DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site
General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Harmony on October 25, 2021, 05:07:18 PM
-
We've all been there. A song begins to play and the first few lines immediately grab your attention. Or maybe over time you've grown to appreciate how those opening few lines set the hook for the brilliance of the song that follows. Either way, name them here. And if you want to drop a few reasons why they appealed to you, let's have it.
"I once had a girl or should I say she once had me?"
"When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school. It's a wonder I can think at all."
"Slow down you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile but then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?"
-
"I once had a girl or should I say she once had me?"
That reminds me of a cool opening Rush lyric on a song from the Vapor Trails album.
"Did I have the dream or did the dream have me?"
-
We've all been there. A song begins to play and the first few lines immediately grab your attention. Or maybe over time you've grown to appreciate how those opening few lines set the hook for the brilliance of the song that follows. Either way, name them here. And if you want to drop a few reasons why they appealed to you, let's have it.
"I once had a girl or should I say she once had me?"
"When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school. It's a wonder I can think at all."
"Slow down you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile but then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?"
So why did these appeal to you?
As for me ... "Hey hey mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove"
I'll just quote myself ...
Zeppelin IV (and more specifically Black Dog). It was '86, and my older brother had just bought a new stereo with a CD player (those were brand new at the time). He pops in Black Dog, and I'm like wtf with the little wah wah wah wah opening. Then Bobby Plant chimes in and I'm like :omg:. Changed my musical tastes forever. Up to that point, I was a wussy little teenager listening to Madonna, Wham, and all that poppy crap. Zeppelin is still, and always will be, my favorite band. Have the four symbols on my left shoulder which makes it so forever.
-
We've all been there. A song begins to play and the first few lines immediately grab your attention. Or maybe over time you've grown to appreciate how those opening few lines set the hook for the brilliance of the song that follows. Either way, name them here. And if you want to drop a few reasons why they appealed to you, let's have it.
"I once had a girl or should I say she once had me?"
"When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school. It's a wonder I can think at all."
"Slow down you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile but then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?"
So why did these appeal to you?
3 of my top 10 lyricists of all time.
NW - I think this was the first time in a song I heard the narrative switch from the guy being in charge of the relationship to the girl.
Kodachrome - I probably could sub in almost any Paul Simon song here. His ability to paint pictures with his words just astonishes me sometimes. I'm certain nostalgia plays a role in this choice.
Vienna - is just a beauty of a song. I love the nod to youth and the notion of going off half-cocked after some idea (like running off to Vienna) and being reminded by someone older that it is ok to relax and enjoy life without feeling the urgency to cram it all in before you are 25.
-
"Slow down you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile but then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid?"
AWESOME call. One of my favorite songs of all time.
-
“Saw you walking on your velvet lawn. Is it lonely on the moon? You took a dive and swallowed all you could. Did you drink too much too soon?
-
I don't recognize a single lyric in this thread.
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
Oh I know that one! :lol :lol
I have the picture disc 45!
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
Oh I know that one! :lol :lol
I have the picture disc 45!
Fuck yeah! :metal
-
I would probably have to give this more thought, but a few that come to mind by who I consider notable lyricists:
"And the meek shall inherit the earth..." - Neal Peart (from Rush's 2112)
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day." - Roger Waters (from Pink Floyd's Time)
"Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me." -Taylor Swift (from Taylor Swift's Long Story Short)
"I can't believe the news today. Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away." -Bono (from U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday)
"And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time." -Ben Gibbard (from Death Cab for Cutie's What Sarah Said)
-
Kev, thank you for crediting the songs.
-
I am not sure why others are not, but I guess they figure it is easier to make us all run to google to search for the song than spend an extra 21 seconds in typing it out. :lol :lol
-
Guess what...I ain't running to google.
DTF is my google!
-
Ok...
"I was flicking through the channels on the tv, on a Sunday in Milwaukee in the rain, trying to piece together conversation, trying to find out where to lay the blame"
"Is it wrong to talk to myself when there's nobody else, I'm just checking out that I've not gone under the water, thrown to the beach like a seal ready for slaughter"
Both from Marillion, Clutching at Straws
-
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day." - Roger Waters (from Pink Floyd's Time)
Good one! There are a few Pink Floyd songs that would qualify for me for Time is #1 for sure. Followed by "Keep Talking" because of the Hawkin's part:
"For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals
Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination
We learned to talk"
-
I am not sure why others are not, but I guess they figure it is easier to make us all run to google to search for the song than spend an extra 21 seconds in typing it out. :lol :lol
I was just following form!
-
I don't recognize a single lyric in this thread.
I don't either above this post.
-
“Saw you walking on your velvet lawn. Is it lonely on the moon? You took a dive and swallowed all you could. Did you drink too much too soon?
Marillion - Gazpacho.
Some of you people are missing out.
-
Not really, no. :lol
Actually, I love Script For A Jester's tear. That album is cool.
-
I've only heard a few Marilion songs. Never listened to a full album. What I heard did nothing for me.
-
Not really, no. :lol
Actually, I love Script For A Jester's tear. That album is cool.
My least favorite Marillion album!
-
Not really, no. :lol
Actually, I love Script For A Jester's tear. That album is cool.
My least favorite Marillion album!
Of course! :rollin
-
I've only heard a few Marilion songs. Never listened to a full album. What I heard did nothing for me.
Should at least give the Afraid of Sunlight album a try IMO.
-
I've only heard a few Marilion songs. Never listened to a full album. What I heard did nothing for me.
Should at least give the Afraid of Sunlight album a try IMO.
Noted.
-
.
-
Ten P.M., I feel the rain coming down
My face feels the wet, my mind the storm
Flashing lights as people race to find shelter from the pour
Moving silent, through the streets, they're mine, they're mine
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
The next line is better, though (I say slightly sarcastically). :) :)
-
"Sing me a song, you're a singer, do me a wrong, you're a bringer of evil..."
"I got my first real six string, bought it at the five-and-dime..."
"She's a good girl, loves her mama, loves Jesus, and America too..."
"I know there's nothing to say, Someone has taken my place..."
-
This one is really good:
“Step out the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.”
Another great one:
“Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive. Plays that song that’s so elusive and the magic music makes your morning mood.”
-
" I don't feel as If I know ya - you take up all my time. The days are long and the nights will blow you away. Cause the sun don't shine. "
" I declare I don't care no more. I'm burning up and out and growing bored. "
" My Girlfriend says that I need help. My Boyfriend says i'd be better off dead. "
-
"I live in the flat next door & I can hear you fuck your girlfriend through the wall" -Steven Wilson, People Who Eat Darkness
-
“Saw you walking on your velvet lawn. Is it lonely on the moon? You took a dive and swallowed all you could. Did you drink too much too soon?
In addition to this awesome lyric, Pete and Steve sound glorious behind it.
"And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time." -Ben Gibbard (from Death Cab for Cutie's What Sarah Said)
Ooof...that song is heartbreaking.
I might go with "Sometimes I think this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom and we turn and climb again. And it seems by the time that I have figured what it's worth, the squeaking of our skin against the steel has gotten worse" from Expo '86.
-
This one is really good:
“Step out the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.”
I love Round Here and that entire first album.
Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows is an AMAZING lyricist. Mrs. Potters Lullaby (from their 3rd album This Desert Life) in particular is just non stop beauty. The melody is only 2 chords, but the incredible word pictures are captivating.
As good as Neil Peart’s lyrics were, I can’t think of any opening lines that were particularly earth shattering. He often took a minute to set up his point. Though the aforementioned TSOR opening line is quite good.
I’m not sure if it counts as a “lyric” per se, but one of the greatest intros to any album I can think of is, “I’ve been mad for f***ing years. Absolutely years.”
-
I might go with "Sometimes I think this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom and we turn and climb again. And it seems by the time that I have figured what it's worth, the squeaking of our skin against the steel has gotten worse" from Expo '86.
Ben Gibbard has so many good ones, I could fill up a thread with just his awesome lyrics. :tup :tup
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
The next line is better, though (I say slightly sarcastically). :) :)
The whole damn thing. :metal
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
The next line is better, though (I say slightly sarcastically). :) :)
The whole damn thing. :metal
Funnily enough when I saw this topic one of the first things that came to mind was "A tattooed madman, I'm hell on wheels"..........not a particularly clever lyric or anything but used to use that song to fire me up for athletic comps and the first line sets the mood damn quick :lol
-
This one is really good:
“Step out the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.”
I love Round Here and that entire first album.
Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows is an AMAZING lyricist. Mrs. Potters Lullaby (from their 3rd album This Desert Life) in particular is just non stop beauty. The melody is only 2 chords, but the incredible word pictures are captivating.
August and Everything After is gold, and Duritz was really writing at such a high level for a debut. Those first 4 albums all range from good to great, but there was a bit of a diminishing return with each subsequent album and I kind of lost touch with them. Across a Wire is an amazing live album though. I think This Dessert Life was just a bit of a letdown after how good those first two releases and that live album were. They released something this year which was king of an extended epic that I started and have been meaning to come back to. Maybe tonight!
-
This one is really good:
“Step out the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.”
I love Round Here and that entire first album.
Adam Duritz from the Counting Crows is an AMAZING lyricist. Mrs. Potters Lullaby (from their 3rd album This Desert Life) in particular is just non stop beauty. The melody is only 2 chords, but the incredible word pictures are captivating.
August and Everything After is gold, and Duritz was really writing at such a high level for a debut. Those first 4 albums all range from good to great, but there was a bit of a diminishing return with each subsequent album and I kind of lost touch with them. Across a Wire is an amazing live album though. I think This Dessert Life was just a bit of a letdown after how good those first two releases and that live album were. They released something this year which was king of an extended epic that I started and have been meaning to come back to. Maybe tonight!
Don’t want to hijack the thread too much, but I actually thought Satellites was a bit of a letdown (though there are some very high highs) and TDL was a return to form. And Mrs Potter’s Lullaby is his all time #1 lyrical moment.
-
I may go and check some of the lyrics out. I know it's shallow and unfair, but always turned off by the music and the vibe. There seemed to be a lot of pretentiousness in the imaging that I wasn't interested in (fat prep school kid with dreads dating "Friends" actresses is not my identifier). And the "parking lot" lyric was kind of obvious and trite to me. But he's got to be doing something right. I remember they appeared on Jools Holland once and I didn't know the song but liked it.
-
“ Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah ”
(nobody did this yet? :lol)
-
When I fell from grace
I never realized
How deep the flood was around me
-
"Lost in the sky, clouds roll by and I roll with them" :metal
-
"Lost in the sky, clouds roll by and I roll with them" :metal
Which song is that again? I don't think I know it :)
-
Meh don't bother. The song is so sh*t they couldnt even be bothered finishing it ::)
-
I may go and check some of the lyrics out. I know it's shallow and unfair, but always turned off by the music and the vibe. There seemed to be a lot of pretentiousness in the imaging that I wasn't interested in (fat prep school kid with dreads dating "Friends" actresses is not my identifier). And the "parking lot" lyric was kind of obvious and trite to me. But he's got to be doing something right. I remember they appeared on Jools Holland once and I didn't know the song but liked it.
I can get how you might have been turned off at the time. Adam Duritz is one of those love or hate type of singers/writers without a lot of people falling in between it seems (and I’d more or less agree about the “parking lot” line). For my age at the time it all really resonated with me, and even more so when I got into young adulthood. But I really think that whole first album was just really well done on a songwriting, performance, and production level. Given the discussion yesterday in another thread about production styles, I think you might really like it if you gave it a shot.
-
I may go and check some of the lyrics out. I know it's shallow and unfair, but always turned off by the music and the vibe. There seemed to be a lot of pretentiousness in the imaging that I wasn't interested in (fat prep school kid with dreads dating "Friends" actresses is not my identifier). And the "parking lot" lyric was kind of obvious and trite to me. But he's got to be doing something right. I remember they appeared on Jools Holland once and I didn't know the song but liked it.
I can get how you might have been turned off at the time. Adam Duritz is one of those love or hate type of singers/writers without a lot of people falling in between it seems (and I’d more or less agree about the “parking lot” line). For my age at the time it all really resonated with me, and even more so when I got into young adulthood. But I really think that whole first album was just really well done on a songwriting, performance, and production level. Given the discussion yesterday in another thread about production styles, I think you might really like it if you gave it a shot.
I'm not looking to slag him off, either. I'm thinking that something like Mr. Jones is something I would dig, given that it's a throwback reference to both Dylan and The Beatles (well, John Lennon), and while not exactly the same topic, they are tangentially related (the pitfalls of stardom). There's probably a lot there; I just haven't experienced it yet. Duritz is clearly no dummy, and clearly has a sharp take on the world.
-
“ Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah ”
(nobody did this yet? :lol)
:lol
I ain't gonna lie. That IS a great opening!
-
"I got sunshine in my stomach like I just rocked my baby to sleep." <--- such a great description of a feeling :heart
Genesis - In the Cage
-
Ooooohhh, that Genesis one is a good one. Good call on In the Cage. :tup :tup
-
So, The Cage is a metaphor for the womb?
-
"I got pictures of naked ladies, lying on their beds".
The next line is better, though (I say slightly sarcastically). :) :)
The whole damn thing. :metal
Funnily enough when I saw this topic one of the first things that came to mind was "A tattooed madman, I'm hell on wheels"..........not a particularly clever lyric or anything but used to use that song to fire me up for athletic comps and the first line sets the mood damn quick :lol
Mean motberfucking man!! :metal
-
"The world is a vampire" - Smashing Pumpkins, Bullet With Butterfly Wings
"There's a lipstick sunset smeared across the August sky" - John Hiatt, Lipstick Sunset
"When I look out into your eyes out there
When I look out into your faces
You know what I see?
I see a little bit of Elvis
In each and every one of you out there" - Mojo Nixon, Elvis Is Everywhere
-
"The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways. Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays" - Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen
-
The cynical view that has been taken
Is blowing my mind
I can't seem to piece it all together
I guess it takes time to unwind
To let the dust settle
And let cooler heads prevail
-John Bush (Armored Saint-Tainted Past)
-
This one might seem like an odd one, but:
there's a battle for my soul between God, the devil, and rock n roll
It's the first lines from "Room For The Dead," by Plea For Purging. Not my fav band, nor my fav song, but damn it's a hell of a line.
-
I have to add some more Paul Simon. I think my favourite lyricist ever. The way he speaks/sings/writes is so beautiful.
"It was a slow day
And the sun was beating
On the soldiers by the side of the road
There was a bright light
A shattering of shop windows
The bomb in the baby carriage was wired to the radio
These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long distance call
The way the camera follows us in slo-mo
The way we look to us all
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry baby, don't cry, don't cry"
Or
"Well I'm accustomed to a smoother ride.
Or maybe I'm a dog that's lost its bite.
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more.
I don't expect to sleep the night."