Asides from the typical "boys & girls love" ballads, some themes they often touch on are:
1. Friendship/Kinship
2. Conformity to Society Norms
3. Motivational/Inspirational
4. Life & Death
5. Society Phenomenons
Many people only enjoy the songs melody/tune, but if you dig deeper into the lyrics behind their songs, you'll uncover many gems. As it would take n-pages of text to go into details, I'm just gonna share a few examples and quotes:
1. Friendship/Kinship
洗衣机
Comparing mother's love to the washing machine. I especially like the build up until the end when they finally reveal who the washing machine is.
任意门
Every line in this song is their life story. From their background to how they met, fought, started out and achieve the status they have today. This song is specifically talking about their friendship.
"你问我全世界是哪里最美？答案是「你身边」"
干杯
Will there come a day where time will turn back?
The answer is obvious, but the memories we've held will live on forever.
"终究会 有一天 我们都变成昨天
是你 陪我走过 一生一回 匆匆的人间"
2. Conformity to Society Norms
三个傻瓜
The first idiot can't wait to go to school. Little did he know he would use up all his youth in school.
The second idiot was there is no hurry to fall in love. Love will come in the future. So he gave up love to pursue study.
The third idiot exchanged 19 years for 5 certificates, climbing the social ladder for fear of being left behind.
Idiots or not, time will come after all of us. In the blink of an eye, the 3 idiots have all become old.
"这故事 熟悉吗? 走过吗? 无奈吗? 心痛吗?"
人生有限公司
We "clock-in" into the company in the delivery room.
In the first department, your parents are your superiors - Just be obedient.
In the second department, you're manufactured into a product which excel at study and exams.
Third department, learn to manage your finance.
Fourth department, find your other half.
This is our system. Our production line. Our society. There are no holidays in the Life Pte Ltd. There are no answers these questions in life.
"你曾停下过吗 你曾怀疑过吗？
就算你有想法 你也没有办法
人生无限问题 没有解答
追逐富贵荣华 目标飞黄腾达
其实平安到达 就是一种伟大
"
3. Motivation/Inspirational
第二人生
We look forward to wonderful things in life, but most of us aren't putting in effort. Instead, we continue to live the same routine life, day after day, year after year.
We wait for our superheroes to appear.
We wait for miracles.
We wait for god to answer our prayers.
"英雄没有出现 奇迹没有发生"
"等到荒废青春 用尽体温 才开始悔恨"
倔强
There are so many inspirational lines in this song - just listening to it fills you with "stubborn" and determined energy.
"我如果对自己妥协如果对自己说谎, 即使你不原谅我也不能原谅"
"我就是我自己的神在我活的地方"
"你说被火烧过才能出现凤凰"
"逆风的方向更适合飞翔"
勇敢
Even their Hokkien songs are extremely well written. This one give me the energy to go on when times are tough.
When the time come where it seems like all hope is lost, when you're crying and no one knows, when you're drowning in sorrow...
Remember that all these will pass. Darkness will pass and sweet fruits will bear from bitterness. And have that courage to work towards that future.
4. Life & Death
如烟
Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful lyrics I've seen in any song.
Is there a world where it never goes dark?
Is there a rose which never wither?
Is there a poem which never ends?
Is there a "forever" which never changes?
When we arrive at the end of our life, what regrets will we have? Can I have the chance to re-live my life all over again?
In this song, we experience the regret and agony of having limited life span. Many things we regret. Don't you wish to freeze time, or return to that moment and do something different?
夜访吸血鬼
Interestingly, this song describes the exact opposite of above - the pain and sorrow of immortality. If you ignore the very "wild and rock" tune and focus on the lyrics alone, you'll notice the vampire lead a really sad and miserable life.
Think about it - They witness their love ones die one by one, their dreams (of living normal lives) shatter.
They lost their youth and yet had to be reminded of it constantly. They're lonely. They're forsaken by gods. They have no motivation to carry on living, and yet they can't end their miserable lives, even if they tried suicide by consuming the holy water.
"看爱过的人 一一告别, 做过的梦 一一凋谢, 只留下我独自残喘的千年"
转眼
Writing the final chapter of my biography.
Success is like sandcastle, life is like the sea waves. Money, big houses... everything is but an illusion.
"成就如沙堡 生命如海浪
浪花会掏尽 所有的幻象
存款与楼房 挣扎与渴望 散场"
My children and grandchildren are all busy, let them be.
When I return to the light, will there be someone waiting on the other side?
5. Society Phenomenoms
World has become more orderly over the years, but income equality widens and masses still live in poverty. We have reached peak of civilization, yet people have retreated back into their caves and become more distance. The lines between good and evil are getting blur.
This song lists all the evil and terrible things happening in our society:"
"越来越毒的雨水 越来越多的灾变
律师和小丑勾结 民代和财团签约
越来越大的企业 越来越小的公园"
入阵曲
You really need to do some research to uncover the deep meaning behind this song (or just watch the original MV to catch a glimpse of it)
"當一座城牆 只為了阻擋 所有自由渴望"
A wall that blocks freedom. Clue: This is not describing a physical wall.
"當一份真相 隻手能隱藏 直到人們遺忘"
When the truth can be hidden away until people forget. Countless cases of these.
"幼無糧 民無房 誰在分贓"
Where corruption run rampant.
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Even their "typical love ballads" often have unique settings. Just to quote a few:
仓颉 - Even the creator of Chinese characters would be unable to come up with description appropriate to describe my love, to make you return to my side.
超人 - Superman can save the world, but couldn't do anything about our dying love.
"为什么拯救地球是那么容易, 为什么束手无策啊我和你的爱情"
I hope this post will interest readers in exploring more behind the meaning of their songs!
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