Dumb song lyrics (Read 793 times)

AnneCA


    On the first part of the journey, 
    I was looking at all the life. 
    There were plants and birds. and rocks and things
    There was sand and hills and rings. 
    The first thing I met, was a fly with a buzz, 
    And the sky, with no clouds. 
    The heat was hot, and the ground was dry, 
    But the air was full of sound. 

    I've been through the desert on a horse with no name, 
    It felt good to be out of the rain.
    In the desert you can remember your name, 
    'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain. 
    La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
    La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

     

    And things?  Just gave up there, huh?  Plus, did he just offer "rocks and things" as a subcategory of "all the life" he was looking at?  

     

    In Small Town, Mellencamp clearly sings:

     

    No I cannot forget from where it is that I come from

     

    So, apparently he understood that you were supposed to put the preposition before the object, but then missed the part about eliminating it after.  I'm no grammar stickler in lyrics, you can do what you gotta do.  But this line drives me crazy, every time I hear it.  And I grew up in Southern Indiana in the 80s, so, yeah, seared in my synapses.

     

    For some reason the line in Tempted (it's otherwise a great song lyrically, I think) "a foot without a sock" always cracks me up.  "A foot without a sock."  Otherwise known as: a foot.  Syllables, we need syllables!  Plus, I guess it's better than the other rhyme with clock they could have gone with there.

    xor


      He needed a word to rhyme with "rings".

       

      Because that's what I saw in the desert too: sand, hills, and... rings.

       

      Of course.

       

      Their song "Tin Man" is a great example of lyrics-that-seem-profound-but-are-total-hooey.

       

      Oz never did give nothing to the Tin man that he didn't, didn't already have (ok, fine)

      And cause never was the reason for the evening (ummm....)

      Or the tropic of Sir Galahad (wait. what??)

       

      So please. Believe in me (sure, dude, whatever...)

      When I say I'm spinnin round round round (sure, why not)

      Smoke glass stain bright color (random words?)

      Image goin down, down, down, down (sure, why not)

      Soapsuds green like bubbles (STOP)

       

      Seriously.  Stop.  Soapsuds green like bubbles?  Are you kidding me????

       


      Will run for scenery.

        "Oh, this is how it starts.

        Lightning strikes the heart.

        Like a bullet from a gun.

        Brighter than the sun.

        ..."

        Mkay, we're gonna talk about something (?) starting. I'm fine with that, maybe even interested. Lightning strikes the heart? That's what we're talking about? Well then, it didn't just start: it's over and done with. Do not pass Go. Song over. Sadly, however, it is not. It appears the lightning is merely a metaphor for something powerful happening. How are we to understand this mysterious, powerful, coronary experience? What better way to improve on a metaphor than with a simile? The lightning is like a bullet. The image of a bullet helps you realize that we're talking about something *serious* hitting you in the heart. Not just a Cheezit or a wayward grasshopper (or a bolt of f*ckin' lightning that could split an oak tree in half). A real bullet. But where (you must surely be asking yourself) could this bullet possibly have come from? A squirrel's butt? No! A gun! It came from a gun! (Don't feel bad. I hadn't thought of that either.)

        So far, it's really awful but at least the grammar is okay. But then we learn that it's brighter than the sun. What is? If we ignore the original, unspecified "it" (you remember, the one that started) we've got three nouns to choose from. Although lightning has a lower luminosity than the sun, it's surface brightness actually *is* higher. I'm sure she checked on this just to be sure. But, as a trivially obvious qualifier, it adds nothing to the imagery. Like saying you get by lightning... and it's ... *electrical* !!! So I'm left feeling it's gotta be the gun or the bullet. But seriously, if a bullet is hitting you in the heart, are you really gonna judge? "Hey that there gun ain't par-TIC-ularly shiny. I reckon you-" (gurgle, thud).

        Sorry if I went too far. That song just really pissed me off. I feel much better now. Thanks for listening.

        Stupid feet!

        Stupid elbow!

           

          In other words, lyrics are just sound paints, just like a fuzz peddle or a voicebox (Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton) are. I couldn't tell you more than a handful of Enya lyrics---she's all about the sound painting. Talking Heads' lyrics aren't in the realm of powerful, but they work very well.

           

          Great Gig In The Sky by Pink Floyd illustrates Byrne's point very well.

           

          That Yes tune you refer to is a great sounding song, the lyrics have a chessboard/Through The Looking Glass motif. Thus the references to squares. Most Yes lyrics are like non-sequitor phrase all chosen from a hat, often metaphysical in nature. In that way, they don't really matter. It's like Byrne said: the lyrics sound good, but don't necessarily mean a thing. I'm a huge fan of their guitarist, Steve Howe.

           

           

           

          Thank you!

           When I read  Yes  in a "worst lyrics" thread I was offended!  One of my favorite bands,and MOST of their lyrics are symbolic. You either get them......or you don't. But  to think that song is one of  the worst ,Puleeease.

            He needed a word to rhyme with "rings".

             

            Because that's what I saw in the desert too: sand, hills, and... rings.

             

            Of course.

             

            Their song "Tin Man" is a great example of lyrics-that-seem-profound-but-are-total-hooey.

             

            Oz never did give nothing to the Tin man that he didn't, didn't already have (ok, fine)

            And cause never was the reason for the evening (ummm....)

            Or the tropic of Sir Galahad (wait. what??)

             

            So please. Believe in me (sure, dude, whatever...)

            When I say I'm spinnin round round round (sure, why not)

            Smoke glass stain bright color (random words?)

            Image goin down, down, down, down (sure, why not)

            Soapsuds green like bubbles (STOP)

             

            Seriously.  Stop.  Soapsuds green like bubbles?  Are you kidding me????

             

            See! Now that's and example of bad lyrics! Good call SRL. 


            Revenge of the Nerd

              It's hard to beat Scorpions for bad lyrics.  They have an effect similar to that of being struck on the head with a blunt instrument.

               

              Rock You Like A Hurricane:

               

              It's early morning

              The sun comes out

              Last night was shaking

              Really loud

              A cat is purring

              Scratches my skin

              So what is wrong with

              Another sin?

               

              The bitch is hungry

              She needs to tell

              So give her inches

              And feed her well

              More days to come

              New places to go

              I've got to leave

              It's time for a show

              One of these days is none of these days.

              ~ H.G. Bohn

              xor


                 

                Thank you!

                 When I read  Yes  in a "worst lyrics" thread I was offended!  One of my favorite bands,and MOST of their lyrics are symbolic. You either get them......or you don't. But  to think that song is one of  the worst ,Puleeease.

                 

                I never said the song was one of the worst.  Actually, that is one of my all time favorite songs.  But some of Yes' lyrics are immense silliness.  Even if symbolic.

                 

                And I will admit full dumbosity because some of them, Mongo not get.

                 

                  Duran Duran - Cracks in the Pavement off Seven & the Ragged Tiger - even as a star struck, love struck teen I knew these were dumb:

                   

                  Don't want to be in public
                  My head is full of chopstick
                  I don't like it

                    ok just to be different this is my entry for all time great lyrics by one of my all time favorite bands (at least in their early years)

                     

                    40,000 headmen couldn"t make me change my mind

                    if I had to take the choice between the deadman & the blind

                    I know just where my feet should go & that's enough for me

                    I turned around & knocked them down & walked across the sea

                     

                    hadn"t traveled very far when suddenly I saw

                    3 small ships a-sailing out towards a distant shore

                    so lighting up a cigarette I followed in pursuit

                    & found a secret cave where they obviously stashed their loot

                     

                    filling up my pockets, even stuffed it up my nose

                    I must have weighed a hundred tons between my head & toes

                    I ventured forth before the dawn had time to change its mind

                    & soaring high above the clouds I found a golden shrine

                     

                    laying down my treasure before the iron gate

                    quickly rang the bell hoping I hadn"t come to late

                    but someone came along & & told me not to waste my time

                    & when I asked him who he was he said "just look behind"

                     

                    so I turned around & 40,000 headmen bit the dirt

                    firing 20 shotguns each & man it really hurt

                    but luckily for me they had to stop & then reload

                    & by the time they'd done that I was heading down the road

                    TakeOverTheWorld


                      I enjoy this song, but this set lyrics just irritate me.

                       

                      I can't accept that it's over...
                      And I will block the door like a goalie tending the net
                      In the third quarter of a tied-game rivalry

                       

                      Then, later in the song...

                       

                      So let me help you remember.
                      I've made charts and graphs that should finally make it clear.
                      I've prepared a lecture on why i have to leave

                      stealth.rnr


                      She laughs at me......

                        Beach Boys. Christmas comes this time each year.

                         

                        Really?

                         

                                                                         

                        Mr MattM


                          Nilsson Schmilsson...

                           

                          Brother bought a coconut, he bought it for a dime
                          His sister had another one, she paid it for a lime.
                          She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
                          She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
                          She put the lime in the coconut, she drank them both up
                          She put the lime in the coconut, she called the doctor, woke him up,
                          And said, "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
                          I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
                          I say, Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
                          I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?"
                          "Now let me get this straight ",
                          Put the lime in the coconut, you drank them both up
                          Put the lime in the coconut, you drank them both up
                          Put the lime in the coconut, you drank them both up
                          Put the lime in the coconut, you called your doctor, woke him up,
                          And say, 'Doctor, ain't there nothing I can take,

                          be curious; not judgmental

                          Mr MattM


                            This song fails... even at innuendo.

                             

                            Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
                            You got a brand new key
                            I think that we should get together
                            And try them out you see

                            be curious; not judgmental

                              Then, later in the song...

                               

                              So let me help you remember.
                              I've made charts and graphs that should finally make it clear.
                              I've prepared a lecture on why i have to leave

                               

                              This is actually one of my favorite lyrics from the song! I don't know why it just cracks me up.

                              bhearn


                                Happy Together...

                                 

                                "The only one for me is you, and you for me."

                                 

                                No, that's exactly the same thing. Should be "and me for you". But that would sound stupid.