NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, so we've got "Most disturbing opening for a song ever?", but something better is needed. So, NSG, I present to you a thread where you can post and discuss the best lyrics you think you've ever come across.

Here's mine:
You just have to be sure you're doing the right thing.
I mean it's very easy to forget - she's just sitting there in the pub with her new friends and her new life and her new hair, and it's been five years but you'd know just to look at her.

I wasn't even sure it were her at first, I was ready to walk away but she smiled and called me over and we said hello for a bit. When we back to our tables we were trying not to look over at each other and told our firneds to stop staring. I didn't see her for the rest of the night, but by closing time the beer's kicked in so I go up and speak to her and we end up talking about our new homes, our new jobs and our new birds.

She says she's been going out with him now for about two and a half years, but they don't live together so he'd never find out. And you think about chasing her about school when you were wee and lying in your bed and listening to love songs and pretending they were about you. And the first time you asked her out she said no but one night you went to a wedding and when you came back to the pub she's changed her mind and you went out. You remember the way she swung her arms when she held your hand but you can't remember how she kissed and now you've got the chance to find out.

But you have to remember there's this other kiss. She's at home, wondering where you are and what you're doing. And you work hard on this kiss and you know it inside out, it's as much yours as it is hers,And it took a long time to get right, it took months of practice and months of embarassment but now you've got it perfected and you've been looking forward to that kiss all week.

You can see her breath in the air between your faces as you stand in the leaves and she just asks you straight out if you want to come and stay at her flat. But you make sure you get separate taxis and you go home and there might be a slight regret and you might wonder what you missed but you have to remember the kiss you worked so hard on - and you'll know you've done the right thing.

Arab Strap - New Birds

For me, the song just tells a most wonderful story, and the monologue over a bare guitar with faint drums just works very, very well.

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path

The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forbodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

:fluffle:

A great deal of Ben Fold’s stuff is quite good.
Recently:
All You Can Eat


So I'm lookin' at all the people in this restaurant
What do you think they weigh?
And out the window to the parking lot,
At their SUVs taking all of the space

They give no fuck;
They talk as loud as they want
They give no fuck;
Just as long as there's enough for them.

Gonna get on the microphone down at Wal-Mart
Talk about some shit that's been on my mind
Talk about the state of this great nation of ours
People, look to you left, yeah, look to your right.

They give no fuck;
They buy as much as they want.
They give no fuck;
Just as long as there's enough for them.

So I'm looking at the people lining up for plastic
Wouldn't you like to see them in the National Geographic?
Squatting bare-assed in the dirt eating rice from a bowl
With a towel on their head and maybe a bone in their nose.

See that asshole with the peace sign on his license plate?
Giving me the finger and running me out of his lane?
God made us number one cause he loves us the best.
Well maybe he should go bless someone else for a while, give us a rest.

(They give no)
Yeah, and everyone can see
(They give no)
We've eaten all that we can eat.


More humorously:
Rockin' the Suburbs
let me tell ya'll what it's like
being male, middle class and white
it's a bitch, if you don't believe
listen up to my new cd
sham on

i got shit running through my brain
so intense that i can't explain
all alone in my white boy pain
shake your booty while the band complains

i'm rocking the suburbs
just like michael jackson did
i'm rocking the suburbs
except that he was talented
i'm rocking the suburbs
i take the checks and face the facts
that some producer with computers
fixes all my shitty tracks

i'm pissed off but i'm too polite
when people break in the mcdonalds line
mom and dad you made me so uptight
i'm gonna cuss on the mic tonight
i don't know how much i can take
girl give me something i can break

i'm rocking the suburbs
just like quiet riot did
i'm rocking the suburbs
except that they were talented
i'm rocking the suburbs
i take the checks and face the facts
that some producer with computers
fixes all my shitty tracks

in a haze these days
i pull up to the stoplight
i can feel that something's not right
i can feel that someone's blasting me
with hate and bass
sending dirty vibes my way
cause my great great great great grandad
made someone's great great great great grandaddy slaves
it wasn't my idea
it wasn't my idea
it never was my idea
i just drove to the store
for some preparation h

ya'll don't know what it's like
being male, middle class and white
it gets me real pissed off and it makes me wanna say
fuck

just like jon bon jovi did
i'm rocking the suburbs
except that he was talented
i'm rocking the suburbs
i take the checks and face the facts
that some producer with computers
fixes all my shitty tracks these days
i'm rocking the suburbs
you'd better look out because i'm gonna say fuck

The Aquabats: Stuck in a Movie

Found myself on the run again but my motorcycle crashed into a barbed wire fence
I could’ve sworn you were following me in a run away soviet submarine
I saw your face in the rearview mirror, I turn around and your not there
Now I'm trapped in a building and I'm tied to the top
An I'm trying to make it out before the bomb goes off

I think I know, its like id seen it all before
And I think I know
So please keep quiet don’t spoil the ending

I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie now
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie
I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie now
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie

Coming after you and its getting dark
Your fumbling your keys and your car wont start
There’s a kid down your back with giant crazy words
There’s a kindly old wizard on the wings of a bird

I think I know, its like id seen it all before
And I think I know
So please keep quiet don’t spoil the ending

I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie
I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie

Is this a tragic end for me?
Or will the sequel set me free?
If you want to know if this is imitation or something real
If you want to be here in my feature film
Then take your plane and sail off

Oh oh oh oh o ohoh

I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie now
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie
I'm stuck (stuck) in a movie now
Feels like I'm stuck in a movie

I love all the movie references they worked into the song.

Dead Boy's Poem

Born from silence, silence full of it
A perfect concert my best friend
So much to live for, so much to die for
If only my heart had a home

Sing what you can't say
Forget what you can't play
Hasten to drown into beautiful eyes
Walk within my poetry, this dying music
- My loveletter to nobody

Never sigh for better world
It's already composed, played and told
Every thought the music I write
Everything a wish for the night

Wrote for the eclipse, wrote for the virgin
Died for the beauty the one in the garden
Created a kingdom, reached for the wisdom
Failed in becoming a god

Never sigh...

"If you read this line, remember not the hand that wrote it
Remember only the verse, songmaker's cry the one without tears
For I've given this its strength and it has become my only strength.
Comforting home, mother's lap, chance for immortality
where being wanted became a thrill I never knew
The sweet piano writing down my life"

"Teach me passion for I fear it's gone
Show me love, hold the lorn
So much more I wanted to give to the ones who love me
I'm sorry
Time will tell (this bitter farewell)
I live no more to shame nor me nor you
And you... I wish I didn't feel for you anymore..."

A lonely soul
An ocean soul


A part of me died after reading those lyrics. They're so sad.

Post office clerks put up signs saying position closed
And secretaries turn off typewriters and put on their coats
Janitors padlock the gates
For security guards to patrol
And bachelors phone up their friends for a drink
While the married ones turn on a chat show

And they'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Gentlemen time please, you know we can't serve anymore
Now the traffic lights change to stop, when there's nothing to go
And by five o'clock everything's dead
And every third car is a cab
And ignorant people sleep in their beds
Like the doped white mice in the college lab

Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Telephone exchanges click while there's nobody there
The Martians could land in the carpark and no one would care
Close-circuit cameras in department stores shoot the same video every day
And the stars of these films neither die nor get killed
Just survive constant action replay

Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Bill hoardings advertise products that nobody needs
While angry from Manchester writes to complain about
All the repeats on T.V.
And computer terminals report some gains
On the values of copper and tin
While American businessmen snap up Van Goghs
For the price of a hospital wing

Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before
Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
They'll burn down the synagogues at six o'clock
And we'll all go along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens

present to you a thread where you can post and discuss the best lyrics you think you've ever come across.

Just posting some words doesn't cut it, guys ;)


edit: I've broken 10,000 posts somewhere along the way tonight, so go me.

'Stay in Love" by Jim's Big Ego.

If you could have time but no money
money, but no time
which one would you choose
if you think that you're the loser you're the winner
and if you say you have to win, you lose

If you could have pride but no lover
a lover but no pride
which one would it be
caught between the sweet life and nefarious necessity

well we're gonna take some time
until we get enough
you and I
we're gonna stay in love

Why say no when you can say yes
more is better most is best
why say no when you can say yes
more is less

and we're gonna take some time
until we get enough
you and I
we're gonna stay in love

and everything everything everything everything...

it depends on my mood. tho.

but I think alot of people would like this one.

The Sun is Also a Warrior
by Leslie Fish

Two men walked on a beach in the sun.
One left footprints; the other left none.
One was a man that no man obeys,
The other a god from the ancient days.

(Chorus)
The sun is also a warrior.
Knowledge can also destroy,
Nor can the kindest will preserve you from the kill.
Not all of widom brings joy.

"Look," said the man, "How my kind make war.
I summoned you here to ask 'What for?'"
"For wealth or land," the god replied.
"For pride or freedom, or some king's lies."

"Four of those five," the first one said,
"Are not enough to appease the dead.
To save my world, all this strife must cease.
So now I bid you to conjure peace."

The god said: "Yes, though it grieves me sore,
For I was also a god of war,
And I remember what you forget.
For of those five you may still regret."

He raised his voice and he raised his hand.
All strife stopped at the god's command.
No voice ventured an angry word.
No hand struck, and no weapon stirred.

(Chorus)

In time the man called the old god back.
"Look," he cried, "what my people lack!
One lord rules over all the earth,
And we're all his slaves from the hour of birth."

"He owns all wealth and he owns all land.
We starve and die under his command.
He speaks the truth and he gives us peace,
Yet all I hope for is our release."

The god said: "Yet this is what you willed.
For only thus is your wish fulfilled.
War's five sources I took away,
Yet I will give four of them back today."

He raised his hand and his voice once more,
And all the world overturned in war.
And when the last of those fires let fall,
There was no lord in the world at all.

"Go rebuild now," the old god said.
"Feed the living, and bury the dead.
And remember this when you speak of war,
And think upon what is worth fighting for!"

(Chorus)

mainly becuse this was written decades ago. during Vietnam I believe... and I think alot of people will say the lyrics fit today.

Blind Guardian
"Mordred's Song"
from the album Imaginations from the Other Side
---
I've lost my battle before it starts
My first breath wasn't done
My spirit's sunken deep into the ground
Why am I alone?
I can hear my heartbeat...
Silence all around

See hate will rise
So don't come closer
Fear your child
Born with a king's heart
But fate fooled me
And changed my cards

No one asked if I wanted it
...asked if I liked it

Pain inside is rising
I am the fallen one
A figure in an old game
No Joker's on my side
I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Turn off the light
And murder the dawn

Nothing else but laughter is around me
Forevermore
Noone can heal me
Nothing can save me
Noone can heal me
I've gone beyond the truth
It's just another lie

Wash away the blood from my hands
My father's blood
In agony we're unified
I never wanted to be
What they told me to be
Fulfill my fate then I'll be free
God knows how long
I tried to change fate

Pain inside is rising
I am the fallen one
A figure in an old game
No Joker's on my side
I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Turn off the light
And murder the dawn

I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Turn off the light
And murder the dawn!
---

...it helps if you know who Mordred is. ;)

Dispatch - The General

there was a decorated general with
a heart of gold, that likened him to
all the stories he told
of past battles, won and lost, and
legends of old a seasoned veteran in
his own time

on the battlefield, he gained
respectful fame with many metals
of bravery and stripes to his name
he grew a beard as soon as he could
to cover the scars on his face
and always urged his men on

but on the eve of a great battle
with the infantry in dream
the old general tossed in his sleep
and wrestled with its meaning
he awoke from the night
to tell what he had seen
and walked slowly out of his tent

all the men held tall with their
chests in the air, with courage in
their blood and a fire in their stare
it was a grey morning and they all
wondered how they would fare
till the old general told them to go home

He said
I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers
and I will no other
to follow me where I'm going

So,take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living

Take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven

but the men stood fast with their
guns on their shoulders not knowing
what to do with the contradicting orders
the general said he would do his own
duty but would extend it no further
the men could go as they pleased

not a man moved, their eyes gazed
straight ahead till one by one they
stepped back and not a word was said
and the old general was left with his
own words echoing in his head
he then prepared to fight

He said
I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers
and I will no other
to follow me where I'm going


go now you are forgiven

Dear Diary:

Mood: Apathetic.

My life is spiralling downward. I couldn't get enough money to go to the Blood Red Romance and Suffocate me dry concert. It sucks 'cause they play some of my favorite songs like 'Stab My Heart Because I Love You' and 'Rip Apart My Soul' and of course, 'Stabby Rip Stab Stab'. And it doesn't help that I couldn't get my hair to do that flippy thingy. Like that guy from that band can do. Some days, you know...

I'm an emo kid, non-conforming as can be
You'd be non-conforming too if you looked just like me
I have paint on my nails and make-up on my face
I'm almost emo enough to start shaving my legs
'Cause I feel real deep when I'm dressing in drag
I call it freedom of expression, most just call me a fag
'Cause our dudes look like chicks, and our chicks look like dykes
'Cause emo is one step below transvestite!

Stop my breathing and slit my throat
I must be emo
I don't jump around when I go to shows
I must be emo

I'm dark, and sensetive with low self-esteem
The way I dress makes every day feel like Halloween
I have no real problems but I like to make believe
I stole my sister's mascara now I'm grounded for a week
Sulking and writing poetry are my hobbies
I can't get through a Hawthorne Heights album without sobbing
Girls keep breaking up with me, it's never any fun
They say they already have a pussy, they don't need another one

Stop my breathing and slit my throat
I must be emo
I don't jump around when I go to shows
I must be emo
Dye in my hair and polish on my toes
I must be emo
I play guitar and write suicide notes
I must be emo

My life is just a black abyss, you know, it's so dark. And it's suffocating me. Grabbing ahold of me and tightening its grip, tighter than a pair of my little sister's jeans... which look great on my by the way.

When I get depressed I cut my wrists in every direction
Hearing songs about getting dumped give me an erection
I write in a live journal and wear thick rimmed glasses
I told my friends I bleed black and cry during classes
I'm just a bad, cheap imitation of goth
You can read me "Catcher in the Rye," and watch me jack off
I wear skin tight clothes while hating my life
If I said I like girls, I'd only be half right!

I look like I'm dead and dress like a homo
I must be emo
Screw XBox, I play old school Nintendo
I must be emo
I like to whine and hate my parentals
I must be emo
Me and my friends all look like clones
I must be E-Mo

My parents just don't get me, you know. They think I'm gay just because they saw me kiss a guy. Well, a couple guys. But I mean, it's the 2000s. Can't 2... or 4 dudes make-out with each other without being gay? I mean, chicks dig that kind of thing anyways. I don't know diary, sometimes I think you're the only one that gets me, you're my best friend...

I feel like tacos.
I don't know what you guys are talking about. The Emo Song has the best lyrics in the world. I mean they are bleeding with passion.

That summer we took threes across the park
But by fall we were a cover story
Now in stores
Make us poster boys in the scene
For we are not making our accepting speech
I have found the safest place to keep all of our mistakes
Every dot com's refreshing for a journal update

So long live the car-crash heart
Lie on the couch till the poets come to life
Fix me in 45

So long live the car-crash heart
Lie on the couch till the poets come to life
Fix me in 45

I can take your problems away
A mile away
Oh, my head, it smashes the cover boy
That I am.
Only thing I've ever done that is good
And it's free and my password in the after life
I was the one
was the one who made all our heats beat all in time

So long live the car-crash heart
Lie on the couch till the poets come to life
Fix me in 45

So long live the car-crash heart
Lie on the couch till the poets come to life
Fix me in 45

Long live the car-crash heart

So long live the car-crash heart
Lie on the couch till the poets come to life
Fix me in 45

-Not my favorite lyrics, though they are the only ones that have ever made me tear up.

NOFX
"Idiots Are Taking Over"

it's not the right time to be sober
now the idiots have taken over
spreading like a social cancer, is there an answer?

Mensa membership conceding
tell me why and how are all the stupid people breeding
Watson, it's really elementary
the industrial revolution
has flipped the bitch on evolution
the benevolent and wise are being thwarted, ostracized, what a bummer
the world keeps getting dumber
insensitivity is standard and faith is being fancied over reason

darwin's rollin over in his coffin
the fittest are surviving much less often
now everything seems to be reversing, and it's worsening
someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool
now angry mob mentality's no longer the exception, it's the rule
and im startin to feel a lot like charlton heston
stranded on a primate planet
apes and orangutans that ran it to the ground
with generals and the armies that obeyed them
followers following fables
philosophies that enable them to rule without regard

there's no point for democracy when ignorance is celebrated
political scientists get the same one vote as some Arkansas inbred
majority rule, don't work in mental institutions
sometimes the smallest softest voice carries the grand biggest solutions

what are we left with?
a nation of god-fearing pregnant nationalists
who feel it's their duty to populate the homeland
pass on traditions
how to get ahead religions
And prosperity via simpleton culture

the idiots are takin over.......


I love those lyrics, so true...

Meh. "Best" is dependent on mood.

But here.

Duck and Sally inside
They're cooking for the down five
Who're staring at Miss Rayon
Who's busy licking up her big man
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Ah, it's just like Sister Ray says

Rosy and Miss Rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
Who just got back from Carolina
She said she didn't like the weather
They're busy waiting for her Sailor
Who said he's just as big as ever
He's just here from Alabama
He wants to know a way to earn a dollar
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
Ah, just like Sister Ray said

Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots between three and four
He aims it at the Sailor
Shoots him down dead on the floor
Oh, you shouldn't do that
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
And by the way man, have you got a dollar
Oh no man, I haven't got the time time
Too busy sucking on a ding dong
She's too busy sucking on my ding dong
Oh, she does it just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, just like, just like Sister Ray says

Now, who's that knocking
Who's that knocking on my chamber door
Now could it be the police
They've come to take me for a ride ride
Oh, but I haven't got the time time
Too busy sucking on my ding dong
She's too busy sucking on my ding dong
Oh, now, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching on my line
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh now, just like, just like, just like.....
Sister Ray says.

Sister Ray by the VU.

Damn. Feeling that generation gap in a big way right now.. :eek:

Damn. Feeling that generation gap in a big way right now.. :eek:

I do find it rather odd that to my knowledge, mine is the oldest song of the lot.

As someone already said, it's down to mood but this morning o the way to work I was really liking this one.

Braintax-Escuchame

It’s like a long walk to China trying tio reach these heads
See the world around your body makes you stay brain-dead
Standing round in sick traffic just inhaling some lead
I’m in a phonebox breathing up a stranger’s breath
No change left, I fed my last gold Queen’s head
‘You’re busy now’ is all the message said
Let me leave you, let your brain cook
Mobile, you’re agile but still hearing cancer rays till you’re off the hook
My mind state stays steady taking shelter in a hut
On a mountain side ready for the wind and the rut
I see a storm blow past with economic avalanche
There’s trails of rich, fat nations trying to cling to every branch
Me I’m playing mind-chess then monopoly with stress
Playing snap by the log fire with thoughts of death
Got a year’s supply of Bics, hiding out in deep sticks
I’ll emerge in 20 years when there’s no cash left
But for now I’m back to basics, spilling out raps
Freestyling in the snow while I’m laying squirrel traps
It’s survival but really none of us could pull it off
Just filling up the silence with my fresh-air cough
See I got the theory locked but now I’m losing my mind
Cos the poisons in my blood are trying to make it to the outside
Outside: money and cars and more waste
De-tox, I’m displaced fighting craving for that city taste

And like I said, I’m all in it like on Life Thru Life
Paranoia strikes creeping out the forest at night
I like to sit back, holed-up, sharpen my knife
Learning all about myself but I’m missing the hype
It’s survival, the helicopter left me with a rifle
But it rusted up, now I’m on the snow and berry trifle
I sing aloud in my hideout cos no-one can hear me
And nature’s looking bigger and it doesn’t fear me
or any of my city ways
Haven’t said a word for one month,
Hear my snow boots crunch through the wasteland
This could be a parallel to city-scapes
Where tree towers overpower and isolate many souls
Nature’s like a friend until they turn cold
And icy looks are icebergs on my tent poles
The Imax is now live from the Arctic
You can call me Braintax now my verbal film’s started
Reindeer in target on the hill by the tree-line
I move quick, this reminds me of the free-line
It’s simple, hunt and gather rules still apply
But we never turn to greed and death’s a catalyst to life
Can u hear me…?

It seems to sum up the way the world is going at the moment pretty well.

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this mornin' and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Won't you like down upon me Jesus
You gotta help me make a stand
You just got to see me through another day
My body's achin'and my time is at hand
I won't make it any other way

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Been walkin' my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

Oh I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you baby, one more time again
Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things comin' my way this time around
Thought I'd see, thought I'd see you...


I'm dating myself here, but I had to post something from the era when people still knew how to write lyrics.

NOFX
"Idiots Are Taking Over"

I love those lyrics, so true...
NOFX have written better lyrics than that. Medio-core, Franco Un-American, Dinosaurs Will Die...

I'm not going to pick any 'best' lyrics, I'll just name a few bands that seem(ed) to consistently write good, meaningful lyrics.

Dresden Dolls
Refused
Manic Street Preachers (well, up until about 1999 anyway)
Tool
Secret Machines

Unsurprisingly, these are some of my favourite bands. Moral of this? Good lyrics = good band. Who'd'a thunk it, eh?

Not an entire song, but these lyrics from Radiohead's Sulk are my favourite:

"So I declare a holiday, fall asleep, drift away."

The song's about the Hungerford Massacre, where a man killed sixteen people and wounded more before killing himself.

Edit:
"Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground" from Fire and Rain always gets me, too.

Not even a question. "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues.

One of my all time favorites is "Political Science" by Randy Newman. It's so sarcastic, and yet, when I posted it here a year or so ago, a couple of other posters took it seriously and agreed with it--a very Colbertesque moment for me, let me tell you. I'm just going to post the beginning of it:
No one likes us
I don't know why
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try
And all around
even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the Big One
and see what happens.

We give them money
but are they grateful?
No they're spiteful
and they're hateful.
They don't respect us
so let's surprise them.
We'll drop the Big One
and pulverize them.

2112 by Rush (In part. It's a 20 minute song.)

V.

I wandered home though silent streets
And fell into a fitful sleep
Escape to realms beyond the night
Dream cant you show me the light?

I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days

I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes

They left the planets long ago
The elder race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home, to tear the temples down...
Home, to change..


VI.

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams

Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen
I dont think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
Oh...noo!

My spirits are low in the depths of despair
My lifeblood spills over..


Full lyrics Here. (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/2112_20119899.html)

No discussion needed. It has the best lyrics. :cool:

A lot of people ask me.. stupid fuckin questions
A lot of people think that.. what I say on records
or what I talk about on a record, that I actually do in real life
or that I believe in it
Or if I say that, I wanna kill somebody, that..
I'm actually gonna do it
or that I believe in it
Well, shit.. if you believe that
then I'll kill you
You know why?
Cuz I'm a

CRIMINAL
CRIMINAL
You god damn right
I'm a CRIMINAL
Yeah, I'm a CRIMINAL


My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge
That'll stab you in the head
whether you're a fag or lez
Or the homosex, hermaph or a trans-a-vest
Pants or dress - hate fags? The answer's "yes"
Homophobic? Nah, you're just heterophobic
Starin at my jeans, watchin my genitals bulgin (Ooh!)
That's my motherfuckin balls, you'd better let go of em
They belong in my scrotum, you'll never get hold of em
Hey, it's me, Versace
Whoops, somebody shot me!
And I was just checkin the mail
Get it? Checkin the 'male'?
How many records you expectin to sell
after your second LP sends you directly to jail?
C'mon!-- Relax guy, I like gay men
Right, Ken? Give me an amen (AAA-men!)
Please Lord, this boy needs Jesus
Heal this child, help us destroy these demons
Oh, and please send me a brand new car
And a prostitute while my wife's sick in the hospital
Preacher preacher, fifth grade teacher
You can't reach me, my mom can't neither
You can't teach me a goddamn thing cause
I watch TV, and Comcast cable
and you ain't able to stop these thoughts
You can't stop me from toppin these charts
And you can't stop me from droppin each March
with a brand new cd for these fuckin retards
Duhhh, and to think, it's just little ol' me
Mr. "Don't Give A Fuck," still won't leave



I'm a CRIMINAL
Cuz every time I write a rhyme, these people think it's a crime
to tell em what's on my mind - I guess I'm a CRIMINAL
but I don't gotta say a word, I just flip em the bird
and keep goin, I don't take shit from no one


My mother did drugs - tar, liquor, cigarettes, and speed
The baby came out - disfigured, ligaments indeed
It was a seed who would grow up just as crazy as she
Don't dare make fun of that baby cause that baby was me
I'm a CRIMINAL - an animal caged who turned crazed
But how the fuck you sposed to grow up when you weren't raised?
So as I got older and I got a lot taller
My dick shrunk smaller, but my balls got larger
I drink malt liquor to fuck you up quicker
than you'd wanna fuck me up for sayin the word nigga
My morals went thhbbpp when the president got oral
Sex in his Oval Office on top of his desk
Off of his own employee
Now don't ignore me, you won't avoid me
You can't miss me, I'm white, blonde-haired
and my nose is pointy
I'm the bad guy who makes fun of people that die
in plane crashes and laughs
As long as it ain't happened to him
Slim Shady, I'm as crazy as Em
-inem and Kim combined - [*kch*] the maniac's in
Replacin the doctor cause Dre couldn't make it today
He's a little under the weather, so I'm takin his place
(Mm-mm-mmm!) Oh, that's Dre with an AK to his face
Don't make me kill him too and spray his brains all over the place
I told you Dre, you should've kept that thang put away
I guess that'll teach you not to let me play with it, eh?
I'm a CRIMINAL

Windows tinted on my ride when I drive in it
So when I rob a bank, run out and just dive in it
So I'll be disguised in it
And if anybody identifies the guy in it
I'll hide for five minutes
Come back, shoot the eyewitness
Fire at the private eye hired to pry in my business
Die, bitches, bastards, brats, pets
This puppy's lucky I didn't blast his ass yet [*dog whines*]
If I ever gave a fuck, I'd shave my nuts
tuck my dick inbetween my legs and cluck
You motherfuckin chickens ain't brave enough
to say the stuff I say, so just tape it shut [*tape unrolls*]
Shit, half the shit I say, I just make it up
To make you mad so kiss my white naked ass
And if it's not a rapper that I make it as
I'ma be a fuckin rapist in a Jason mask

(hi-fives Morganotron)

As for favourite lyrics I'm a bit stuck between.

We will call you CYGNUS the God of BALANCE YOU SHALL BE

And.

Destroooooooooy thiiiiiiiiiiiis CITY OF DELUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSION BREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK THEEEEEEEEEEESE WAAAAAAAALLS

But there ya go.

All we want is a headrush
All we want is to get out of our skin for a while
We have nothing to lose because we don't have anything
Anything we want anyway...
We used to hate people
Now we just make fun of them
It's more effective that way
We don't live
We just scratch on day to day
With nothing but matchbooks and sarcasm in our pockets
And all we are waiting for is for something worth waiting for
Let's admit America gets the celebrities we deserve
Let's stop saying "Don't quote me" because if no one quotes you
You probably haven't said a thing worth saying
We need something to kill the pain of all that nothing inside
We all just want to die a little bit
We fear that pop-culture is the only culture we're ever going to have
We want to stop reading magazines
Stop watching T.V.
Stop caring about Hollywood
But we're addicted to the things we hate
We don't run Washington and no one really does
Ask not what you can do for your country
Ask what your country did to you
The only reason you're still alive is because someone
Has decided to let you live
We owe so much money we're not broke we're broken
We're so poor we can't even pay attention
So what do you want?
You want to be famous and rich and happy
But you're terrified you have nothing to offer this world
Nothing to say and no way to say it
But you can say it in three languages
You are more than the sum of what you consume
Desire is not an occupation
You are ultimately thrilled and desperate
Skyhigh and fucked
Let's stop praying for someone to save us and start saving ourselves
Let's stop this and start over
Let's go out - let's keep going
This is your life - this is your fucking life
We need something to kill the pain of all that nothing inside
Quit whining you haven't done anything wrong because frankly
You haven't done much of anything
Someone's writing down your mistakes
Someone's documenting your downfall

A wonderful rant set to music.

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, Going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dieing are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very mad world, mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And to feel the way every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dieing are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very mad world, mad world

It was made by Tears for Fears, but the somber version seems to fit a lot better imo

Vermillion Pt.2 - Slipknot

She seemed dressed in all of me, stretched across my shame.
All the torment and the pain
Leaked through and covered me
I'd do anything to have her to myself
Just to have her for myself
Now I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do when she makes me sad.

She is everything to me
The unrequited dream
A song that no one sings
The unattainable, Shes a myth that I have to believe in
All I need to make it real is one more reason
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do when she makes me sad.

But I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me

A catch in my throat choke
Torn into pieces
I won't, no!
I don't wanna be this...

But I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me

She isn't real
I can't make her real
She isn't real
I can't make her real

Apparently this post was too short....

And, for the inevitable Tool lyrics. :) A deep lick that has touched me over and over again:


Tool
Right in Two
------------

Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused.

Don't these talking monkeys know that
Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys,
Where there's one you're bound to divide it.
Right in two.

Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose.
And this is what they choose...

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs,
They forge a blade,
And where there's one
they're bound to divide it,
Right in two.
Right in two.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs.
They make a club.
And beat their brother, down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.

Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven conscious of his fleeting time here.

Cut it all right in two

Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
Fight over life, over blood, over prayer,
overhead and light
Fight over love, over sun,
over another, Fight...

Angels on the sideline again.
Been soon long with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again
Wondering when this tug of war will end.

Cut it all right in two
RIGHT IN TWO!

Right in two...


I forget how groovy I really am until I listen to things like that.

Heat of the Moment by Asia :D

And in honour of the time warping that's being experienced:



It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely, not for very much longer
I've got to keep control

I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me and the void would be calling
Let's do the time warp again...
Let's do the time warp again!

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!

It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well-secluded, I see all
With a bit of a mind flip
You're there in the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation, like you're under sedation
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Well I was walking down the street just a-having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
He shook me up, he took me by surprise
He had a pickup truck and the devil's eyes.
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Let's do the Time Warp again!

What? Someone was bound to do it.....;)

What? Someone was bound to do it.....;)

err..no they weren't.

i have no say, after reading some of these lyrics, they are pretty mind numbingly dull. i presume it is the actual music that goes with them that saves them. i think people should stop cutting and pasting whole songs from 'lyrics are us' and actually post the lyrics they like. yawn.



Elegant Chaos by Julian Cope

People I see,
just remind me of mooing like a cow in the grass,
and that's not to say,
that there's anything wrong with being a cow anyway,
but people are people,
with the added advantage of the spoken word,
I'm getting on fine,
But I feel more of a man when I get with the herd.

Anything by TooL or APC.

TooL - Wings for Marie (parts 1 and 2)

You...
You believed ...
You believed in moments [none could see / God conceived]
You believed in me

A passionate spirit
Uncompromised
Boundless and open [??] A light in your eyes that
[?? / Could end all lies]

[Vacant / Broken], broken
Fell at the hands of this moment so that I wouldn't see
It was you who prayed for me so
What have I done
To be a son to an angel?
What have I done
To be worthy?

Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence
Difficult to see you in this light
Please forgive this selfish question, but
What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight
She never told a lie,
... well might have told a lie,
But never lived one.

Didn't have a life
Didn't have a life
But surely saved one
So I'm alright
Now it's time for us to let you go.

Listen to the tales and romanticize,
How we follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun.
How we rise to the height of our halo.

Listen to the tales as we all rationalize
Our way into the arms of the savior,
Feigning all the trials and the tribulations;
None of us have actually been there.
Not like you.

Ignorant fibbers in the congregation
Gather around spewing sympathy,
Spare me.
None of them can even hold a candle up to you.
Blinded by choices, hypocrites won't see.

But, enough about the collective Judas.
Who could deny you were the one who illuminated
You'll have a piece of the divine.

And this little light of mine, the gift you passed on to me;
I'll let it shine to guide you safely on your way,
Your way home ...

Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they going to do when the rivers overrun
Other than tremble incessantly?

High as a wave, but our eyes are upon the ground.
You [are / were] the light and the way, they'll only read about.
I only pray, [Heaven / God] knows when to lift you out.
Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough, you're going home.

You're the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I have come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"

Give me my wings!

You are the light and way, that they will only read about.

Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance,
Burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were the witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.

Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescence.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this bold suggestion:
Should you see your Maker's face tonight,
Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him:
I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one.
Hallelujah, it's time for you to bring me home.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ugDdFjlvfW4

I've always liked these lyrics by Billy Bragg, doing a cover of Walk Away Renee. I like the poignancy of it.


It was when I saw her in the carpark
With his coat around her shoulders that I realised
I went home and thought about the two of them together
Until the bathwater went cold around me
I thought about her eyes and the curve of her breasts
And about the point where there bodies met


This says so much, in so few words.

"I feel a chill in my heart
Like lingering winter cold
I and my son are torn apart
He was just 6 winters old

My first-born was he
And the last of my kin
The last one to carry my name
Death smiled at him its deadly grin
There is no one for me to blame

The fate of Norns await us all
There is no way to escape
The day to answer Oden's call
Or walk through hel's gate

I carry him to my ship
He seems to be asleep
But the deep blue colour of his lips
Is enough to make me weep

No man should have to bury his child
Yet this has been my share
The tears i shed run bitter and wild
It's a heavy burden to bear

His body feels so light in my arms
His skin is pale as snow
Yet his weight feels heavy in my heart
As my sadness continues to grow

Allfather!
What fate has been given me?
Why must I suffer?
Why must I feel this pain?
Allfather!
LIfe has lost it's meaning to me
I think I'm going insane!

I lay him down on a pyre
A burial worthy of a king
And as I lie down by his side
I hear the weaving norns sing

The fate of Norns await us all
There is no way to escape
The day to answer Oden's call
Or walk through hel's gate

The fate of Norns await us all
I know this to be true
It's time to answer Odens's call
My son, he calls for me and you"

Fate of Norns, by Amon Amarth.

Or something by My Dying Bride. Their lyrics are great. I've always been way more into the music than lyrics though. Great lyrics can make an awesome song even more so, though.

*snip brain damage*
:fluffle:

I like the second part better:

The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me till Im sane
You lock the door
And throw away the key
Theres someone in my head but its not me.

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band youre in starts playing different tunes
Ill see you on the dark side of the moon

I like I am the Walrus:

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Mister city policeman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like lucy in the sky, see how they run.
I'm crying, i'm crying.
I'm crying, i'm crying.

Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Sitting in an english garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the english rain.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.

Expert textpert choking smokers,
Don't you thing the joker laughs at you?
See how they smile like pigs in a sty,
See how they snied.
I'm crying.

Semolina pilchard, climbing up the eiffel tower.
Elementary penguin singing hari krishna.
Man, you should have seen them kicking edgar allan poe.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.
Goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob g'goo.

(Smoke pot smoke pot everybody smoke pot smoke pot everybody smoke pot smoke pot everybody smoke pot everybody smoke pot everybody smoke pot....)


My friend has spent 5 hours pondering the meaning of one lyric of that song. And I don't remember which one.


Also, a couple songs by Sonata Artica have excellent lyrics, and I love the Lyrics to "Shores of California". Also, ALL the aquabats songs with lyrics have good lyrics.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ugDdFjlvfW4

What. The. Hell. Was. That????????

What. The. Hell. Was. That????????
That's what she said.

Wasted children, fixed blank eyes, blood and sweat, we socialize
Broken homes from which they come, beer-stained dad, compliant mom.
Fear and love, much despised, replaced by comfortable lies.
Teenage classic, more cliche, one step further on the edge of decay.
White trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
White trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
Are you ready to fight for your morality? right wing allies, white supremacy.
Pretty fascist on the tube draped in red and white and blue
White trash, 2nd generation, stupid foibles, indignation
Offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
White trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
White trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
Stiff blue collar, coat and tie, brand new breeds side by side.
Christian ethic, right extremes, shoved down our throat as the american dream.
White trash, 2nd generation, stupid foibles, indignation
Offspring of suburban fright, pearl-white creatures of the night
White trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
White trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.
White trash, 2nd generation, white trash, 2nd generation,
White trash, 2nd generation, don your crown and cleanse the nation.

"White Trash (Second Generation)"-Bad Religion

Or, another good one by them:

Neighbors, no one loves you like he loves you,
And no one cares like he cares.
Neighbors, let us join today in the holy love of God and money,
Because neighbors, no one loves you like he loves you.
And what better way to show your love than to dig deep into your pockets.
Dig real deep, until it hurts. alleviate your guilt,
Free yourself once again, because he gave to you, brothers and sisters.
Please give a 10, 25, or 50 dollar tax-deductible donation,
And I assure you your modest pledge will be used to censor tv and radio,
Ban questionable books, and contribute to many other godly services.
No longer will young christian americans hedonistically indulge
In masochistic submission to rhythmic music, for with your monetary support,
There is no end to what we can achieve in this country.
The voice of God is government. the voice of God is government.
The voice of God is government. in God we trust, sinners repent!
(1,2,3,4)
Cant you see what we believe in, all our thoughts, all our reasons,
Pursuit of life and liberty and happiness we cannot see?
Speak of truth with a mighty voice, but politics are your real choice.
Hire men to change the law, protect and serve with one small flaw.
Voice of God is government. the voice of God is government.
Voice of God is government. in God we trust, sinners repent!
If we shun God and jesus christ, religious love is sacrifice.
Love for God is shown in cash, the love they send is mailbox trash.
With every pamphlet we receive, more money asked for godly needs.
Build a million dollar church, with money spent on gods research.
Voice of God is government. the voice of God is government.
Voice of God is government. in God we trust, sinners repent!
On late night tv, God can heal, a certain force you cannot feel.
Love for money in gods name, religions now a tv game!
Build a million dollar church, with money spent on gods research.
Build a million dollar church, with money spent on gods research.
Voice of God is government. the voice of God is government.
Voice of God is government. in God we trust, sinners repent!
Yeah!
Voice of God is government. the voice of God is government.
Voice of God is government. in God we trust, sinners repent!

"The Voice of God is Government"

"Dogs"
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking.
And after a while, you can work on points for style
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake
A certain look in the eye, and an easy smile
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you
You'll get the chance to put the knife in.
You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder
You know it's going to get harder, and harder, and harder as you get older
And in the end you'll pack up, fly down south
Hide your head in the sand
Just another sad old man
All alone and dying of cancer.
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest that you've sown
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone
And it's too late to loose the weight you used to need to throw around
So have a good drown, as you go down, alone
Dragged down by the stone.
I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused
Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise
If I don't stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of this maze?
Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretending
That everyone's expendable and no-one has a real friend
And it seems to you the thing to do would be to isolate the winner
And everythings done under the sun
And you believe at heart, everyone's a killer.
Who was born in a house full of pain
Who was trained not to spit in the fan
Who was told what to do by the man
Who was broken by trained personnel
Who was fitted with collar and chain
Who was given a pat on the back
Who was breaking away from the pack
Who was only a stranger at home
Who was ground down in the end
Who was found dead on the phone
Who was dragged down by the stone.

Pink Floyd's lyrics are always enjoyable. I feel I could connect to the song though because of the deception it portrayed, at least partly. I've always loved the lyrics to pretty much any Simon & Garfunkel song. Like,

"Cecilia"

Celia, you're breaking my heart,
You're shaking my confidence daily.
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
I'm begging you please to come home.

Celia, you're breaking my heart,
You're shaking my confidence daily.
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
I'm begging you please to come home.
Come on home.
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom,
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed,
Someone's taken my place.
Celia, you're breaking my heart,
You're shaking my confidence daily.
Oh Cecilia, I'm down on my knees,
I'm begging you please to come home.

Jubilation,
She loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I laughing.

Jubilation,
She loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I laughing.

I could relate to that, up until the "She loves me again" part.

Pink Floyd's lyrics are always enjoyable. I feel I could connect to the song though because of the deception it portrayed, at least partly.

I like "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" on that album more.

2,007 POSTS!

I like "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" on that album more.

2,007 POSTS!

I did, too; but the more I listened to the album, the more I enjoyed Dogs.

I did, too; but the more I listened to the album, the more I enjoyed Dogs.

Dogs drags on a bit, IMO.

Another song from back in the day...


I am just a poor boy.
Though my story's seldom told,
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles,
Such are promises
All lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

When I left my home
And my family,
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station,
Running scared,
Laying low,
Seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go,
Looking for the places
Only they would know.

Lie-la-lie...

Asking only workman's wages
I come looking for a job,
But I get no offers,
Just a come-on from the whores
On Seventh Avenue
I do declare,
There were times when I was so
lonesome
I took some comfort there.

Lie-la-lie...

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone,
Going home
Where the New York City winters
Aren't bleeding me,
Leading me,
Going home.

In the clearing stands a boxer,
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame,
"I am leaving, I am leaving."
But the fighter still remains

Lie-la-lie...

Black then white are all i see in my infancy.
red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me.
lets me see.
as below, so above and beyond, I imagine
drawn beyond the lines of reason.
Push the envelope. Watch it bend.

Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must
Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines.

Black then white are all i see in my infancy.
red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me.
lets me see there is so much more and
beckons me to look thru to these infinite possibilities.
as below, so above and beyond, I imagine
drawn outside the lines of reason.
Push the envelope. Watch it bend.

over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind.
Withering my intuition leaving opportunities behind.
Feed my will to feel this moment urging me to cross the line.
Reaching out to embrace the random.
Reaching out to embrace whatever may come.

I embrace my desire to
I embrace my desire to
feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow
to feel inspired to fathom the power, to witness the beauty,
to bathe in the fountain,
to swing on the spiral
to swing on the spiral
to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human.

With my feet upon the ground I move myeslf between the sounds and open wide to
suck it in.
I feel it move across my skin.
I'm reaching up and reaching out. I'm reaching for the random or what ever will
bewilder me.
what ever will bewilder me.
And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been.
We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been.
Spiral out. Keep going.
Spiral out. Keep going.
Spiral out. Keep going.
Spiral out. Keep going.
Spiral out. Keep going.

"Lateralus" by Tool

Might be a little bit pretentious but it works very well with the song.

Also:


A man conceived a moment's answers to the dream.
Staying the flowers daily, sensing all the themes.
As a foundation left to create the spiral aim,
A movement regained and regarded both the same,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.
Changed only for a sight of sound, the space agreed.
Between the picture of time behind the face of need,
Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid,
Emotion revealed as the ocean maid,
All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you.
Oh.

Coins and crosses

Turn round tailor, assaulting

Never know their fruitless worth;

all the mornings of the interest shown,
presenting one another to the cord,

cords are broken,

All left dying, rediscovered
Of the door that turned round,

locked inside the mother earth.

To close the cover, all the
interest shown,

They won't hide, hold, they won't tell you,

To turn one another, to the
sign at the time float your climb.

watching the world, watching all of the world,
watching us go by.

And you and I climb over the sea to the valley,
And you and I reached out for reasons to call.

"And You and I" by Yes.

Sent out the s.o.s. Call.
It was a quarter past four in the morning
When the storm broke our second anchor line.
Four months at sea, four months of calm seas to be pounded
In the shallows off the tip of Montauk Point.
They call them rogues; they travel fast and alone--
one-hundred-foot faces of God's good ocean gone wrong.
What they call love is a risk, to always get hit out of nowhere
By some wave and end up on your own.

A hole in the hull defied the crew's attempts, to bail us out.
It flooded the engine and radio, half-buried bow.

Your tongue is a rudder.
It steers the whole ship, sends your words past your lips,
Or keeps them safe behind your teeth.
But the wrong words will strand you, come off-course while you sleep,
Sweep your boat out to sea or dashed to bits on the reef.

The vessel groans; the ocean pressures its frame.
To the port I see the lighthouse through the sleet and the rain.
And I wish for one more day to give my love and repay debts,
But the morning finds our bodies washed up thirty miles west.

They say that the captain stays fast with the ship through still and storm.
But this ain't the Dakota; the water's cold. (So cold.)
Won’t have to fight for long.

(This is the end.)
This story's old, (this is the end) but it goes on and on until we disappear.
(This is the calm.)
Calm me and let me (this is the calm) taste the salt you breathed while you were underneath.
(We are the resin)
i am the one (we are the resin) who haunts your dreams of mountains sunk below the sea.
(After the storm.)
I spoke the words (after the storm) but never gave a thought to what they all could mean.
(Rest here with thee,)
i know that this (rest in the deep) is what you want.
(Washed up on the beach.)
A funeral keeps both of us apart.
You know (washed up on the beach.) that you are not alone.
I need you like water in my lungs.

(This is the end.)
This story's old, (this is the end) but it goes on and on until we disappear.
(This is the calm.)
Calm me and let me taste (this is the calm) the salt you breathed while you were underneath.
(We are the resin)
i am the one who (we are the resin) haunts your dreams of mountains sunk below the sea.
(After the storm.)
I spoke the words (after the storm) but never gave a thought to what they all could mean.
(Rest here with thee,)
i know that this (rest here with thee) is what you want.
(Washed up on the beach.)
A funeral keeps both of us apart.
You know (washed up on the beach.) that you are not alone.
i need you like water in my lungs.
(this is the end.)


on't be sad, keep smiling, leave this open to communicate
Lying there on the desk you left a letter, when I touched it, it shivered in my hand
I rub the surface to see your face in the mirror, translation lost me in a crowded room
Leave exposed the wounded, look down kids it starts to decompose
Looking for some meaning or recognition and your eyes are as blank as my hidden heart
I rub the surface to see your trace in the mirror, translation lost me in a crowded room
If you want to believe everything you say, it keeps you high and in control
What I can't understand is why you would want to give the impression of a young lost soul
In the end you lack a stance on important subjects that you've lost, it's like you're out of control
Then you turn round, my head cracks like it's for the millionth time again (Liberate the illiterate)
And you wanted to jump half a canyon, I'm at least a companion to it all (Liberate the illiterate)

I stroke your silken skin, kiss you goodbye, your eyes just pierce me through
I am bleeding with blood I'd give to you, to be the way we were
I still feel the pain in my heart, thoughts once pure are now diluted

We sat and watched the sun go down
We wrapped together in each other's arms
Never felt so complete as when we're alone on the sand at night

I still feel the pain in my heart, thoughts once pure are now diluted

I love the way your hair hangs over your eyes, crush me with your stare
If I could fly to you I would to be the way we were
I still feel the pain in my heart, thoughts once pure are now diluted
It's alright now, it's alright now, it's alright now, it's alright now

And a piece of the pictures bitten right out of the middle
I'm alone and thinner I feel
Is this a prayer?
Anaesthetise me just til you return
I feel the loss like a squandered opportunity to whisper
You're all I ever needed.

Shapes fall into place
For once in your life you make
A clean breakaway.

And did you know that everything you touch is blessed and all the richer
For your love a better being
And if I display just a fraction of the soul you showed in this world
Then I know I'll see you again

Love so much to give
And too few to share it with
Wastes you away.

The dream it comes again and again
You're here
It's you
I pull you close and
Hold you tight
Into the sky you go
You go
And I can't change it
I can't change it.
(Although, I suppose the problem with this one is that the song is just so beautiful that the lyrics nowhere near convey it)

Quite aside from Black Sabbath being one of, if not the best heay metal band of all time, thier lyrics often get ignored, or generalized.
Ive heard many people say they assumed the lyrical content of Sabbath is all about evil, and Satan, and general doom and gloom.

Thats about as accurate as saying they wrote nothing but short, standard, "rockers" like Paranoid, or Iron Man.

Geezer Butler's lyrics are some of the best rock n rocll lyrics recorded, becuase of the many different subjects he wrote about, and his ability to make a nice phrase.

Here was the first off the top of my head, from the album Sabotage, from 1975. The group was going through some struggles with thier record label, what with royalties being properly paid.
The song starts out being a poke in the eye at the record industry, and then ultimately questions the highest authority of all.

If any of you have never heard this song, I pity you, for you are no Metal fan whatsoever.

The Writ (8:43)

The way I feel is the way I am
I wished I'd walked before I started to run to you,
Just to you
What kind of people do you think we are?
Another joker who's a rock 'n' roll star for you,
Just for you
The fateful image of another man
The endless ocean of emotion I swam for you,
Yeah for you
Your fun trip waslayin' down on the floor
I wish they'd fallen into my private world with you,
Yeah with you

Are you metal? Are you man?
You've changed a lot since you began,
Yeah began
Ladies digging gold from you
Will they still dig dying true,
Yea true

You bought and sold me with your lying word
The voices in the dark that you never heard came through,
Yeah, came true.
Your fallen phalic dismembered god
A poisoned father with his poisonous his son that's you,
Yeah that's you
I'm begging please don't let it get any worse
The anger I once had has turned to a curse on you,
Yeah curse you
All of the promises that never came true
You're gonna get what is coming to you that's due,
Ah that's soon
Are you Satan? Are you man?
You've changed a lot since it began,
It began
Vultures sucking gold from you
Will they still suck now you're through?

Cats Rats

The search is on so you just better run
And find yourself another way
Rob the dead they don't feel a thing
Keep the living for another day

Rat, Rat

You are nonentity, you have no destiny
You are a figment of a thing unknown
A mantle picture of a stolen soul
A fornication of your golden throne
A smiling face it means the world to me, yeah
So tired of sadness and of misery, yeah
My life it started some time ago
Where it will end I don't know
I thought I was so good
I thought I was smart.
I feel my world's being torn apart.
But everything is gonna work out fine, yeah
If it don't some think I'll lose my mind, yeah

I know I know I know Yeah yeah I know
Listen to me while I sing this song
You might just think the words are wrong
Too many people advising me
but they don't know what my eyes seen

But everything is gonna work out fine, yeah
If it don't (I'll/some) feel I'll blow my mind, yeah

*

Clearly the best Tool song for lyrics is Rosetta Stoned...

"Goddamn, shit the bed, can't remember what they said!" :D

Or more seriously, Eulogy: "He had a lot to say, he had a lot of nothing to say, we'll miss him...we'll miss him"

or Hooker With A Penis: "Before you point the finger you should know that I'm the Man, and if I'm the Man, then you're the Man and he's the Man as well, so you can point you fucking finger up your ass" and "I sold my soul to make a record, dipshit, and you bought one"

I said I was the cops, and your husband's in jail, the state looks down on sodomy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKKMLcGJ9EU

This.

Another song from back in the day...

That song is awesome.

So many lyrics that I consider brilliant, but the best lyrics are the ones which actually mean something personal to me, which is Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve.

'Cos it’s a bittersweet symphony this life,
Trying to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die.
I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down,
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah.

No change, I can change, I can change, I can change,
But I’m here in my mould , I am here in my mould.
But I’m a million different people from one day to the next,
I can’t change my mould, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Whenever I've had a night out or been to a party I like to listen to Closing Time by Semisonic before I go to sleep.

Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time - this room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters
come.
So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits - I hope you have found a friend.
Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Finally, Little Baby Nothing by Manic Street Preachers has my favourite political lyrics, which has a dual theme of the exploitation of Traci Lords and other young girls through pornography and the exploitation of the poor by capitalism.

No one likes looking at you
Your lack of ego offends male mentality
They need your innocence
To steal vacant love and to destroy
Your beauty and virginity used like toys

My mind is dead, everybody love's me
Wants a slice of me
Hopelessly passive and compatible
Need to belong, oh the roads are scarey
So hold me in your arms
I wanna be your only possession

Used, used, used by men
Used, used, used by men

All they leave behind is money
Paper made out of broken twisted trees
Your pretty face offends
Because it's something real that I can't touch
Eyes, skin, bone, contour, language as a flower

No god reached me, faded films and loving books
Black and white TV
All the world does not exist for me
And if I'm starving, you can feed me lollipops
Your diet will crush me
My life just an old man's memory

Little baby nothing
Loveless slavery, lips kissing empty
Dress your life in loathing
Breaking your mind with Barbie Doll futility

Little baby nothing
Sexually free, made-up to breakup
Assassinated beauty
Moths broken up, quenched at last
The vermin allowed a thought to pass them by

You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair

You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair

Big man, pig man, ha ha, charade you are
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha, charade you are
And when your hand is on your heart
You're nearly a good laugh
Almost a joker
With your head down in the pig bin
Saying 'keep on digging'
Pig stain on your fat chin
What do you hope to find?
When you're down in the pig mine
You're nearly a laugh
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Bus stop rat bag, ha ha, charade you are
You fucked up old hag, ha ha, charade you are
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass
You're nearly a good laugh
Almost worth a quick grin
You like the feel of steel
You're hot stuff with a hat pin
And good fun with a hand gun
You're nearly a laugh
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Hey you Whitehouse, ha ha, charade you are
You house proud town mouse, ha ha, charade you are
You're trying to keep your feelings off the street
You're nearly a real treat
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
...!...!...!
You gotta stem the evil tide
And keep it all on the inside
Mary you're nearly a treat
Mary you're nearly a treat
But you're really a cry.

See my body, its nothing to get hung about.
Im nobody except genetic runaround.
Spiritual eras gone, it aint comin back.
Bad religion, a cabal, that is all thats left.
Hey mr. mind, stop wasting my time,
With your factory precision.
Factory precision is your
Bad religion, too good to take.
Indecision, its not too late.
Nad religion, bad religion.
Ay!
Dont you know the place you lives a piece of shit?
Dont you know blind faith in life will conquer it?
Dont you know responsibility is ours?
I dont care a think about eternal fires.
Listen this time, its more than a rhyme,
Its your indecision.
Your indecision is your
Bad religion, too good to take.
Indecision, its not too late.
Bad religion, too good to take.
Indecision, its not too late.
Bad religion, bad religion,
Bad religion.


I like those.

OK, so we've got "Most disturbing opening for a song ever?", but something better is needed. So, NSG, I present to you a thread where you can post and discuss the best lyrics you think you've ever come across.

Here's mine:


Arab Strap - New Birds

For me, the song just tells a most wonderful story, and the monologue over a bare guitar with faint drums just works very, very well.

I like Locomotive Breath or Live Wire.