The Best and Worst Song Lyrics.

[Anonymous]

Shake that ribbon from your hair.
Shake it loose and let it fall,
laying soft against my skin like the shadows on the wall.
Come and lay down by my side till the early morning light.
All I'm taking is your time...
Help me make it....

 

[kilted1]

Well, the honky tonks in Texas were my natural second home.
Where you tip your hat to the ladies and the rose of San Antone.

I grew up on music that we called Western swing.
It don't matter who's in Austin. Bob Wills is still the king!

There is a GREAT Western Swing band, used to be out of Ft Worth, called Cowboys and Indians, they'd have anywhere between 5-15 people in the band, depending who could get away from work for the gig. IF they ever have a gig down your way, they are a MUST SEE act! If you've seen them (my last time was at the now closed "Velvet Elvis" in Dallas) then you'll know what I'm talking about. I didn't know what Western (or Texas) Swing was when I first saw them, and man, they completely won me over to the genre.

Without question Bob Wills is still the KING! :cheers:

We have a member here who has played Austin many times, probably played down your way too. he now lives in Batavia, NY but knows a good bit about Western/Texas Swing.

 

[Anonymous]

OK. You got me.

PeeBee's posted a few that have been fantastic (IMHO) but the absolute best I've ever heard were written by a minstrel genius from around Westchester Penna. named Rob Dickenson, who's hovered on the edge of commercial awareness for coming up on 40 years now. Lived hand-to-mouth playing in his band for a couple of those years -- best musical experience I've ever had (this included maybe 15 years of symphony gigs before packing the whole thing in).

An excerpt from The Wallenda Song. About being a performer, tripping off the Wallena Family (high wire circus act).

In great bigtops it's been mentioned
(Say Wallenda -- say right now !)
Tightropes they give, and you step with tension
(Oooh net -- are you below me now ?)
Hands will clap 'til they sound like thunder
Beneath this canvas night
Spotlights burn 'til you begin to wonder
Are they seeing me right ? . . .

It takes a slip to make you giggle
Was that crack a smile ?
Looks like we'll have to hammer and chisel
In our inimitable circus style . . .

:face:

 

[Anonymous]

Another excerpt (a lot further "out there") about the frustration of dealing with the commercial music biz that operates on the principle of promoting and exploiting sheer sh*t :

First it's catapulted -- Money and Boston and Century all the time
(Oh Lord - Deliver me a silver mine !)
Isn't it a pity how it creeps out of the city like a bad hand on a leg !
I've got jackhammer fists and knots in my wrists
How could anyone not resist ?
I've got to kick down doors like I've knocked down walls
since it all began . . .

More music biz :

"Is this another failure ?"
A flashbulb pops
A hand is on your shoulder
Sneaky Art shows up . . .

:face:

 

[Justpipes]

"Ohio" Neil Young

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Interesting Analysis Website

 

[robertw1249]

Well, the honky tonks in Texas were my natural second home.
Where you tip your hat to the ladies and the rose of San Antone.

I grew up on music that we called Western swing.
It don't matter who's in Austin. Bob Wills is still the king!

There is a GREAT Western Swing band, used to be out of Ft Worth, called Cowboys and Indians, they'd have anywhere between 5-15 people in the band, depending who could get away from work for the gig. IF they ever have a gig down your way, they are a MUST SEE act! If you've seen them (my last time was at the now closed "Velvet Elvis" in Dallas) then you'll know what I'm talking about. I didn't know what Western (or Texas) Swing was when I first saw them, and man, they completely won me over to the genre.

Without question Bob Wills is still the KING! :cheers:

We have a member here who has played Austin many times, probably played down your way too. he now lives in Batavia, NY but knows a good bit about Western/Texas Swing.

yeah kilted bob will and the texas playboys where great and being name bob wills jr it was played a lot when i was groing up in my home :mrgreen:

 

[Justpipes]

Well, the honky tonks in Texas were my natural second home.
Where you tip your hat to the ladies and the rose of San Antone.

I grew up on music that we called Western swing.
It don't matter who's in Austin. Bob Wills is still the king!

There is a GREAT Western Swing band, used to be out of Ft Worth, called Cowboys and Indians, they'd have anywhere between 5-15 people in the band, depending who could get away from work for the gig. IF they ever have a gig down your way, they are a MUST SEE act! If you've seen them (my last time was at the now closed "Velvet Elvis" in Dallas) then you'll know what I'm talking about. I didn't know what Western (or Texas) Swing was when I first saw them, and man, they completely won me over to the genre.

Without question Bob Wills is still the KING! :cheers:

We have a member here who has played Austin many times, probably played down your way too. he now lives in Batavia, NY but knows a good bit about Western/Texas Swing.

I like the western swing band Asleep At The Wheel. They also mix a little southern rock kind of honky tonk style in with it.

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Hands-down, my favorite living songwriter is one Declan MacManus, a/k/a Mr. Diana Krall, a/k/a Elvis Costello.

My favorite verse from one of my favorites of his:

The sugarcoated pill is getting bitterer still
You think your country needs you, but you know it never will
So pack up your troubles in a stolen handbag
Don't dilly-dally, boys, rally 'round the flag
Give us our daily bread in individual slices
And something in the daily rag to cancel any crisis

What would you say? What would you do?
Children and animals, two by two
Give me the needle, give me the rope
We're going to melt them down for pills and soap
-"Pills and Soap" (from Punch the Clock)

I could fill up a lot screens with other choice lyrics. At the risk of hubris: EC is one of the top five of the 20th century. As prolific as Porter and as dangerous as Dylan.

 

[Ol'Dawg]

My favorite lyrics are found in most of the old time gospel songs like "I'll Fly Away", "I Saw the Light", "Rock of Ages", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Amazing Grace", "Precious Lord Take My Hand", "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", "Old Rugged Cross", etc.

However, there's one song by Bill Staines that reflects metaphorically my thoughts and philosophy about people in general and that song is named "Place in the Choir" I'll include the lyrics here:

A PLACE IN THE CHOIR
Chorus
All God's critters got a place in the choir
Some sing low, some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on the telephone wires,
And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they
got now.

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus
Moans and groans with a big t'do
And the old cow just goes moo.
The dogs and the cats they take up the middle
While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddles,
The donkey brays and the pony neighs
And the old coyote howls.
CHORUS

Listen to the top where the little birds sing
On the melodies with the high notes ringing,
The hoot owl hollers over everything
And the jaybird disagrees.
Singin' in the night time, singing in the day,
The little duck quacks, then he's on his way.
The 'possum ain't got much to say
And the porcupine talks to himself.
CHORUS

It's a simple song of living sung everywhere
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly gear,
The grumpy alligator the the hawk above,
The sly racoon and the turtle dove.
CHORUS

By Bill Staines, copyright 1979
On "The Whistle of the Jay"

Jim

 

[Justpipes]

That is a great one Jim!

 

[SmokeyTweed]

How about another great Canadian songwriter: Leonard Cohen

Everybody Knows lyrics

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died

Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows

Also "Hallelujah" was another beautiful song.

 

[SmokeyTweed]

I will defend Michael Buble in the fact that i am sure he doesn't write his own material. He is but a talented singer puppet David Foster wants to turn into the next Tony Bennett. :face:

 

[Centurian 803]

One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Gordon Lightfoot. The man is a true poet. He is the closest thing this generation (meaning those born in the 50's) has to a true minstrel. He could tell a beautiful story in his songs.

 

[Trout Bum]

Great thread! Dylan, Neil Young, of course Springsteen... but do not overlook Bruce Cockburn as a seriously talented singer/songwriter...

As for bad lyrics... my dad used to sing me this song:

Barney Google, with the goog-goog-googly eyes!
Barney Google, thought his horse would win the prize
But when the horses ran away
Spark-plug ran the other way
Barney Google, with the goog-goog-googly eyes!

I guess he would sing it to me as an infant/toddler, but would often holler it at the top of his lungs while driving or cooking dinner or whatever when I was a teenager. It is kind of funny, actually... Since it makes no sense, it used to BUG me as a teen!

 

[gospelman]

I actually liked the song "Me and Mrs. Jones", but the Billy Paul version back in the 70's.

One of the most profound songs, to me, is "Jesus Loves me This I Know."

Mention was made of two of my favorite songwriters, Neil Young and Kris Kristoffersson.

Young's "Old Man" is one of my favorites.

Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord" kills me every time I hear it.

I'm fond of Pete Seeger's work, and one of my favorirtes is "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?".

Also, for summing up teen angst, you can't beat Alice Cooper's "Eighteen". That song came out, oddly enough, the year I turned 18.

Least favorite lyrics (or song)...how about "The Thong Song" (I think that's the name of it).

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

Scottish Broadside Chorus -:

Hey, Johnnie Cope -- Are you wankin' yet ?
Or are you sleepin' (I would wit)
Make haste and get up, for the drums do beat
Oh, Fie Cope ! Rise in the mornin' !

From 1745. Cope was the English General.

 

[kilted1]

Scottish Broadside Chorus -:

Hey, Johnnie cope -- Are you wankin' yet ?
Or are you sleepin' (I would wit)
Make haste and get up, for the drums do beat
Oh, Fie Cope ! Rise in the mornin' !

From 1745. Cope was the English General.

There have been many a version done of this, and I love them. True spirit of rebellion in most of them ... :cheers:

 

[Centurian 803]

Scottish Broadside Chorus -:

Hey, Johnnie cope -- Are you wankin' yet ?
Or are you sleepin' (I would wit)
Make haste and get up, for the drums do beat
Oh, Fie Cope ! Rise in the mornin' !

From 1745. Cope was the English General.

There have been many a version done of this, and I love them. True spirit of rebellion in most of them ... :cheers:

Here here! I love all the Scots & Irish songs of rebellion. I especially like Sinead O'Connor's version (with the Chieftans) of The Foggy Dew!

 

[Anonymous]

Check out the arrangement Beethoven wrote (no shit) for tenor and piano trio.

He did a whole pile of them.

:face:

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a good one from The Who:

Baba O'Riley
I'm here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living.

I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven.
yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah

Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland

Sally, take my hand
We'll travel south cross land
Put out the fire
And don't look past my shoulder.

The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together
Before we get much older.

Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland.
Teenage wasteland
Oh, yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted!