Words are important. The beauty of them is that they can get much more specific than abstract things like sounds and colors. You can know exactly where you stand with someone by the words he or she says.
I stopped listening to rock music because the lyrics were too negative and nihilistic. For awhile, I only listened to jazz instrumentals, but then discovered the world of Tin Pan Alley songwriters, and have been blessed by their poetic pens.
Here is a TOP TEN list of my favorite lyrics. Are they “the best ever”? Well, it’s hard to beat Handel’s Messiah, but for American pop and jazz, it’s hard to resist memorizing these and using them in daily speech.
In keeping with the mood of Valentine’s day being celebrated this month, I’ve limited the lyrics to being based on love. Meditate on this lovely paeans, and you’ll be a more lyrical lover.
“Midnight Sun” by Johnny Mercer: “Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice, warmer than the summer night; The clouds were like an alabaster palace rising to a snowy height; Each star it’s own aurora borealis, suddenly you held me tight,
I could see the midnight sun”“Witchita Lineman” by Jimmy Webb: “And I need you more than want you; And I want you for all time.”
- “Love is Just Around the Corner” by Leo Robin “Venus de milo was noted for her charms,
But strictly between us, you’re cuter than Venus, And what’s more you got arms” - “Let’s Get Lost” by Frank Loesser: “Let’s defrost in a romantic mist;
Let’s get crossed off everybody’s list; To celebrate this night we’vefound each other; Mm, let’s get lost”
- “Lullabye of Birdland” by George David Weiss: “Have you ever heard two turtle doves
bill and coo when they love? That’s the kind of magic music we make with our lips; when we kiss”
“Cheek to Cheek” by Irving Berlin: “Dance with me; I want my arm about you; That charm about you; Will carry me through to heaven; I’m in heaven; And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak; And I seem to find the happiness I seek; When we’re out 
together dancing cheek to cheek”- “Teach Me Tonight” by Sammy Cahn: “The sky’s a blackboard: High above you; If a shooting star goes by; I’ll use
that star; To write ‘I love you’; a thousand times across the sky”
- “East of the Sun” by Brooks Bowman: “Just you and I, forever and a day; Love will not die; we’ll keep it that way; Up among the stars we’ll find a harmony of life to a lovely tune; East of the sun and
west of the moon” - “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Cole Porter: “I’d sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of having you near; In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear; Don’t you know, you fool; You never can win; Use your mentality; Wake up to reality; And each time I
do just the thought of you; Makes me stop before I begin; ‘Cause I’ve got you under my skin” - “I Can’t Believe You’re In Love With Me” by Jimmy McHugh: “I have always placed you far above me; I just can’t image that you love me; And after all is said and done; To think that I’m the lucky
one; I can’t believe you’re in love with me”
BONUS LYRICS-A bit of the desperate side of love-“It’s Alright With Me” by Cole Porter: “You can’t know how happy I am that 
we met; I’m strangely attracted to you; There’s someone I’m trying so hard to forget; Don’t you want to forget someone, too?”