Favorite Song Lyrics (2 Viewers)

[Arathrael]

Johnny Cash was the man. And to finish with Hurt? Just amazing.

Of course, Hurt was a Nine Inch Nails song originally, written by Trent Reznor. But Cash made one lyric change:

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

The Reznor original was "crown of sheet" (the forum'll change that to sheet, but you know what it is). 'Thorns' is so much better.

 

[HoustonSaint68]

Of course, Hurt was a Nine Inch Nails song originally, written by Trent Reznor. But Cash made one lyric change:

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

The Reznor original was "crown of sheet" (the forum'll change that to sheet, but you know what it is). 'Thorns' is so much better.

Certainly, although I'm primarily thinking of the applicability to his own life (and his haunting video) rather than the penning of the lyrics themselves.

For that matter, Strange Fruit was written by a white dude.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Certainly, although I'm primarily thinking of the applicability to his own life (and his haunting video) rather than the penning of the lyrics themselves.

For that matter, Strange Fruit was written by a white dude.

Lyrics are fun/interesting that way - poetry, prose playwrighting can all exist independently
Lyrics admit that they are just part of a larger whole
So you can have a situation where Indigo Girls cover Dire Straits’s Roman and Juliet and they end up being very different songs even though they’re the same lyrically
I mean any Tori Amos cover is a very different song than the original
So what really are lyrics??

 

[HoustonSaint68]

Lyrics are fun/interesting that way - poetry, prose playwrighting can all exist independently
Lyrics admit that they are just part of a larger whole
So you can have a situation where Indigo Girls cover Dire Straits’s Roman and Juliet and they end up being very different songs even though they’re the same lyrically
I mean any Tori Amos cover is a very different song than the original
So what really are lyrics??

Absolutely, especially when you add the listener as the ultimate filter/catalyst.

I don't know Tori Amos so I'll have to check her out, but I get the point; see Joe Cocker.

[Edit: oh, HER. I do know her, just not the name.]

 

[FLEA]

John Prine and Iris DeMent:
In Spite of Ourselves

She don't like her eggs all runny
She thinks crossin' her legs is funny
She looks down her nose at money
She gets it on like the Easter Bunny
She's my baby, I'm her honey
I'm never gonna let her go
He ain't got laid in a month of Sundays
I caught him once and he was sniffin' my undies
He ain't too sharp but he gets things done
Drinks his beer like it's oxygen
He's my baby, and I'm his honey
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a-sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite
Our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when she shaves her legs
She takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'
I'm never gonna let her go
He's got more balls than a big brass monkey
He's a wacked out werido and a lovebug junkie
Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon
Payday comes and he's howlin' at the moon
He's my baby, I don't mean maybe
Never gonna let him go
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a-sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite
Our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
In spite of ourselves
We'll end up a-sittin' on a rainbow
Against all odds
Honey, we're the big door prize
We're gonna spite
Our noses right off of our faces
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
There won't be nothin' but big old hearts
Dancin' in our eyes
In spite of ourselves

 

[Devildog]

Jeff Buckley
Lover you Should've Come Over

This verse:

It's never over
My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over
All my riches for her smiles
When I've slept so soft against her
It's never over
All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter
It's never over
She is the tear that hangs inside my soul forever

 

[Infoman]

Woo Hoo
Song by The 5.6.7.8's

Lyrics

Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo
Woo hoo, woo hoo

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

In the tradition of great Irish ballads
Simple lyrics of gut punch stories

Said Red Molly to James, "That's a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Said James to Red Molly, "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning 1952"
"And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme"
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Knoxville they did ride
Said James to Red Molly, "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest, I'm a dangerous man
I've fought with the law since I was seventeen
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine"
"Now I'm twenty one years, I might make twenty two
And I don't mind dying but for the love of you
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
"Come down, come down, Red Molly", called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
Come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
Said, "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"
Said James, "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl
Now Norton's and Indians and Greeves just won't do
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said he don't have any further use for these
I see angels on Ariel's in leather and chrome
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride



@saintmdterps in particular

 

[HburgSaints]

Literally anything by Muse, but here is a specific example

Song: "Thought Contagion"

Strung out, falling from the big time
Welcome to the infinite black skies
Brain cleansed, fractured identity
Fragments and scattered debris

Awww
Thought contagion
Awww
Thought contagion

Fall down, learn when to count it out
Prop me up before I blackout
Withdraw before you're out of time
Clean slate and buried war crimes

You've been bitten by
A true believer
You've been bitten by
Someone who's hungrier than you
You've been bitten by
A true believer
You've been bitten by
Someone's false beliefs

Awww
Thought contagion
Awww
Thought contagion

They'll never do what you want them to
Give it up and watch it break through
It's too late for a revolution
Brace for the final solution

Awww
Thought contagion
Awww
Thought contagion

You've been bitten by
A true believer
You've been bitten by
Someone who's hungrier than you
You've been bitten by
A true believer
You've been bitten by
Someone's false beliefs

Awww
Thought contagion
Awww
Thought contagion

Strung out, falling from the big time
Welcome to the infinite black skies (thought contagion)
It's too late for a revolution
Brace for the final solution (thought contagion)

 

[tenordas]

To the OP's original suggestion for only a stanza or line, next to hearing Billie Holiday's voice in my head singing,

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth

the line I personally have the most visceral lyric-vocal reaction to is:

But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry.

Johnny Cash was the man. And to finish with Hurt? Just amazing.

The Man in Black is The Man; however, did you know that line from Folsom Prison Blues was inspired by a much older song (Cash said as much in an interview at least once)?

Blue Yodel No. 1 - Jimmie Rodgers (recorded in 1930):

I'm gonna shoot poor Thelma just to watch her jump and fall.

Funny story about this song: One of my best friends in high school had an ongoing conflict with his Dad over the "immoral" lyrics of that rock music he listened to. Well, when he was a Senior in high school, his Dad was able to find and buy a Victrola, and he pulled out his record collection of old country albums. The first or second song he played was Blue Yodel No. 1. Of course, my friend had never heard this song before, so when the line "I'm gonna shoot poor Thelma" came on, he was taken aback and with shock, said, "Dad! You talk about my music?!?" His Dad turned to him and said, "Yeah, but this is a classic!"

That was a long ago memory (and I never knew what the actual song was as he didn't tell me that when he told me the story) until last year when I was listening to Bluegrass Junction on sirius radio and Blue Yodel No. 1 came on. When I heard that line, I began laughing out loud, then paid close attention to who and what it was. I looked it up right away when I got home. Turns out it's a bit of a misnomer to play it on Bluegrass Junction as it predates bluegrass music by about 6-8 years depending on how you want to look at it, but all the same, "it's a classic."

 

[HoustonSaint68]

The Man in Black is The Man; however, did you know that line from Folsom Prison Blues was inspired by a much older song (Cash said as much in an interview at least once)?

Blue Yodel No. 1 - Jimmie Rodgers (recorded in 1930):

I'm gonna shoot poor Thelma just to watch her jump and fall.

Funny story about this song: One of my best friends in high school had an ongoing conflict with his Dad over the "immoral" lyrics of that rock music he listened to. Well, when he was a Senior in high school, his Dad was able to find and buy a Victrola, and he pulled out his record collection of old country albums. The first or second song he played was Blue Yodel No. 1. Of course, my friend had never heard this song before, so when the line "I'm gonna shoot poor Thelma" came on, he was taken aback and with shock, said, "Dad! You talk about my music?!?" His Dad turned to him and said, "Yeah, but this is a classic!"

That was a long ago memory (and I never knew what the actual song was as he didn't tell me that when he told me the story) until last year when I was listening to Bluegrass Junction on sirius radio and Blue Yodel No. 1 came on. When I heard that line, I began laughing out loud, then paid close attention to who and what it was. I looked it up right away when I got home. Turns out it's a bit of a misnomer to play it on Bluegrass Junction as it predates bluegrass music by about 6-8 years depending on how you want to look at it, but all the same, "it's a classic."

Cool - no idea that was the influence.

 

[HoustonSaint68]

How about some Dr. John (full long version)?

Now you say you never met my wife, you ain't never seen her befo'
Say you ain't been hangin' roun' my crib; well here's somethin' I wanna know...
I wanna know what in the worl' is goin' down

How come my dog don't bark when you come around?

I got the baddest dog, he'll bite anybody
He bit my little brother, took a chunk out of my ol' sweet li'l mother
He bit the mailman - he sees him every day
He takes one look at you, he wanna jump up and play
Now I ain't got a clue as to what you puttin' down, but

How come my dog don't bark when you come around?

My dog's dangerous; tried to set people straight
Even bought a "Bad dog" sign an' hung it on the gate
Here you come trippin' up 'bout a quarter to nine
Fulla dat Night Train wine, tryin' to slide past the sign

My dog been noddin' off, ain't payin' you no mind
That's my dog, when I come home he don't sleep that sound!

How come my dog don't bark when you come around?

I still don't like it, I don't dig it one damn bit
The way you an' my dog's so tight, somethin' don't fit!
I slipped through the alley, I called my dog
Said, "get off your rusty duster, move a little faster to your ol' master, you old cayute, you.

He took one look at me, an' he growled an' he ran straight to you
Now somebody's been confusin' my po' hound
An I wanna know what's goin' down

How come my dog don't bark when you come around?

Maybe I better call up Jacoby & Myers, an' you can take the fifth, amendment, that is
You better stand up fo' your rights, 'cause you might not be standin' too long
I'm gonna stop all this confusion. I'm gon' fire that hound, shoot that dog down
Then I'm gonna get busy mutilatin, strangulatin', operatin', an' crematin' my ol' Lady down at the cremation station
Then I'm gonna torch that, too, and come right on after you!

You can give you heart an' soul to charity; all the rest gonna belong to me

I'm goin' straight down to dat barber supply shop, get me a pearl handle, double edge, hollow ground, super blue blade, adjustable, stainless steel, honed edge, both blades on the same side so when I cut you once, you gonna bleed twice, goin' an' comin'. An' if you don' believe me, shake yo' head; it'll be singin' "I ain't got no body."

'Cause one night I did a little FBI Double-O-Seven-type investigatin'. You an' my ol' Lady thought I was gone, but I wasn't gone. Dat's why I have to separate you from your ground. And the only soun' you gonna hear when you six feet in the ground:

How come my dog didn't bark when you came around?

 

[HoustonSaint68]

And a Dr. John snippet for those who don’t like his War & Peace offerings:

Why come it is?
If ignorance is bliss, why more people ain’t happy?
Can ya tell me now, brutha?

 

[Tapxe]

They were drinking from a fountain
That was pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain

I don't mind the sun sometimes
The images it shows
I can taste you on my lips
And smell you in my clothes
Cinnamon and sugary
And softly spoken lies
You never know just how to look
Through other people's eyes

 

[zeetes]

body count's evil dick is up there. i don't think andrus will let me post the lyrics though..