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[Music] Best lyrics in a song
- Thread starter lasvegan
- Start date
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
I messed my pants
as we flew over France
as we flew over France
Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 7,374
Some really good ones here already: Desolation Row, Shipbuilding etc. Really good to see Lloyd Cole get a mention. I've always loved 'Must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing.' from Four Flights Up.
I have one from a song that I've been listening to for thirty years. I obviously hadn't been listening properly, because in the middle of Paul Simon's 'Graceland' he sings:
'She comes back to tell me she's gone, As if I didn't know that.
As if I didn't know my own bed. As if I'd never noticed how she brushed her hair from her forehead.'
I'd never noticed what a devastating couple of lines they were: anger, resentment, and a love that will never leave him. A heartbreaking miniature perfectly capturing the end of his relationship and he just throws it away like he's said nothing and moves on to:
"She said losing love is like a window in your heart.
Everybody sees you're blown apart.
Everybody sees the wind blow."
I have one from a song that I've been listening to for thirty years. I obviously hadn't been listening properly, because in the middle of Paul Simon's 'Graceland' he sings:
'She comes back to tell me she's gone, As if I didn't know that.
As if I didn't know my own bed. As if I'd never noticed how she brushed her hair from her forehead.'
I'd never noticed what a devastating couple of lines they were: anger, resentment, and a love that will never leave him. A heartbreaking miniature perfectly capturing the end of his relationship and he just throws it away like he's said nothing and moves on to:
"She said losing love is like a window in your heart.
Everybody sees you're blown apart.
Everybody sees the wind blow."
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They got hammered for that.
Just the finale of this is sufficient......
Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz
Between what's flesh and what's fantasy
And the poets down here don't write nothing at all
They just stand back and let it all be
And in the quick of a knife, they reach for their moment
And try to make an honest stand
But they wind up wounded, not even dead
Tonight in Jungleland
Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz
Between what's flesh and what's fantasy
And the poets down here don't write nothing at all
They just stand back and let it all be
And in the quick of a knife, they reach for their moment
And try to make an honest stand
But they wind up wounded, not even dead
Tonight in Jungleland
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Lincolnshire Seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 9, 2009
- 816
Something a little less serious:
Me and the boys thought we had it sussed
Valentinos all of us
Me and the boys thought we had it sussed
Valentinos all of us
Mackenzie
Old Brightonian
.......You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave.....
But you can never leave.....
A couple of lines...
Punk rockers in the UK
They won't notice anyway
They're all too busy fighting
For a good place under the lighting
The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money
Punk rockers in the UK
They won't notice anyway
They're all too busy fighting
For a good place under the lighting
The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money
Gregory2Smith1
J'les aurai!
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,273
Either:
What she read
All heady books
She'd sit and prophesise
(It took a tattooed boy from
Birkenhead
To really really open her eyes)
The Smiths "What She Said" OR
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
The Smiths "How Soon Is Now"
What she read
All heady books
She'd sit and prophesise
(It took a tattooed boy from
Birkenhead
To really really open her eyes)
The Smiths "What She Said" OR
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
The Smiths "How Soon Is Now"
Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly
Good Golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley and nanny goats
18 wheeler Scammels, Domenecker camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Picadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats
A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You're welcome we can spare it - yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40 - no electric shocks
The juice of the carrot, the smile of the parrot
A little drop of claret - anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain't spotty
Sitting on the potty - curing smallpox
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Health service glasses
Gigolos and brasses
Round or skinny bottoms
Take your mum to Paris
Lighting up the chalice
Wee Willy Harris
Bantu, Stephen Biko, listening to Rico,
Harpo, Groucho, Chico
Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle
Slap and tickle
Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale
Balabalabala and Volare
Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy
Being in my nuddy
Saying hokey-dokey, sing along with Smokey
Coming out of chokey
John Coltrane's soprano, Adi Celentano, Bonar Colleano
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Yes yes
Dear dear
Perhaps next year
Or maybe even never
In which case
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Good Golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley and nanny goats
18 wheeler Scammels, Domenecker camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Picadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats
A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You're welcome we can spare it - yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40 - no electric shocks
The juice of the carrot, the smile of the parrot
A little drop of claret - anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain't spotty
Sitting on the potty - curing smallpox
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Health service glasses
Gigolos and brasses
Round or skinny bottoms
Take your mum to Paris
Lighting up the chalice
Wee Willy Harris
Bantu, Stephen Biko, listening to Rico,
Harpo, Groucho, Chico
Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle
Slap and tickle
Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale
Balabalabala and Volare
Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy
Being in my nuddy
Saying hokey-dokey, sing along with Smokey
Coming out of chokey
John Coltrane's soprano, Adi Celentano, Bonar Colleano
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Yes yes
Dear dear
Perhaps next year
Or maybe even never
In which case
Reasons to be cheerful part 3 - repeat
Saladpack Seagull
Just Shut Up and Paddle
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own". Brighton's own The Levellers.
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way, and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mr. Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mr. Shankly
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly
Oh, give us your money
It pays my way, and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mr. Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mr. Shankly
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly
Oh, give us your money
The Lemming Stomper
Under the flag
Like a bug in the breeze,
like a tree without leaves,
like a leg without knees,
I don't need you.
Turning point in my life,
a beautiful gorgeous wife.
Cupped hand without dice,
I don't need you.
A drink without a sip,
trousers without a zip,
a whole day without kip,
I don't need you.
Like a bulb without light,
like a 24 hour night,
like a sun that ain't bright,
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like a cow without a bull,
like a glass that's half full,
like beer you can't pull,
I don't need you.
Like sight without eyes,
like a body without thighs,
like me without mys,
I don't need you.
Like a house without love,
like a heart without blood.
No below without above,
I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like a man without teeth,
like leather without beef,
like Harris without Keith*,
I don't need you.
Like film without frames,
like a head without a brain,
like tracks without a train,
I don't need you.
Like a John without a Wayne,
Like a collar without a stain,
Saddam without Hussein,
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you.
Like wings without a plane,
space travel without the strain,
like crops without the rain,
I don't need you.
Don't need you, I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like food without a smell,
Heaven without Hell,
a church without a bell,
I don't need you.
Like a tongue without a lick,
leaning boy (atom bomb (?)) without a stick,
time without a click,
I don't need you.
like a tree without leaves,
like a leg without knees,
I don't need you.
Turning point in my life,
a beautiful gorgeous wife.
Cupped hand without dice,
I don't need you.
A drink without a sip,
trousers without a zip,
a whole day without kip,
I don't need you.
Like a bulb without light,
like a 24 hour night,
like a sun that ain't bright,
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like a cow without a bull,
like a glass that's half full,
like beer you can't pull,
I don't need you.
Like sight without eyes,
like a body without thighs,
like me without mys,
I don't need you.
Like a house without love,
like a heart without blood.
No below without above,
I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like a man without teeth,
like leather without beef,
like Harris without Keith*,
I don't need you.
Like film without frames,
like a head without a brain,
like tracks without a train,
I don't need you.
Like a John without a Wayne,
Like a collar without a stain,
Saddam without Hussein,
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you. I don't need you.
I don't need you.
Like wings without a plane,
space travel without the strain,
like crops without the rain,
I don't need you.
Don't need you, I don't need you. I don't need you.
Like food without a smell,
Heaven without Hell,
a church without a bell,
I don't need you.
Like a tongue without a lick,
leaning boy (atom bomb (?)) without a stick,
time without a click,
I don't need you.
studio150
Well-known member
Is this even Springsteen's best lyric? He could probably have his own thread for lyrics.
Just a few other examples
Poor man wanna be rich
Rich man wanna be king
And a king ain't satisfied 'til he rules everything
Like a river that don't know where its flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going
Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central trust
And I brought us two tickets on that Coast City bus
41 shots, and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, I got my boots caked with this mud
We're baptized in these waters (baptized in these waters)
And in each other's blood (and in each other's blood)
Machiavelli
Well-known member
These three lines from the same song work well for me (brownie points if you can name the song and artist)
My momma said stay clean, there's no in between.
The devil's script says you've the heart of a blackbird
Shine on me baby, for it's raining in my heart
My momma said stay clean, there's no in between.
The devil's script says you've the heart of a blackbird
Shine on me baby, for it's raining in my heart
n1 gull
Well-known member
You tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing
Lloyd Cole
Oh, it's opening time down on Fascination Street
So let's cut the conversation and get out for a bit
Because I feel it all fading and paling and I'm begging
To drag you down with me, to kick the last nail in
Yeah, I like you in that, like I like you to scream
But if you open your mouth, then I can't be responsible
For quite what goes in or to care what comes out
So just pull on your hair, just pull on your pout
And let's move to the beat like we know that it's over
If you slip going under, slip over my shoulder
So just pull on your face, just pull on your feet
And let's hit opening time down on Fascination Street
So pull on your hair, pull on your pout
Cut the conversation, just open your mouth
Pull on your face, pull on your feet
And let's hit opening time down on Fascination Street
And
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday
I'm in love
So let's cut the conversation and get out for a bit
Because I feel it all fading and paling and I'm begging
To drag you down with me, to kick the last nail in
Yeah, I like you in that, like I like you to scream
But if you open your mouth, then I can't be responsible
For quite what goes in or to care what comes out
So just pull on your hair, just pull on your pout
And let's move to the beat like we know that it's over
If you slip going under, slip over my shoulder
So just pull on your face, just pull on your feet
And let's hit opening time down on Fascination Street
So pull on your hair, pull on your pout
Cut the conversation, just open your mouth
Pull on your face, pull on your feet
And let's hit opening time down on Fascination Street
And
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday, Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love
Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday
I'm in love