Sociology, as a practice, can be applied to almost all human exchanges. The field of lyric song is no different, providing numerous venues for artists to express sociological perspectives on the common environment around them. To illustrate the possible connections that can be made in this context, we have chosen two unique songs: “Prayer of the Refugee” by Rise Against and “The Dreaming Tree” by the Dave Matthews Band. In the following examination, both songs demonstrate the various principles of sociological perspective at the macro and micro levels respectively. In the song "Prayer of the Refugee" by Rise Against, the listener is given a macro-level conflict theory with overarching themes of globalization and the struggle of two very different socio-economic groups. The chorus reflects their repeated reference to industrialized Western influence in third world countries: "Don't hold me back now/I can stand my own ground/I don't need your help now/You'll let me down , fall, fall (“Raise against”, nd)! » This line is a representation of how workers in these circumstances feel towards the power elite who oppress them by exercising disproportionate control over the political and property system (Benokraitis, 2010). In response, workers are openly demanding to maintain their self-esteem by refusing the help provided by the system. This suggests that power-hungry corporations are doing more harm than helping in underdeveloped countries, causing strife and immense tension. Additionally, the voices of the underclass, or outsiders incorporated at the lowest rung of the American social ladder, define their recognized identity in the following stanza: "We are the angry and the desperate/The hungry, one... .... middle of paper ......ies our aging population (Benokraitis, 2010). The woman longs to become young and beautiful again, back to the comfort of her father's protection. Her father is clearly someone close to her, someone important to her, and in this case, a primary caregiver (Benokraitis, 2010). He would also be a member of his reference group, which is a group of people who shape our values, our behaviors and our attitudes (Benokraitis, 2010). Works CitedBenokraitis, N.V. (2010). Soc. Belmont, CA: Wadworth Cengage Learning.Lyrics007: Dave Matthews Band and Dave Matthews - Dreaming Tree Lyrics. (June 3, 2010). Retrieved from http://www.lyrics007.com/Dave%20Matthews%20Band%20and%20Dave%20Matthews%20Lyrics/The%20Dreaming%20Tree%20Lyrics.Rise Against lyrics: “refugee prayer.” (nd) Retrieved from http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/riseagainst/prayeroftherefugee.html