17 '90s Lyrics That Would Make Excellent Tattoos

When it comes to commemorating the music of the '90s, I'm all about making t-shirts with puff paint and tailgating the crap out of my favorite boy band's reunion tour. However, some die-hard children of the '90s might be so inspired as to ink themselves up with the lyrics they once scrawled all over notebooks. There are plenty of disastrous tattoos out there, but a tat that's dedicated to the glorious music of the '90s is a safe and awesome bet.

After all, the '90s was an incredible decade when it comes to music. Grunge became a worldwide phenomenon through the help of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, hip-hop reached new heights with the phenomenal popularity of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., No Doubt turned the landscape of rock and roll into a brighter, better place for women, singer-songwriters had their moment in the sun, and the end of the decade ushered in an era of bubblegum pop that made titans out of the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears. We had Alanis, Fiona, and Tori to lead us through becoming our blossoming emotional selves. We witnessed the birth of Queen Bey onto the charts with Destiny's Child and saw the *NSYNC cocoon that gestated the butterfly that is Justin Timberlake.

It was a magical era to say the least, so here are the best '90s lyrics to turn into tattoos.

"Everlong" — Foo Fighters

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Breathe out so I can breathe you in." Oh, be still my bleeding heart.

"Just a Girl" — No Doubt

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Take this pink ribbon off my eyes." Because every gal needs the intro to the song that awakened her inner feminist in elementary school.

"One Sweet Day" — Mariah Carey feat. Boyz II Men

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Although the sun will never shine the same, I'll always look to a brighter day." To remember those you've loved and lost.

"The Sign" — Ace of Base

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Life is demanding without understanding." I envision this all over Pinterest.

"All Apologies" — Nirvana

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "In the sun I feel as one." A truly timeless sentiment.

"Don't Look Back in Anger" — Oasis

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "All the roads we have to walk are winding." A simple, powerful reminder we all need.

"Free Your Mind" — En Vogue

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Free your mind and the rest will follow." Preach.

"Say It Ain't So" — Weezer

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Your drug is a heartbreaker." It's juuuuuust cryptic enough.

"Bitch" — Meredith Brooks

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother, I'm a sinner, I'm a saint, I do not feel ashamed." Because you are everything, and you are beautiful.

"Loser" — Beck

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Things are gonna change, I can feel it." Even if you're feeling like a loser, it won't be that way forever.

"Waterfalls" — TLC

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Clear blue and unconditional skies." You just gotta have faith sometimes.

"Closing Time — Semisonic

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." #DEEP

"Real World" — Mathbox Twenty

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "I wish the real world would just stop hassling me." For the furture Key West retirees.

"Doo-Wop (That Thing)" — Lauryn Hill

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "Respect is just a minimum." Truly speaks for itself.

"Changes" — 2Pac

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other." Because these lyrics are more relevant now than ever.

"Round Here" — Counting Crows

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "I walk in the air between the rain." For the zen masters.

"Semi-Charmed Life" — Third Eye Blind

Lyric to tattoo yourself with: "I believe in the sand beneath my toes." If you're one of those young/wild/free children of the '90s.

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