Realize that I never listen to words of a song

[mw2530]

I've realized this until only relatively recently. Typically when I listen to music, my mind goes into imagination land where I basically see in pictures. I imagine different things. Mostly, I imagine myself doing my special interest and having success. I guess I've listened to the refrain of a lot of songs but not a lot else. I rarely actually listen to what the story the song is telling. Recently I've tried to focus on listening closely to the words and the story the song is telling. Listen to the words has a profound effect on me. I actually start to relax. My hands become warm - they usually are ice cold. I can actually relate to the songs. Many of them express emotional hurt and if there is anything I can relate to, it is emotional pain! When I do the imaginary land instead, my body does not relax like when I listen to the words. Basically I think I've been listening to music in an entirely different way than most people. Most people actually understand what the song is saying. But I've probably listened to some songs over a 100 times, but never really listened to what it was saying. It is as if I was reading a book, but instead of reading the book I just imagined what was written down. Which could be just about anything. I am realizing more and more, my auditory sensitivity is at the very root of almost all of my problems relating to ASD. It is as if I need glasses for my ears. ASD is like going through life with eyes that are out of focus, but not realizing they are out of focus while most everyone else has eyes that are in focus. And eyeglasses have yet to be invented. Only it isn't my eyes that are the problem. It is my auditory processing. Can anyone relate to this? As a therapy I am going to try to listen to the lyrics of songs. And focus on simply listening and taking it in rather than having my mind get stuck on one word or thought and then going in a million different directions.

 

[Suzanne]

So glad you have started to focus on the words of a song. It gives me hope that my hubby might try that too. He is an nt.

I, on the other hand, have to be very selective with music, because I have always heard the words and thus, music, to me, is my life.

 

[SusanLR]

Listening to the story of the song is what I enjoy.
It relaxes me also when I do relate to the words, so I have
particular ones that of course are my favourites.
And it is the classic rock genre I like.
Just one of those old hippies that's trapped in the 80's or a bit earlier even.

I also use soothing ambient music to relax when I want to
sleep or take a nap. No words.

Def Leppard's "Animal" is playing in my head right now.

 

[WereBear]

We can enjoy racing our imaginations like a sport car but maybe that uses up a lot of energy. I am so happy you found a way to relax.

I once got a set of Beethoven Symphonies I had to give away because one violin played a bad note in the Ninth.

 

[Progster]

I think that for most people music is just for background and they don't pay attention to what it is saying. Thye listen to the radio or stream while working, socialising, etc. For most people, melody is more important than lyrics - if a song is catchy, has a nice hook or a catchy riff, it will become a hit no matter what the lyrics say. I pay a lot of attention to lyrics, but can listen to music in another language if I like the music.

 

[WereBear]

I pay a lot of attention to lyrics, but can listen to music in another language if I like the music.

Most opera is enjoyed by people who don't know the language. I once read a funny article by Dave Barry who claimed that when he had some speakers of the language translate for him, it wound up being:

I love you!
I know!

kinds of lyrics.

 

[granolaturtle]

I really like going into imagination mode while listening to music too, which I think is very different from how NTs listen to music. I can listen to music, pace, and imagine scenes going along with the music for hours. Now, I do like to comprehend and incorporate the meaning of the song with what I'm imagining at the same time.

 

[Theta.G]

Was thinking about this the other day. The voice is an instrument right... can hit various notes. Can convey emotion on any spoken word. This can be picked up on regardless of the words being used Alot is being communicated without focusing on the words.
So for people who say "Why do you listen to that kind of music if you don't know what they're singing about?" (Music in your non native language) i think they are less aware of this, if at all.

 

[Chance]

Listening to the story of the song is what I enjoy.
It relaxes me also when I do relate to the words, so I have
particular ones that of course are my favourites.
And it is the classic rock genre I like.
Just one of those old hippies that's trapped in the 80's or a bit earlier even.

I also use soothing ambient music to relax when I want to
sleep or take a nap. No words.

Def Leppard's "Animal" is playing in my head right now.

I listen for the story also

and at times I will just pick out the drums, or the bass, or violin, or cello, or whatever and just listen to it the whole song... It makes me sort of feel like what each person might feel as they made this thing as a whole.
But the story (if there is words) is always what I seek out first.

 

[nowwhat]

I cant ignore the lyrics, unfortunately. It is an ongoing task to deal with the very commercial super small playlist vapid yappy dj pair radio that plays at work. How can people stand the same bad, dumb song 15 times a day?