[header] How to dance emo [title] Express yourself. [step] Emo, which is short for " emotive hardcore " is music scene which stems from the washington d.c. hardcore punk subculture. It's exactly what it sounds like; less angry version of punk rock music with emotional lyrics. 
Makers and listeners of this type of music use it to express their feelings. Lyrics usually convey non-metaphorical messages about happiness, sadness, depression, death, anger and despair.