What's your favorite lyric?

[HomeRec]

Okay... a "just for fun" kind of post... what is your favorite lyric of all time? Not song, but lyric... a line or two in a song that represents, to you, one of the coolest, funniest, strangest, or just plain best things ever written.

Also, if possible, explain what about that lyric makes it your favorite.

I'll kick it off...

A lyric that really impresses me is, oddly enough, from the song "Without Me" by Eminem:

Some vodka that'll jump-start my heart
Quicker than the shock
When I get shocked
At the hospital
By the doctor
When I'm not cooperating
When I'm rocking the table while he's operating!

It's an incredibly rhythmically complex rap that rhymes where you wouldn't expect it to and seems to spin out of control, yet somehow manages to convey a cohesive thought and sticks the landing. It doesn't have deep inner meaning to me (far from it), but I find it technically amazing.

Have fun!

 

[rguagenti]

Jungleland

Well the midnight gangs assembled
And picked a rendezvous in the night
"We'll meet neath that giant Exxon sign, that brings this fair city light"
Man there's an opera out on the turnpike
There's a ballet being fought out in the alley
Until the local cops, cherry tops, rips this holy night


A poetic account of a West Side Story type of confrontation in the back alleys of Jersey.

The words paint the picture so vividly and you can feel the grit of the situation.

This album also came out at a time in my life when I was a shore rat, and if you know anything about growing up in Jersey, summers at the Jersey shore were(are) a separate experience altogether. Hangin' with the guys, (and whoever we may have picked up along the way) after the bars close on some deserted street corner, with a single lightpole casting a hazy glow, until all hours. And then the cops come around and tell you to go home.

And then we did...retreating to our shore house that the 10 of us guys who shared the house continued the party.

Memories man.

 

[dafduc]

God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son,"
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin me on,"
God said no, Abe said, "What?"
God said, "You can do what you wanna, but
The next time you see me comin, man, you better run,"
Abe said, "where you want this killin done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61".

Sheese, that guy useta be brilliant. Still good, but never matched Hwy 61 again...

Daf

 

[VOXVENDOR]

Cigarette Dangles, By The Pursuit of Happiness

Cigarette dangles - makes me hard
Kidnap me throw me in the back of your car
Take me to your room where the flowers hang like bats
Poison me with liquor then break out the party hats
Kiss me till you hurt me, then again until I'm numb
Burn holes in my neck with the venom of your tongue
Remind me again how lucky I am right now
Laugh at my body but then turn off the light and put out
Cigarette dangles
(I wanna ride the big wave)
Cigarette dangles
(Open up the bomb bay)
I wanna ride that wave
Your cigarette dangles, my flesh is weak
Pedal to the metal darlin', 'cause I'm about to peak
Now sit up straight, hook your legs through the rocking chair
I wanna find a new way to show you how I care
Cigarette dangles
(chorus)
Move your hair off your face so I can find your lips
Want to taste pepper on your mouth and on your fingertips
I hear the cats scratching at the door
You say, "I'll feed them later,
Get back on the floor"
Your cigarette dangles
(chorus)

 

[cordura21]

I'm a jealous god and I want everything
and I love you, with a knife
I take you, if you're ready for me
and I'll give you all my life.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Sting is one of my favorite lyricists:

Two preists came 'round the house tonite
One young, one old to offer prayers for the dying
To serve the final right
One to learn, one to teach
Which way the cold wind blows
Fussin' and flappin' in preistly black like a murder of crow.

or

I asked my baby if there was some way
She said she's savin' her love for a rainy day
So I looked to the sky, but I looked in vain
Heavy cloud, but no rain

Not to mention he's the only singer to fit "Mephistopheles" and "Scylia and Charybdis" all into one song (Wrapped Around Your Finger).

But my favorite has to be King of Pain. A dozen or so brilliant metaphors, one right after the other:

There's a fossil trapped in a high cliff wall
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall

There's a fox that's torn by a huntsman's pack
There's a black-wing gull with a broken back

There's a blue whale beached by a spring tide's ebb
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web

There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop

There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread.


got mojo?
www.voodoovibe.com

 

[stonepiano]

cheezy but...

cool story, brilliantly written. It ran through my head for months when I broke up with my last gf, wondering if that'd be us.

Same Old Lang Syne
words by Dan Fogelberg

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another 'auld lang syne'...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain --

 

[denguitar]

There are so many great ones out there but Hiatt kyrics always come to my mind...

"There's no man so evil he can not go home
Or so good that he passes each test.........."

Or for good imagery

"They shot up the automatic teller machine
took the money for the laundry and drove away clean..."

What makes his lyrics so good is that he lived what he writes....
Alcoholism, divorce, the suicide of his wife...

"Thank God the tiki bar is open...."

 

[Axis]

This is just a beautiful song lyrically and the way its sung and played by Andy Waldeck/Earth To Andy

Infidel
Words by Andy Waldeck

Dont get stuck in your head
Lost and lonely untill the bitter end
Just forget what you said
And all the good inside can show itself again

Who are you now
Well its just the season changing on you
So you look good again
You are so proud
In a world of universal chaos, you watch the leaves hit the ground

Let em fall
Separate yourself
Forget it all
Just be glad you've got your health

You're not the only sad and lonely Infidel
Even though you feel like living hell

All the evidence in
Fingers pointing into the ugly sin
Walking hard on the pins
With out a thought to where the needles been

Who are you now
Well its just the season changing on you
So you look good again
You are so proud
In a world of universal chaos, you watch the leaves hit the ground

Let em fall
Separate yourself
Forget it all
Just be glad you've got your health

You're not the only sad and lonely Infidel
Even though you feel like living hell

You think its going well
but only time will tell what you are gonna do,
about the anger coming through
the words you use

Let em fall
Separate yourself
Forget it all
Just be glad you've got your health

You're not the only sad and lonely
You're not the only sad and lonely
You're not the only sad and lonely
infidel

 

[jjtcorsair]

Far from Me

ALBUM · John Prine (1971)


As the cafe was closing
On a warm summer night
And Cathy was cleaning the spoons
The radio played the hit parade
And I hummed a long with the tune
She asked me to change the station
Said the song just drove her insane
But it weren’t just the music playing
It was me that she was trying to blame.

Chorus:
And the sky is black and still now
On the hill where the angels sing
Ain’t it funny how an old broken bottle
Looks just like a diamond ring
But it’s far, far from me

Well, I leaned on my left leg
In the parking lot dirt
And Cathy was closing the lights
A june bug flew from the warmth it once knew
And I wished for once I weren’t right
Why we used to laugh together
And we’d dance to any old song.
Well, ya know, she still laughs with me
But she waits just a second to long.

Repeat chorus:

Well, I started the engine
And I gave it some gas
And Cathy was closing her purse
Well, we hadn’t gone far in my beat old car
And I was prepared for the worst.
"will you still see me tomorrow? "
"no, I got too much to do."
Well, a question ain’t really a question
If you know the answer too.

Repeat chorus:


John Prine is one of my favorite songwriters and this is one of his best. Simple language, imagery in full color, dialog between the characters... A good song relates to the listener and this one does it spades, painting a picture that you can hang in your mind. The chorus is a zen poem.
Awesome.

 

[jjtcorsair]

Glory, you're the sunshine hanging over me
You're the rain that comes to sober me
When I'm feeling free as a breeze
Glory Be.

Be my Glory.

Glory, like a blossom bending down to me
You whisper sounds of poetry
Can't you see?
How much that I love you

What am I gonna do...

When I feel the night
Comin' on
And you're gone.
I lie awake
And wait for dawn
I wait for morning...

Glory, you're the shadow running under me
like a small and secret mystery
Glory be, where have you gone for so long?

My Glory.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love those lyrics. You should hear the tune, it's sweet and simple. Written by my dad, Charles Title in the early 70's.

 

[lend_me_talent]

a couple of my favorites

"There would be psalms sung by a choir
I would have a white robe a halo newly acquired
I'd be at peace and I'd have no desire
If I'd lived right

There would be cherubs with tiny harps arrows and bows
I'd have a halo and a flowing white robe
I'd be enfolded by a celestial light
If I'd lived right

But I'm feeling hot and bothered under the collar
I feel the sweat breaking out on my brow
I feel the heat and I know it's the passion
The love I can't disavow

If this is a dream wake me up now
If this is a movie let's edit these scenes out
It would be a PG instead of an X-rated life
If I'd lived right

Some would call me a cheat call me a liar
Say that I've been defeated by the basest desired
Yes I have strayed and succumbed to my vices
But I tried to live right

But I have no regrets no guilt in my heart
I only feel sadness for any pain that I've caused
I guess I wouldn't bother to worry at all
If I'd lived right

Do you live by the book do you play by the rules?
Do you care what is thought by others about you?
If this day is all that is promised to you
Do you life for the future the present the past?

If there is one thing I know I know I will die
If anyone cares some stranger my critique my life
I may be revered or defamed and decried
But I tried to live right

There would be psalms sung by a choir
I would have a white robe a halo newly acquired
I'd be at peace and I'd have no desire
If I'd lived right"

and

"What will this fix
you know you're not a quick forgive
And I won't sleep through this
I survive on the breath you are finished with"

 

[six]

hmmmm....


I remember her face but forgot her name
she forgot mine too, ain't that a shame
smell like a reefer and my hair's in a mess
I left my love running down her dress



or


want my face on your wall
want cameron diaz just to gimme a call
i'll be nobody's fool gonna die while I'm cool
I make all the laws and I break all the rules




both are from Poison. I think their lyrics are always either pretty cool and funny or absolute crap.

all the girls stroke my guitar when I'm a big rockstar

 

[A Reel Person]

Get me to the doctor,...

I've been told,
someone's back in town,
the chips are down.
I just cut and blackout,
I'm under Japanese influence
and my honor's at stake

... Partying gets me into a blackout...

BLACKOUT, David Bowie, Heroes album/

 

[distortedrumble]

You thought, you could
Keep this sh*t from me, yeah
Ya burnt b*tch, i heard the story
Ya played me, ya even gave him head
Now ya askin for me back
Ya just another hag, look elsewhere
Cuz ya done with me

F*ck what i said it dont mean sh*t now
F*ck the presents might as well throw em out
F*ck all those kisses it didnt mean jack
F*ck you, you hoe, i dont want you back

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Wow.


I guess everyone appreciates different things. I tend to like clever metaphors, glib wordplay, and an adept turn of phrase. That reads more like a blow to the head with a blunt instrument.


got mojo?
www.voodoovibe.com

 

[jayoneill]

NOTHING BETTER THAN A CLASSIC...

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
That call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter shades of earth are ringing
Through my open views inviting and inciting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a
million suns, it calls me on and on
Across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.


*************************

Why don't we do it in the road?
No one will be watching us..
Why don't we do it in the road?


jay

 

[Doug H]

"Keep your electric eye on me babe
Put your ray gun to my head
Press your space face close to mine, love
Freak out in a moonage daydream, oh yeah..."

Moonage Daydream - Bowie


"And as you push off from the shore, won't you turn your head once more, and make your peace with everyone. For those who choose to stay, we will live just one more day to do the things they should have done."

Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day - Ian Anderson


"So let the sadness come again
On that you can depend on me
Until the bitter, bitter end of the word yeah,
god sleeps in bliss"

Soma - Billy

 

[A Reel Person]

Well, I'm with'ya all the way, on those first two, doug h!

The third one, not sure.

Anyway, fwiw, go check my cover of "Moonage Daydream" from Jan03. I'm no Bowie, but it's a rave up good time song.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/davemania/singles

This is not trolling. This is topical. Thank you.

 

[Scottgman]

I'm not a Marylin Manson fan but we used to play "Coma White" in my old cover band. It's a cool song and I really like the chorus:


A pill to make you numb
A pill to make you dumb
A pill to make you anybody else
And all the drugs in this world
Won't save you from yourself


Sounds like a few of my ex-girlfriends!