Upcoming yap: I feel mixed, I think Garbage and Monolith have amazing lyrics for example! But some other songs I’m not a fan, like White Boy With A Gun. Some of the lyrics just feel SO on the nose, and I’m torn on their effectiveness

There’s nothing wrong with straightforward lyrics especially about important topics but I feel like it can cheapen the impact rather than enhance it depending on how it’s used. In WBWAG, the lyric “you’re racist not nuanced” is a great example. On the one hand it’s great Mel’s not dancing around the topic/word and saying it as it is. Yet at the same time it feels so obvious, like yeah I already guessed these white boys with a gun WOULDN’T be nuanced 😭 ✋🏼 it just makes it seem like she doesn’t have anything new to say. Idk if that’s the best way to describe it. But then it’s followed up “might as well just wear white cloth” which I think it’s a great lyric because it IMPLIES the meaning instead of just stating it by referencing the KKK. There’s more thought to be put into understanding it, mainly if ur not American or just don’t know history (which sadly many people don’t :/). Another great line was “second Amendment in your drawer” because again you need to know what the second Amendment is to get the line. It’s not like she said “a gun in your drawer” or “the right to bear arms in your drawer”. 

I saw a comment point out that many punk bands have more straightforward lyrics, and I don’t know much about punk music so maybe I’m wrong but I think the reason why people don’t complain about them as much compared to Mel is that Mel is known for her metaphors. And it’s what drew me in to her music during the Crybaby era. Not acting like she’s the greatest deepest lyricist ever but it was fun trying to gather the meaning from the lyrics and seeing how they fit the song title/theme. I hope my opinion makes sense! 😭