i've been listening to a lot of drive by truckers recently (okay... i've always listened to a lot of drive by truckers) and am just amazed by their fantastic songwriting chops... hood, cooley, isbell (who's no longer with them), all 3 are top notch. like isbell's tune "decoration day": It’s Decoration Day. And I’ve a mind to roll a stone on his grave. But what would he say? “Keeping me down, boy, won’t keep me away”. It’s Decoration Day. And I knew the Hill Boys would put us away, but my Daddy wasn’t afraid. He said “We’ll fight till the last Lawson’s last living day” I never knew how it all got started a problem with Holland before we were born and I don’t know the name of that boy we tied down and beat till he just couldn’t walk anymore. But I know the caliber in Daddy’s chest and I know what Holland Hill drives. The state let him go, but I guess it was best cause nobody needs all us Lawsons alive. Daddy said one of the boys had come by the Lumber Man’s favorite son. He said, “Beat him real good but don’t dare let him die and if you see Holland Hill run" Now I said, “they ain’t give us trouble no more that we ain’t brought down on ourselves” But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor and I’ll send all the Hill Boys to hell. It’s Decoration Day and I’ve got a family in Mobile Bay and they’ve never seen my Daddy’s grave. But that don’t bother me, it ain’t marked anyway. Cause I got dead brothers in Lauderdale south and I got dead brothers in east Tennessee. My Daddy got shot right in front of his house he had no one to fall on but me. It’s Decoration Day and I’ve got a mind to go spit on his grave. If I was a Hill, I’d have put him away and I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day. I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day. I’d fight till the last Lawson’s last living day. ----- and there are plenty where that came from.... so how bout you?
I'm more of a music fan that picks up stuff because of how it sounds - not because of lyrics. The exception to that is stuff by Dylan (although I always like the musicians he chooses to play with), Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and to a degree, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison (my 2 current obsessions). Maybe my all-time favorite song, lyric wise is this one from Cohen: Now the flames they followed Joan of Arc as she came riding through the dark; no moon to keep her armour bright, no man to get her through this very smoky night. She said, "I'm tired of the war, I want the kind of work I had before, a wedding dress or something white to wear upon my swollen appetite." Well, I'm glad to hear you talk this way, you know I've watched you riding every day and something in me yearns to win such a cold and lonesome heroine. "And who are you?" she sternly spoke to the one beneath the smoke. "Why, I'm fire," he replied, "And I love your solitude, I love your pride." "Then fire, make your body cold, I'm going to give you mine to hold," saying this she climbed inside to be his one, to be his only bride. And deep into his fiery heart he took the dust of Joan of Arc, and high above the wedding guests he hung the ashes of her wedding dress. It was deep into his fiery heart he took the dust of Joan of Arc, and then she clearly understood if he was fire, oh then she must be wood. I saw her wince, I saw her cry, I saw the glory in her eye. Myself I long for love and light, but must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?
I also mainly like music due to its overall sound and beat. I really don't pay attention or remember lyrics even to a song I have heard a hundred times. That being said some of the few artists where I can remember some of the lyrics include Sun Kil Moon, Sufjan Stevens and especially Jens Lekman. Jens Lekman: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7dfI0Naq3ls&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7dfI0Naq3ls&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
well i wasn't implying that.... if the music behind the lyrics doesn't do it for me, then that renders the song as a wash; meaning i probably wont listen to it hardly at all. here's some older live footage of the song: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDODEj1gkS4&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDODEj1gkS4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
very much so... definitely a much more country feel to it, but i love the addition of the keyboard. people are raving about it... the chronicle even gave it a great review a few days ago. you a fan?
I haven't listened to the band much at all. I was just reading some various music blogs the past few days and they mentioned their new album and had reviews about it. I'll take a listen to them this weekend.
zero 7's "passing by". makes me think of my struggling relationship with God. just as long as we have a relationship, things will be fine. I don't think you love me Confusion settling in I don't think I'll be staying Around here, anymore There's no question that I love you But I'm living in my own time And here I am debating Whether I'm wrong, or right Who am I To make a judgement of Your life I'm only Passing by Passing by All the promises I gave you Helped me to survive And all the times I wished you'd save me You were the love of my life Who am I To make a judgement of Your life I'm only Passing by Passing by
I might call your spot pumpin' if you got crushed ice In a styrofoam cup with the refill rights So homie no time to chill we got places to try I gotta find some grilled onions and a large side of fries Some guys are mad smart, some guys are tough dudes But me and my homies we mostly care about food Got spots to peruse and never choosin' McDonald's I'm talkin Al's cheesteaks, Dino's and Chano's Tomy's on Pico, Hi-Life in Pasadena Man and Lucky Boy too and I can't forget Arena Wilson Burger by PCH in Hawthorne And right around the corner is Y-Not, it's awesome Melrose got Astro's and that's that I only mess with Fat Burger if your fries are fat Now Whittier you got Ruby's they're renowned for their shakes It's like the Claim Jumper pilin up the food on your plate Wait, now better yet let me tell you 'bout that Busy Bee You get the Belly Buster–the chicken or the pastrami Tommy's on the late night, Eat Well for breakfast And Fritto Misto with my lady–gnocchi's the best dish Shout to Papadakis, Lighthouse and a Waffle House Fantastic Cafe and Pronto they rule the South Word to your mouth until the next Phillippe's Yo I'm out on the streets looking for something to eat When I'm chillin' I'd rather be grillin Gimme a plate of the flavor and Mike starts stealin' Now if I ain't squeezin lemon on the roast chicken I'm jumpin on the row like the fast food villain Burgers I be killin, tomatoes and all I be coolin in the food court of your favorite mall Buyin' brunch like it was weight, throw it in the back of the trunk I'm off to Tom's #2 to get me some lunch Ten beef tacos, señor. Extra cheese. And the chips that you got at the store, lookie here Now I just passed Oki-Dog, I'm headed toward Lucy's Passed the Roscoe's–they can keep them waffles In the distance I see a place they call El Rey Home of the garbage burrito and if not then hit Benito's Taquitos for days and a big bag of Lay's Wash it down with a soft drink, hmm, let me think I head down west to the A-1 Burger Where the french fries are fresh and you might get murdered Or what about Johnny's pastramis and shakes So you can hit Chabelita's for the midnight break After the club spend a dub and you can feed your crew On any given day this is what I might do Go place a order, then wait, pick it up
Most of Sublime's lyrics are pretty hardcore in deep meaning if you checkem out, of course they have some songs that just tell stories but most of the songs are very hardcore about life and what not....
You got a lotta nerve To say you are my friend When I was down You just stood there grinning You got a lotta nerve To say you got a helping hand to lend You just want to be on The side that's winning You say I let you down You know it's not like that If you're so hurt Why then don't you show it You say you lost your faith But that's not where it's at You had no faith to lose And you know it I know the reason That you talk behind my back I used to be among the crowd You're in with Do you take me for such a fool To think I'd make contact With the one who tries to hide What he don't know to begin with You see me on the street You always act surprised You say, "How are you?" "Good luck" But you don't mean it When you know as well as me You'd rather see me paralyzed Why don't you just come out once And scream it No, I do not feel that good When I see the heartbreaks you embrace If I was a master thief Perhaps I'd rob them And now I know you're dissatisfied With your position and your place Don't you understand It's not my problem I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes And just for that one moment I could be you Yes, I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes You'd know what a drag it is To see you
This song was so well written that it could be conceived about many themes... <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/irp8CNj9qBI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/irp8CNj9qBI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
[Prince Markie D:] $3.99 for all you can eat? Well, I'm a stuff my face to a funky beat! [Kool Rock Ski:] We're gonna walk inside, and guess what's up: Put some food in my plate, and some Coke in my cup [Prince Markie D:] Give me some chicken, franks, and fries And you can pass me a lettuce. I'm a pass it by [Kool Rock Ski:] So keep shoveling, (Ha!) onto my plate Give me some sweets and lots of cake [Prince Markie D:] Give me some hot Macaroni and Cheese! [Human Beat Box:] Give me some more food PLEASE! [Kool Rock Ski:] Give me some bologna, salami, and ham Toast with butter and strawberry jam [Prince Markie D:] I love it whether the food is cold or hot Put a burger on the plate, and it'll hit the spot [Kool Rock Ski:] We'll eat everything. An incredible feat $3.99 for all you can eat! The first time I heard this song, I almost cried because the lyrics really touched me, and to this day I get misty whenever I see an 'all-u-can-eat' sign. Prince Markie D and Kool Rock Ski truly understand what it means to be a human in the modern age.
"Summers going fast, Nights growing colder. Children growing up, Old friends growing older... ... I'm not looking back But I want to look around me now See more of the people And the places that surround me now" These are my favorite lyrics. They really hit home every time you reach some sort of milestone in your life (i.e. hit 30 or hit 40; have friends [or you!] get married; have babies, etc...). Especially "old friends growing older.."
I like almost all lyrics from Dido, each song is lovely and fits well in many stages of life. Also, I like the lyrics of Killer Queen by Queen Two of Dido All you want <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UvYZzt32mv4&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UvYZzt32mv4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> Dont Think of Me <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o86bWcM3KuA&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o86bWcM3KuA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Ol' Miss Virgie tended bar at this shack out in the hills It never made her no money, boys, but it paid up all o' her bills Now she must have been 80 years old But her heart was warm, and her beer was cold She gave away more than she ever sold She was smilin' all the time I used to sing off in the corner every Friday night To a loud crowd of cowboys, bikers and bar room fights They were drinking beer, carrying on Not a one of them'd listen to one of my songs But old Miss Virgie sang along Said she knew 'em all by heart And then one night after closing, she poured me a beer She said "Come on over and sitdown, you little ****, I got something you need to hear: Life ain't easy getting through Everybody's gonna make things tough on you, But I can tell you right now if you dig what you do It'll never get you down "Life's too short to worry Life's too long to wait It's too short not to love everybody And life's too long to hate. I've seen a lotta men'll haggle, finagle all the time Trying to save a nickel 'n make a dime Not me, boy no sireee, I ain't got the time."
<embed src="http://www.metrolyrics.com/scroller/scroller2.swf?lyricid=2147447426&border=2&bordert=80&bgfont=0xC0C0C0&bg=http://www.metrolyrics.com/scroller/bgpic/bluedisco.jpg&filter=0x000000&filtert=25&txt=0xFFFFFF&fontname=arial&fontsize=11&speed=2" quality="high" width="180" height="210" name="scroll" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /><br /><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/soulja-boy-lyrics.html" title="Soulja Boy Lyrics">Soulja Boy Lyrics</a></embed> think about the depth of the words! think about the meaningful sincere orgasmically melancholic lyrics!! think about his situation being up in dat ho, and then him having to endure the notoriously worrisome hardship of supermanning dat ho .. sorry..
Bob Dylan (Zimmerman) and Pete Townshend Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you And then he kneels He crosses himself And then he clicks his high heels And without further notice He asks you how it feels And he says, "Here is your throat back Thanks for the loan" Because something is happening here But you don't know what it is Do you, Mister Jones? Now you see this one-eyed midget Shouting the word "NOW" And you say, "For what reason?" And he says, "How?" And you say, "What does this mean?" And he screams back, "You're a cow Give me some milk Or else go home" Because something is happening here But you don't know what it is Do you, Mister Jones? - From Mr. Zimmerman We've had some years of hate But now we're in the eights I'm unaware of any difference I need you even more My money keeps me poor I'm still amazed at your omnipotence I look at baggy suits and leather capped with puke I look at Richmond married couples denim look I watch my kids grow up and ridicule the bunch~ When you are eleven the whole world's out to lunch Daily records Just wanna keep making daily records Can't exist no more in chains and fetters Just wanna keep making records Play in - play out - fade in - fade out Making records day in - day out - From Mr. Townshend
Gosh, just too many to mention, but a few more: Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits: I go down to speakers corner Im thunderstruck They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks Two men say theyre jesus one of them must be wrong Theres a protest singer singing a protest song - he says they wanna have a war to keep us on our knees They wanna have a war to keep their factories They wanna have a war to stop us buying japanese They wanna have a war to stop industrial disease Theyre pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind They wanna sap your energy incarcerate your mind They give you rule brittania, gassy beer, page three Two weeks in espana and sunday striptease Meanwhile the first jesus says Id cure it soon Abolish monday mornings and friday afternoons The other ones on a hunger strike hes dying by degrees How come jesus gets industrial disease Bruce Springsteen Now those E Street brats in twilight duel flash like phantoms in full star stream Down fire trails on silver nights with blonde girls pledged sweet sixteen The newsboys say the heat's been bad since Power Thirteen gave a trooper all he had in a summer scuffle And Power's girl, Little Angel, been on the corner keepin' those crazy boys out of trouble Little Angel steps the shuffle like she ain't got no brains She's death in combat down on Lover's Lane She drives all them local boys insane Peter Gabriel Jeux sans frontieres Andre has a red flag, chiang chings is blue They all have hills to fly them on except for lin tai yu Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games Hiding out in tree-tops shouting out rude names -whistling tunes we hide in the dunes by the seaside -whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle Its a knockout And last but not least, Neal Peart Sprawling on the fringes of the city In geometric order An insulated border In between the bright lights And the far unlit unknown Growing up it all seems so one-sided Opinions all provided The future pre-decided Detached and subdivided In the mass production zone Nowhere is the dreamer Or the misfit so alone Subdivisions --- In the high school halls In the shopping malls Conform or be cast out Subdivisions --- In the basement bars In the backs of cars Be cool or be cast out Any escape might help to smooth The unattractive truth But the suburbs have no charms to soothe The restless dreams of youth
