Its lyrics criticize redistricting and Republican Party legislature.

His lyrics often criticize himself.

The song's lyrics criticize rappers who crossover to R&B or pop in order to sell more.

Some rocksteady lyrics either celebrated or criticized the violent lifestyle of the rude boys, and spoke out against political injustice.

The lyrics of the band harshly criticized fascism, capitalism, and catholicism.

Mos Def's rewritten lyrics criticize the hip-hop industry in general and attribute hip-hop's direction at the time to "old white men", "corporate forces", and substance abuse.

More broadly, the song's lyrics criticize African American assimilation into the middle class.

The lyrics criticize modern Portugal as a place where young people earn university degrees but are unable to find meaningful employment.

The lyrics also criticise diplomacy, especially in the final refrain: "what if I take my problem to the United Nations?"

Cornell explained that the lyrics criticize public figures who use religion (particularly the image of Jesus Christ) to portray themselves as being persecuted.