his incredible use of figurative speech and wordplay in his lyrics. However, of all of the examples that I could have chosen from Tupac, I chose to go with a small and often unrecognized line from his track “Changes.” My favorite line in this entire song is when he simply says, “Let’s erase the hate.” I am well aware that you cannot physically erase hate, but I have to admit that I certainly applaud his efforts in trying to bring peace amongst all races on the planet Earth. Although Tupac passed away many years ago, we can take solace in the fact that his message still lives on in his music.
40. Crawling by Linkin Park
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Album | 2000 |
| Year Released | Hybrid Theory |
Where hyperbole is used: Crawling in my skin, these wounds, they will not heal. Fear is how I fall. Confusing what is real.
Meaning: Another hyperbole that I have heard quite often in my lifetime is when someone itches profusely and they say that their skin is crawling. Unfortunately, it’s also a term that addicts use quite often when they are ready for another fix. Because of what we now know about lead vocalist Chester Bennington’s mental state, the hyperbole “Crawling in my skin” could have fit either scenario. However, if you pay closer attention to the lyrics of this song, I believe that he is using this hyperbole to describe some of the dangers and downfalls of drug addiction.
41. Ring Of Fire by Johnny Cash
| Genre | Country |
| Album | Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash |
| Year Released | 1963 |
Where hyperbole is used: The taste of love is sweet when hearts like ours meet. I fell for you like a child. Oh, but the fire went wild. I fell into a burning Ring of Fire.
Meaning: Johnny Cash is one of the most well-respected musicians and vocalists in country music, and had a career that spanned nearly five decades one of the Man In Black’s most well-known and beloved songs is the horn-infused and Hispanic-influenced track Ring of Fire. This part of the song has two different hyperboles. The first is when Cash says the “taste of love is sweet when hearts like ours meet.” Although hearts can’t physically mean each other and you can’t taste love, what he is trying to say with this hyperbole is that falling in Love is a very sweet and pleasant experience. When he says that he fell into a burning Ring of Fire, he means that being in love with this woman he is singing about is dangerous.
42. Best Day Of My Life by American Authors
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Album | Oh, What a Life |
| Year Released | 2014 |
Where hyperbole is used: I had a dream so big and loud. I jumped so high I touched the clouds. I stretched my hands out to the sky. We danced with monsters through the night.
Meaning: distract from the alternative group American Authors has several instances of hyperbole. The first one occurs when he says that he had a dream that was so big and loud that he jumped so high to touch the clouds. Well, this one’s pretty obvious. We all know that nobody can jump high enough to touch the clouds, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the dream frightened him, and that’s why he jumped so high. The second one that stands out to me is when he says that they danced with monsters through the night, which I think indicates that he was having a nightmare, and when he woke up from that nightmare, he declared that he was going to have the best day of his life.
43. Happy by Pharrell Williams
| Genre | 2014 |
| Album | G I R L |
| Year Released | Neo-Soul |
Where hyperbole is used: Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth. Clap along if you know what happiness is to you. Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.
Meaning: Pharrell Williams is not only recognized as one of the best producers in music, but he is also a gifted artist and talented singer. One of his most popular songs came from 2014’s “G I R L.” If you guessed that this song was the hit single “Happy,” then you are correct. What I like about this song is that it expresses the other Joy of being happy and the power of happiness. One of the hyperboles Williams uses in this song is when he says to clap along if you feel like a room without. What I think he means when Pharrell uses this hyperbole is that a room without a roof has no limits, so neither does being truly happy.
44. Living On a Prayer by Bon Jovi
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Album | Slippery When Wet |
| Year Released | 1986 |
Where hyperbole is used: Tommy’s got his six-string in hock. Now he’s holding in when he used to make it talk so tough.
Meaning: with over 37.8 million albums sold, Bon Jovi was one of the most popular hard rock acts of the 1980s. One of their top-selling albums was 1986’s “Slippery When Wet,” with over 16.9 million units sold. Featured on that album was the number-one hit single “Living On a Prayer,” which describes several of the hard times that a young couple encounter when they are just getting started. One of the hyperboles that lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi uses in this song is when he talks about how he used to make his guitar talk. Realistically, we all know that a guitar can’t talk, but that’s the expression that is generally used when someone can play a guitar rather well.
45. When Doves Cry by Prince
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Purple Rain |
Where hyperbole is used: Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry.
Meaning: with a hit movie at the theaters and a number-one album on the charts, it must have been pretty difficult to top Prince in 1984 when he released the movie Purple Rain and its soundtrack. The movie and the album both covered a broad array of events that helped to shape prints into the person that he was at that time. Unfortunately, one of those songs dealt with coming from an abusive home with parents who fought all the time. That track was called “When Doves Cry.” I’m not sure what could have been going through Prince’s mind when he used that hyperbole for the song title and throughout the track. The only speculation I can offer is that doves crying is one of the saddest sounds that I can imagine, so he used that phrase to portray how he felt about his home life.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.