For some reason, certain arrangements of basic parts of speech attached to pitch and cadence got themselves permanently attached to my (remaining) brain cells.
What are your favs?
Here's my Top 3.
#1:
"Her teeth were like the stars above because they come out every night." Homer and Jethro, Live at the Country Club (Side one)
#2:
"They'll never forgot you, until somebody new comes along." (I think you know this one)
#3:
I had an internal UFC level battle going on in my head for this position, with no less than 11 contenders duking it out. So, I just gave up, and passed the baton to you guys.
@jpwarren58- nope, unless you can point me to a specific show where they said 'Cadillac', as far as I know it's always been 'headlight', and that's why it goes 'I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain'. A 3-syllable word would sound wrong there. It's a traditional song that's been covered by a lot of people, including the Dead, Hot Tuna, and many others.
By the shelter in the middle of a roundabout a Nurse is selling puppies from a tray and thought she feels as if she's in a play she is anyway. Penny Lane The Beatles. Bob Dylan Not Dark Yet. I feel like my soul has turned into steel , I've still got the scars that the Sun didn't heal. The skin on my body is so naked and tough , I can't even remember what I came here to get away from.
- Hank Williams: "No matter how I struggle and strive, I’ll never get out of this world alive." Hillbilly wisdom.
- Loretta Lynn: "You ain’t woman enough to take my man." "Don’t come home a-drinkin’ (with lovin’ on your mind)."
- Cornell Hurd: "If you play with my mind (you’re gonna get your hands dirty)."
- "God Only Knows", music by Brian Wilson, lyrics by Tony Asher. Combined they create the most glorious song in the history of recorded music. Brian's use of inversion, modulation, and counterpoint in the song display his intuitive understanding of music theory. As close to J.S. Bach as anyone in Pop music has gotten.
- Iris DeMent: "Now I sit down on the sofa and I watch the evening news
There’s a half a dozen tragedies from which to pick and choose
The baby that was missing was found in a ditch today
And there’s bombs a-flying, and people dying, not so far away
I’ll take a beer from the ’frigerator and go sit out in the yard
And with a cold one in my hand I’m gonna bite down and swallow hard
Because I’m older now, and I’ve got no time to cry."
Merle Haggard liked "No Time To Cry" enough to record it himself, the highest compliment one songwriter can pay another.
Just do the steps that you've been shown
By everyone you've ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
No matter how close to yours
Another's steps have grown
In the end, there is one dance you'll do alone
Keep a fire for the human race
Let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
Just as easily it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Don't let the uncertainty turn you around (the world keeps turning around and around)
Go on and make a joyful sound
Into a dancer you have grown
From a seed somebody else has thrown
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
And somewhere between the time you arrive and the time you go
May lie a reason you were alive
But you'll never know
From Joni Mitchell “Circle Game”
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
From Robert Hunter “New Speedway Boogie”
I spent a little time on the mountain
I spent a little time on the hill
Heard some say: Better run away
Others say you better stand still
Now I don't know, but I been told
It's hard to run with the weight of gold
Other hand I have heard it said
It's just as hard with the weight of lead
Well my mamma loved me
But my daddy don't
I'm tryin' to work it all out
But I probably won't
I got a woman waiting
At the top of the stairs
It's the wrong thing to do
But I don't care
The light in this place is really bad
Like being at the bottom of a stream
Any minute now
I’m expecting to wake up from a dream
Means so much, the softest touch
By the grave of some child, who neither wept or smiled
I pondered my faith in the rain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
And it’s driving me insane
Somewhere dawn is breaking
Light is streaking ‘cross the floor
Church bells are ringing
I wonder who they’re ringing for
Travel under any star
You’ll see me wherever you are
The shadowy past is awake and so vast
I’m sleeping in the palace of pain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
But it’s driving me insane
Maybe they’ll get me, maybe they won’t
But whatever it won’t be tonight
I wish your hand was in mine right now
We could go where the moon is white
For years they had me locked in a cage
Then they threw me onto the stage
Some things just last longer than you thought they would
And they never, ever explain
I’ve been dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
And it’s driving me insane
Well, I eat when I’m hungry, drink when I’m dry
Live my life on the square
Even if the flesh falls off my face
It won’t matter, long as you’re there
Feel like a ghost in love
Underneath the heavens above
Feel further away than I ever did before
Feel further than I can take
Dreamin’ of you is all I do
But it’s driving me insane
Everything in the way is so shiny today
A queer and unusual fall
Spirals of golden haze, here and there in a blaze
Like beams of light in the storm
Maybe you were here and maybe you weren’t
Maybe you touched somebody and got burnt
The silent sun has got me on the run
Burning a hole in my brain
I’m dreamin’ of you, that’s all I do
But it’s driving me insane
..:Well, I don't exactly know
What's going on in the world today
Don't know what there is to say
About the way the people are treating
Each other, not like brothers
Leaders take us far away from ecology
With mythology and astrology
Has got some words to say
About the way we live today
Why can't we learn to love each other
It's time to turn a new face
To the whole world wide human race
Stop the money chase
Lay back, relax
Get back on the human track
Stop racing toward oblivion
Oh, such a sad, sad state we're in
And that's a thing
Do you recognize the bells of truth
When you hear them ring
Won't you stop and listen
To the children sing
Won't you come on and sing it children…
I agree with James McMurtry as a writer of great lyrics, although one would have to quote the entire song to fully appreciate the lyrics. His are not one-liner lyrics.
Greg Brown also writes great lyrics, again not one-liners and a couple of songs off his Poet's Game album are incredibly good. The title track about the power of words and the ultimate futility of words is particularly good in the context of current events. Another song on this album called "Brand New Dodge" describes a young boy riding in the new family car--a '64 Dodge they bought in November of '63. It describes the innocence that of that time that is about to be shattered by the Kennedy assassination. The only mention of Kennedy is the boy's description of the people he thinks Jesus loves which includes "And Jesus loves our president, even though he is a Catholic." Actually, there is a one-liner from a song called "Jesus & Elvis" on the same album that describes the two miracle workers; the song opens with "Jesus had some water, said "wine would be better yet, Elvis picked up a guitar and made all the women wet."
I must be hungry
Because I go crazy
Over your leather boots
Now baby, I know
That's not normal
Frank Zappa: Camarillo Brillo
She had a snake for a pet and an amulet
And she was breeding a dwarf but she wasn't done yet
She had gray-green skin, a doll with a pin
I told her she was alright but I couldn't come in
(I couldn't come in right then...)
Neil Young: After the Gold Rush
I was lyin' in a burned out basement
With the full moon in my eyes
I was hopin' for replacement
When the sun burst through the sky
There was a band playin' in my head
And I felt like getting high
I was thinkin' about what a friend had said
I was hopin' it was a lie
Thinkin' about what a friend had said
I was hopin' it was a lie
Well, I dreamed I saw the silver space ships flyin'
In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children cryin' and colors flyin'
All around the chosen ones
All in a dream, all in a dream
The loadin' had begun
Flying Mother Nature's silver seed
To a new home in the sun
Flying Mother Nature's silver seed
To a new home
John Prine: Hello in There
We had an apartment in the city
Me and Loretta liked living there
Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown
A life of their own left us alone
John and Linda live in Omaha
And Joe is somewhere on the road
We lost Davy in the Korean War
And I still don't know what for, don't matter anymore
O Holy Night (Traditional)
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things…..
————————————————————
Once I lived the life of a millionaire
Spent all my money, I just did not care
Took all my friends out for a good time
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine
Then I began to fall so low
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go
I get my hands on a dollar again
I'm going to hang on to it until that eagle grins
Because no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out
In your pocket, not one penny
And as for friends, you don't have any….
Ain't it just like the night to play tricks
When you're tryin' to be so quiet
We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin' you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there's nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed a song
I never saw the white line, 'til I was leaving you behind
I never knew I needed you until I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke "I love you" 'til I cursed you in vain
I never felt my heartstrings until I nearly went insane
I never saw the east coast until I moved to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off of your breast
I never saw your heart until someone tried to steal, tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face
I never saw the morning 'til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine 'til you turned out your love light, baby
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody until I needed the song
Well, it's a marvelous night for a Moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
Can I just have one a' more Moondance with you, my love
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love
Well, I wanna make love to you tonight
I can't wait 'til the morning has come
And I know that the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you're never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me that you can't hide
One more Moondance with you in the moonlight
On a magic night
La, la, la, la in the moonlight
On a magic night
Can't I just have one more dance with you my love
See her picture in a thousand places
’Cause she’s this year’s girl
You think you all own little pieces
Of this year’s girl
Forget your fancy manners
Forget your English grammar
’Cause you don’t really give a damn about this year’s girl
Still, you’re hoping that she’s well spoken
’Cause she’s this year’s girl
You want her broken with her mouth wide open
’Cause she’s this year’s girl
Never knowing it’s a real attraction
All these promises of satisfaction
While she’s being bored to distraction
Being this year’s girl
Time’s running out
She’s not happy with the cost
There’d be no doubt
Only she’s forgotten much more than she’s lost
A bright spark might corner the market
In this year’s girl
You see yourself rolling on the carpet
With this year’s girl
Those disco synthesizers
Those daily tranquilizers
Those body building prizes
Those bedroom alibis
All this, but no surprises for this year’s girl
All this, but no surprises for this year’s girl
All this, but no surprises for this year’s girl
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long, and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
"I have all the self-loathing of a wolf in sheep's clothing." - Billy Bragg: "Accident Waiting to Happen"
"She's got cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin and she's been sexually enlightened by Cosmopolitan." Lloyd Cole: "Perfect Skin"
"I wore my heart on my sleeve to court the wretched and the free." - Lloyd Cole: "Man Enough.
"What she asked of me at the end of the day, Caligula would have blushed." - Morrissey (Smiths): "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"
"I seek to express my belief, that sweet talk like candy rots teeth." - Paddy MacAloon (Prefab Sprout): "Hallelujah"
"You should be loving someone and you know who it must be, cause you'll never find Atlantis till you make that someone me." - Paddy MacAloon (Prefab Sprout): "Looking for Atlantis"
While lyrics don't make or break music for me (I listen to a lot of instrumental music, and music in different languages), great lyrics are a nice plus.
Genesis - The Lamia
The scent grows richer, he knows he must be near,
He finds a long passageway lit by chandelier.
Each step he takes, the perfumes change
From familiar fragrance to flavors strange.
A magnificent chamber meets his eye.
Inside, a long rose-water pool is shrouded by fine mist.
Stepping in the moist silence, with a warm breeze he's gently kissed.
Thinking he is quite alone,
He enters the room, as if it were his own,
But ripples on the sweet pink water
Reveal some company unthought of
Rael stands astonished doubting his sight,
Struck by beauty, gripped in fright;
Three vermilion snakes of female face,
The smallest motion, filled with grace.
Muted melodies fill the echoing hall,
But there is no sign of warning in the siren's call:
"Rael welcome, we are the Lamia of the pool.
We have been waiting for our waters to bring you cool."
Putting fear beside him, he trusts in beauty blind,
He slips into the nectar, leaving his shredded clothes behind.
"With their tongues, they test, taste and judge all that is mine.
They move in a series of caresses
That glide up and down my spine.
As they nibble the fruit of my flesh, I feel no pain,
Only a magic that a name would stain.
With the first drop of my blood in their veins
Their faces are convulsed in mortal pains.
The fairest cries, 'We all have loved you Rael'."
Each empty snakelike body floats,
Silent sorrow in empty boats.
A sickly sourness fills the room,
The bitter harvest of a dying bloom.
Looking for motion I know I will not find,
I stroke the curls now turning pale, in which I'd lain entwined
"O Lamia, your flesh that remains I will take as my food"
It is the scent of garlic that lingers on my chocolate fingers.
Looking behind me, the water turns icy blue,
The lights are dimmed and once again the stage is set for you.
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