Under-rated Lyricists

  • Thread starter Thread starter LimoWreck
  • Start date Start date
Soulseek is the ONLY program for downloading music, as far as I'm concerned.

Now that I've done my part, you should do yours by checking out The Weakerthans and Sparklehorse....Mark Lanegan (front-man of Screaming Tree's) has around 5 or 6 solo albums which are all AWESOME and well worth checking out!

Enjoy! :D
 
Barthoque...


That sounds really cool. I've never heard of him before. His lyrics remind me of Tom Waits.

Also have to include Tom Waits in this list. If you aren't familiar with him, he is a God if you are into lyricism. I highly recommend him to anyone. "Burma Shave" "Blue Valentines" "Clap Hands" There are just too many great songs by him to mention even a fraction of them.

And my favorite:


Cold, Cold Ground
Tome Waits

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

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

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 (oh my god, I LOVE that line)
I find we'll lay down together in the 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

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
 
LimoWreck - If you're a Waits fan, you'd like "Dog Door", by Sparklehorse...Tom Waits sings on that track. The song doesn't define their sound, though.
 
Koroshiya... Never heard of Dog Door, but I will check it out as soon as I can get the p2p downloaded. Their website is having problems.
 
Limowreck...

I've you've never heard of Nick Cave go check him out. I think Murder Ballads, Live Seeds, Henry's Dream and The Boatmans call are his best albums, they are all in my 'most-played top 10'.

I'm certainly familiar with Tom Waits. (Pssst....Sometimes, when no one can hear me, I try playing his songs on my old piano.... It sounds awefull, only he can make these lyrics sound right).
To end the Tom Waits-adoration, here's one of my favourites:

Invitation to the blues - Tom Waits

Well she's up against the register with an apron and a spatula,
Yesterday's deliveries, tickets for the bachelors
She's a moving violation from her conk down to her shoes,
Well, it's just an invitation to the blues

And you feel just like Cagney, she looks like Rita Hayworth
At the counter of the Schwab's drugstore
You wonder if she might be single, she's a loner and likes to mingle
Got to be patient, try and pick up a clue

She said "How you gonna like 'em, over medium or scrambled?",
You say "Anyway's the only way", be careful not to gamble
On a guy with a suitcase and a ticket getting out of here
It's a tired bus station and an old pair of shoes
This ain't nothing but an invitation to the blues

But you can't take your eyes off her, get another cup of java,
It's just the way she pours it for you, joking with the customers
Mercy mercy, Mr. Percy, there ain't nothing back in Jersey
But a broken-down jalopy of a man I left behind
And the dream that I was chasing, and a battle with booze
And an open invitation to the blues

But she used to have a sugar daddy and a candy-apple Caddy,
And a bank account and everything, accustomed to the finer things
He probably left her for a socialite, and he didn't 'cept at night,
And then he's drunk and never even told her that her cared
So they took the registration, and the car-keys and her shoes
And left her with an invitation to the blues

'Cause there's a Continental Trailways leaving local bus tonight, good evening
You can have my seat, I'm sticking round here for a while
Get me a room at the Squire, the filling station's hiring,
And I can eat here every night, what the hell have I got to lose?
Got a crazy sensation, go or stay? now I gotta choose,
And I'll accept your invitation to the blues
 
I love "Invitation to the Blues"!!!! :)

I can play Tom on the piano (well, sorta), but no matter how I try, I can't sing him. I have a deep female voice and I can get the key easy, but it all sounds very monotonous when I try to sing it.

However, I can match Chris Cornell note for note. :D
 
I have a deep male voice, but can't sing him either. Like you said it just sounds dull and boring. Let's leave that for Tom Waits.
What's that about a female voice singing Soundgarden?
 
Now here'e some good lyric writing

Heal the world - Michael Jackson

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
That There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me
Make it a better place
You And For Me
Make it a better place
You And For Me
Make it a better place
You And For Me
Make it a better place
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in
You And For Me
Save it for our children
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in
You And For Me
Save it for our children
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in
You And For Me
Save it for the children
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in
You And For Me
Save it for the children
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in
You And For Me
Save it for the children

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
 
Anyone dig Glen Phillips? He sang lead for Toad the Wet Sprocket, is now touring with Nickelcreek in an act called Mutual Admiration Society, and has his own solo project. His musical element is very simple and written on guitar but, his vocal melodies with his lyrics make it more than the sum of it's parts.
 
InTheFire said:
Anyone dig Glen Phillips? He sang lead for Toad the Wet Sprocket, is now touring with Nickelcreek in an act called Mutual Admiration Society, and has his own solo project. His musical element is very simple and written on guitar but, his vocal melodies with his lyrics make it more than the sum of it's parts.
Click to expand...

I once bought an album of Toad the Wet Sprocket, but gave it away. The music bored me too much, so I didn't get much of the lyrics. Post some, plz.
 
barthoque said:
I once bought an album of Toad the Wet Sprocket, but gave it away. The music bored me too much, so I didn't get much of the lyrics. Post some, plz.
Click to expand...

Sleep of the Blessed by Glen Phillips

I've done it again
Made spectacular claims
And I've lied in the name
Of a good love

And I think I recall
Someone brought me here
And the memory's not clear
But it still was a good love

...a good love...

You define yourself
By your company
By the promises you make
And the ones that you keep

Sleep the sleep of the blessed
Dream the dreams of the whole
And forget when you wake
How far you've fallen down

You could blow me a kiss
If you think it brings luck
It's the faith that makes it work
So, what the fuck; why not?

Sleep the sleep of the blessed
Dream the dreams of the whole
And forget when you wake
How far you've fallen down...

...below...

...down below...

...down from a good love...

We had a good, good love
 
Sorry, those Glen Phillips lyrics don't work for me. What do you think is so good about it? It could be just me...I never dig love songs....That's because....Hell, no sad stories in the Songwriters forum. :rolleyes:
 
barthoque said:
Sorry, those Glen Phillips lyrics don't work for me. What do you think is so good about it? It could be just me...I never dig love songs....That's because....Hell, no sad stories in the Songwriters forum. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well, he's written a lot of material. That's just one that I like. If love songs are off limits, I could probably find something else that you might like to read. Any subject matter you'd prefer? Just something weird?
 
Acda & de Munnik

Als Het Vuur Gedoofd Is
tekst: Thomas Acda
muziek: Thomas Acda, Paul de Munnik

Vrijdagmiddag in het Vondelpark
November en nat
Vlakbij de vijver zit een man,
Herman
En Herman is het zat
Heeft een kutjaar gehad

Een man met alles
Wat je hebben kan
Vrouw, kind, huis, auto, baan
Zo'n baan
Maar Herman wilde het ooit anders
En denkt daar nu al maanden aan

Hij denkt aan wat ie wou
En denkt ik was te laf
Hij denkt is dit het nou?
Herman denkt zichzelf in het graf

Was het niet gisteren
Dat ik aankwam hier
Pas achttien jaar jong?
Zou ik niet feesten, zuipen, reizen?
Zou ik niet doen wat ik ooit zong?

Maar reizen kan niet meer
Dat had ie mooi gedacht
Ja, reizen terug naar huis
Want er wordt met het eten gewacht

Als het vuur gedoofd is
Dan komen de wolven

Vrijdagmiddag in het Vondelpark
En Herman staat op
Hij zwaait zijn tas ver de vijver in
En zingt weer hardop
Allang geen achttien meer
En het heldendom voorbij
Maar als ik nu niet ga
Dan is voorgoed een droom voorbij

Hen die ik pijn doe
Vergeef me mijn gemis
Maar alles gaat verkeerd
En weet je wat het is?

Als het vuur gedoofd is
Dan komen de wolven

Dinsdagochtend op een grindpad
Het weekend geweest
Men maakt zich op
Voor de wandeling
Als ging men naar een feest

En Herman mag voorop
Heeft het als enige niet koud
Want hij gaat strak gekleed
In een kist van gevoerd vurenhout

Als het vuur gedoofd is
Dan komen de wolven
 
He dit is leuk. Jammer genoeg vind ik Nederlands geen mooie taal om teksten in te schrijven. Misschien is het wel moeilijker om in het Nederlands te schrijven.

Acda en de Munnik zijn niet mijn favorieten. Leg deze regel eens uit: Als het vuur gedoofd is Dan komen de wolven.........Waar gaat dat over in hemelsnaam??? Rest van de tekst is best goed....
 
barthoque said:
He dit is leuk. Jammer genoeg vind ik Nederlands geen mooie taal om teksten in te schrijven. Misschien is het wel moeilijker om in het Nederlands te schrijven.

Acda en de Munnik zijn niet mijn favorieten. Leg deze regel eens uit: Als het vuur gedoofd is Dan komen de wolven.........Waar gaat dat over in hemelsnaam??? Rest van de tekst is best goed....
Click to expand...

Dat is juist het briljante ervan vind ik, is niet voor niks een refrein.

Padvinders-wijsheid: als je 's nachts in het bos slaapt moet je een vuur aanhouden om wilde beesten bij je weg te houden. Dooft dit vuur dan ben je voer voor wolven etc. Dus: dooft je passie dan ga je (innerlijk) dood.
 
F_cksia said:
Dat is juist het briljante ervan vind ik, is niet voor niks een refrein.

Padvinders-wijsheid: als je 's nachts in het bos slaapt moet je een vuur aanhouden om wilde beesten bij je weg te houden. Dooft dit vuur dan ben je voer voor wolven etc. Dus: dooft je passie dan ga je (innerlijk) dood.
Click to expand...

Oh....wat mooi....
 
Geen cynisme hier?


PS: Sorry folks, we were discussing this Dutch lyric, we'll stop it now.
 
i may get heckled for jumping in and saying this, but how many of you think bob dylan is overrated?

i used to be a hardcore dylan fan, even did my us history term paper in 11th grade on him.

and then i discovered so much more. i think a lot of people praise dylan because it's easy and safe and really hard to argue... he is such an icon.

i would never discount his social relevance, but there are far better writers out there in my opinion.
 
Maybe it depends on what you like. I've never been overly impressed by Dylan but, I recognize his talent and his role in music history.
 
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