Music has the power to change minds. You can get people to recite some truly stupid lines if the words are arranged in a catchy tune. Many people seem to think that singing is completely different from speaking. People willingly sing things that they would never say. What’s worse, people sing things without thinking about what they’re saying.

There are dozens of examples but one of my favorites is a song titled, “Back for Good,” that came out in the mid 90’s. It’s a plea for a wayward lover to return. The chorus contains these words:

“Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn’t mean it

I just want you back for good

Whenever I’m wrong just tell me the song and I’ll sing it

You’ll be right and understood”

Ladies, is there any circumstance under which this would ever work? Of course not! No dude in history has even gotten away with saying, “Whatever you’re mad about, I didn’t mean it.” Thousands of men have tried. None have succeeded. A few perished in the attempt. Yet, this song made it to #1 on the charts.

Why?

Because music has the power to change minds. The meaning of the lyrics rides a melody through our ears and into our brains. We hum the tune without even realizing that we’re reinforcing the message of the words. Messages that would revolt us if we read them; we will sing over and over until they eventually become are beliefs. Music turns stupid, outrageous words into our values.

This song is nothing more than a fake apology. The chorus is desperate and empty. “Whatever I did, I didn’t mean it.” It doesn’t get more shallow than that. It is impossible to say you didn’t mean it unless you know what “it” is. You cannot regret things of which you are unaware. People used to know this but they’ve changed their minds.

I’m not suggesting that this song is entirely to blame. Thousands of subtle messages contribute to re-programming you. It happens so gradually that you’re unaware of the change. You think it’s ALWAYS been like this. But it hasn’t.

Once upon a time, not long ago, nobody required an empty apology for unspecified offenses. You weren’t expected to take responsibility for how other people feel. You weren’t forced to publicly utter insane statements like, “I didn’t mean whatever I said.”

Today, we are surrounded by people who have no thoughts in their heads except for those found in songs, movies, television, or social media. They do not think. They do not reason. They are only able to repeat what they’ve heard from other sources. They just sing the lyrics over and over. “Your words cause harm! Your words cause harm! Your words cause harm!”

Our culture is overrun with thoughtless lyric reciters. They do not hesitate to pick up a microphone. They repeat any phrase that will make them popular. And whatever they say, whatever they do, they don’t mean it.

They don’t mean anything.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”

-Matthew 5:33