Favorite Song Lyrics of All Time. What Say You?

I can explain it to you

But

 I can't understand it to you

From a song I might write some day

Essentially a spoken word poem, but I'm partial to Gil-Scott Heron's activist work Whitey on the Moon

 

A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bills.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still
While Whitey's on the moon.
You know, the man jus' upped my rent las' night,
'cause Whitey's on the moon.
No hot water, no toilets, no lights,
but Whitey's on the moon.
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
'cause Whitey's on the moon?
Well I wuz already givin' 'im fifty a week
And now Whitey's on the moon.
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
The junkies make me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that crap wuzn't enough,
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arms began to swell
And Whitey's on the moon.
Was all that money I made las' year
For Whitey on the moon?
How come I ain't got no money here?
Hmm! Whitey's on the moon.
Y'know I jus' about had my fill
Of Whitey on the moon.
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special

To Whitey on the moon

Many of these are based on age so here are mine in no particular order

Hey, y'all prepare yourself for the rubberband man
You've never heard a sound like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control when the rubberband starts to jam

Th spinners

How can you just walk away from me?
When all I can do is watch you leave
'Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

Phil Collins

 

Bonnie Ratt...I can't make you love if you don't....

She'll tell you she's an orphan,

after you meet her family.

The Black Crowes - She Talks to Angels

 

 

The vagabond who's rapping at your door,

is standing in the clothes that you once wore.

Strike another match, go start anew,

and it's all over now, Baby Blue.

@thecarpathian 

Good one!!

And, who can forget Hart Brake Motel?

"I walked up to the room clerk.
He looked at me and said,
"You can have a room, but you will have to make your bed."

I said, "That's OK, buddy. 
I learned that from my ma."
Then he reached out and handed me a hammer and a saw."

@waytoomuchstuff ,

Another good one by Homer and Jethro:

"Your kiss of fire has got me burnin'  like a cinder, just one more kiss and I'll go flyin' out the winder..."

"Have I took you lately that I Love You" Van Morrison 

“Pride of Man” is a bible-based song, which references the destruction of Babylon and possibly the Tower of Babel fiasco, as well. The song was written and originally performed as Dylanesque folk-rock by Hamilton Camp, on his 1964 album, Paths of Victory. It was an enjoyable listen in that incarnation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROfmXgZ2GMQ

But in 1968, the San Francisco band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, recorded the definitive performance of the song as a full-on rocker, featuring some of Quicksilver guitarist John Cippolina’s best work ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG6A6G9uzsQ

Turn around, go back down
Back the way you came
Can't you see that flash of fire
Ten times brighter then the day
And behold a mighty city
Broken in the dust again

Oh god, pride of man
Broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
Back the way you came
Babylon is laid to waste
Egypt's buried in her shame

Their mighty men are all beaten down
Their kings are fallin' in the ways

Oh god, pride of man
Broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
Back the way you came
Terror is on every sign
Though our leaders are dismayed
All those who place their faith in fire
In fire their fate shall be repaid

Oh god, pride of man
Broken in the dust again

Turn around, go back down
Back the way you came
And shout a warning to the nation
That the sword of god is raised
Get Babylon backed by its city
Rich in treasure, wide in fame

Oh god, pride of man
Broken in the dust again

Yeah!

Ahhhhhh
Ahhhhhh
Ahh ahh ahh ahh

And it shall cause your tower to fall
Make of you a pyre of flame
Oh, you who dwell on many waters
Rich in treasure, wide in fame
You bow unto your... your god of gold
Your pride of might shall be a shame
For only god can lead his people
Back unto the earth again

Oh god, pride of man
Broken in the dust again

Our holy mountain be restored
And mercy on the people
The people
Ahhhhhhh ahhhh

"...half the distance 

takes twice as long..."

@immatthewj 

Those lyrics were so heavy I had to add extra support underneath my tablet to keep in from tipping over.

"Chortle, chortle, chortle, chortle." Loudon Wainwright III 

"yeah, you got your dead cat and you got your dead dog,

on a moonlit night you got your dead toad frog, 

Dead skunk in the middle of the road....stinkin to high heaven1'

 

Loudon Wainwright III

 

Townes Van Zandt/Waiting Around To Die

Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I don't even know the reason why
But I guess I'll keep a-gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
But it's easier than just a-waitin' around to die

Oh one time, friends, I had a ma, even had a pa
Well, he beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, headed down to Tennessee
Well, it's easier than just a-waitin' around to die

I came age and I found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
Oh, she cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
Well, I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' around to die

Had a friend, said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man, and brother did we fly
But the posse caught up with me and drug me back to Muskogee
And it's two long years a-waitin' around to die

Oh, but now I'm out of prison
I got me a friend at last
He don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
Oh, his name's codeine
He's the nicest thing I've seen
Well, together we're gonna wait around and die
Yeah, together we're gonna wait around and die

What isn’t,is (Bob Dylan, Mixed up kid)

"Larger than life and twice as ugly, if we have to live there you'll have to drug me..."

ABC

Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah/Lake Shore Drive (1972)

(I used to think these lyrics were magical.)

There's a road I'd like to tell you about, lives in my home town
Lake Shore Drive, the road is called and it'll take you up or down
From rats on up to riches, fifteen minutes you can fly
Pretty blue lights along the way, help you right on by
And the blue lights shining with a heavenly grace, help you right on by

And there ain't no road just like it
Anywhere I found
Running south on Lake Shore Drive heading into town
Just slippin' on by on LSD, Friday night trouble bound

And it starts up north from Hollywood, water on the driving side
Concrete mountains rearing up, throwing shadows just about five
Sometimes you can smell the green if your mind is feeling fine
There ain't no finer place to be, than running Lake Shore Drive
And there's no peace of mind, or place you see, than riding on Lake Shore Drive

And there ain't no road just like it
Anywhere I found
Running south on Lake Shore Drive, heading into town
Just slippin' on by on LSD, Friday night trouble bound

And it's Friday night and you're looking clean
Too early to start the rounds
A ten minute ride from the Gold Coast back, make sure you're pleasure bound
And it's four o'clock in the morning and all of the people have gone away
Just you and your mind and Lake Shore Drive, tomorrow is another day
And the sunshine's fine in the morning time, tomorrow is another day

And there ain't no road just like it
Anywhere I found
Running south on Lake Shore Drive, heading into town
Just snaking on by on LSD, Friday night trouble bound

 

"I never eat a white one yet".. Congo Man by "The Mighty Sparrow"

And every one of them words rang true

And glowed like burnin'coal

Pourin' off of every page

Like it was written in my soul from me to you

Tangled up in blue

+1 @cautionbison

..."she understands your problems 

she lets the little things go"....

 

A hand print on the driver's side it looks a lot like engine oil and tastes like being poor and small and popsicles in summer ...Neko Case : Deep Red Bells

 

So is Lola glad or a man?  This makes me laugh every time.

I always interpreted that as Lola being a man and also glad that the narrator is a man.

Ray Davies of the Kinks:

”Well, I’m not the world’s most masculine man 
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man 
And so is Lola”

So is Lola glad or a man?  This makes me laugh every time.

"Floating round,

The sound resounds

around the icy water

underground" - from 'Astronomy Domine' by Pink Floyd, written by Syd Barrett.... 

 

 

I could give you many entire songs that hit me, but when I think of a single line, this one from Paul Simon jumps to my mind instantly:

Hello darkness my old friend.

@jpwarren58 

I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain.

barts

My response is colored by memories of music with my still living parents.  City of New Orleans, Operator, Taxi all resonate with me.

However what can replace

Meow Meow Meow Meow

ad nausem!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"One person conditioned for rule and control the media sells it and we live the role"

This resonated with me at such a young age I never forgot it circa 1981 blizzard of Oz.

The song was crazy train we're all familiar with it.

Thank you for allowing me to have my say to all a good day.

 

Bowie 'Memory of a free festival'

 

We scanned the skies with rainbow eyes and saw machines of every shape and size
We talked with tall Venusians passing through
And Peter tried to climb aboard but the Captain shook his head
And away they soared
Climbing through the ivory vibrant cloud
Someone passed some bliss among the crowd
And we walked back to the road, unchained

Paul Weller - "As You Lean Into The Light" off Heavy Soul

Gentle rain
Here it comes again
Rattling 'round your window, threatening pain
Coming on like a friend, but you know better than
Yesterday that held you by a different hand 

Hail and stone
And all that's gone
When everything that passes, cuts to the bone
Turning like a wheel dragging a heavy stone
A weight that ties you down that you will never own

Strange to see, a paper smile on thee
When once you moved and light the room
For us all to be
Now if I could be the sun I'd shine in your life
If I could be the rain, I'd rain from your eyes
And I'd wash away the emptiness you feel inside

A master lyricist in very way 

Steppenwolf 

”Desperation”

”Monster”

”The Pusher”

 

Steppenwolf 

”Desperation”

”Monster”

”The Pusher”

 

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.

 

Richmon https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2796424

One of my favorites too.

"Expecting to Fly"  and "We Didn't Start the Fire"

If we could just put all these lyrics in a blender, we'd solve every complex problem known to man?

I've thoroughly enjoyed this deep dive into music, and poetry.

Thanks to everyone for your posts.

Another good lyrics writer is John Hiatt.  His observations are quite keen and funny.

Any one of a dozen of Gordon Lighfoot songs. I think he’s amongst the best songwriters of all time.

Bob Dylan, With God On Our Side

Neil Young, After the Gold Rush

Led Zeppelin, Kashmir 

Willie Nelson, Always On My Mind 

"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" 

Joni Mitchell - Woman of Heart and Mind

You know the times you impress me most

Are the times when you don't try

When you don't even try...

 

Pink Floyd - Time

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

 

jimijam, 

You should have quoted from the Nilsson song that was not played on the radio when it was released:

"You're breaking my heart 

You'r tearing it apart

So FU."

Elvis Costello, "This Years Girl"

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

1978 at its very finest!

"Oh, I've seen the boredom and I've been on top,

but mostly I've lived in between,

and where do you go when you get to the end of your dream?"

Dan Fogelberg

 

Moondance by Van Morrison:

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

San Diego Serenade by Tom Waits:

 

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

Visions of Johanna by Bob Dylan:

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

Stella Blue by Robert Hunter:

All the years combine
They melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
From a guitar

In the end, there's just a song
It comes crying up the night
Through all the broken dreams
And vanished years

Stella Blue
Stella Blue

When all the cards are down
There's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
And broken dreams

In the end, there's still that song
Comes crying like the wind
Down every lonely street
That's ever been

Stella Blue
Stella Blue

I've stayed in every blue-light, cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just one more time
Gonna make them shine (shine)

It all rolls into one
And nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
For very long

And when you hear that song
Come crying like the wind
It seems like all this life
Was just a dream

Stella Blue
Stella Blue