Journal Entries06 Feb 2006 12:21 am
Some people like lyrics, some like a good melody, and some just like the cars, the cars that go boom.
I love songs that are poetic. Unusual images startle me, strange phrases or ideas help me see different perspectives, and musical language can move me as much as a beautiful melody.
What songs do you think have the best lyrics? Here are a few of my favorites:
For sheer oddity: REM’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
For fitting a whole novel into a song: Joni Mitchell’s “Song for Sharon”
For being 100% hopeful and 100% sad at the same time: Paul Simon’s “Graceland”
How about you?
February 6th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I love most of John Prine’s lyrics, but most of all those from Diamonds in the Rough, especially “Late John Garfield Blues” and “The Torch Singer.”
Also Warren Zevon: “Muhammed’s Radio,” and “Desperados Under The Eaves”
The Band, “Shape I’m In,” one of the greatest songs ever.
I guess I really appreciate when a songwriter takes his subject very seriously yet is not afraid of humor. Kind of like the hope/sad contrast you love in “Graceland.”
February 7th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Dylan’s “Desolation Row,” because the iconography plays off of “American Pie” but it’s so much more scathing somehow. It’s an art of subtlety.
February 9th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
I love “Desolation Row” too. Nice website, Ali, by the way, and I enjoyed your MP3′s.
February 10th, 2006 at 8:54 am
I love lyrics with alliteration. One of my favorites is Loudon Waiwright’s “School Days”.
February 10th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Quite a few of Steely Dan/Donald Fagan tunes have AMAZING lyrics that really fit the style of their music – off beat, mysterious, profane, powerful, jazzy, “art deco”.
February 13th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Overall, I’ll admit that if a song has a good melody it’ll catch me sooner than if it has good lyrics. However, being a writer at heart, I love lyrics that tell me a story of another time, another place or interesting people.
Starting with The Beatles, I’ve always liked “Norwegian Wood”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “A Day in the Life”, “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” and “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.”
Of Led Zeppelin: “Immigrant Song”, “When the Levee Breaks”, “The Battle of Evermore”, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “Kashmir.”
On the miscellaneous side of things: “Starman” by Bowie, “Jailbreak” by AC/DC, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” and “1882″ (unreleased) by Paul McCartney, “Goodbye Blue Sky” by Pink Floyd and “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” by Simon & Garfunkel.
February 16th, 2006 at 7:20 am
I love this song by Cracker called Guarded by Monkeys. I dig your blog, too!
You are so beautiful
You should be hid deep in the jungle
On some forgotten island
CHORUS:
You are so beautiful
You should be guarded by monkeys
You are so beautiful
February 23rd, 2006 at 8:15 pm
I have always liked the lyrics to Shawn Colvin’s “Polaroids”. And I have to admit that I love The Barenaked Ladies “One Week” – because it is silly… and I think we’ve all been there.
Honestly, there are too many song lyrics that speak to me. Favorites are usually based on what’s going on in my life at that moment and how I’m feeling.
I admire poets and songwriters. It is a talent I don’t have…my lyrics/poems often end up sounding like 3rd grade limericks.
February 24th, 2006 at 12:40 am
Amanda, I had so much fun visiting your blog! I just know “Kwaj” from stories my dad told me of WW II–he was on a US Navy destroyer providing cover during the horrible Tarawa/Kwajalein battle.
It’s great to read about your work as a nurse, and your weekends of surfing and scuba diving. You’re giving me wanderlust.
February 24th, 2006 at 5:38 am
Elvis Costello “Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes”
I said I’m so happy I could die
She said drop dead
Then left with another guy
Springsteen “Backstreets”
Laying here in the dark
You’re like an angel on my chest
Just another tramp of hearts
Crying tears of faithlessness
Cowboy Junkies “’cause Cheap is How I Feel”
And I’m searching all the windows for a last minute present
To prove to you what I said was real
For something small and frail and plastic, baby
’cause cheap is how I feel.
Hmmm, I’m starting to see a theme here.
February 24th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Yeah, I was tempted to list “Alison” by Elvis Costello as another favorite. “My aim is true…”
February 26th, 2006 at 10:07 am
Um, maybe. I heart The Smiths. So like laods and loads of tehre songs really, And the lyrics are jsut so like, relevant to me, and they feel so human and personal, accompanied by liek Johnny Marrs heart breaking guitar parts. Yeah, I heart the smiths really. Favourite songs, maybe.
like: Back to The Old House, Girl Afraid, This Charming Man, and I think Nowhere Fast has like the Best Lyrics EVA!!! pardon the obvious grammer error. Ahh, and so so so many more. Long live The Smiths (may they never reform and ruine the Genious, right?) take it easy. Tom.
February 28th, 2006 at 7:24 pm
oh oh oh… “Alison” made me think of “Veronica” by Elvis Costello…
“What goes on in that pretty little head of yours,
What goes on in that place in the dark”
April 9th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Anything Jack Johnson personally suites me well. I’m working on learning a riff in the song “No Other Way”.. very good stuff if you like acoustic guitar.
Here’s some lyrics from it:
When your mind is a mess
So is mine
I cant sleep
Cause it hurts when I think
My thoughts aren’t at peace
With the plans that we make
Chances we take
They’re, not yours and not mine
There’s waves that can break
July 30th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Henley’s “Heart Of The Matter”
I got the call today, I didn’t wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old true friend of ours was talkin’ on the phone
She said you found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck,
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside love’s open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?
I’m learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, I’m learning again
I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore
These times are so uncertain
There’s a yearning undefined
…People filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age
The trust and self-assurance that can lead to happiness
They’re the very things we kill, I guess
Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us,
Doesn’t keep me warm
I’m learning to live without you now
But I miss you, Baby
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I figured out, I have to learn again
I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore
There are people in your life who’ve come and gone
They let you down and hurt your pride
Better put it all behind you; life goes on
You keep carrin’ that anger, it’ll eat you inside
I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the Heart of the Matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore
I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the Heart of the Matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So I’m thinkin’ about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore