No Words

-Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics can certainly make a song. Combined with the music and the artist's creative voice a song can rise above the status of a ditty and stand alone as a self contained narrative, either small or epic in scope. A clever lyrical turn of a phrase can stick in your head and resurface later, causing you to randomly break into song, or if poignant, it can change your world view. The power and pull of words in a song cannot be denied. But sometimes no words are necessary. The tune can stand on its own and affect you in places words cannot.

I intentionally introduced this article about songs without words with the words from a song that express perfectly the ability to communicate solely through music without the need for words. Are you confused yet? Don't be, because you won't need any cumbersome words for now. Instead, you can experience the power to communicate through music alone by listening to the following instrumental songs:*

Untitled 3 - Sigur Ros

Peter Gunn Theme - Henry Mancini

Sirius - The Alan Parsons Project

Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan

On the Run - Pink Floyd

Soul Sacrifice - Santana

A Taste of Honey - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

Surf Rider - The Lively Ones

Jessica - Allman Brothers Band

Joy - Apollo 100

Misirlou - Dick Dale

Green Onions - Booker T. & the MG's

Eruption - Van Halen

Tangerine Dream - Love on a Real Train

In Shades - Tom Waits

Primavera - Ludovico Einaudi

Classical Gas - Mason Williams

Ted's Jam - Robert Randolph

Terminator Theme - Brad Fiedel

Bustin' Surfboards - The Tornados

Walk Don't Run - The Ventures

Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group

Tequila - The Champs

Rumble - Link Wray

Rebel Rouser - Duane Eddy

*These songs are for educational and reference purposes only and are performed and written by the credited artists.