I don't mean this to be a re-hash of threads in which people have cut and pasted whole songs but, I was just playing around with iTunes and I've resurrected some of my fave songs.
So, what particular song lyrics do you consider to be genius and why?
For me, right this minute now, it's gotta be Jimmy Buffet: "Wasting away again in Margaritaville/looking for my lost shaker of salt/Some people claim that there's a woman to blame/But I know that it's nobody's fault"
I smile every time I hear the song because it transports me immediately to a particular bar and a particular bar singer doing his best Buffet impression... oh, and I have really been wasted in my own metaphoric Magaritaville* too - the hangover was hellish!
*but not the cheesey themed bars of the same name I hasten to add!
and sometimes I get nervous
when I see an open door
close your eyes, clear your heart
cut the cord
are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer
pay my respects to grace and virtue
send my condolences to good
give my regards to soul and romance
they always did the best they could
and so long to devotion, you taught me everything I know
wave good bye, wish me well
you gotta let me go
Great thread... So many to choose from for me... I'll start with some obvious ones...
From Pink Floyd's "Time"
"So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say."
The Beatles "The End"
"And in the end, the love you take,
Is equal to the love you make."
The Beatles "Across the Universe"
"Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox, they stumble blindly as they make their way Across the Universe..."
Prince "Sign 'O' the times"
"Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling off a church and killed everyone inside.
You turn on the telly and every other story is telling you somebody died."
And I also loved Space Neighbourhood...
"In 666 there lives a Mr Miller,
He's the local vicar and a Serial killer..."
And quite simply the unutterable genius that is Scooter from Weekend.
"Is it a bird, is it a plane?
It must be Dave, who's on the train..."
Pure genius....
The cracks between the paving stones
Look like rivers of flowing veins.
Strange people who know me
Peeping from behind every window pane.
The girl I used to love
Lives in this yellow house.
Yesterday she passed me by,
She doesn't want to know me now.
The real me - The who
More genius
hey paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer farmer
Put away the D.D.T. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard my screen door slam
and a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
I said don't it always seem to go
that you dont know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Big yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
Blimey though thats just two of the gadzillion I could name
The Waterboys: Whole of the Moon - it is, for me a gutwrenchingly beautiful song. Partly because, aged 14 I kinda fucked up big time and one of my friends told me afterwards that whenever she heard it, she thought of me. I did try to go "too far, too soon" and since then, the whole song has a certain poignancy. These are my favourite verses:
I was grounded
While you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truths
You cut through lies
I saw the rain-dirty valley
You saw brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon!
I spoke about wings
You just flew
I wondered, I guessed, and I tried
You just knew
I sighed
But you swooned
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon!
Undone. Robbie Williams
'I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to. If I stop lying i'll just disapoint you, watch me come undone'
I don't really have a reason other than I can relate to the lyrics and I think it is a genius piece of writing.
The The - Beyond Love
with the drops of seamen and clots of blood, that may one day become like us, with outstretched hands reaching beyond love, and up to something above.
never wanted kids but i do love those lyrics
with depth and feeling beyond belief, a lyric that tugs strongly at the gut, and echoe through the very marrow:
I wanna fuck you like an animal
NIN
lp
from REM's Everybody Hurts
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on
'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
reminds me of when my dad died unexpectedly.....and that then, and even now I still have amazing friends who pick me up and dust me off and make me feel better when Im having a rough time....and no matter what their probs, they still have time for mine, and treat my problems as important as theirs.
Not Lyrics as such, but there are some songs that I think are true genius... and probably not the "usual" ones trotted out (Boh Rhap, Hey Jude etc etc).
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy. It took my breath away when I first heard it and it is as fresh today as it was when released.
Mrs B has mentioned Everybody Hurts by REM... Hits the spot on so many levels that song does.
Mad World The haunting Gary Jules version. Lyrically outstanding. Tears for Fears did a very good original too.
Mother by John Lennon. Heart Wrenching. "Mother, you left me, but I never left you... I needed you... You didn't need me..."
A Day In the Life by the Beatles. Quite simply as good as it ever can get. In my humble opinion.
Dave Matthews Band: Crash Into Me
Oh and you come crash
into me, baby
And I come into you
Hike up your skirt a little more
and show the world to me
Hike up your skirt a little more
and show your world to me
In a boys dream.. In a boys dream
Oh I watch you there
through the window
And I stare at you
You wear nothing but you
wear it so well
tied up and twisted
the way I'd like to be
For you, for me, come crash
into me
I've highlighted the bits I think are genius. I love the metaphor "show your world to me"
Bounce - System Of A Down
Jump, Bounce, Down, Up
I went out on a date,
With a girl, a bit late,
She had so many friends,
Gliding through many hands.
I brought my pogo stick,
Just to show her a trick,
She had so many friends,
Gliding through many hands.
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Unannounced twister games,
All players with no names,
They lined up double quick,
But just one pogo stick,
Everyone gets to play,
Runaway, expose',
It was so exotic,
But just one pogo stick.
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Oh, I like to spread you out,
Touching whoever's behind
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Ill let you ponder on why I like this - its too late for me, although I might edit tomorrow :yawn:
I lie awake
I've gone to ground
I'm watching porn
In my hotel dressing gown
Now I dream of you
But I still believe
There's only enough for one in this
Lonely hotel suite
The journey's long
And it feels so bad
I'm thinking back to the last day we had.
Old moon fades into the new
Soon I know I'll be back with you
I'm nearly with you
I'm nearly with you
When I'm weak I draw strength from you
And when you're lost I know how to change your mood
And when I'm down you breathe life over me
Even though we're miles apart we are each other's destiny
On a clear day
I'll fly home to you
I'm bending time getting back to you
Old moon fades into the new
Soon I know I'll be back with you
I'm nearly with you
I'm nearly with you
When I'm weak I draw strength from you
And when you're lost I know how to change your mood
And when I'm down you breathe life over me
Even though we're miles apart we are each other's destiny
When I'm weak I draw strength from you
And when you're lost I know how to change your mood
And when I'm down you breathe life over me
Even though we're miles apart we are each other's destiny
I'll fly, I'll fly home
I'll fly home and I'll fly home
"Why is every body always more afraid to live than die
They seem to have the strength to fail but not the will to try"
( The Longer We're Apart - Lucie Silva )
"Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there"
( Venus In Furs - Velvet Underground )
"I hope all my days will be lit by your face
I hope all the years will hold tight our promises
I don't want to be old and sleep alone
An empty house is not a home
I don't want to be old and feel afraid"
( Atlantic - Keane )
Imagine ......john Lennon
.....
there coming to america.....Neil diamond
.....
I've always thought one section of Roxy Music's 'Dance Away' was a genius play on words.
It's funny how, I could never cry
Until last night and you pass by,
hand in hand with another guy,
you're dressed to kill and guess who's dying?'
So clever!!
However on a more serious note by Toby Keith a great twist in words
I never ask you where your goin',
I never ask you where you've been
I've never called and checked your story,
When you stayed out with all your freinds
I've never tried to catch you lyin',
I didn't want to know the truth
I'd rather go on lovin' blind girl,
Than go on lovin' without you
I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I wish I could start this whole thing over again
I'm not sayin' it's you,
You could never be true
I just don't wanna know how it ends
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands
I'd still look like a fool in front of your freinds
Yeah, I wish somehow I didnt know now what I didn't know then
I've always said what I don't know
Couldn't hurt as bad as leavin' you
Turns out I knew what I was thinkin',
It ain't an easy thing to do,
Well I guess I should be goin'
I sure found out too much to stay,
Please don't say your sorry
I might wait another day
I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then
I wish I could start this whole thing over again
I'm not sayin' it's you,
You could never be true
I just don't wanna know how it ends
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands
I'd still look like a fool in front of your freinds
Yeah, I wish somehow I didnt know now what I didn't know then
You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hand
I'd still look like a fool in front of your freinds
Yeah, I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
Yeah, I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then
"when there's no future how can there be sin
we're the flowers in the dustbin
we're the poison in the human machine
we're the future your future"
Sex Pistols ... God Save The Queen .
i was an 11 yr old school kid when this was released in 1977 and it blew my mind. A definate genius lyric.
I am currently in love with The Moldy Peaches, so...
If I'm being sentimental, then:
Just because I don't say anything
Doesn't mean I don't like you.
I open my mouth and I try and i try
But no words come out.
Without 40 ounces of social skills
I'm just an ass in the crack of humanity.
I'm just a huge manitee.
A huge manitee.
And besides you're probably holding hands
With some skinny, pretty girl that likes to
Talk about bands, and
All I wanna do is ride bikes with you
And stay up late and watch cartoons.
Duck Tales, shirt tails, Talespin, Sailor Moon, GI Joe, Robotech, Ron Jeremy, Schmoo.
I wanna watch cartons with you.
Josie and the Pussycats and Scooby Do,
I want you to watch cartoons with me.
He-man, Voltron and Hong-Kong-Fooey
I tried to ask you to your face,
But no words came out.
I put on my hood and walked away.
That doosn't mean I don't like you.
And besides you're probably holding hands
With some skinny, pretty girl that likes to
Talk about bands, and
All I wanna do is ride bikes with you
And stay up late and maybe spoon.
Just becase I dont say anything
Doesn't mean I dont like you, no.
I opened my mouth and i tried and i tried.
And besides you're probably holding hands
With some skiny, pretty girl that likes to
Talk about bands and
All I wanna do is ride bikes with you
And stay up late and maybe spoon.
But if I am giggly, then from the very same album: (the two singers sing the different words at the same time - it works really well)
Mardi Gras came and went,
all my money has been spent.
How 'm I gonna pay the rent
sitting on -my ass/your face?
Who mistook the steak for chicken?
Who'm I gonna stick my dick in?
We're not those kids,
sitting on the couch.
my former life i -had a sister/was a high roller,
I abused her and I dissed her/ walked my kids in a diamond stroller,
she got swept up in a twister/ found my calling as a part time bowler
first I laughed and then i missed her/ traded my wife in for a new green roller.
Who mistook these baths for showers?
Who fucked up that leaning tower?
We're not those kids,
sitting on the couch.
Oh, get on a greyhound and ride away,
different dreams from yesterday/ live on birthday cake each day
tell your -grandma you're ok/ grandparents that they're gay,
kiss her cheek/steal their money- and run away.
Me and my friends are so smart:
we invented this new kind of -darts/art
hit a bull's eye cut up heart/ post modernist throwing darts
smoking crack and -cutting back/crack.
Who mistook this crap for genius?/ who is dancing on the ceiling?
Who is gonna stroke my penis?/who is gonna hurt my feelings
We're not those kids,
sitting on the couch,
sitting on the couch.
Oh -even your mother is a crook/people are shiny like a brand new book
but if -I get/you take- a closer look
there's shit on every -road you took/hand you shook
You don't believe me?
Read the book/ Look at your hand.
Who made all these things for killing?
Whose -empty heart/pussy hole- needs filling?
We're not those kids,
sitting on the couch.
Who mistook the steak for chicken?
Who'm I gonna stick my dick in?
We're not those kids,
sitting on the couch
Nobody feels any pain
Tonight as I stand inside the rain
Ev'rybody knows
That Baby's got new clothes
But lately I see her ribbons and her bows
Have fallen from her curls
She takes just like a woman, yes she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.
...............................................
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship,
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip,
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'.
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way,
I promise to go under it.
...............................
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
......................................
How many roads must a man walk down. Before you call him a man?
