Lizzy McAlpine has spent the better part of a decade turning heartbreak, longing, and the occasional plane-ride confession into some of the most quietly devastating lyrics in music right now. From the bedroom pop diarist who wrote Give Me a Minute to the artist stepping into Angel with a whole new sense of wonder, her catalog reads less like a discography and more like a collection of diary entries we all wish we’d written ourselves. That’s exactly why her lyrics tend to live rent-free in our group chats, our Notes app, and yes, sometimes our skin. We’ve rounded up eight lines from across her albums that feel less like song lyrics and more like something you’d want permanently inked somewhere. Here’s our pick of the best contenders!
‘Apple Pie’
There’s something about “home is wherever you are tonight” that hits different once you’ve had that one person who made even the most ordinary city feel like somewhere worth staying. It’s soft, it’s simple, and it doesn’t scream lyric tattoo the way some of her more devastating lines do, which honestly makes it more wearable for daily life.
‘To The Mountains’
Sometimes a title says enough on its own. “I’m headed to the mountains” captures the exact feeling of needing to disappear for a while, whether that’s from a breakup, a bad week, or just the general chaos of existing online. It’s a phrase that works as well on a forearm as it does as a mood.
‘Ceilings’
We couldn’t leave out the song that basically broke the internet in 2023. “A movie I’ve seen before” is the kind of line that captures that eerie deja vu feeling of a relationship replaying itself, and it’s short enough to fit almost anywhere without losing its punch.
‘Reckless Driving’
Not every tattoo has to be devastating. “I’m a careful driver” is a fun one, especially paired with the Ben Kessler duet energy of the full track. It’s a little cheeky, a little self-aware, and a nice break from the emotional wreckage of the rest of this list.
‘Spring Into Summer’
“Hold it against me, cool to the touch” is one of those lines that we have spent an embarrassing amount of time picking apart, and for good reason. It’s tactile in a way most lyrics aren’t, which makes it feel almost built for a tattoo!
‘Pushing It Down And Praying’
If you know, you know. “I’m pushin’ it down and prayin’” is about as honest as songwriting gets, and there’s something oddly comforting about wearing a line that admits the coping mechanism instead of pretending it isn’t there.
‘I Guess’
“I’ll tell a lie, but it’s understood” is quietly one of the most relatable lines she’s ever written. It’s the kind of lyric that doesn’t need the rest of the song for context, which is exactly what makes a good tattoo candidate.
‘The Light In The Painting’
We’re closing this one out with the Angel era opener. “You are the light in the painting” is McAlpine at her most tender, and with the new album just dropping, this feels like the line most likely to end up on someone’s skin by the end of the year.
Whether you’re a longtime fan who’s been here since Give Me a Minute or you just found her through Angel, Lizzy McAlpine’s lyrics have a way of saying the things we don’t always know how to say ourselves. Got a favorite line that didn’t make our list? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting us. We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
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