For those who don’t know me, I take great pride in my music taste. In fact, every time I go through something, I think it gets better. 
So, because I can, here is a list of the songs I listened to on my 6-mile Valentine’s Day run, with lyrics that speak to me outlined, and the reasons I listened to them. 

1. ‘Fine Again’ by Seether
‘Fine Again’ is fast enough to run to, but dark enough to make you angry. You can lose yourself within the tone, lamenting on what happened, and steeling yourself for the future. 
Favorite lyric: ‘You say it’s over, I can sigh again…’ 
2. ‘Would?’ by Alice In Chains
The title, being a question, is enough to put it all into perspective. You’re unsure, a little lost, and boy, are you a little angry. You’re entering a state of mind that you had hoped you would never have to return to, but it is fueling you, and nothing can stop you now. 
Favorite lyric: ‘Into the flood again, same old trip it was back then…’
3. ‘Friesenjung’ by Ski Aggu, Joost, and Otto Walkes
Okay, I was not lying when I said my music was a little eccentric. I lived in Switzerland for a few years and am German by descent, so who wouldn’t like a little European club music? ‘Friesenjung’ is about the debauchery of growing up in Europe, the ‘free life’ of the young. It is upbeat and fun. 
Favorite lyric: ‘Mhh, ich finde Wein lecker’ → ‘I find wine delicious.’
3. ‘Disintegration’ by The Cure
And we’re back on to the depressing music. ‘Disintegration’ was on repeat in my junior year of high school (if only she could see me now). It is the king of break up songs, the wailing of Robert Smith piercing your ears as you enter that next mile. It is over 8 minutes long, and I have NEVER skipped it. 
Favorite lyric: ‘I’ll pull out my heart, and I’ll feed it to anyone.’
4. ‘Smoke Two Joints’ by Sublime
If there is any song about degeneration, this is it. This is a good song to set your pace to, instead of racing, slow down and let your legs bounce off the pavement a little, increasing the height of your stride instead of the length. Make sure to enjoy the lyrics and beat too. 
Favorite lyric: ‘I smoke two joints in time of peace, and two in time of war…’
5. ‘Rodeo Clown’ by Flipturn 
Someone else introduced me to this song, and I have listened to it every day since then. It is mellow and beautiful, the lyrics striking a place where perhaps you haven’t felt anything in a long time. It is melancholy, but necessary. Feel free to lose yourself in the beat. 
Favorite lyric: ‘It’s all just a chemical feeling.’
6. ‘Be a Body’ by Grimes
To me, this song represents the need for intimacy to not feel like anything. When you’re broken, you want to feel desired, but you do not want the feeling that comes with that validation. You want that good feeling without strings, you need someone to ‘be a body.’ 
Favorite lyric: ‘Don’t want peace of mind, don’t want a man, what a sight…’
7. ‘365’ by Charli XCX
This is a good hype song. You know what, at the moment, your legs might be killing you, and your lungs are shrieking, begging for reprieve, but you won’t stop, because you are too enveloped in how good this high feels. Sprint if you want, skip, hell just move your body. 
Favorite lyric: ‘Don’t sleep, don’t eat, just do it on repeat keep…’
8. ‘Youngest Daughter’ by Superheaven
Well, I am the youngest daughter, so why would I not listen to this, ‘Youngest Daughter’ brings down the mood a little bit, I must admit, but it is a good song to catch your breath, to make you stop and think. Your heart is beating so fast, you need a slower beat to help it adjust. This is the song for the job. 
Favorite lyric: ‘To tell you how much I know, how much I care…”
 9. ‘Better Off Alone’ by Alice Deejay
Okay, to get the hype back on track, we have this club hit that my parents used to play for me all the time. If you really listen, the song is sorrowful, but the beat is swift, so what does it matter?
10. ‘Blurry’ by Puddle of Mudd
BACK TO THE DIVORCED DAD ROCK WE GO! ‘Blurry’ is heart-wrenching; it is about a toxic relationship, one that could never work, but the end of it will kill the two lovers regardless. It involves the submission to pain, all the ways that this love has killed you, and all the ways you are willing to die for it. Not that I relate, but who doesn’t like to be melodramatic sometimes?
Favorite lyric: ‘You know that I’ll protect you from all of the obscene.’
 11. ‘Two Princes’ by Spin Doctors
Okay, what if I just like this song? Does it have to deal with a breakup? No. That doesn’t matter, it’s MY running playlist. I am sure you will enjoy the tune no matter what. 
Favorite lyric: ‘I know what a prince and lover ought to be…’
12.  ‘Ensenada’ by Sublime
Likely the most uncouth song in this list. It is raunchy, but somehow it is about getting out of a relationship? ‘Ensenada’ is as chaotic as it is debauched; it is Sublime’s most recent song after their revival, and it is pretty damn good. 
Favorite lyric: ‘If I was the motherf***ing president, I’d hire 20 strippers for my cabinet.’
→ Yes, I am aware that this is an insane thing to say, but it’s also hilarious.
 13. ‘Just the Way You Are’ by Milky
Peppy, upbeat, just the right tune to get you back into that running mindset. Pick up the pace a little here; you still have a few miles to go. 
 14. ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ by Lit
After an event that overturns the way we think about ourselves, we become our own worst enemies trying to realize who we are once more. There might be a few nights that leave you asking yourself, ‘What the hell am I doing with my life,’ but in the end, you survive it and move on. 
 15. ‘Eddie Vedder’ by Local H
For me, ‘Eddie Vedder’ is about coming to terms with the fact that someone does not appreciate or care about you. In the end, you just have to let it go and move on, instead of trying to change to fit someone’s standards.
Favorite lyric: ‘That’s it. I quit. I don’t give a shit.’
 16. ‘Lips of an Angel’ by Hinder
Okay, this song kind of gives off the wrong energy, as it is about a guy who cannot get over his ex and still talks to her while he is in another relationship. WE DO NOT WANT THIS! Regardless, it is still a good song.
Favorite lyric: ‘And yes, I’ve dreamt of you too.’
17. ‘Hot Dog’ by Limp Bizkit
This song is very lewd and inappropriate. I apologize in advance. I think ‘Hot Dog’ is a great hype song, and it even samples ‘Closer’ by Nine Inch Nails. Fred Durst’s voice is whiny yet one of a kind, and if you want that last bit of rage to start your last few miles, here you go.
 18. ‘Around the World’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I am not gonna lie, this song is weird. At some point, Anthony Kiedis starts speaking in gibberish that may or may not have certain controversial connotations to it. Anyway, the beat is peppy, and I like running to the guitar solo.
 19. ‘Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle)’ by Limp Bizkit
Okay, now I am kind of clowning everyone with this. I think Limp Bizkit is hilarious, so why would I run without laughing?
 20. ‘Can’t Stop’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I actually have yet to meet someone who does not like this song, ‘Can’t Stop’ is about the chaos of life, the things you do and are willing to do for those you care about. It is upbeat; it is life. 
Favorite lyric: ‘Far more shocking than anything I ever know. How about you?’
 21. ‘I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix)’ by Lykke Li
No words. If you cannot bop to this song, I do not want to know you. 
 22. ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ by The Verve
This is their most famous song, but for good reason. The beat is unforgettable, and the lyrics are melancholic. ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ transports you to a different universe; it’s so honest, almost too honest, and it appeals to your heart. 
Favorite Lyric: ‘I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah.’
 23. ‘Shimmer’ by Fuel 
‘Shimmer’ is a love song, but it’s also a song about loss. It appreciates the beauty of one whom you love, whilst knowing that they are too far away for you to reach. 
Favorite Lyric: ‘Fields of butterflies, reality escapes her.’ 
24.  ‘I Will Buy You a New Life’ by Everclear
25. ‘Love You to Death’ by Type O Negative
26. ‘Cold’ by Crossfade
These last few deserve their own posts, for they are too complicated to explain right now.