Best lyrics you've ever read (written)?

Ok, good lyricists that nobody mentioned so far:

Brad Roberts, of Crash Test Dummies.
He writes 3 minute novels. Amazing.
"I've got my wisdom teeth, two up top, two beneath. Yet I recognize, my mouth sais things that aren't so wise". :-)

Grant Lee Philips of Grant Lee Buffalo. not always good, but when he is good he is utterly amazing. especially when he makes biblical refereneces, like in "Lone Star Song" (about the Branch Davidian sect, and "Betlehem Steel".
"There was a light blue as welder's torch
It used to shine over the fiels
And all the wise men,strong men were drawn for miles
Followed a star to Bethlehem steel"


Personally I like to play with words when I write lyrics.
"She was his drug, the one he abused
The abstinence still is more than he need
he thinks that he might have OD'd"

"You may think there is no justice
while you hope that you're not right
but do you know what just is?
just barely, but not quite."


[This message has been edited by regebro (edited 06-29-2000).]
 
I would have to say Steve Walsh(Kansas) is a Great writer "Lonely Wind" would have to be one of my favorites

When I'm needin' a friend I talk to the wind
God I sure am glad that I found him
Sometimes he seems to be the only one beside me
Who can feel the Lord breath all around him
Winter's cold frozen ice or a brilliant Autumn day
On a warm summer night you can hear him say

Chorus:
Cry for me,sigh for me,sad breezes flow
Stay for me, play for me,the song my friends will know
My lonely Wind must blow

Mighty friend that is mine,can you give me a sign?
He'll leave nothing but only to hear him
I've seen the tall trees bend low when his mighty winds blow
And that's all the more reason I fear him
Hear him call for the earth lonely I can feel his great pain
But on the eve of this great day I'll join in his refrain

Repeat chorus}

When I'm needing a friend I'll remember the wind
And my life here with the breezes of sorrow
I'll be leaving him soon' cause I've got to make room
For the lonely that will find him tomorrow
On a black stormy night in you bosom I cling
And I'll know I've found love and the last song we'll sing

chorus....my lonley wind-my lonely-my lonely must blow .

OH there are many others that he has written that I enjoy. I also think Don Henley is a great song writer.These are just from the top of my head .Bob Dylan is a great song writer his vocals I can do with out though (just my opinion :)
 
Richard Thompson has some great lyrics:

'Red hair and black leather,
That's my favourite colour scheme'


"I thought she was saying Good Luck',
She was saying Goodbye"

"Oh Missy, how you let me down,
And lies won't break my fall"

and lots more.

foo
 
How about Don Henley both with the Eagles, and solo. That guy's lyrics just kill me:
check out

In a New York Minute
All she wants to do is Dance
Hotel California,
and one of my favourite lines from
If dirt were dollars:
"She just looked at me,
uncomprehendingly,
like cows in a passing train"
This guy conjures up complete scenes with just a few lines..

Gord
 
Hey, Shana..

Manic Monday was written by Prince...BTW.

How about this lyric?

"The hand of God wears a ring about the size of Texas"

from some Soundgarden song...
 
I once went to see this person in concert who was rumored to be the worlds best lyricist. He just stood there and didn't sing a word. Those were the best lyrics I ever heard.
 
dunno if they have been said...
but blink 182 - family reunion...

shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cock-sucker, mother-fucker, tits, fart, turd and twat...
(repeat 3 times)
 
Everything off the Verve's Urban Hyms...
Richard Ashcroft - Amazing!

Oh yeah, The Catherine Wheel definately gets an honorable mention for their first 3 albums.

Noel Gallagher of course.

My new favorite is "The Bear" off the new Tragically Hip's "Music @work". Gord Downie(vocalist/writter) combines his rants(for lack of a better word) from their performance at Woodstock 99. Amazing fluid poetry! ("by the time I saw your flame, it was all over for you and whats his name")
 
more obscure...

Man, most of you guys have really boring taste. How about some lesser-known bands...
Smog- good creepy lyrics : "It happens on a sidestreet maybe, it happens on a main street maybe, lion bites zebra neck, zebra stomps lion head." "I root for the underdog, no matter who they are, like the bankrobber in a getaway car."
Vic Chesnutt- funny and sad at the same time: "Dogs are barking, birds are chirping, the only thing better is if I were squirting." "I'm a sorry sorry knight in a horrible castle, hoping to avoid certain societal hassles." more and more, they are all awesome.
The Dismemberment Plan- the best band in the world, no shit.: "Nothing's wrong, feel fine, I've realized I just don't like jokes." "Survey says it was a bad idea in the first place, never been that drunk in my life as I got down on my hands and knees to ask to be my husband...or wife, two days later, still coughing up blood, I sat down to write this letter, with a clearer head and a heart full of lead."
Oh yeah, and that Bonnie Prince Billy (Will Oldham) line that someone was trying to quote earlier is: "Death to everyone, is gonna come, it makes hosing much more fun."
Yeah.
 
Lyle Lovett

How could you not love a line like this:

"honey put down that flyswatter and bring me some icewater" ---- Lyle Lovett
 
Jackson Browne......

....
SLEEP'S DARK AND SILENT GATE

Sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder.
Where my life will lead me.
Waiting to pass under
Sleeps dark and silent gate.


....
YOUR BRIGHT BABY BLUES

I'm sitting down by the highway
Down by that highway side
Everybody's going somewhere
Riding just as fast as they can ride
I guess they've got a lot to do
Before they can rest assured
Their lives are justified
Pray to God for me baby
He can let me slide

'Cause I've been up and down this highway
Far as my eyes can see
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
No matter where I am
I can't help feeling I'm just a day away
From where I want to be
Now I'm running home baby
Like a river to the sea
 
Newest entry for best lyrics comes from Mudvayne:
Let me help you tie the rope around your neck
Let me help you jump the wrong way off a ledge
Let me help you hold the gun against your head
Let me help you tie the rope around your neck
 
What about Zappa? From memory...

"Girls from all over the world
Flock to write my name on the toilet walls
...
My dick is a monster
Give me your heart
My dick is a harley
You kick it to start
What if it speaks? The heavens will part!"

I also think Kurt Cobain was extremely talented, though I'll probably get hell for saying it...

"I'm so happy
Cause today I found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly
But that's ok, 'cause so are you
We've broke our mirrors
Sunday morning
Is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared
Light my candles
In a daze 'cause I've found god

I'm so lonely
That's ok, I shaved my head
And I'm not sad
And just maybe
I'm to blame for all I've heard
And I'm not sure
I'm so excited
I can't wait to meet you there
And I dont' care
I'm so horny but
That's ok, my will is good

I like it
I'm not gonna crack
I miss you
I'm not gonna crack
I love you
I'm not gonna crack
I killed you
I'm not gonna crack
"

Slackmaster 2000
 
Ok, In contemporary brazilian music, the late Renato Russo from Legião Urbana could not be beaten. In english there are many, from Dylan to Morrissey to Lloyd Cole. One of my favorites, however, is Paul Simmonds, the main songwriter of the british band The Men They Couldn't Hang. This is one of his best lyrics from their album Domino Club. Trust me, not only are the lyrics great, the arrangement is beautiful, with a crescendo that matches the lyric content.

Will C.:cool:


Billy Morgan (Simmonds/TMTCH)


Morgan, the man with no tan, comes in, on the midday train.
Takes a room in the pensionne down by the beach.
Unwraps his pistol, counts out the bullets beside it.
Four bullets, two men. It's certain with two bullets each.

Down in the town the old men sit round by the harbor.
Watch as the tourists break all etiquette in the bars
At twilight the festival starts with a feast in the Plaza.
It's followed by music, wine, fireworks and cigars.

Twilight arrives. The streets come alive.
The Mayor and the Chief watch it begin.
A girl on a bike turns very businesslike
Leave fifty grand and a pardon for the sin.

Chorus:

So it's goodbye, Billy Morgan,
Known from Amsterdam to Tripoli.
You can taste your death in ev'ry silent breath
Fear the curse, thought the enemy.


On Morgan's cheap TV, the ministers agree at the summit.
In the room straight above, there's a couple making love with a cheer
Out across the water, the statue of Christ throws a shadow.
It falls across the city, to the window of the volunteer.

On the Avenue de France, a beggar does a dance.
sells 'chocolate' to the marching band in masks.
The Guardia Civil get a tip about a kill
Morgan doubts but no one's out to ask

Chorus:

So it's goodbye, Billy Morgan,
Known from Amsterdam to Tripoli.
You can taste your death in ev'ry silent breath
Fear the curse, thought the enemy.

The Festival's begun. Morgan tucks his gun inside his jacket.
Walks toward the plaza singing 'Boys of the old brigade'
Is followed by a rifle, confronted by the guards at a corner
Lifts his hands like the statue and dies... in the fusilade.

Now the gunfire's heard, someone gives the word.
Fireworks crash, the marching band turns right
Someone in a mask throws a bomb, does the task.
Rides off with the girl in the back of a motorbike.

Chorus:

So it's goodbye, Billy Morgan,
Known from Amsterdam to Tripoli.
You can taste your death in ev'ry silent breath
Fear the curse, thought the enemy.


[Edited by Big Wheel on 08-16-2000 at 17:31]
 
I didn't even glance at every page at this post, but I'll throw in my two bits.

Some of the top lyrics I've ever read/heard in my life are by:

Glen Phillips

and

Chris Cornell


There's a song with which Toad the Wet Sprocket closes their final record, Coil(before P.S. A Toad Retrospective) that is called, "All Things In Time".

Call me up when you need
Strangers often deceive
And there's something so freeing
To call out a name
And someone's believing
I've been changing my mind
Through with looking behind
It's a crash course in life
The best you can do is pass by,
No getting out alive

I'll hold a light for you to see
All things in time, all you'll ever need

Something I can't explain
Keeps me running, afraid
And every day
Looks me in the face and says,
"Who'd you think you were, anyway?"

If you'll hold a light for me to see
All things in time, all we'll ever need

Well, you told me so
That we'd seen this all before
So, what keeps us coming back for more?

I'll hold a light for you to see
All things in time, all you'll ever need
All things in time, all we'll ever need

(end)

As for Chris Cornell... This man is a finely tuned vocalist as well as a lyricist. I do love the lyrics to "Preaching The End Of The World" and "Sweet Euphoria" on Euphoria Morning. The man is a genius.

By the way, the emotional quality these writers put into their words when they sing is astounding.
 
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