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Journal of Language and Social Psychology
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The Language of Lyrics

An Analysis of Popular Billboard Songs Across Conditions of Social and Economic Threat

Terry F. Pettijohn

Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina, terrypet{at}usa.com

Donald F. Sacco, jr

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

The lyrical content of Billboard No. 1 songs for each year from 1955 to 2003 was investigated across changes in U.S. social and economic conditions. Consistent with the environmental security hypothesis, popular song lyrics were predicted to have more meaningful themes and content when social and economic conditions were threatening. Trends for more meaningful, comforting, and romantic lyric ratings were observed in more threatening social and economic times. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software, songs with more words per sentence, a focus on the future, and greater mention of social processes and intergroup themes were popular during threatening social and economic conditions. Limitations and possible implications are discussed.

Key Words: music • lyrics • Billboard charts • environmental security hypothesis

This version was published on September 1, 2009

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 3, 297-311 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0261927X09335259
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