[fikete]

Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead) - The Attics of My Life


In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal.
Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.
When there was no ear to hear, you sang to me.

I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung.
Bent my ear to hear the tune, and closed my eyes to see.
When there was no strings to play, you played to me.

In the book of love's own dream, where all the print is blood.
Where all the pages are my days, and all the lights grow old.
When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me, you flew to me.

In the secret space of dreams, where I dreaming lay amazed.
When the secrets all are told, and the petals all unfold.
When there was no dream of mine, you dreamed of me

 

[Jasper994]

Jewel - Pieces of You

She's an ugly girl, does it make you want to kill her?
She's an ugly girl, do you want to kick in her face?
She's an ugly girl, she doesn't pose a threat.
She's an ugly girl, does she make you feel safe?
Ugly girl, ugly girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
She's a pretty girl, does she make you think nasty thoughts?
She's a pretty girl, do you want to tie her down?
She's a pretty girl, do you call her a bitch?
She's a pretty girl, did she sleep with your whole town?
Pretty girl, pretty girl, do you hate her
'Cause she's pieces of you?
You say he's a fagg*t, does it make you want to hurt him?
You say he's a fagg*t, do you want to bash in his brain?
You say he's a fagg*t, does he make you sick to our stomach?
You say he's a fagg*t, are you afraid you're just the same?
Fagg*t, Fagg*t, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?
You say he's a Jew, does it me that he's tight?
You say he's a Jew, do you want to hurt his kids tonight?
You say he's a Jew, he'll never wear that funny hat again.
You say he's a Jew, as though being born were a sin.
Oh Jew, oh Jew, do you hate him
'Cause he's pieces of you?


Jewel - Fat Boy

Fat boy goes to the pool
See his reflection, doesn't know what to do
He feels little inside and filled with pride
Oh, fragile flame
No one sees the same
fat boy goes about his day
Trying to think of funny things to say
Like, "This is just a game I play"
And "I like me this way"
Oh, fragile flame
When no one feels the same
Hush, sleep, don't think, just eat
You daddy's little boy
You mama's pride and joy
You know they love ya
But not because they hold ya
Fat boy says "Wouldn't it be nice
If I could melt myself like ice
Or outrun my skin and just be pure wind"
Oh, fragile flame
Sometimes I feel the same


Garth Brooks - Thicker Than Blood

She was born in Kansas City, raised in Arkansas
Fell in love with an "ex-Marine"
She already had three babies; he had one of his own
They came together for another and me

Our family never shared the same last name
But our family was a family the same
(And they say) Blood is thicker than water
Oh, but love is thicker than blood

Wreck out on the highway, rain falling down
Lord, he must have fell asleep at the wheel
There's a number of people just standing around
Lord, I can't condemn the fear that they feel

For that river of red could be the death of me
God, give me strength and keep reminding me
That blood is thicker than water
Oh, but love is thicker than blood

And if blood is thicker that water
Then what are we fighting for
We're all sons and daughters
Of something that means so much more

I see it on my TV but i can't understand
Lord, it's one big contradiction to me
How in God's name we love thy neighbor with fists
in our hands
And kill each other when we just don't agree

Why can't we see the walls we can't see through
And see what God's been telling me and you
(and that is) Blood is thicker than water
Oh, but love, love is thicker than blood

She was born in Kansas City, raised in Arkansas
Fell in love with an "ex-Marine"


Garth Brooks - The Dance

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance


Live - Lightning Crashes

lightning crashes, a new mother cries
her placenta falls to the floor
the angel opens her eyes
the confusion sets in
before the doctor can even close the door

lightning crashes, an old mother dies
her intentions fall to the floor
the angel closes her eyes
the confusion that was hers
belongs now, to the baby down the hall

oh now feel it comin' back again
like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
forces pullin' from the center of the earth again
I can feel it.

lightning crashes, a new mother cries
this moment she's been waiting for
the angel opens her eyes
pale blue colored iris,
presents the circle
and puts the glory out to hide, hide


Peter Cetera - Have You Ever Been in Love?

In the morning light
Half awake and half asleep
Have you ever laid there thinking
Was it all a dream?
But you reach out and she’s there
Every moment, everywhere
Have you ever been in love?

Have you ever felt
How far a heart can fall
Have you ever stayed up waiting
For a telephone call
Just to hear her say hello
’cause you miss each other so
Have you ever been in love?

Have there been times to laugh
And times you really want to cry
Finding reasons to believe her
’cause you’d die a little if she lied
And when in times of doubt
Have you ever tried to work it out
But still she leaves you wondering
What it’s all about

And when she’s far away
Have you ever felt the need to stray
And tried and then discovered
It just doesn’t pay
’cause with her, you can be true
And with her, you can be you
Have you ever been in love?

Have there been times to laugh
And times you really want to cry
Finding reasons to believe her
’cause you’d die a little if she lied
And when in times of doubt
Have you ever tried to work it out
But still she leaves you wondering
What it’s all about

And when the night comes down
Can you call your house a home
Do you dream you’re still together
And wake up alone
Have you ever been in love
The way that I’m in love
Have you ever been in love?


Eminem - Who Knew

I never knew I..
I never knew I..
Mic check one-two
I never knew I..
Who woulda knew?
I never knew I..
Who'da known?
I never knew I..
**** would've thought
I never knew I..
Mother****er comes out
I never knew I..
and sells a couple of million records
I never knew I..
And these mother****ers hit the ceiling
I never knew I..

[Eminem]
I don't do black music, I don't do white music
I make fight music, for high school kids
I put lives at risk when I drive like this {*tires screech*}
I put wives at risk with a knife like this (AHHH!!)
****, you probably think I'm in your tape deck now
I'm in the back seat of your truck, with duct tape stretched out
Ducked the **** way down, waitin to straight jump out
put it over your mouth, and grab you by the face, what now?
Oh - you want me to watch my mouth, how?
Take my ****in eyeballs out, and turn em around?
Look - I'll burn your ****in house down, circle around
and hit the hydrant, so you can't put your burning furniture out
(Oh my God! Oh my God!) I'm sorry, there must be a mix-up
You want me to fix up lyrics while the President gets his **** sucked?
[*ewwww*] **** that, take *****, **** *****
Make fun of gay clubs, men who wear make-up
Get aware, wake up, get a sense of humor
Quit tryin to censor music, this is for your kid's amusement
(The kids!) But don't blame me when lil' Eric jumps off of the terrace
You shoulda been watchin him - apparently you ain't parents

[Chorus: Eminem]

Cause I never knew I, knew I would get this big
I never knew I, knew I'd effect this kid
I never knew I'd, get him to slit his wrist
I never knew I'd, get him to hit this bitch
I never knew I, knew I would get this big
I never knew I, knew I'd effect this kid
I never knew I'd, get him to slit his wrist
I never knew I'd, get him to hit this bitch

[Eminem]
So who's bringin the guns in this country? (Hmm?)
I couldn't sneak a plastic pellet gun through customs over in London
And last week, I seen a Schwarzaneggar movie
where he's shootin all sorts of these mother****ers with a uzi
I sees three little kids, up in the front row,
screamin "Go," with their 17-year-old Uncle
I'm like, "Guidance - ain't they got the same moms and dads
who got mad when I asked if they liked violence?"
And told me that my tape taught 'em to swear
What about the make-up you allow your 12-year-old daughter to wear?
(Hmm?) So tell me that your son doesn't know any cuss words
when his bus driver's screamin at him, ****in him up worse
("Go sit the **** down, you little ****in *****!")
And **** was the first word I ever learned
up in the third grade, flippin the gym teacher the bird (Look!)
So read up, about how I used to get beat up
peed on, be on free lunch, and change school every 3 months
My life's like kinda what my wife's like (what?)
****ed up after I beat her ****in ass every night, Ike
So how much easier would life be
if 19 million mother****ers grew to be just like me?

[Chorus]

[Eminem]
I never knew I.. knew I'd..
have a new house or a new car
A couple years ago I was more poorer than you are
I don't got that bad of a mouth, do I?
**** **** ass bitch ****, shooby-de-doo-wop (what?)
Skibbedy-be-bop, a-Christopher Reeves
Sonny Bono, skis horses and hittin some trees (HEY!)
How many retards'll listen to me
and run up in the school shootin when they're pissed at a
teach-er, her, him, is it you is it them?
"Wasn't me, Slim Shady said to do it again!"
Damn! How much damage can you do with a pen?
Man I'm just as ****ed up as you woulda been
if you woulda been, in my shoes, who woulda thought
Slim Shady would be somethin that you woulda bought
that woulda made you get a gun and shoot at a cop
I just said it - I ain't know if you'd do it or not

[Chorus]

[Eminem]
How the **** was I supposed to know?

 

[unholyB0B]

King Missle
Detachable Penis:

I woke up this morning with a bad hangover and my penis was missing again. This happens all the time; it's detachable. This comes in handy a lot of the time; I can leave it home when I think it's gonna get me in trouble, or I can rent it out when I don't need it. But now and then I go to a party, get drunk, and the next morning, I can't, for the life of me, remember what I did with it. First I looked around my apartment, and I couldn't find it, so I called up the place hwere the party was, they hadn't seen it either. I asked them to check the medicine cabinet , 'ccause for some reason, I leave it there sometimes, but no this time.
So I told them if it pops up to let me know. I called a few people who were at the party, but they were no help either.
I was starting to get desperate I really don't like being without my penis for too long. It makes me feel like less of a man, and I really hate having to sit down every time I take a leak.

After a few hours of searching the house, and calling everyone I could think of, I was starting to get very depressed, so I went to the Kiev and ate breakfast. Then as I walked down Second Avenue, toward St Mark's Place, where all those people sell used books and other junk on the street, I saw my penis lying on a blanket next to a broken toaster oven - some guy was selling it! I had to but it off him. He wanted 22 bucks, but I talked him down to 17. I took it home, washed it off, and put it back on. I was happy again: complete. People sometimes tell me I should get it permanently attached, but I don't know. Even though sometimes it's a pain in the ass, I like having a detachable penis.

 

[Girdag]

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Quote:

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell Blue skies from pain Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell? And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? How I wish, how I wish you were here We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year Running over the same old ground What have we found? The same old fears Wish you were here

Genesis - The Carpet Crawlers

Quote:

There is lambswool under my naked feet. The wool is soft and warm, - gives off some kind of heat. A salamander scurries into flame to be destroyed. Imaginary creatures are trapped in birth on celluloid. The fleas cling to the golden fleece, Hoping they'll find peace. Each thought and gesture are caught in celluloid. There's no hiding in my memory. There's no room to avoid. The crawlers cover the floor in the red ochre corridor. For my second sight of people, they've more lifeblood than before. They're moving in time to a heavy wooden door, Where the needle's eye is winking, closing in on the poor. The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out." There's only one direction in the faces that I see; It's upward to the ceiling, where the chamber's said to be. Like the forest fight for sunlight, that takes root in every tree. They are pulled up by the magnet, believing they're free. The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out." Mild mannered supermen are held in kryptonite, And the wise and foolish virgins giggle with their bodies glowing bright. Through a door a harvest feast is lit by candlelight; It's the bottom of a staircase that spirals out of sight. The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out." The porcelain mannikin with shattered skin fears attack. The eager pack lift up their pitchers - they carry all they lack. The liquid has congealed, which has seeped out through the crack, And the tickler takes his stickleback. The carpet crawlers heed their callers: "We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out We've got to get in to get out."

From the same album

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Quote:

And the lamb lies down on broadway. Early morning manhattan, Ocean winds blow on the land. Movie-palace is now undone, The all-night watchmen have had their fun. Sleeping cheaply on the midnight show, It’s the same old ending - time to go. Get out! It seems they cannot leave their dream. There’s something moving in the sidewalk steam, And the lamb lies down on broadway. Nightime’s flyers feel their pains. Drugstore take down the chains. Metal motion comes in bursts, The gas station can quench that thirst. Suspension cracked on unmade road The trucker’s eyes read ’overload’ And out on the subway, Rael imperial aerosol kid Exits into daylight, spraygun hid, And the lamb lies down on broadway. The lamb seems right out of place, Yet the broadway street scene finds a focus in it’s face. Somehow it’s lying there, Brings a stillness to the air. Though man-made light, at night is very bright, There’s no whitewash victim, As the neons dim, to the coat of white. Rael imperial aerosol kid Wipes his gun - he’s forgotten what he did, And the lamb lies down on broadway. Suzanne tired her work all done, Thinks money - honey - be on - neon. Cabman’s velvet glove sounds the horn And the sawdust king spits out his scorn. Wonder women you can draw your blind! Don’t look at me! I’m not your kind. I’m Rael! Something inside me has just begun, Lord knows what I have done, And the lamb lies down on broadway. On broadway

King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

Quote:

The rusted chains of prison moons Are shattered by the sun. I walk a road, horizons change The tournament’s begun. The purple piper plays his tune, The choir softly sing; Three lullabies in an ancient tongue, For the court of the crimson king. The keeper of the city keys Put shutters on the dreams. I wait outside the pilgrim’s door With insufficient schemes. The black queen chants The funeral march, The cracked brass bells will ring; To summon back the fire witch To the court of the crimson king. The gardener plants an evergreen Whilst trampling on a flower. I chase the wind of a prism ship To taste the sweet and sour. The pattern juggler lifts his hand; The orchestra begin. As slowly turns the grinding wheel In the court of the crimson king. On soft gray mornings widows cry The wise men share a joke; I run to grasp divining signs To satisfy the hoax. The yellow jester does not play But gentle pulls the strings And smiles as the puppets dance In the court of the crimson king.

Prog is generally brilliant for lyrics, and those are some of my favourites.

 

[Enverxis]

So hard to choose

the albums I have with the best lyrics are

Tristania - Widow's Weeds, Beyond the Veil, World of Glass
Theatre of Tragedy - Theatre of Tragedy, Velvet Darkness they Fear, Aegis
Epica - The Phantom Agony
Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer
Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
Therion - Secret of the Runes
VAST - Visual Audio Sensory Theatre
Draconian - Arcane Rain Fell
Autumn Tears - Eclipse

best songs from those (in no order)

Tristania - Midwintertears

Theatre of Tragedy - ...A Distance There Is...

Theatre of Tragedy - And When He Falleth

Epica - Cry for the Moon

Alice in Chains - Dont Follow

Draconian - Death, Come Near Me

Ambeon - Sweet Little Brother

 

[catachresis]

The Magnetic Fields - "Absolutely Cuckoo"

Don't fall in love with me yet --
We only recently met.
True, I'm in love with you, but
You might decide I'm a nut.
Give me a week or two to
Go absolutely cuckoo,
Then, when you see your error,
Then, you can flee in terror
Like everybody else does.
I only tell you this 'cause
I'm easy to get rid of
But not if we fall in love.
Know now that I'm on the make,
And if you make a mistake,
My heart will certainly break --
I'll have to jump in a lake,
And all my friends will blame you.
There's no telling what they'll do.
It's only fair to tell you:
I'm absolutely cuckoo.

- Everybody's got his/her favourite clutch of lyrical songs, and that's great. We're all mostly a tolerant and supportive bunch, so if I were to go into a Best of Classical Music thread and honestly say that the score from the movie E.T. - The Extraterrestrial was the best orchestral work ever composed, people would be considerate and gently suggest that I consider some other pieces. If I were to tell Rap aficionados that nobody matches the excellence of Vanilla Ice, I think people would be careful in challenging me, lest they demolished a burgeoning interest. But fans of classical music will strongly recommend that I broaden and refine my understanding of orchestral music, just as Rap fans will assert that I really need to raise my game before I start vaunting the excellence of Vanilla Ice.

This is in preface to a suggestion that people who feel they care about lyrics and the meanings of lyrics should check out a good, basic, but incisive introduction to poetry. Just as classical and rap musics require educated ears, appreciation of lyrics is heightened by a more nuanced understanding of writing and reading verse.

I highly recommend James Fenton's An Introduction to English Poetry as a place to start. He discusses the musical element of verse in detail and discusses blues and librettos, as well as the traditional spoken versions.

[P.S. The Beat Movement had its own peculiar strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, I think that people who praise Bob Dylan as a great poet don't care much for poetry. Sometimes I think that.]

 

[Budley007]

Rush - "YYZ" (The live version)

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omedon Pet Sounds

i was just listening to this on my walk to work and marveling at how insipid and saccharine most of the lyrics are. fantastic music, dated words.

just for snits and giggles i'll submit:

Frank Zappa - "Dinah Moe Humm"

the lyrics are not reprintable here. feel free to google.

 

[Coltrane]

Jewel and Garth Brooks? To each his own, but WOW. I mean, really.

Obviously the first 5,000 best lyrics will all be Dylan, really one of the VERY few rock lyricists who are legitimate poets.

But any lyric thread that doesnt mention Tom Waits would be a travesty of epic proportions.

Quote:

Tom Waits - Cold Cold Ground Crest fallen sidekick in an old cafe never slept with a dream before he had to go away there's a bell in the tower Uncle Ray bought a round don't worry about the army in the cold cold ground now don't be a cry baby when there's wood in the shed there's a bird in the chimmney and a stone in my bed when the road's washed out they pass the bottle around and wait in the arms of the cold cold ground cold cold ground there's a ribbon in the willow and a tire swing rope and a briar patch of berries takin over the slope the cat'll sleep in the mailbox and we'll never go to town til we bury every dream in the cold cold ground cold cold ground gimme a Winchester rifle and a whole box of shells blow the roof off the goat barn let it roll down the hill the piano is firewood times square is a dream I find we'll lay down together in the cold cold ground cold cold ground cold cold ground call the cops on the Breedloves bring a bible and a rope and a whole box of rebel and a bar of soap make a pile of trunk tires and burn 'em all down bring a dollar with you baby in the cold cold ground cold cold ground take a weathervane rooster throw rocks at his head stop talking to the neighbors til we all go dead beware of my temper and the dog that I've found break all the windows in the cold cold ground cold cold ground

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coltrane Jewel and Garth Brooks? To each his own, but WOW. I mean, really. Obviously the first 5,000 best lyrics will all be Dylan, really one of the VERY few rock lyricists who are legitimate poets. But any lyric thread that doesnt mention Tom Waits would be a travesty of epic proportions.

Guess so, the lyrics to your song don't do anything for me... "blow the roof off the goat barn" oh yeah, what inspiring lyrics...

(see I can be a jerk too)

Seriously though, if you like it, that's cool. You're entitled to find meaning in whatever works for you.

I picked the songs I picked because they have a message, make a statement I can relate to, or otherwise have special meaning to me. You're entitled to your own opinions, and can like or dislike whatever you want. Trivializing other people's thoughts and opinions is just being an ass!

 

[titaniumx3]

For me the best sung lyrics I've ever heard has to be King Crimsons "Islands". I'm a complete newbie when it comes to early prog rock but this track just sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Its ability to draw images, thoughts and emotions in my mind is second to none.

Quote:

Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea Waves sweep the sand from my island. My sunsets fade. Field and glade wait only for rain Grain after grain love erodes my High weathered walls which fend off the tide Cradle the wind to my island. Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide Mournfully glide o'er my island. My dawn bride's veil, damp and pale, Dissolves in the sun. Love's web is spun - cats prowl, mice run Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes Violet skies Touch my island, Touch me. Beneath the wind turned wave Infinite peace Islands join hands 'Neathe heaven's sea. Dark harbour quays like fingers of stone Hungrily reach from my island. Clutch sailor's words - pearls and gourds Are strewn on my shore. Equal in love, bound in circles. Earth, stream and tree return to the sea Waves sweep sand from my island, from me.

 

[Bunnyears]

This comes from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It's slipped in when Nellie is agonizing about her love for Emile after she has found out that he had a "native" wife who died and has two small mixed race children whom he dearly loves. It reflected all of the attitudes towards interracial marriage which was illegal in at least half the states of the USA at that time. She is talking about it with another Southerner, the Lieutenant (Joseph Cable, USMC) who has fallen in love with the daughter of "Bloody" Mary, the woman who runs the island's black market. This is the song he answers her with:

You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
you've got to be taught from year to year,
it's got to be drummed in your dear little ear---
you've got to be carefully taught!

You've got to be taught to be afraid
of people whose eyes are oddly made,
and people whose skin is a different shade---
you've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
before you are six or seven or eight,
to hate all the people you relatives hate---
you've got be carefully taught!

 

[ameyer17]

Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Quote:

Everybody must get stoned

 

[CookieFactory]

Something Corporate - Konstantine
Vanessa Carlton - White Houses

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coltrane But any lyric thread that doesnt mention Tom Waits would be a travesty of epic proportions.

i'll second that:

Quote:

Frank's Wild Years Frank settled down out in the Valley, Hung his wild years on a nail that he drove through his wife's forehead. He sold used office furniture out there on San Fernando Road, assumed a $30,000 loan at 15 and a quarter percent, Put a down payment on a little two bedroom place. His wife was a spent piece of used jet trash, made good bloody marys kept her mouth shut most of the time; She had a little Chihuahua named Carlos that had some kind of skin disease and was totally blind. They had a thoroughly modern kitchen, self-cleaning oven, the whole bit. Frank drove a little sedan. They were so happy. One night Frank was on his way home from work, stopped at the liquor store picked up a couple Mickey's Big Mouths, drank 'em in the car on his way to the Shell station. He got a gallon of gas in a can, drove home, doused everything in the house, torched it. Parked across the street, laughing, watching it burn, all Halloween orange and chimney red. Then Frank put on a top 40 station, got on the Hollywood Freeway and headed north. Never could stand that dog.