The phrase "what are words for when no one listens anymore" is a line from the song "Words" by Missing Persons. The song was released in 1982 and was written by Dale Bozzio, Terry Bozzio, and Warren Cuccurullo. The lyrics suggest frustration with communication that seems to have no effect on the listener, and the feeling of being alone in a world where no one seems to care. The phrase has been used in various contexts to express similar feelings of frustration with communication that seems to fall on deaf ears.