What are the best lyrics ever written?

[Heisenberg]

Obvsiously this is personal choise, but what do you think it the greatest lyrics ever wrote? I'm finding it hard to choose between a few songs I think have fantastic lyrics. American Pie comes to mind as one, and others likes the Sound Of Silence, Baba O Riley and Hallelujah. People may not agree, but I think Changes by 2pac has some of the best lyrics I've seen in a rap song, the raw emotion from them is something that puts the song up their with my favourite rap tunes.

What is your favourite Lyric or Lyrics?

[Le_Big_Mac]

Desolation Row by Bob Dylan

[jaw2929]

Personally, the song "Blister" by Our Lady Peace.

Not only for it's brilliant lyrics, but for being the most beautifully awesome piece of music I've ever heard.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

"Something Fine" by Jackson Browne. I'm not even sure if it's lyrically his best song but I absolutely love it. If I was decisive enough to have such a thing as a favorite song, this would be up there in the running.

[Bourne101]

"Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan
"The Card Cheat" by The Clash

Incredibly powerful lyrics.

[fixedMind]

Time - Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.

[fixedMind]

Vaporize - Broken Bells

What amounts to a dream anymore?
A crude device; A veil on our eyes
A simple plan we'd be different from the rest
And never resign to a typical life

Common fears start to multiply
We realize we're paralyzed
Where'd it go, All that precious time?
Did we even try to stem the tide?

Why should we waste it on
Buying into the same old lies?
The longer we wait around
The faster the years go by

It's not too late
To feel a little more alive
Make an escape
Before we start to vaporize

Doubtless, we've been through this
So if you want to follow me you should know
I was lost then and I am lost now
And I doubt I'll ever know which way to go

[fixedMind]

Ghost Song - The Doors

Awake.
Shake dreams from your hair
my pretty child, my sweet one.
Choose the day and choose the sign of your day
the day's divinity
First thing you see.

A vast radiant beach and cooled jeweled moon
Couples naked race down by it's quiet side
And we laugh like soft, mad children
Smug in the wooly cotton brains of infancy
The music and voices are all around us.

Choose they croon the Ancient Ones
the time has come again
choose now, they croon
beneath the moon
beside an ancient lake

Enter again the sweet forest
Enter the hot dream
Come with us
everything is broken up and dances.

Indians scattered,
On dawn's highway bleeding
Ghosts crowd the young child’s,
Fragile eggshell mind

We have assembled inside,
This ancient and insane theater
To propagate our lust for life,
And flee the swarming wisdom of the streets.

The barns have stormed
The windows kept,
And only one of all the rest
To dance and save us
From the divine mockery of words,
Music inflames temperament.

Ooh great creator of being
Grant us one more hour,
To perform our art
And perfect our lives.

We need great golden copulations,

When the true kings murderers
Are allowed to roam free,
A thousand magicians arise in the land
Where are the feast we are promised?

One more thing

Thank you oh lord
For the white blind light
Thank you oh lord
For the white blind light

A city rises from the sea
I had a splitting headache
From which the future's made

[one_crow_sorrow]

I'm partial to the lyrics of Joanna Newsom and Stephin Merritt.

[Jerk Shapiro]

With my feet upon the ground I lose myself
between the sounds and open wide to suck it in,
I feel it move across my skin.
I'm reaching up and reaching out,
I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me.
And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been.
We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been.

Spiral out. Keep going. Spiral out, keep going...


"Lateralus" - words by Maynard James Keenan

[Tweek]

I'm going to go with American Pie by Don McLean.

[Jerk Shapiro]

Originally Posted by Tweek

I'm going to go with American Pie by Don McLean.

I don't understand... someone please explain to me the appeal of this terribly boring song.

[greedyfox]

Desolation Row is likely the winner, from what's been posted already.

Tangled up in Blue by Dylan would be my nomination.

[AceD]

Cannot believe these have not been mentioned:

"I live by two words: fuck you, pay me."

"Young, black, and famous, with money hanging out the anus."

"Thirty-eight revolve like the sun 'round the Earth."

"Mafia, Mafia bitch I'm in the mafia; Holla at ya boy, yeah I can do alot fo ya; Speakin my language if you talkin bout tilapia."

I'm kindof ashamed that I knew all of these...

[nosferatuis@thekrustykrab]

Originally Posted by Le_Big_Mac

Desolation Row by Bob Dylan

Thank god some one else thinks this. Also The Weight by The Band

[Lost in Space]

I'm Dominant, niggas call me faggot cause they closeted
I'm hot as shit, comin' outta the backside of a rocket ship
It's Monster shit, you dude's are the opposite of Lochnesses
Respond to this, we can squash the beef right now like sausages
Chillin' with my n-words, say that like a white kid
Yes you're booty's big as hers, say that to my white bitch
So she don't get embarrassed, my dick is made of carrots
Bunnies wantin' to be fed and I meant honeys, oh forget it
I have worked all Winter, I will not fail Summer
In the back of the bush, like Gavin Rossdale's drummer
Yeah, my stinger's in her flower, I hope she let's me pollenate
Workin' hard as shit, yeah this beat is made from concentrate
Nigga can't you tell that my sample of Adele
Was so hot, I got these hood niggas blowin' up my cell?
Swag out the ass, I'm the man, fuck chico
Took the G out your waffle, all you got left is your ego
Think about it for a second, man we eatin', where's your breakfast?
Man, you hungry have this sandwich, got my wallet, Cheese and Lettuce
An elephant never forgets, so my dick remembers everythin'
Green inside your wallet is that pussy open sesame
Runnin' the game, fuck am I sayin', runnin' the Earth, give me a month
Told all you niggas I'm in it to win it cause havin' an Emmy just wasn't enough
You get sloppy drunk, I stay whiskey neat
My clique should be cancelled, Freaks and Geeks

Childish Gambino - Freaks and Geeks

[PSU80]

It's cold comfort, to the ones without it
To know how they struggled, how they suffered about it.
If their lives were exotic and strange,
They would likely have gladly exchanged them
For something a little more plain,
Maybe something a little more sane.
We each pay a fabulous price, for our visions of paradise
But a spirit with a vision, is a dream, with a mission.-Mission, Rush.

You can surrender without a prayer,
but never really pray without surrender.
You can fight without ever winning,
but never, ever win without a fight.-Resist, Rush.

[Lost in Space]

Originally Posted by PSU80

It's cold comfort, to the ones without it
To know how they struggled, how they suffered about it.
If their lives were exotic and strange,
They would likely have gladly exchanged them
For something a little more plain,
Maybe something a little more sane.
We each pay a fabulous price, for our visions of paradise
But a spirit with a vision, is a dream, with a mission.-Mission, Rush.

You can surrender without a prayer,
but never really pray without surrender.
You can fight without ever winning,
but never, ever win without a fight.-Resist, Rush.

I have had a long going debate with a friend of mine over whether Neil Peart is a genius lyricist or insane. We frequently change sides, never actually agreeing.

[PSU80]

Originally Posted by Lost in Space

I have had a long going debate with a friend of mine over whether Neil Peart is a genius lyricist or insane. We frequently change sides, never actually agreeing.

I'm a shameless Rush loyalist and fanatic, so, I'll have to take the genius lyricist side.

Rush is my "he's wearing his heart on his sleeve again" band. I can't help it. I honestly believe if their catalog of music was ever completely unavailable to me, I would want to die.

[Dirtyfrog]

Originally Posted by jaw2929

Personally, the song "Blister" by Our Lady Peace.

Not only for it's brilliant lyrics, but for being the most beautifully awesome piece of music I've ever heard.

Our Lady Peace is a highly underated band.

The best lyric ? i dunno .... i'm partial to A PERFECT CIRCLE - JUDITH.

Maynard James Keenan explains on the Amotion DVD how the song is about his mother Judith Marie Keenan, who suffered a stroke and was restricted to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. She died in 2003

Anger towards religion and the unfairness of life .... hard to be more honest in 4 minutes.

[Jim Colyer]

I think Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA wrote some of the best lyrics.

[Dirtyfrog]

Originally Posted by Heisenberg

Obvsiously this is personal choise.. [edit]

What is your favourite Lyric or Lyrics?

while the question is worthy , i find some of the answers pretty negligible.

you can [quote] all you want but without an explanation , doesn't mean much.

And since i QQ , i'll give you my answer

1. Placebo - Haemoglobin

I was hanging from a tree
Unaccustomed to such violence
Jesus looking down on me
I'm prepared for one big silence

How'd I ever end up here
Must be through some lack of kindness
And it seemed to dawn on me
Haemoglobin is the key

Haemoglobin is the key
To a healthy heart beat
Haemoglobin is the key
To a healthy heart beat

Whenever life deals me a big blow , this song reminds me that whatever doesn't kill you only make you stronger.

2. Death - Suicide Machine

Controlling their lives
Deciding when and how they will die
A victim of someone else's choice
The ones who suffer have no voice
Manipulating destiny
When it comes to living, no one seems to care
But when it comes to wanting out
Those with power, will be there
Prolong the pain
How long will it last?
Suicide machine
A request to die with dignity
Is that too much to ask?
Suicide machine

Euthanasia is always a touchy subject and often conflicting with the medical Hippocrat "do no harm" oath . But whenever i get to this point , i really don't want to be living on machines for 5 years.

Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
2 versions : Video edit of original version or Accoustic version

Here I sit and watch my world come crumbling down
I cry for help but no one's around
Silently screaming I bang my head against the wall
It seems like no one cares at all
Always an emotion, but how can I explain
How can I explain
Kind of like the scent of a rose
With words I can't explain
The same with my pain
Caught up in emotion-Goes over my head
Goes over my head
Sometimes I got to think to myself is this life or death
Am I living or am I dead
The clock keeps ticking but nothing else seems to change
Problems never solved, just rearranged
And when I think about all the times that I've had
So few good-So many bad
I search for personality and I look for things I can not see

Love and peace flash through my mind
Pain and hate are all I find
Find no hope in nothing new
Never had a dream come true
Lies and hate and agony
Through my eyes that's all I see
If I'm gonna cry
Will you wipe away my tears?
If I'm gonna die
Lord please take away my fear
Before I drown in sorrow
Last thing that I'll say
How will I laugh tomorrow
If I can't even smile today
Today today--when I can't even smile today
Today today--when I can't even smile today
How will I laugh tomorrow--when I can't even smile today
How will I laugh tomorrow--when I can't even smile today



Everybody has shitty day .... this song not only acknowledges it but also give a glimpse that the future is not that dark. Shit happens , deal with it , everything will be fine. The band is called Suicidal Tendencies but that's a big misnomer since most of their song are about making the best of whatever curveball Life throws at you.

[SkyNet]

Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
Fade To Black by Metallica
The Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang
The Ballad of Chasey Lain by Bloodhound Gang

[Del]

Dirtyfrog is right: 'you can [quote] all you want but without an explanation , doesn't mean much.'

So here's mine: Moloko - Where Is The What If The What Is In Why (1995)

What is a god of phoney creation,
Where am I going with no destination,
What if the fish came from the sea,
What if my lover made me feel free,

What if my intake caused revelation,
What if the point was reincarnation,
What if my shoes don't match my jacket,
If it's not working why don't you smack it,
What if your mamma said you were fat,
If you are lost find where you're at,

What is a number without any time,
You can't get higher with nothing to climb,
Why have a body if you ain't got a mind,
What is a searcher with nothing to find,
Why is the traffic refusing to stop,
Why climb the ladder if you can't reach the top,

Why,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why
Where is the what if the what is in why,

What do you dream of when you sleep at night,
See how the blind man fills up with light,
What is a bird with nowhere to fly,
How can you leave and not say goodbye,

What is a hunter with nothing to find,
What is the goodness without the unkind,
When did the outfit fall out of fashion,
When did the lover run out of passion,

My reincarnation time
a phoney creation rhyme,
With no destination mine
my information's fine

Why did the voice say don't step on the floor,
Why did the sign say so float through the door,
What is a god of phoney creation,
Where am I going with no destination,

What if the fish came from the sea,
What if my lover made me feel free,
What if my intake caused revelation,
What if the point was reincarnation,
What if my shoes don't match my jacket,
If it's not working why don't you smack it,
What if your mamma said you were fat,
If you are lost find where you're at

Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why,

How did the loser get to be rich,
What is a salesman with nothing to pitch,
When did the fool get to be king,
Why did you leave when they asked you to sing,

Why loose belief if you got a dream,
What is a train that ran out of steam,
what is a spy with no-one to spy on,
how do you sleep with nothing to lie on,

What if the fruit don't fall from the tree,
What if these questions just won't let you be,
Why waste your time looking for proof,
What if the answer is never the truth.


I am a person with a lot of questions. There are a few that will haunt me forever. This song reminds me that I need to stay calm, and that I need to accept that for some questions, I will never get an answer that will satisfy me. It's almost like I wrote these lyrics myself, and that was actually what I felt when I heard this song for the first time.To me, these are the best lyrics ever written, but it could mean nothing what so ever to the person next to me..

Nice question, cool thread!

[Badbird]

Clearly anything from Lou Reed & Metallica's LULU...



Actually, one of the first things that comes to mind is Original Sin written by Jim Steinman for The Shadow. It was originally performed by Taylor Dane, but Meatloaf has also done it. On paper it might not make sense, but when you hear it sung it that unique Jim Steinman cadence, it sounds awesome.

Original Sin (Theme From The Shadow)

I've been looking for an original sin
One with a twist and a bit of a spin
And since I've done all the old ones
Till they've all been done in
Now I'm just looking
And I'm gone with the wind
Endlessly searching for an original sin

You can dance forever
You've got a fire in your feet
But will it ever be enough
You know that it'll never be enough
And you can fly and never land
And never need to sleep
But will it ever be enough
You know that it'll never be enough

It's not enough to make the nightmares go away
It's not enough to make the tears run dry
And who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men today
It's a city of shadows
It's a city of lies
It's a city of secrets
It's a city of cries
It'll all be over now

All I wanted was a piece of the night
I never got an equal share
When the stars are out of sight
And the moon is down
The natives are so restless tonight
All I needed was a spot in the light
It never had to get so dark
When the stars are out of sight
And the moon is down
The natives are so restless tonight

I've been looking for the ultimate crime
Infinite victims, infinitesimal time
And I'm so, so very guilty for no reason no rhyme
So now I'm just looking and I'm killing some time
Endlessly searching for the ultimate crime

You can lose yourself in pleasure
Till your body's going numb
But will it ever be enough
You know that it'll never be enough
You can always take whatever
You can see them in the dark
But will it ever be enough
You know that it'll never be enough

It's not enough to make the nightmares go away
It's not enough to make the tears run dry
And who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men today
It's a city of shadows
It's a city of lies
It's a city of cruelty
It's a city of cries
It'll all be over now

All I wanted was a piece of the night
I never got an equal share
When the stars are out of sight
And the moon is down
The natives are so restless tonight
All I wanted was a spot in the light
It never had to get so dark
When the stars are out of sight
And the moon is down
The natives are so restless tonight

I've been looking for an original sin
One with a twist and a bit of a spin
And since I've done all the old ones
Till they've all been done in
Now I'm just looking
And I'm gone with the wind
Endlessly searching for an original sin
(Repeat)

I'm applying for a license to thrill
Going out on the edge, moving in for the kill
And there'll be hell to pay someday
Put it all on the bill
Cause we'll always be paying and paying until
We're beyond expiration with a license to thrill

I've been looking for an original sin

[Lost in Space]

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness
Crush a bit, little bit, roll it up, take a hit
Feelin’ lit feelin’ light, 2 am summer night.
I don't care, hand on the wheel, drivin drunk, I'm doin’ my thing
Rollin the Midwest side and out livin’ my life getting’ out dreams
People told me slow my roll I'm screaming out fuck that
Imma do just what I want lookin’ ahead no turnin’ back
if I fall if I die know I lived it to the fullest
if I fall if I die know I lived and missed some bullets

I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold
I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good.

Tell me what you know about dreamin’ dreamin’
you don't really know about nothin’ nothin’
tell me what you know about them night terrors every night
5 am, cold sweats wakin’ up to the skies
tell me what you know about dreams, dreams
tell me what you know about night terrors, nothin’
you don't really care about the trials of tomorrow
rather lay awake in a bed full of sorrow

I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold
I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good

I'm on the pursuit of happiness.
I know everything that shines ain't always gold
I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good

I'm on the pursuit of happiness
And I know everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold, hey
I'll be fine once I get it, yeah
I'll be good

Pursuit of happiness, yeah
I don’t get it, I’ll be good

I'm no longer an angry teenage upperclass white kid. I don't have the anger I once did that groups like Metallica expressed so well. I don't have the same angst and frustration towards faith that Maynard propounds so frequently. I love all of those bands, and their music was a huge part of my life growing up, but I just don't relate anymore.

Kid Cudi especially with Pursuit of Happiness embodies how I felt in college and today (partially). The lyrics seem to find a balance between, shit sucks and party hard, which is rare. I like that he expresses the duality of that lifestyle. The guy who is super popular, goes out and has fun, but comes home and still battles his own demons. and he does all that while making a catchy fucking sweet song.

[MisoGenie]

I'm going to be the smart aleck here and say Homer's The Odyssey.

[oh-dae-su]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5ZRAVXxr8

[Lost in Space]

Originally Posted by oh-dae-su

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5ZRAVXxr8

Dat racis'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9B35rfOdn8

[hrdude]

Drop out of life with bong in hand
Follow the Smoke toward the Riff filled Land
Drop…out of life with bong in hand
Follow the Smoke toward the Riff filled Land


Proceeds the Weedian – Nazareth
Proceeds the Weedian – Nazareth

Creedsmen roll out across the dying dawn
Sacred Israel Holy Mountain Zion
Sun beams down on to the Sandsea reigns
Caravan migrates through deep sandscape
Lungsmen unearth the creed of Hasheeshian
Procession of the Weed-Priests to cross the sands
Desert Legion Smoke-Covenant is complete
Herb bails retied on to backs of beasts
Arise arise arise - The Son of the God of Israel
Jordan River flows on evermore
Bathe in glow of sunlight’s beating rays
They feel so lost and burned through our days
Stoner caravan emerge from sandsea
Earthling inserts to chalice the green cutchie
Groundation soul finds trust upon smoking hose
Assembled creedsmen rises prayer-filled smoke
Raise up seer’s Holy Prophecy
Lets down on upon years of the sun now feeds
Seed of Eden fall on nurtured soil
Onward caravan prepare new bong

Weed-Priests creedsman chant the right
Judgement soon come to Mankind
Green Herbsmen serve rightful king
Hemp seed caravan carries


The molten fire flowed up toward Zion
Flight of the Nazarene to seek the Cheribum
Rides out believer with the spliff aflame
Marijuanaut escapes earth to cultivate

Grow-Room is church temple of the new stoner breed
Chants Loud-Robed priest down on to the freedom seed
Burnt offering redeems – completes smoked deliverance
Caravans’ stoned deliverance
The caravan holds to Eastern Creed - Now smokes believer !
The Chronicle of the Sensimillian

Drop out of life with bong in hand
Follow the smoke toward the riff-filled land
Drop out of life with bong in hand
Follow-the-smoke-Jerusalem

[Exophrine]

The Times They Are A' Changin' by Bob Dylan

Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide, the chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon, for the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen...please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
And don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast
The slow one now will later be fast
As the present now will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin'
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

[Dirtyfrog]

Originally Posted by MisoGenie

I'm going to be the smart aleck here and say Homer's The Odyssey.

Definitively !! Personnaly i think the guitar solo in the middle just enhanced the spiritual meaning

[Badbird]

There are probably no greater lyrics than to the song Secret Door by Dreamtale.

I am all about nuance and subtlety. There is some seriously deep symbolism here that may not be apparent to the casual observer. Really, it's all about the subtext.

Beautiful bride
and undaunted knight
Are lying in bed, holding hands
Side by side

They started their life
As husband and wife
And now it's time to show

How much they care for each other,
How far they're willing to go

He moved on real nice
And made her come twice
But then he wanted
To put on some spice

Please hear me pray,
I want you to stay
As still as you can be

[Chorus:]
I gave you a taste and you want for more
Let me come to your garden through your back door
Is there anything sweeter in whole wide world
Than ride with this magical wild horse

Oh, I'll taste you in my mouth
My hunger for you makes me howl like a hound
Shout, shout, shout, shout for more
I insist for another round

[Repeat Chorus]

[Darth Kenshin]

I'm not about sublety and don't like to think when I listen to music. With that: Big L, Ebonics. Great flow, and educational too

[Dirtyfrog]

I was going throught my old KMFDM collection and remembered the song DOGMA. Well it's less of a song and more like spoken words over a beat.

All we want is a headrush
All we want is to get out of our skin for a while
We have nothing to lose because we don't have anything
Anything we want anyway...
We used to hate people
Now we just make fun of them
It's more effective that way
We don't live
We just scratch on day to day
With nothing but matchbooks and sarcasm in our pockets
And all we are waiting for is for something worth waiting for
Let's admit America gets the celebrities we deserve
Let's stop saying "Don't quote me" because if no one quotes you
You probably haven't said a thing worth saying
We need something to kill the pain of all that nothing inside
We all just want to die a little bit
We fear that pop-culture is the only culture we're ever going to have
We want to stop reading magazines
Stop watching T.V.
Stop caring about Hollywood
But we're addicted to the things we hate
We don't run Washington and no one really does
Ask not what you can do for your country
Ask what your country did to you
The only reason you're still alive is because someone
Has decided to let you live
We owe so much money we're not broke we're broken
We're so poor we can't even pay attention
So what do you want?
You want to be famous and rich and happy
But you're terrified you have nothing to offer this world
Nothing to say and no way to say it
But you can say it in three languages
You are more than the sum of what you consume
Desire is not an occupation
You are alternately thrilled and desperate
Skyhigh and fucked
Let's stop praying for someone to save us and start saving ourselves
Let's stop this and start over
Let's go out - let's keep going
This is your life - this is your fucking life
We need something to kill the pain of all that nothing inside
Quit whining you haven't done anything wrong because frankly
You haven't done much of anything
Someone's writing down your mistakes
Someone's documenting your downfall

[Jim Colyer]

ABBA wrote the best lyrics with the 110 songs they recorded in English.

[Dirtyfrog]

Wasn't Dancing Queen named the best "coming out" song of all time ?