Author Topic: Best song ever, lyrically? (Read 3332 times)

senecadawg2 · « **on:** August 24, 2012, 05:22:54 PM »

The title pretty much says it all. If you had to choose one single song as the best ever, for it's lyrics, which would you choose? I'll answer myself later, after I've mulled it over for a few hours.

lonestar · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2012, 06:58:02 PM »

Marillion-Warm Wet Circles

Poetically brilliant.

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2012, 07:08:08 PM »

Quote from: lonestar on August 24, 2012, 06:58:02 PM

Marillion-Warm Wet Circles

Poetically brilliant.

I'll second that. Fish's lyrical ability is god-like.

jammindude · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2012, 07:45:42 PM »

Territories - Rush

jammindude · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2012, 07:49:10 PM »

Although several from Tori Amos also come to mind.

Mother
China
Winter
Little Earthquakes
Precious Things
Silent All These Years
Me and a Gun

Actually, I would have to give Little Earthquakes the nod as the greatest lyrical ALBUM in history...hands down...no contest. Tori never topped it. (though she's come very close a couple of times)

AMindBesideItself · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2012, 07:51:24 PM »

The Bad Touch

Fluffy Lothario · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2012, 08:45:41 PM »

My answer's the same as always: take your pick of the four songs on Side B of Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home. That album side is the pinnacle of lyric writing in popular music.

Perpetual Change · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2012, 09:47:35 PM »

Many songs by Bob Dylan:

Some favorites:

"Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow."- Mr. Tambourine Man

"Oh God said to Abraham, 'Kill me a son'
Abe says, 'Man, you must be puttin' me on'
God say, 'No.' Abe say, 'What?'
God say, 'You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run.' " -Highway 61 Revisted

TioJorge · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2012, 09:51:00 PM »

Another Bob Dylan classic: Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time (although, if memory serves, isn't this a cover? I don't give a fuck either way because it's awesome and the only version I've heard is his and I don't care to hear the original cause that's how I don't give a fuck, I just don't give it. I just don't. GOD).

And my all-time favorite lyrical masterpiece:

Geto Boys: Mind Playing Tricks On Me

I'm not kidding. I don't ever kid. I also hate kids.

senecadawg2 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2012, 09:53:24 PM »

Quote from: AMindBesideItself on August 24, 2012, 07:51:24 PM

The Bad Touch

My answer, after much thought:
David Gray- Let the Truth Sting
David Gray- Birds Without Wings
David Gray- Ain't No Love

Fluffy Lothario · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:29:50 PM »

Quote from: TioJorge on August 24, 2012, 09:51:00 PM

Another Bob Dylan classic: Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time (although, if memory serves, isn't this a cover?

No, Dylan wrote that. Elvis covered it.

That's a great pick though, it's a fairly obscure track, only officially available on one random Best Of of the hundreds he has, but definitely one of his best early songs. They used that song to close the last episode of Season One of The Walking Dead. I was floored, it was an amazing choice.

Jirpo · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:33:31 PM »

Quote from: jammindude on August 24, 2012, 07:49:10 PM

Although several from Tori Amos also come to mind.

Mother
China
Winter
Little Earthquakes
Precious Things
Silent All These Years
Me and a Gun

Actually, I would have to give Little Earthquakes the nod as the greatest lyrical ALBUM in history...hands down...no contest. Tori never topped it. (though she's come very close a couple of times)

Great pick! One of my favourite albums both musically and lyrically.
Although that one is definitely up there for me, I also really love Still Lifes lyrics, and also Portal of I by Ne Obliviscaris has some amazing lyrics.

LieLowTheWantedMan · « **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:51:40 PM »

A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers by Van der Graaf Generator
A few by Bright Eyes

TioJorge · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:54:34 PM »

Quote from: Fluffy Lothario on August 24, 2012, 10:29:50 PM

Quote from: TioJorge on August 24, 2012, 09:51:00 PM
Another Bob Dylan classic: Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time (although, if memory serves, isn't this a cover?
No, Dylan wrote that. Elvis covered it.

That's a great pick though, it's a fairly obscure track, only officially available on one random Best Of of the hundreds he has, but definitely one of his best early songs. They used that song to close the last episode of Season One of The Walking Dead. I was floored, it was an amazing choice.

Yeah that was the first time I'd heard it and it made me tear up. Very powerful song, I really love it. Good to know Dylan wrote it.

rumborak · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:57:40 PM »

Peter Gabriel has lots of good ones.

nicmos · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2012, 11:49:56 PM »

Whole Lotta Rosie.

Seriously, give me just about anything by Neil Peart over anything else. Territories is a great choice. Losing It. The Way The Wind Blows. So much on Clockwork Angels is great, I can't really pick one.

Pink Floyd- Eclipse is a great one. Also, One Slip.

Your'e not going to get a clear answer out of me. Are you looking for just the lyrics taken apart from the song, or how they fit into the music?

Elite · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:27:35 AM »

FINGERLICKIN' GOOD

--

And my real answer is 'Life on Mars?' from the amazing David Bowie

FrostbiteZ · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:37:46 AM »

Pink Floyd's Time

lonestar · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2012, 02:20:54 AM »

Quote from: FrostbiteZ on August 25, 2012, 01:37:46 AM

Pink Floyd's Time

That is a good one for sure.

MoraWintersoul · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2012, 03:43:23 AM »

You did not just ask me my favorite question.

But I don't think you want a three page answer. Some of my favorite "poets in metal/rock" would be Markus Steffen, Kevin Moore, Mariusz Duda, Mikael Stanne, Niilo Sevänen and Daniel Gildenlöw on occasion. So it's anything by them, 90% of the time.

Lowdz · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2012, 04:59:55 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix87x on August 24, 2012, 07:08:08 PM

Quote from: lonestar on August 24, 2012, 06:58:02 PM
Marillion-Warm Wet Circles

Poetically brilliant.

I'll second that. Fish's lyrical ability is god-like.

Thirded. I would go with Forgotten Sons. Powerful and emotive.

Zantera · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:02:13 AM »

Adrenaline Mob - Psychosane

In all seriousness, I would have to think about it.

skydivingninja · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2012, 07:15:22 AM »

Quote from: rumborak on August 24, 2012, 10:57:40 PM

Peter Gabriel has lots of good ones.

Indeed he does.

A few of my favorites (can't limit it to just one):

Peter Gabriel-Wallflower
Bruce Springsteen-Jungleland
Thrice-Digging My Own Grave
Rush-Freewill
Bright Eyes-Let's Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and to be Loved)
Porcupine Tree-Buying New Soul

"That Power" by Childish Gambino is becoming a contender as well. There's this really REALLY good monologue at the end. Not sure if it counts as lyrics, but there is music in the background. Still gonna mention it anyways.

hefdaddy42 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2012, 08:17:04 AM »

It's a tough question. I love Jeff Buckley's lyrics, and Dylan is the master. I also love a lot of Springsteen's lyrics.

dbrooks22 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2012, 08:19:09 AM »

Rush - Anagram
Rush - Bravado
Rush - Pretty much every other song on Presto and Roll the Bones is a lyrical masterpiece.

The King in Crimson · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2012, 09:57:24 AM »

Anything Roger Waters writes.

lonestar · « **Reply #26 on:** August 25, 2012, 10:27:51 AM »

Quote from: Lowdz on August 25, 2012, 04:59:55 AM

Quote from: Phoenix87x on August 24, 2012, 07:08:08 PM
Quote from: lonestar on August 24, 2012, 06:58:02 PM
Marillion-Warm Wet Circles

Poetically brilliant.

I'll second that. Fish's lyrical ability is god-like.

Thirded. I would go with Forgotten Sons. Powerful and emotive.

Yeah, it's awesome too, but I just love the imagery in Warm Wet Circles. This one passage here, just incredible...

I saw teenage girls like gaudy moths
A classrooms shabby butterflies
Flirt in the glow of stranded telephone boxes
Planning white lace weddings from smeared hearts
And token proclamations
Rolled from stolen lipsticks
Across the razored webs of glass

How he layers image upon image is nothing short of brilliant.

Zydar · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2012, 10:39:12 AM »

Rush - Time Stand Still has powerful lyrics (RJ knows the deal).

Afterimage as well.

SystematicThought · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2012, 10:43:52 AM »

Actually, in my mind, Grace Under Pressure has some pretty good lyrics. At least in my opinion.

Red Sector A gives you a good sense of tenseness. And Afterimage is good.

lonestar · « **Reply #29 on:** August 25, 2012, 11:00:30 AM »

Quote from: Zydar on August 25, 2012, 10:39:12 AM

Rush - Time Stand Still has powerful lyrics (RJ knows the deal).

Yeah, that one's hitting me especially hard today since my kid's taking off for college today.

SystematicThought · « **Reply #30 on:** August 25, 2012, 11:04:20 AM »

Oh man, I just moved out to college three days ago, so I really don't want to hear that song

ZKX-2099 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 25, 2012, 11:08:18 AM »

I always think of Lines In The Sand when I think of great lyrics... that and Bat Country.

DebraKadabra · « **Reply #32 on:** August 25, 2012, 12:51:17 PM »

Just ONE? Sorry, can't do that. One of my personal favorites though is Floater's "Crusatyr".

lionfury · « **Reply #33 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:02:44 PM »

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher.

Lyrical genius right there.

Ħ · « **Reply #34 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:18:12 PM »

easy - American Pie

News: Fall Into the Light, official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFxH4kky6z4

Author Topic: Best song ever, lyrically? (Read 3332 times)