Best Lyrical Songs Ever?

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Desolation Row would certainly be well up there.

I think the Manic Street Preachers are very, very good lyrically - Motorcycle Emptiness, Little Baby Nothing, Small Black Flowers, and many more.
 
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
Until the End of the World - U2
The Fly - U2
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
 
U2 - The Fly
Bob Dylan - The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest
Bob Dylan - Blowing in the Wind
Pink Floyd - Dogs
Pink Floyd - Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Pink Floyd - Sheep
Pink Floyd - Shine on You Crazy Diamond
Pink Floyd - Time
Pink Floyd - Us and Them

...okay, enough of how awesome Roger Waters was at writing lyrics...

Bob Marley - Is this Love?
Radiohead - [Nice Dream]
 
Hey blahblahblah, did you vote in the Floyd poll yet?

I agree about Waters and the album Animals especially... some great lyrics. Dogs and Sheep are both :drool:

Other gems (if I had to name one from each band):

Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore (LOTR references... :drool: )
REM - Ignoreland
The Beatles - You Never Give Me Your Money
U2 - Running To Stand Still
Metallica - Master Of Puppets / One
Green Day - Holiday
Pearl Jam - Jeremy
Guns n Roses - November Rain

I could go on but I won't. :wink:
 
I am sure I could think of plenty if I tried, but right now:

Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
 
FREAKIN' "Supper's Ready" by Genesis! It's about the battle of good vs. evil and includes a dramatic portrayal of the end of the world according to Revelation. The 'Lovers' Leap' part comes from a true story involving Peter Gabriel (the lyricist), his wife Jill, and a evil spirit that took over her body for a moment. The character of the Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man is most likely the Anti-Christ. For the life of me, I just can't see how Pearl Jam's Jeremy is better than this. :wink:

(Lyrics posted for your convenience)

I. Lovers' Leap

Walking across the sitting-room, I turn the television off.
Sitting beside you, I look into your eyes.
As the sound of motor cars fades in the night time,
I swear I saw your face change, it didn't seem quite right.
...And it's hello babe with your guardian eyes so blue
Hey my baby don't you know our love is true.

Coming closer with our eyes, a distance falls around our bodies.
Out in the garden, the moon seems very bright,
Six saintly shrouded men move across the lawn slowly.
The seventh walks in front with a cross held high in hand.
...And it's hey babe your supper's waiting for you.
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true.

I've been so far from here,
Far from your warm arms.
It's good to feel you again,
It's been a long long time. Hasn't it?

II. The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man

I know a farmer who looks after the farm.
With water clear, he cares for all his harvest.
I know a fireman who looks after the fire.

You, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Yes, he's here again, can't you see he's fooled you all.
Share his peace,
Sign the lease.
He's a supersonic scientist,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
Look, look into my mouth he cries,
And all the children lost down many paths,
I bet my life you'll walk inside
Hand in hand,
gland in gland
With a spoonful of miracle,
He's the guaranteed eternal sanctuary man.
We will rock you, rock you little snake,
We will keep you snug and warm.

III. Ikhnaton and Itsacon and their Band of Merry Men

Wearing feelings on our faces while our faces took a rest,
We walked across the fields to see the children of the West,
But we saw a host of dark skinned warriors
standing still below the ground,
Waiting for battle.

The fight's begun, they've been released.
Killing foe for peace...bang, bang, bang. Bang, bang, bang...
And they're giving me a wonderful potion,
'Cos I cannot contain my emotion.
And even though I'm feeling good,
Something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule.

Today's a day to celebrate, the foe have met their fate.
The order for rejoicing and dancing has come from our warlord.

IV. How Dare I Be so Beautiful?

Wandering through the chaos the battle has left,
We climb up a mountain of human flesh,
To a plateau of green grass, and green trees full of life.
A young figure sits still by a pool,
He's been stamped "Human Bacon" by some butchery tool.
(He is you)
Social Security took care of this lad.
We watch in reverence, as Narcissus is turned to a flower.
A flower?

V. Willow Farm

If you go down to Willow Farm,
to look for butterflies, flutterbyes, gutterflies
Open your eyes, it's full of surprise, everyone lies,
like the fox on the rocks,
and the musical box.
Oh, there's Mum & Dad, and good and bad,
and everyone's happy to be here.

There's Winston Churchill dressed in drag,
he used to be a British flag, plastic bag, what a drag.
The frog was a prince, the prince was a brick, the brick was an egg,
the egg was a bird.
(Fly away you sweet little thing, they're hard on your tail)
Hadn't you heard?
(They're going to change you into a human being!)
Yes, we're happy as fish and gorgeous as geese,
and wonderfully clean in the morning.

We've got everything, we're growing everything,
We've got some in
We've got some out
We've got some wild things floating about
Everyone, we're changing everyone,
you name them all,
We've had them here,
And the real stars are still to appear.

ALL CHANGE!

Feel your body melt;
Mum to mud to mad to dad
Dad diddley office, Dad diddley office,
You're all full of ball.

Dad to dam to dum to mum
Mum diddley washing, Mum diddley washing,
You're all full of ball.

Let me hear you lies, we're living this up to the eyes.
Ooee-ooee-ooee-oowaa
Momma I want you now.

And as you listen to my voice
To look for hidden doors, tidy floors, more applause.
You've been here all the time,
Like it or not, like what you got,
You're under the soil (the soil, the soil),
Yes, deep in the soil (the soil, the soil, the soil!).
So we'll end with a whistle and end with a bang
and all of us fit in our places.

VI. Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet)

With the guards of Magog, swarming around,
The Pied Piper takes his children underground.
Dragons coming out of the sea,
Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
He brings down the fire from the skies,
You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
Better not compromise.
It won't be easy.

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.

And it's hey babe, with your guardian eyes so blue,
Hey my baby, don't you know our love is true,
I've been so far from here,
Far from your loving arms,
Now I'm back again, and babe it's gonna work out fine.

VII. As Sure as Eggs is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)

Can't you feel our souls ignite
Shedding ever changing colours, in the darkness of the fading night,
Like the river joins the ocean, as the germ in a seed grows
We have finally been freed to get back home.

There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice,
"This is the supper of the mighty one",
Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
Has returned to lead his children home,
To take them to the New Jerusalem.

:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
 
Elvis Costello - Beyond Belief

Mind-bendingly excellent listen :O

History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues

I'm just the oily slick
On the windup world of the nervous tick
In a very fashionable hovel

I hang around dying to be tortured
You'll never be alone in the bone orchard
This battle with the bottle is nothing so novel

So in this almost empty gin palace
Through a two-way looking glass
You see your alice

You know she has no sense
For all your jealousy
In a sense she still smiles very sweetly

Charged with insults and flattery
Her body moves with malice
Do you have to be so cruel to be callous

And now you find you fit this identikit completely
You say you have no secrets
And then leave discreetly

I might make it california's fault
Be locked in geneva's deepest vault
Just like the canals of mars and the great barrier reef
I come to you beyond belief

My hands were clammy and cunning
She's been suitably stunning
But I know there's not a hope in hades
All the laddies cat call and wolf whistle
So-called gentlemen and ladies
Dog fight like rose and thistle

I've got a feeling
I'm going to get a lot of grief
Once this seemed so appealing
Now I am beyond belief

(repeat chorus)
 
Elvis Costello - Beyond Belief. I'll have to check that out. :up:

I haven't heard it.
 
i just started listening to Neko Case....i dont know if anyone has ever heard of her....if you haven't, you have to hear her voice - amazingly beautiful.

her lyrics are extremely poetic. i don't know if this belongs in the "best lyrical songs ever thread," but her song, "Deep Red Bells," has some great lyrics (come to think of it, all of her songs do):

He led you to this hiding place
His lightening threats spun silver tongues
The red bells beckon you to ride
A handprint on the driver’s side
It looks a lot like engine oil and tastes like being poor and small
And Popsicles in the summer

Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done
Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done

It always has to come this
Red bells ring this tragic gun
Lost sight of the overpass
The daylight won’t remember her
When speckled fronds raise round your bones
Who took the time to fold your clothes
Who shook the Valley of the Shadow

Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done
Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done

Where does this mean world cast its cold eye
Who’s left to suffer long about you?
Does your soul cast about like an old paper bag,
Past empty lots and early graves?
Those like you who lost their way
Murdered on the interstate
While the red bells rang like thunder

Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done
Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done
Deep red bells, deep as I’ve been done
 
....and i've always loved U2's So Cruel:

We crossed the line
Who pushed who over?
It doesn't matter to you
It matters to me
We're cut adrift
We're still floating
I'm only hanging on
To watch you go down
My love

I disappeared in you
You disappeared from me
I gave you everything you ever wanted
It wasn't what you wanted

The men who love you, you hate the most
They pass through you like a ghost
They look for you, but your spirit is in the air
Baby, you're nowhere

Oh...love...
You say in love there are no rules
Oh...love...
Sweetheart,
You're so cruel

Desparation is a tender trap
It gets you every time
You put your lips to her lips
To stop the lie

Her skin is pale like God's only dove
Screams like an angel for your love
Then she makes you watch her from above
And you need her like a drug

Oh...love...
You say in love there are no rules
Oh...love...
Sweetheart,
You're so cruel

She wears my love like a see-through dress
Her lips say one thing
Her movements something else
Oh love, like a screaming flower
Love...dying every hour...love

You don't know if it's fear or desire
Danger the drug that takes you higher
Head in heaven, fingers in the mire

Her heart is racing, you can't keep up
The night is bleeding like a cut
Between the horses of love and lust
We are trampled underfoot

Oh...love... You say in love there are no rules
Oh...love...
Sweetheart,
You're so cruel

Oh...love...
To stay with you I'd be a fool
Sweetheart
 
leonard cohen you asses

I'll dance with you in Vienna
I'll be wearing the rivers disguise
with a hyacinth wild on my should
and my mouth on the dew of your theighs
 
financeguy said:
I think the Manic Street Preachers are very, very good lyrically - Motorcycle Emptiness, Little Baby Nothing, Small Black Flowers, and many more.

I think so too. My favorites of theirs lyrically would be Tolerate, Kevin Carter, Door to the River, 4st 7lb...so many good ones!
 
John Lennon - Imagine

Elton John - Candle In The Wind

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven

Rush - Closer To The Heart and The Spirit Of Radio

Pink Floyd - Time

Journey - Wheel In The Sky

The Police - Synchronicity ll

U2 - Bad and One
 
The Manics can also be utter dross lyrically.

'Little Baby Nothing' is brilliant though, and apart from one cringe-worthy refrain I really like the lyrics of 'Patrick Bateman'.

I really like Nick Cave's lyrical work a lot.
 
Los Angeles I'm Yours - Decemberists

There is a city by the sea
A gentle company
I don’t suppose you want to
And as it tells its sorry tale
In harrowing detail
Its hollowness will haunt you
Its streets and boulevards
Orphans and oligarchs it hears
A plaintive melody
Truncated symphony
An ocean’s garbled vomit on the shore,
Los Angeles, I’m yours

Oh ladies, pleasant and demure
Sallow-cheeked and sure
I can see your undies
And all the boys you drag about
An empty fallow fount
From Saturdays to Mondays
You hill and valley crowd
Hanging your trousers down at heel
This is the realest thing
As ancient choirs sing
A dozen blushing cherubs wheel above
Los Angeles my love

Oh what a rush of ripe élan
Languor on divans
Dalliant and dainty
But oh, the smell of burnt cocaine
The dolor and decay
It only makes me cranky
Oh great calamity,
Ditch of iniquity and tears
How I abhor this place
Its sweet and bitter taste
Has left me wretched, retching on all fours
Los Angeles, I’m yours
 
Jeez, I have so many favourite lyrics. But since I'm listening to The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" right now, I think this one line speaks to so many people (myself included):

"Try to make ends meet , you're a slave to the money then you die."
 
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