The Lyrics Thread

[Alex_UK]

Strange but my shelves are spilling with Dylan albums & have been since I was about 15, but I don't own this one, nor have I ever heard it, to my knowledge.

I'm gradually working through the Dylan back catalogue - this has been one of my favourites so far - 25 years into his career, and although his 80s albums are generally not considered "masterpieces" this a "return to form" after a rough patch between "Infidels" and this one. Well, so they say - whoever they may be!

[DanJennings]

I'm gradually working through the Dylan back catalogue - this has been one of my favourites so far - 25 years into his career, and although his 80s albums are generally not considered "masterpieces" this a "return to form" after a rough patch between "Infidels" and this one. Well, so they say - whoever they may be!

+1

I love the Oh Mercy album, not the cheeriest though. I love 'Ring Them Bells' 'Political World' and 'The Disease Of Conceit'

[DSJR]

Bob Dylan? Over-rated if you ask me

One of my favourite bands and all thanks to Alex..

"True To Form" and rather topical for me right now on here...

It's a little too easy to live and learn
But those breaks are scarce
So take some time out
to look back and see how you fared

The right is always the wrong
and the short's always the long
The hardest thing about refrain
is now I can only save face

To deny yourself is so true to form
You spend most of your days wishing you were never born
To deny yourself is so true to form
You spend most of your days wishing you were never born

Face down in what you know
you'll never come up for air
Close the door
I've had about as much as I can bear

The right is always the wrong
and the short's always the long
The hardest thing about refrain
is now I can only save face

To deny yourself is so true to form
You spend most of your days wishing you were never born
To deny yourself is so true to form
You spend most of your days wishing you were never born

[joethelion]

Some innocuous thoughts over a few G&T's ...

A thread which references great story-telling, in lyrics that also manifest great songs too, should tip the Forum pork pie to someone near-universally acknowledged one of the greatest contemporary British cameo lyricists and song-writers ...

Eg:

Tube Station -

"They took the keys,
And she'll think it's me."

Truly graphic ... It's impossible not to envisage and feel this horror, if you love her ... even if you don't ...


Private Hell -

"The man that you once loved,
Is bald and fat,
And seldom in,
Working late as usual."

Disturbingly close ... Stops you looking in the mirror and tears your heart ... Don't play it on your Birthday ... Nor Hers ...


The wonderful world of music probably affords greater scope for Forum thread confusion than any other art-form, yet this would be a great thread to develop in more specific ways.

Eg: Could we ask for posters' comments/justification ... like mine above ?

I can forsee it might become discouraging/time-consuming, however, there might be fairly simple ways of bringing greater objectivity, clarity and purpose ... and there sure are some sharp minds around here ...

Most importantly:

Why choose to bring a particular lyric to the Forum's attention ?

Perhaps lyrics could be offered in sub-threads as Cameo, or Abstract, or Avant Garde, or Driving, or Late Night, or Lurv ... or Disco ( ) .... ?

Eg: The Tull fraternity are certainly capable of commenting/justifying such as "Aqualung" ... Great choice ... likewise "She's Leaving... " ... There's eg: "Waterloo Sunset" too ... and loads of rap, which is substantially cameo ...

Indeed, it seems Cameos might form the first sub-thread ...

It might be possible in time to build a really good DJ-like series of descriptors/play-lists for all manner of occasions/situations/moods ...

Eg: I've traded on "Beatles Love Songs", Levi Stubbs, Alison Moyet and Barry White, every Valentine's Day since whenever ... (and mostly done OK) but it might be even more productive next time to have the benefit of wider appreciation/knowledge/understanding/relevance ...

Alternately, perhaps Posters might merely be required to state their case ?

Or .. 'owzabowt ... A conforming weekly topic/subject/genre/artist/band/whatever, deemed by the Great whoever (or even the Boss) ...

How about starting this coming Monday with db & War ... ?

Well, on reflection, it's not a great starter really ... V2 Schneider's instrumental ... but it makes the point ...

There's still "Heroes", of course ...

Savvy ?

Cheers,
(literally)

jtl

PS: Sorry if such/similar is dealt with elsewhere ... I haven't read every post/thread ... yet

[Barry]

Hello Joe

I think you will find that several posters to this thread do explain how and why the lyrics quoted mean so much to them, rather than quoting them in isolation.

It also helps if a YouTube clip can be added.


This is an excellent thread that does lay fallow from time to time, and I have felt that I should contribute with some new posts.

Regards

[DSJR]

From the lips of Maire Brennan (Clannad)




Though I care a lot.
You don’t believe it’s true, do you?
So. The answer’s not 'give in before you start,
And try'.

Almost seems to late to turn,
What do we burn to learn?
Almost seems to late to turn,
To you.

I saw the sad decline,
a rift become a storm.
Stayed so cold last night,
This lonely heart inside me says:

Almost seems to late to turn,
What do we burn to learn?
Almost seems to late to turn,
To you.

Now, the anger’s gone,
It leaves behind a pain, again.
Where did we go wrong?
Let go my shadow, pass me by.

Almost seems to late to turn,
What do we burn to learn?
Almost seems to late to turn,
To you.

[freefallrob]

Driving through the long night
Trying to figure who's right and who's wrong
Now the kid has gone.
I sit belted up tight,
She sucks on a match light, glowing bronze,
Steering on.

And I might be more of a man
If I stopped this in its tracks and say come on, lets go home.
But she's got the wheel,
And I've got nothing except what I have on.

When you're driving with the brakes on,
When you're swimming with your boots on,
It’s hard to say you love someone
And it’s hard to say you don't

Trying to keep the mood right,
Trying to steer the conversation from
The thing we've done.
She shuts up the ashtray and I say it’s a long way back now hon
And she just yawns. And we might get lost someplace so desolate that no one where we're from would ever come

But she's got the wheel
And I've got to deal from now on.

When you're driving with the brakes on
When you're swimming with your boots on
It’s hard to say you love someone
And it’s hard to say you don't

But unless the moon falls tonight, unless continents collide,
Nothing's gonna make me break from her side.

Cos when you're driving with the breaks on
When you're swimming with your boots on
It’s hard to say you love someone
And it’s hard to say you don't...

[The Grand Wazoo]

From The Grave

Don't forget to let us know the name of the song & who did it.

[mikeba316]

666 is no longer alone,
He's getting out the marrow in your back bone,
And the seven trumpets blowing sweet rock and roll,
Gonna blow right down inside your soul.
Pythagoras with the looking glass reflects the full moon,
In blood, he's writing the lyrics of a brand new tune.

[MartinT]

If you want head-scratching confusion, you can't beat a good Yes lyric.

Heart of the Sunrise

Love comes to you and you follow
Lose one on to the heart of the sunrise
SHARP-DISTANCE
How can the wind with its arms
All around me

Lost on a wave and then after
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
SHARP-DISTANCE
How can the wind with so many around me
Lost in the city

Lost in their eyes as you hurry by
Counting the broken ties they decide
Love comes to you and then after
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
Lost on a wave that you're dreaming
Dream on on to the heart of the sunrise
SHARP-DISTANCE
How can the wind with its arms all around me
SHARP-DISTANCE
How can the wind with so many around me
I feel lost in the city

...etc.