More often than in other rock-styles since the mainstreaming of rock music during the 1970s, alternative rock lyrics tend to address topics of social concern, such as drug use, depression, suicide, and environmentalism.
Máis a miúdo que noutros estilos dende a populariación da música rock durante os 70, as letras do rock alternativo tenden a tratar temas de interese social, como o uso de drogas, a depresión, o suicidio, ou o medio ambiente.