Lyrics vs. Music
 

What is more important to you when listening to a song? What is more memorable? Do you pay attention to the lyrics of a song and try to learn the song's meaning or are you inspired by the beat and use of instruments/techniques?

Obviously, a lot of people may like both, but what do you lean towards more and what makes you come back to the song?

This isn't worded very well. Lyrics are a component of music. I think what you mean is what do you like more the Instrumental side of music or the Lyrical side of music. Personally I think they are too intertwined to be judged separately. I find many times the choice of words and the way they are sung make a song in an instrumental way.

Go to 1:50 great example of what I mean.

YouTube - Pixies-Monkey Gone To Heaven

I never find myself differentiating between lyrics and music in that way. If I like the song, there will be both elements working together in a way that appeals to me.
If something happens to stand out from the rest of the song, be it the lyrics or the music, it may be more memorable to me.. but I don't really have a preference as to which element that is. It simply becomes what I appreciate more for that particular song.
And to me, it's not limited to lyric vs music. All the elements in the song hold a significance for me. I may like a song and really dig the drums as far as what stands out, and in another song it may be the bass line, or the guitar line... It doesn't matter. As long as I like the song as a whole, I'm good.

I really only care for lyrics if I like the music in the first place. If I didn't like the music I wouldn't be listening to it. So music (ie the instrumental part of a song) wins.

I agree completely.

I think if i had to absolutely chose one...I would say that the music is only the accompaniment to the music, and if the lyrics are awful or something that i can't relate to then even though the underlying music might be good, it would be hard to have the song on repeat.

I think lyrics are quite overrated. Most are poor attempts at lame poetry anyways (nothing wrong with good poetry). Unless the lyrics are truly spectacular, I won't be paying them much notice. In fact, I prefer foreign, made-up languages in lyrics. So I don't have to understand how lame they truly are.

Of course, there are exceptions. Some lyrics are truly inspiring and breath-taking.

if lyrics would be the important thing, I would read poetry instead. Appearantly, I don't. I also listen to instrumental music (God is an astronaut, explosions in the sky, buckethead, ludovico einaudi etc.). The instrumental part just says more than the melody. Also lyrics orders you what to imagine while listening to a song. And in sonh without lyrics (or when you cannot understand them) you can just let your imagination flow to the atmosphere instrumental part gives.

If that makes any sense

I think lyrics can be written in general ways so they don't order you what to imagine so I wouldn't say that's always the case. It it mostly, though.

Music is the most important part. I don't usually even care about the lyrics at all. I listen to alot of instrumental music too so lyrics ain't that big of a deal for me. Sometimes I come across bands that have great lyrics and I really appreciate them for it, for example Two Gallants.