Lyrically Speaking! (The Lyrics Discussion Thread)

musicjunkiegreg

musicjunkiegreg

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I actually went through all 25 pages of threads here and I don't think I found one specifically dedicated to lyrics (if one exists and I missed it, just let me know and I can remove this one. If not, then carry on!).

Share your favourite lyrics here! Ones that are relevant to you personally, ones that are relevant to society as a whole. Tell why they are relevant (or just post them, either way). Maybe you have a different interpretation of certain lyrics than the norm. Maybe it's a funny lyric, maybe it's a sad or devastating lyric, maybe it's one of the worst lyrics you've ever heard - share it! Share your favourite lyricist/songwriter. Share your favourite albums based on the lyrics/concept.
 
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Petrol Girls - "Baby, I Had An Abortion" from Baby (2022)

With SCOTUS's recent overturning of Roe v Wade, this song is completely relevant right now in the US..

I'm a god-damn should-be-mother​
Got a womb so that's my purpose​
I'm a god-damn incubator​
But baby i'll see you later​
​
Whose life are you pro?​
Whose do you want to control?​
Heaven forbid my rights​
Heaven forgive what i decide​
Shame, shame, shame​
Point your finger and cry​
Shame, shame, shame​
Oh i feel it deep inside​
​
Baby, i had an abortion (x4)​
And i am not sorry​
​
Oh it's a god damn moral panic​
Save the sperm because it's sacred​
Blessed is the foetus​
But god damn the children in existence​
Whose life are you pro?​
Whose do you want to control​
You want to come inside​
Tell me how i'm traumatized​
​
Shame, shame, shame​
Point your finger and cry oh it's a​
Shame, shame, shame​
​
That i'm not sorry​
I'm not sorry​
​
Baby, i had an abortion (x4)​
​
Baby, i had (x7)​
An abortion (x4)​
​
​
 
Bon Iver - "Holocene" from Bon Iver (2011)

And at once I knew, I was not magnificent​

Having the humbling realization of your own insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
 
Joanna Newsom - "Emily" from Ys (2006)

There is a rusty light on the pines tonight;​
sun pouring wine, lord, or marrow, into the bones of the birches, and the spires of the churches, jutting out from the shadows;​
the yoke, and the axe, and the old smokestacks, and the bale, and the barrow —​
and everything sloped, like it was dragged from a rope, in the mouth of the south below.​
​
I could literally spend hours here sharing lyrics from Joanna Newsom. She is, IMO, one of the greatest songwriters/lyricists of all time. This specific verse from "Emily" is from the first JN album I heard, Ys (2006). Her poetry creates a painting here. This is art in lyrical form.
 
Sara Bareilles is one of my favorite lyricists. This one is resonating with me lately.

"Fairytale"
("Little Voice" version)

Cinderella's on her bedroom floor
She's got a crush on the guy at the liquor store
'Cause Mr. Charming don't come home anymore
And she forgets why she came here

Sleeping Beauty's in a foul mood for shame
She says none for you dear prince, I'm tired today
I'd rather sleep my whole life away
Than have you keep me from dreaming

'Cause I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing
Next best thing

Snow White is doing dishes again
'Cause what else could you do
With seven itty-bitty men?
Sends them to bed and she calls up a friend
Says would you meet me at midnight?

The tall blonde lets out a cry of despair
Says would've cut it myself if I knew men could climb hair
I'll have to find another tower somewhere
Keep away from the windows

'Cause I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing
Next best thing

Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom
Man made up a story said that I should believe him
Go and tell your white knight
That he's handsome in hindsight
But I don't want the next best thing
So I sing hold my head down
And I break these walls 'round me
Can't take no more of your fairytale love

I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing

I don't care
I don't care
Worry bout the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
Spent the whole life being graded
On the sanctity of patience
And a dumb appreciation
But the story needs some mending
And a better happy ending
'Cause I don't want the next best thing
No no I don't want the next best thing
 
nolalady said:
Sara Bareilles is one of my favorite lyricists. This one is resonating with me lately.

"Fairytale"
("Little Voice" version)

Cinderella's on her bedroom floor
She's got a crush on the guy at the liquor store
'Cause Mr. Charming don't come home anymore
And she forgets why she came here

Sleeping Beauty's in a foul mood for shame
She says none for you dear prince, I'm tired today
I'd rather sleep my whole life away
Than have you keep me from dreaming

'Cause I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing
Next best thing

Snow White is doing dishes again
'Cause what else could you do
With seven itty-bitty men?
Sends them to bed and she calls up a friend
Says would you meet me at midnight?

The tall blonde lets out a cry of despair
Says would've cut it myself if I knew men could climb hair
I'll have to find another tower somewhere
Keep away from the windows

'Cause I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing
Next best thing

Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom
Man made up a story said that I should believe him
Go and tell your white knight
That he's handsome in hindsight
But I don't want the next best thing
So I sing hold my head down
And I break these walls 'round me
Can't take no more of your fairytale love

I don't care for your fairytales
You're so worried about the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
On the next best thing

I don't care
I don't care
Worry bout the maiden
Though you know she's only waiting
Spent the whole life being graded
On the sanctity of patience
And a dumb appreciation
But the story needs some mending
And a better happy ending
'Cause I don't want the next best thing
No no I don't want the next best thing
Click to expand...
Never heard of her or this song. So, naturally, I went and listened to it. Loved it! Gonna share this one with my wife, I think she'd dig it. Sara B. has a beautiful voice! Thanks for sharing 😄
 
musicjunkiegreg said:
Never heard of her or this song. So, naturally, I went and listened to it. Loved it! Gonna share this one with my wife, I think she'd dig it. Sara B. has a beautiful voice! Thanks for sharing 😄
Click to expand...
Sara is great. She also wrote all the music + lyrics for the musical Waitress. I recommend that one, especially if you’re a fan of stage shows.

 
Agalloch - "In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion" from The Mantle (2002)

As I'm stalked by the shadow of death's hand​
The fire in my heart is forged across the land​
​
From, arguably, my favourite song of all time, this line encapsulates the entire piece. Death is always around the corner, "stalking" us. And it will always take us. But until that day, it's up to us to carpe diem.
 
Like most art I am much more into observational lyricists. For me Joni is still the lyricist that hit the highest peaks, others may have scaled the heights more often but I don’t think anyone tops her at her best. Very few songs are as perfect as A Case Of You.

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said, "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh, I would still be on my feet
Oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I remember that time you told me
You said, "Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said, "Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"
Oh, but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter
Bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
 
Joe Mac said:
Like most art I am much more into observational lyricists. For me Joni is still the lyricist that hit the highest peaks, others may have scaled the heights more often but I don’t think anyone tops her at her best. Very few songs are as perfect as A Case Of You.

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said, "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh, I would still be on my feet
Oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I remember that time you told me
You said, "Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said, "Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"
Oh, but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter
Bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet
Click to expand...
Joni is surely one of the best! Thanks for sharing this one 😄 I agree, A Case Of You is definitely one of Joni's best.
 
Sufjan Stevens - "Fourth Of July" from Carrie & Lowell (2015)

I vividly remember when I first listened to this album. My first daughter had just been born and I was a new parent. I remember it was late at night and I was up holding my daughter, trying to rock her to sleep and I had this album playing quietly in my ear buds. Track 6, Fourth Of July, came on and it absolutely floored me. Still to this day it remains one of the few songs that can bring me to tears each time I listen to it. I remember thinking that I hoped I could be the best Dad possible for my little girl. I vowed to give my little dove as much love as I could.

The evil it spread like a fever ahead​
It was night when you died, my firefly​
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?​
Oh could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?​
Well you do enough talk​
My little hawk, why do you cry?​
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?​
Or the Fourth of July?​
We're all gonna die​
Sitting at the bed with the halo at your head​
Was it all a disguise, like Junior High​
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction​
Now, where am I?​
My fading supply​
Did you get enough love, my little dove​
Why do you cry?​
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best​
Though it never felt right​
My little Versailles​
The hospital asked should the body be cast​
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky​
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth​
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?​
Shall we look at the moon, my little loon​
Why do you cry?​
Make the most of your life, while it is rife​
While it is light​
Well you do enough talk​
My little hawk, why do you cry?​
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?​
Or the Fourth of July?​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​
We're all gonna die​

music.sufjan.com

Fourth of July, by Sufjan Stevens

from the album Carrie & Lowell
music.sufjan.com music.sufjan.com
 
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