We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
-Vera Lynn (and her songwriters)
Great Lyrics!
91-Vera Lynn (and her songwriters)
-Vera Lynn (and her songwriters)
Great Lyrics!
92Smog, Will Oldham and David Berman have always formed a sort of holy trinity of lyricists for me. They're all so goddamned good that I get the fear when in front of a blank sheet of paper if I as much as think of half their output.
Disorder - Will Oldham
It's Lisa, or Laura, I know not her real name
Which is probably pretty or something the same
With her I spoke under, and lived under fed
Without her I hang now, without her instead
We die many times, and each new infancy
Is a surprise ; that I have the tendencey
To look over when it suits me, and decry when not
When I am sailing, or when things go well
Where this vision of death comes, she always leaves
And I bury my head in my billowy sleeves
To marvel at how I must face my own fate
Or deny it, more likely, until it's too late
When I could have kept on at her, with her, inside of her
Instead of letting her weakness successfully hide her
Her weakness and mine, the death of us both
I was more violent, and she was more loath
To see in me a promise of what I could give
And I to see in her a reason to live
Which was past just a symbol of woman and luck
That I would never be lacking for something to fuck
And one to fuck over when things would decide
That it was once again time to go for a ride
We felt we must seize the weather, and never the whim
To be led by the other and not the whithin
Disorder - Will Oldham
It's Lisa, or Laura, I know not her real name
Which is probably pretty or something the same
With her I spoke under, and lived under fed
Without her I hang now, without her instead
We die many times, and each new infancy
Is a surprise ; that I have the tendencey
To look over when it suits me, and decry when not
When I am sailing, or when things go well
Where this vision of death comes, she always leaves
And I bury my head in my billowy sleeves
To marvel at how I must face my own fate
Or deny it, more likely, until it's too late
When I could have kept on at her, with her, inside of her
Instead of letting her weakness successfully hide her
Her weakness and mine, the death of us both
I was more violent, and she was more loath
To see in me a promise of what I could give
And I to see in her a reason to live
Which was past just a symbol of woman and luck
That I would never be lacking for something to fuck
And one to fuck over when things would decide
That it was once again time to go for a ride
We felt we must seize the weather, and never the whim
To be led by the other and not the whithin
Rick Reuben wrote:He went to bed about a decade ago, or whenever he sold his soul to the bankers and the elites.daniel robert chapman wrote:I think he's gone to bed, Rick.
Great Lyrics!
93bigc wrote:There's plenty more from Tom Waits that could go on here.
Tom Waits wrote:
They're lining up
To mad dog your tilta whirl
3 shots for a dollar
Win a real live doll
All the lies that you tell
I believed them so well. Take them back
Take them back to your red house
For that fearful leap into the dark
I did my time
In the jail of your arms
Now Ophelia wants to know
Where she should turn
Tell me...what did you do
What did you do the last time?
Why don't you do that
Go on ahead and take this the wrong way
Time's not your friend
Do you cry. Do you pray
Do you wish them away
Do you still leave nothing
But bones in the way
Did you bury the carnival
Lions and all
Excuse me while I sharpen my nails
And just who are you this time?
You look rather tired
(Who drinks from your shoe)
Are you pretending to love
Well I hear that it pays well
How do your pistol and your Bible and your
Sleeping pills go?
Are you still jumping out of windows in expensive clothes?
Well I fell in love
With your sailor's mouth and your wounded eyes
You better get down on the floor
Don't you know this is war
Tell me who are you this time?
Tell me who are you this time?
I've seen the bridges burning in the night.
Great Lyrics!
94Leonard Cohen wrote:
It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who
said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter
I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to
surrender
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild he'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
And then leaning on yourwindow sill
he'll say one day you caused his will
to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
an old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger.
But now another stranger seems
to want you to ignore his dreams
as though they were the burden of some other
Oh you've seen that man before
his golden arm dispatching cards
but now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.
Ah you hate to see another tired man lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
you notice there's a highwaythat is curling up like smoke
above his shoulder
It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder.
You tell him to come in sit down
but something makes you turn around
The door is open you can't close your shelter
You try the handle of the road
It opens do not be afraid
It's you my love, you who are the stranger
It's you my love, you who are the stranger.
Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
we'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
I think it's time to board another
Please understand, I never had a secret chart to get me to the
heart of this or any other matter
When he talks like this you don't know what he's after
When he speaks like this,you don't know what he's after.
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
upon the shore, beneath the bridge
that they are building on some endless river
Then he leaves the platform for the sleeping car that's warm
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
And you say ok the bridge or someplace later.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
...And leaning on your window sill
...I told you when I came I was a stranger.
I've seen the bridges burning in the night.
Great Lyrics!
95nobody has yet mentioned Dan Higgs of LUNGFISH
and also THE PUPILS, surely he has to be one of
thee most amazing lyricists alive.. his lyrics are
so obtuse his songs could be about ANYTHING..
I present, as my example, the song
"Vulgar Theories (cleave your head)"
which is on LUNGFISH "The Unanimous Hour"
there's a ghost in the womb
there's a womb in the brain
a brain in the soil
dissolving in the rain
rain upon the ocean face
a face on the palm of a human hand
a hand that swallows empty space
to nourish the time that we withstand
there's time enough to save and keep
to save the signs that rise in steep
to mimic the pigs and mimic the sheep
to marvel at the high and steep
there's a distance to the end
there's an end to distance's reach
reach to push to come to know
how to sow and what to reap
there are fruits that we have borne
gone rotting and unrecognized
recollect a memory
of sentient orbs in a sentient sky
there's a sky the faithful find
space that speaks to listening time
join and sunder - sever and bind
the junction of two parallel lines
there is a trace that is sought to seek
10,000 years pass in a week
lately it has become clear -
the weak are strong and the strong are weak
not to say that all is reversed
and not to say that all is cursed
not to disfgure and not to pervert:
PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE
and he's got a shitload more of 'em.. fuckin' INCREDIBLE.
screw you guys, I'm going home!
and also THE PUPILS, surely he has to be one of
thee most amazing lyricists alive.. his lyrics are
so obtuse his songs could be about ANYTHING..
I present, as my example, the song
"Vulgar Theories (cleave your head)"
which is on LUNGFISH "The Unanimous Hour"
there's a ghost in the womb
there's a womb in the brain
a brain in the soil
dissolving in the rain
rain upon the ocean face
a face on the palm of a human hand
a hand that swallows empty space
to nourish the time that we withstand
there's time enough to save and keep
to save the signs that rise in steep
to mimic the pigs and mimic the sheep
to marvel at the high and steep
there's a distance to the end
there's an end to distance's reach
reach to push to come to know
how to sow and what to reap
there are fruits that we have borne
gone rotting and unrecognized
recollect a memory
of sentient orbs in a sentient sky
there's a sky the faithful find
space that speaks to listening time
join and sunder - sever and bind
the junction of two parallel lines
there is a trace that is sought to seek
10,000 years pass in a week
lately it has become clear -
the weak are strong and the strong are weak
not to say that all is reversed
and not to say that all is cursed
not to disfgure and not to pervert:
PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE
and he's got a shitload more of 'em.. fuckin' INCREDIBLE.
screw you guys, I'm going home!
I don't have a girlfriend, but I know a girl who would get really mad at me if she heard me say that!
Great Lyrics!
96Randy Newman - so much good stuff, though a lot don't work just "on paper" - can't really explain why.
This is really good either way
The World Isn't Fair
When Karl Marx was a boy
he took a hard look around
He saw people were starving all over the place
while others were painting the town
The public spirited boy
became a public spirited man
So he worked very hard and he read everything
until he came up with a plan
There'll be no exploitation
of the worker or his kin
No discrimination 'cause of the color of your
skin
No more private property
It would not be allowed
No one could rise too high
No one could sink too low
or go under completely like some we all know
If Marx were living today
he'd be rolling around in his grave
And if I had him here in my mansion on the hill
I'd tell him a story t'would give his old heart
a chill
It's something that happened to me
I'd say, Karl I recently stumbled
into a new family
with two little children in school
where all little children should be
I went to the orientation
All the young mommies were there
Karl, you never have seen such a glorious sight
as these beautiful women arrayed for the night
just like countesses, empresses, movie stars and
queens
And they'd come there with men much like me
Froggish men, unpleasant to see
Were you to kiss one, Karl
Nary a prince would there be
Oh Karl the world isn't fair
It isn't and never will be
They tried out your plan
It brought misery instead
If you'd seen how they worked it
you'd be glad you were dead
just like I'm glad I'm living in the land of the
free
where the rich just get richer
and the poor you don't ever have to see
It would depress us, Karl
Because we care
that the world still isn't fair
This is really good either way
The World Isn't Fair
When Karl Marx was a boy
he took a hard look around
He saw people were starving all over the place
while others were painting the town
The public spirited boy
became a public spirited man
So he worked very hard and he read everything
until he came up with a plan
There'll be no exploitation
of the worker or his kin
No discrimination 'cause of the color of your
skin
No more private property
It would not be allowed
No one could rise too high
No one could sink too low
or go under completely like some we all know
If Marx were living today
he'd be rolling around in his grave
And if I had him here in my mansion on the hill
I'd tell him a story t'would give his old heart
a chill
It's something that happened to me
I'd say, Karl I recently stumbled
into a new family
with two little children in school
where all little children should be
I went to the orientation
All the young mommies were there
Karl, you never have seen such a glorious sight
as these beautiful women arrayed for the night
just like countesses, empresses, movie stars and
queens
And they'd come there with men much like me
Froggish men, unpleasant to see
Were you to kiss one, Karl
Nary a prince would there be
Oh Karl the world isn't fair
It isn't and never will be
They tried out your plan
It brought misery instead
If you'd seen how they worked it
you'd be glad you were dead
just like I'm glad I'm living in the land of the
free
where the rich just get richer
and the poor you don't ever have to see
It would depress us, Karl
Because we care
that the world still isn't fair
Great Lyrics!
97Two from one of my very favorites songwriters, Richard Thompson, from one of his very best albums, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.
First, "Withered And Died":
And last, "The Great Valerio":
If you don't own this album already, well, I think you have some shopping to do.
First, "Withered And Died":
This cruel country has driven me down
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
I've only sad stories to tell to this town
My dreams have withered and died
Once I was bending the tops of the trees
Kind words in my ear, kind faces to see
Then I struck up with a boy from the west
Played run and hide, played run and hide
Count one to ten and he's gone with the rest
My dreams have withered and died
Silver moon sail up and silver moon shine
On the waters so wide, waters so wide
Steal from the bed of some good friend of mine
My dreams are withered and died
If I was a butterfly, live for a day
I could be free, just blowing away
This cruel country has driven me down
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
I've only sad stories to tell to this town
My dreams have withered and died
And last, "The Great Valerio":
High up above the crowd
The great Valerio is walking
The rope seems hung from cloud to cloud
And time stands still while he is walking
His eye is steady on the target
His foot is sure upon the rope
Alone and peaceful as a mountain
And certain as the mountain slope
We falter at the sight
We stumble in the mire
Fools who think they see the light
Prepare to balance on the wire
But we learn to watch together,
And feed on what we see above
'Till our hearts turn like the seasons
And we are acrobats of love
How we wonder, how we wonder
Watching far below
We would all be that great hero
The great Valerio
Come all you upstart jugglers
Are you really ready yet?
Who will help the tightrope walker
When he tumbles to the net
So come with me to see Valerio
As he dances through the air
I'm your friend until you use me
And then be sure I won't be there
How we wonder, how we wonder
Watching far below
We would all be that great hero
The great Valerio
If you don't own this album already, well, I think you have some shopping to do.
"Everything should be kept. I regret everything I’ve ever thrown away." -- Richard Hell
Great Lyrics!
98Tortoise: In Sarah, Mencken, Christ And Beethoven There Were Women And Men.
in fact, many of my favorite songs have no lyrics
Tortoise wrote:
in fact, many of my favorite songs have no lyrics
Great Lyrics!
99I don't listen to them any more, but I always rated their (Richie Edward's) lyrics.
Manic Street Preachers, "Yes" :
Manic Street Preachers, "Yes" :
You can buy her, you can buy her
This one's here, this one's here, this one's here and this one's here
Ev'rything's for sale
For sale? dumb cunt's same dumb questions
Oh virgins? listen, all virgins are liars honey
And I don't know what I'm scared of or what I even enjoy
Dulling, get money, but nothing turns out like you want it to
And in these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For $200 anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so tear off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want
I eat and I dress and I wash and I still can say thank you
Puking - shaking - sinking I still stand for old ladies
Can't shout, can't scream, hurt myself to get pain out
I 'T' them, 24:7, all year long
Purgatory's circle, drowning here, someone will always say yes
Funny place for the social, for the insects to start caring
Just an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff
In these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For $200 anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so tear off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want, if you want
I eat and I dress and I wash and I can still say thank you
Puking - shaking - sinking I still stand for old ladies
Can't shout, can't scream, I hurt myself to get pain out
Power produces desire, the weak have none
There's no lust in this coma even for a fifty
Solitude, solitude, the 11th commandment
The only certain thing that is left about me
There is no part of my body that has not been used
Pity or pain, to show displeasure's shame
Everyone I've loved or hated always seems to leave
And in these plagued streets of pity you can buy anything
For $200 anyone can conceive a God on video
He's a boy, you want a girl so tear off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him, call him Rita if you want, if you want
Power produces desire, the weak have none
There's no lust in this coma even for a fifty
Solitude, solitude, the 11th commandment
Don't hurt, just obey, lie down, do as they say
May as well be heaven this hell, smells the same
These sunless afternoons I can't find myself
Great Lyrics!
100This chorus from a Clutch B-side has always struck me as particularly good:
"Build your ship and sail across the sea of flame.
Leviathans will guide you in, to where they say
Kings dig ditches, witches stitch in witches' time,
and proper paupers are of sound body and mind"
Perhaps it is because this lyric is coupled with one of the best riffs ever.
Some of Clutch's stuff is kind of 'meh' to me, but the whole rarities album called 'Slow Hole to China' sounds like pure gold in my opinion. I could never understand why the songs comprised by that record didn't make it onto their regular albums.
Also the Minutemen, Jesus and Tequila. Again, could be because these lyrics are delivered over some fucking badass music, but they seem pretty good to me:
I had a girl
she loved what she saw.
she loved me so good,
she made her daddy mad.
But my woman cried-
she's dead to me now
My woman ran off,
and i can't deny it.
my life-
jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
I had a job
It paid me good
i could have my fun
and tip the preacher too
but my boss yelled
he's dead to me now
my boss kicked me out
and i can't deny it
my life
Jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
you better listen to me,
cause i wanna tell you son-
don't give away your love,
don't give away your sweat.
because a girl can't know you,
and a boss can't afford you.
remember
jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
Man, that's just a good song right there.
"Build your ship and sail across the sea of flame.
Leviathans will guide you in, to where they say
Kings dig ditches, witches stitch in witches' time,
and proper paupers are of sound body and mind"
Perhaps it is because this lyric is coupled with one of the best riffs ever.
Some of Clutch's stuff is kind of 'meh' to me, but the whole rarities album called 'Slow Hole to China' sounds like pure gold in my opinion. I could never understand why the songs comprised by that record didn't make it onto their regular albums.
Also the Minutemen, Jesus and Tequila. Again, could be because these lyrics are delivered over some fucking badass music, but they seem pretty good to me:
I had a girl
she loved what she saw.
she loved me so good,
she made her daddy mad.
But my woman cried-
she's dead to me now
My woman ran off,
and i can't deny it.
my life-
jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
I had a job
It paid me good
i could have my fun
and tip the preacher too
but my boss yelled
he's dead to me now
my boss kicked me out
and i can't deny it
my life
Jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
you better listen to me,
cause i wanna tell you son-
don't give away your love,
don't give away your sweat.
because a girl can't know you,
and a boss can't afford you.
remember
jesus and tequila
i'm satisfied
and i can't deny it
Man, that's just a good song right there.
Last edited by matthias beebe_Archive on Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:12 am, edited 2 times in total.