What songs are most meaningful to you lyrically?
So, Simone is getting a new iPod shuffle and hasn’t purchased music in a while. Can you help her fill out her playlist? The most interesting music for Simone has meaningful lyrics. What 3 songs are the most meaningful to you lyrically and why?
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Oh, boy. Give me a bit. I’ll send some on to her when I get home.
“Put a Ring on it” by Beyoncee changed how I thought about music but not in a good way.
I tend to like instrumentals.
If I have to name names and lyricists, I like Ben Harper.
Redemption Song is also some pretty deep stuff.
Usually, it’s most meaningful when the artist has written it him/herself and it isn’t about love, sex, or drugs. Wait, that kills off the entire pop music industry doesn’t it….
Right now, I am loving the soundtrack from Crazy Heart and I am not a country music fan at all. Good songs about loss and redemption.
Mark Knopfler writes really good lyrics too; most of his songs are great.
Leonard Cohen is another great lyricist; I even like his voice although it’s an acquired taste. As mentioned on another thread, Jeff Buckley does the definitve cover of Cohen’s song “Hallelujah” which is not religious.
Oo yeah, Ben Harper’s “Another lonely day” is a great one. It definitely hits that “just broke up with someone and I know it’s for the best but it still really hurts a lot” feeling on the head! ...also…the song “company of friends” by…Danny Schmidt is a great one. My all time favorite song is Scarborough Faire because it is a reminder of the never ending needs/disappoinment/hope cycle that love always has, and there are hundreds of versions in all different styles. Good Luck! Yay Music!!!
This is an odd one, but for me, the most meaningful line is in the song ”Dove Nets” by The Main Drag. I think most of the lyrics are nonsensical and open to interpretation but the line “No such thing as a short recovery” means a lot to me. It reminds me not to get discouraged when thing aren’t going well; nothing comes easily.
The Latency – Tonight I Love You
One song that has always struck me is: Brand New – Play Crack The Sky.
I found their comparison of the roughness of sea to the frailty of relationships to be absolutely brilliant.
The particular lyrics that stand out:
”Your tongue is a rudder, that steers the whole ship”
”And I wish for one more day to give my love and repay debts
The morning finds our bodies washed up thirty miles west”
These Days It’s written by Jackson Browne, but the version by Nico is my favorite.
A Comet Appears by The Shins
Cry Freedom DMB
These are all on the dark side, but that’s me.
He Stopped Loving Her Today!
oo oo oh yeah, and “The Dance” by Garth Brooks
Since Redemption Song was already mentioned… Blackbird.
Everlast – What its like, I enjoy the different view points.
Metallica – Bleeding Me, feels good I think anyone who wants a to improve their life can relate.
Johnny Cash – Hurt, I think it might depend on the person..a nice way to reflect I feel.
Slick Rick – Children’s Story, it has a good story listen to the lyrics closely.
Someone is so close to 20K.
Dela by Johnny Clegg, too.
Hold heart, don’t beat so loud,
For me keep your calm, as he walks out on you.
No, tears, don’t you come out,
If you blind me now, I’m defeated.
No lips, don’t make a sound,
Don’t let him hear the break in your voice.
Hand, let go of his with ease and grace,
Don’t let him bleed under your nails.
Oh lord, take off thy crown,
You’re my king no more with that merciless heart.
Hold heart, don’t beat so loud,
For me keep your calm, lest he walks out on you.
No, tears, don’t you come out,
If you blind me now, I am defeated
By Emilliana Torrini, and why? because this is the most beautiful angle ever to tell of a lost love.
“Lets Just Get Naked”
I know what you’re hidin’ from me
You know what I’m hidin’ from you
I know that you hurt me real bad
You know that I hurt you bad too
Let’s just get naked
Just for a laugh
Let’s just get naked
It’s a trip and a half
Here comes that story again
All about that television show
Here comes my typical response
Won’t you tell me something I don’t know
And I’m pissed off about bein’ the cops
And you’re pissed off about bein’ the maid
And how long till they shut off the phone
Till the next time we get laid
Let’s just get naked
Just for a laugh
Let’s just get naked
It’s a trip and a half…
A trip and a half
We’ve been together so long
I hope it wasn’t just the drugs
What happened to the energy we had
The morning glories and the rodeo hugs
And I know you like the back of my hand
With a stamp that says I paid to get in
And yes I am your television show
And you’re the nicest place I’ve ever been
Let’s just get naked
Just for a laugh
Let’s just get naked
It wouldn’t be so bad…
Let’s just get naked
Just for a laugh
Let’s just get naked
It’s a trip and a half…
The ones that match the emotional content of the music, melody and rhythm.
One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong :
I lit a thin green candle, to make you jealous of me.
But the room just filled up with mosquitos,
they heard that my body was free.
Then I took the dust of a long sleepless night
and I put it in your little shoe.
And then I confess that I tortured the dress
that you wore for the world to look through.
I showed my heart to the doctor: he said I just have to quit.
Then he wrote himself a prescription,
and your name was mentioned in it!
Then he locked himself in a library shelf
with the details of our honeymoon,
and I hear from the nurse that he’s gotten much worse
and his practice is all in a ruin.
I heard of a saint who had loved you,
so I studied all night in his school.
He taught that the duty of lovers
is to tarnish the golden rule.
And just when I was sure that his teachings were pure
he drowned himself in the pool.
His body is gone but back here on the lawn
his spirit continues to drool.
An Eskimo showed me a movie
_he’d recently taken of you:
the poor man could hardly stop shivering,
his lips and his fingers were blue.
I suppose that he froze when the wind took your clothes
and I guess he just never got warm.
But you stand there so nice, in your blizzard of ice,
oh please let me come into the storm.
I can think of one song that really hit home, when I first heard it nearly 20 years ago. I was at a time in my life where I was struggling with my belief in religion/god and these lyrics actually made me cry, because it was what I was going through, at that time:
Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails
Hey god, why are you doing this to me?
Am I not living up to what I’m supposed to be?
Why am I seething with this animosity?
Hey god, I think you owe me a great big apology
terrible lie (chorus x4)
Hey god, I really don’t know what you mean
Seems like salvation comes only in our dreams
I feel my hatred grow all the more extreme
Hey god, can this world really be as sad as it seems?
terrible lie (chorus x4)
Don’t take it away from me
I need you to hold on to
Don’t take it away from me
I need you to hold on to
Don’t take it away from me
I need you to hold on to
Don’t take it away from me
I need someone to hold on to
Don’t tear it away from me
I need you to hold on to
Don’t tear it away from me
I need someone to hold on to
Don’t tear it away from me
I need you to hold on to
don’t tear it
don’t tear it
don’t take it
don’t take it
don’t
Hey god, there’s nothing left for me to hide
I lost my ignorance, security and pride
I’m all alone in a world you must despise
Hey god, I believed your promises, your promises and lies
terrible lie (chorus x4)
You made me throw it all away
My morals left to decay (terrible lie)
How many you betray
You’ve taken everything (terrible lie)
My head is filled with disease
My skin is begging you please (terrible lie)
I’m on my hands and knees
I want so much to believe
I give you everything (I need someone to hold on to)
My sweet everything (I need someone to hold on to)
(repeat 4x)
Hey god
I really don’t know who I am.
In this world of piss
Another song that I love lyrically is:
Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins
Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I’ve wandered much further today than I should
And I can’t seem to find my way back to the Wood
So help me if you can
I’ve got to get back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
You’d be surprised
There’s so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh
Winnie the Pooh doesn’t know what to do
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose
He came to me asking help and advice
And from here no one knows where he goes
So I sent him to ask of the Owl if he’s there
How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear
It’s hard to explain how a few precious things
Seem to follow throughout all our lives
After all’s said and done I was watching my son
Sleeping there with my bear by his side
So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going
I swear that the old bear whispered
“Boy welcome home”
Believe me if you can
I’ve finally come back
To the House at Pooh Corner by one
What do you know
There’s so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin
Back to the ways of Christopher Robin
Back to the days of Pooh
Wonderful Tonight
(by Eric Clapton)
It’s late in the evening
She’s wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
Do i look alright
And i say yes, you look wonderful tonight
We go a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That’s walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And i say yes, i feel wonderful tonight
I feel wonderful
Because i see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don’t realize
How much i love you
It’s time to go home now
And i’ve got an aching head
So i give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then i tell her
As i turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Another song with some of the saddest, but hauntingly beautiful lyrics is:
Tom Waits – Take It With Me
“All broken down by the side of the road
I was never more alive or alone”
And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we’re apart
You wandered down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that would not die
Love is now the stardust of yesterday
The music of the years gone by
Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
But that was long ago
And now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song
And beside a garden wall
When stars are bright
You were in my arms
Nightingale tells it’s fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew
Though I dream in vain
In my heart it always will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love’s refrain
When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
Oh, but that was long ago
And now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song
Beside a garden wall
When stars are bright
You were in my arms
The nightingale tell it’s fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew
Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love’s refrain
Even though I don’t agree with all the lyrical content,” I Hope You Dance” has always been the single most powerful phrase I have ever heard in a song.
Since you asked for three songs – here’s one more that I love (it makes me think of my friend, Jim, who passed away)
Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World
There’s no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
What would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
Now I’ll never have a chance.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
So what would you think of me now?
So lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
Now I’ll never have a chance.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
And if you were with me tonight,
I’d sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart so big,
God wouldn’t let it live.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Two by The Antlers.
Kids by MGMT, even though this one is done by Melpo Mene.
Loch Lomond sung by The Corries.
I really like these songs because I can sing them. When you sing a song it becomes part of your mind, usually giving it more meaning.
1. “So I will opt for big white limos
Vanity fairgrounds and rebel angels
Can’t be trusted with feathers so hollow
Heaven’s invention, steel eyed vampires of love
You see over me, I’ll never know
What you’ve shown to other eyes”
From Go or Go Ahead by Rufus Wainwright. A brilliant lyricist – any of his music would be great. His albums are all brilliant and varied, I never get bored listening to his music, and it’s only better if you take the time to look up the lyrics and know what he’s singing about.
2. “We got a call to write a song about the war in the Gulf,
But we shouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
So we tried, and gave up, cuz there was no such song,
But the trying was very revealing:
What makes a person so poisonous righteous,
That they’d think less of anyone, who just disagrees?
She’s just a pacifist, he’s just a patriot.
If I said you were crazy, would you have to fight me?”
From Gulf War Song by Moxy Früvous. This song is basically an anti-war poem put to music. It’s gorgeous. (The video is an a cappella group because I couldn’t find the original. The a cappella group I was in in college did this song, too.)
3. “There’s room between your heart
And the chair where I’ve been sleeping
The place that we called home
Will someday watch you leaving”
From If You Would Come Back Home by William Fitzsimmons. I’ve recently fallen in love with this whole album, “The sparrow and the crow,” for the lyrics and music both. But be forewarned, it’s incredibly depressing! The album is essentially a chronology of his divorce.
I can tell you that as a rule I don’t listen to country music. So I was surprised to feel myself sniveling when this song came on. I pretty much know all the words now. I’ll get back to you on the others, but this one I can say without thinking about it;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOcW_YR1G8
@Marva don’t you worry, almost all songs by Emiliana Torrini will be on my playlist – I love her
Thanks everyone – I have work to do – gotta listen to it all..
@jonsblond yes! I love that
@jonsblond I just added that to my download list. Nice!
Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol because it reminds me of my dad for more reason than one.
All this feels strange and untrue
And I won’t waste a minute without you
My bones ache, my skin feels cold
And I’m getting so tired and so old
The anger swells in my guts
And I won’t feel these slices and cuts
I want so much to open your eyes
‘Cause I need you to look into mine
Tell me that you’ll open your eyes [x4]
Get up, get out, get away from these liars
‘Cause they don’t get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we’ll walk from this dark room for the last time
Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
I want so much to open your eyes
‘Cause I need you to look into mine
Tell me that you’ll open your eyes [x8]
All this feels strange and untrue
And I won’t waste a minute without you
My favorite song of all time (yes, Kayne, of all time) and lyrics that speak to me.
Reckoner
Reckoner
You can’t take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure
You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractor
Dare not speak it’s name
Dedicated to all you
All human beings
Because we separate like
Ripples on a blank shore
Because we separate like
Ripples on a blank shore
Reckoner
Take me with you
Dedicated to all you
All human beings
Dude! I just heard “Habits of the Heart” and it is my new favorite song…...by The Woodys…I had heard it before, but never really knew all the lyrics:
Here we go again, About to cross the line,
Falling way to fast to ignore the warning signs,
We should take it slow, but everytime we try,
we know we just can’t fight the emptiness inside
Habits of the heart, oh so hard to break,
Reaching out for love was our very first mistake
You see a pretty face, that’s just how it starts,
it’s oh so hard to break the habits of the heart
It’s so easy to believe things are going to change
why do you and me play this crazy game?
Risking everything, thinking it’ll work
Promising we’ll quit, before someone gets hurt….
chorus
But when I think about another night alone,
I just can’t keep from picking up the phone…
chorus
Lyrically speaking (and in every other way, but especially lyrically) Kate Bush is my favourite artist. How about:
1. How to be Invisible
2. Strange Phenomena
3. Moments of Pleasure
@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities I love Tom Waits but hadn’t heard that one yet…OMG I love it! He really is one of the best songwriters out there. He actually sounds happy at the end of this one…amazing. :)
(looking for the lyrics to the Pants On The Ground song)
Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin like a fool with your pants on the ground
One of many favorites:
Walls and Windows, Pat Humphries
Oh may we live to see the day when walls of words and fear
No longer stand between the truth and dreams
When walls of windows rise into the darkness and we dare
To look into the mirror and see peace
I know I already answered with three songs, but I feel the need to add one more:
When The Children Cry by White Lion
Little child
Dry your crying eyes
How can I explain
The fear you feel inside?
‘Cause you were born
Into this evil world
Where man is killin’ man
And no one knows just why
What have we become?
Just look what we have done
All that we destroyed
You must build again
When the children cry
Let them know we tried
‘Cause when the the children sing
Then the new world begins
Little child
You must show the way
To a better day
For all the young
‘Cause you were born
For the world to see
That we all can live
With love and peace
No more presidents
And all the wars will end
One united world
Under God
When the children cry
Let them know we tried
Cause when the children sing
Then, the new world begins
What have we become?
Just look what we have done
All that we destroyed
You must build again
No more presidents
And all the wars will end
One united world
Under God
When the children cry
Let them know we tried
‘Cause when the children fight
Let them know it ain’t right
When the children pray
Let them know the way
‘Cause when the children sing
Then the new world begins.
=) Aw, my lady said that this song reminds her of me. It means something to her..
I’m not the deepest person, but this always makes me feel that I exist for reasons other than to just pay for stuff all the time.
@Symbeline it’s okay, I like some of his other stuff better…but I like that you like it
Loll…please excuse my poor choice of songs. Posted the song “with tongue in cheek” to make lite of the day. After reading the lyrics, not a good choice.
But, do love Eric Clapton’s, “Wonderful Tonight!”
21 Guns by Green Day. Generation by Simple Plan. 1,2,3,4 by Plain White T’s
All strokes songs and some arctic monkeys and white stripes songs.Not really but kind of In Transit by albert hammond jr.And Noones better sake by little joy.
Okkervil River( blue tulip, lost coast lines, or seas too far reach)
Modest mouse (trailer trash or talkin shit about a pretty snset)
Cat Power ( fool, Time-great healer, i don’t blame you)
all of these artists are favorites of mine, and are great lyricists in my opinion
some other people to check out : wolf parade, neutral milk hotel
if you like hip hop at all check out Immortal Technique- caught in a hustle
also, sorry for listing more than three. I have a hard time narrowing things down
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