Some of my friends talk about how much they love lyrics, and how the best lyrics are often hidden in songs that don't play on mainstream radio or aren't in popular shows. Since I'm a musical theatre major, most of the time I'm listening to showtunes. The other night, I started thinking about my favorite lyrics. I then realized that most of them are in songs most people don't know about. My next thought? "Put it in an article!"

1. "How much you love your life is what every life is worth."

In the contemporary musical If/Then, by Brian Kitt and Tom Yorkey, the character Lucas sings a rock song "Ain't No Man Manhattan". It's one of the funnest songs to jam out to, and this one line leaves me thinking every time. It's so well hidden in the melody that first time listeners probably won't comprehend what it really means. My interpretation tells me that how much you value your life will impact the way you value others' lives.

2. "Some days I feel like dying, but I'm really only trying to get through..."

Next To Normal was also written by Kitt and Yorkey, and was nominated for eleven Tony awards in 2009. I don't like this lyric because I identify with it as much as I appreciate it. I think that as people, we have so many days that our immediate reaction is "I want to die." But that doesn't stop us from trying. Life goes on, and we can't stop it.

3. "...and others (days) go so slow, like this morning feels like a month ago."

Tales from the Bad Years by Kerrigan and Lowdermilk is one of my favorite lyrical shows. I think this is such a brilliant line because it is one that people identify with, and connect to. That's what performing is all about, after all.

4. "I can't control my destiny // I trust my soul // My only goal is just to be."

These lyrics are actually going to be my next tattoo. Rent, arguably one of the best musicals of all time, was written and composed by Jonathon Larson who passed away right before the show had its premier. It is one of the most emotional shows I've ever seen. I had the privilege to perform in it this past year, and singing this line gave me chills every time.

5. "What a way to spend a day."

I can't express into words how significant this line is. Tick Tick Boom, also by Larson, is about his story and the debate between pursuing your artistry or pursuing a "real" career. This line is in the penultimate song, "Why", and he is finally concluding that the best way to spend the day is to pursue what he believes is best for himself- his art and his work.