"Transcendentalism" refers to philosophical, religious, and literary beliefs held by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Amos Bronson Alcott, and other writers in New England during the 1830s and 1840s. Emerson believed in the significance of one's intuition and individuality. He expresses these beliefs in his essay "Self-Reliance" and implores people to listen to their intuition and to be true to themselves. Likewise, Thoreau affirms the beliefs of nature, intuition, individuality, and self-reliance. Thoreau's book "Walden; or, Life in the Woods" reflects on his two years living in a cabin at Walden Pond in Massachusetts. He values simplicity and independence. During Michelle Wagner's fifteenth year of teaching in Phoenix, Arizona, her eleventh grade English language arts (ELA) students experienced a transformative moment when connecting transcendental beliefs with contemporary song lyrics. Students' captivation with lyrics propelled them to engage in discussion when they may prefer to linger in silence, and students took ownership of their learning through linking lyrics with literature. In this article, Wagner presents the concept of using song lyrics to complement students' understanding of the main beliefs of transcendentalism. She also offers strategies for teachers to incorporate lyrics in their own lessons and reveal research-based evidence that supports using music with students who are learning English, too.