Bryan Ferry

I've gotta piss on one of the greats too!

Of course I really appreciate Stevie's musical genius, but let's face it, Stevie really doesn't write poignant lyrics most of the time. Yeah, sure, for a blind man who has lived rather sheltered life for quite a long time his scope is quite vast and he is able to write about "socially-conscious" themes as well. So that in itself is an accomplishment. But c'mon, mostly his lyrics are about utopistic, not understanding the facts and limitations of life -type of writing that crash on plain empty slogans and, what would seem on the surface level, courageous handling of social issues by mere references and nothing else. "It's time to love!", yeah sure of course, any other great ideas?

InsatiableCream said:

Absolutely! No question about that and he just won a Pulitzer too for that very reason.

BlaqueKnight said:

Dig it.

I couldn't answer that for you because I listen to music to escape from these things for a little while. The music usually catches my ear first and the lyrics catch my ear second.



I learned about different sexual acts and sexual terms from Prince. I didn't know what "Head", "Jack U Off", blowjob...(a blowjob is a mean blow from "Sister") or "Get It Up" meant when I first heard those songs. All I knew was I loved the way the music sounded. When I used to sneak and find my uncle's Penthouse magazines, I would read the forums and learned the definition of these words by the way they were used in the sentences in the stories. Every time I would see a word such as "Head" or "Jack Off" I would say to myself...."Hey, that's the word Prince used in those songs.....so that's what it means". That's probably why I'm such a freak. It was Prince, of all people, that taught me the birds and the bees and the facts of life
.
.
.
[Edited 5/2/08 14:58pm]

Imago said:

There's a name I haven't heard in a dog's age. Used to really like a song of his (I think it was called "Where Were You"?).


Yes, good lyricist.


Never heard that album and she generally really gets on my tits, but I really like "You Learn".

Anxiety said:

I never cared for Bowie as a lyricist, but I love some Byrne stuff. And Lennon's "Watching the Wheels" is one of my fave lyrics ever.

WaterInYourBath said:

midnightmover said:

Although I was a big fan way back in my yoot, I'd grown to absolutely hate Morrissey. But then he released "That's How People Grow Up". Now, that is wisdom-laden song.

Included him in my orig. post, but that pic doesn't show up for some reason :

Anxiety said:

Of course.

Lenny Kravitz


Tom Petty


Sanada/TTD


Stevie Nicks

emilio319 said:

Sometimes when he sings, you can't really understand the exact words....then you read them...

Daddy can I have a war?

Daddy can I have a war?
I had no army before
Let me finish off what you never did
And sell it off for the highest bid

Maybe maybe maybe
The time has come
To spare the mother's babies
Who'll come back numb

Daddy can I have a war?
Our hardware must be paid for
Military mamas dishing the lead
The same hands that tuck 'em in bed

Maybe maybe maybe
The time is here
To spare the father's children
Who'll disappear

Daddy can I have a war?
Because I speak for the Lord
We must remember to preach
(Except turn the other cheek)

~~~~~

Surrender

I took a good look at my life
And what I saw it made me cry
But there was nothing I could do
But lift my head up to the sky and
Surrender

I took a good look at my friends
And I saw that they were thieves
Because they were stealing precious time
So I dropped down on my knees and I
Surrender

I took a good look at my soul
And saw a liquid dancing fire light
And the seed of man's most evil stare
Could not deny my joy tonight
Surrender

I am a liquid dancing firelight
I don't believe in the existence of sin
But I believe in me and I believe in you
And that's enough to believe in
Surrender

~~~~~

Neon Messiah

She never wanted to be my neon messiah
She never wanted to be my neon messiah

I saw the blood dripping from your caring hands
I prayed it wasn't more blood
Than your month could stand
I didn't hear you say
Kick my pedestal away

She never wanted to be my neon messiah
She never wanted to be my neon messiah

I saw you suffocating in a wordless pain
A whore/Madonna martyr is all that remains
If Oedipus could rise
He'd probably try me on for size

She never wanted to be my neon messiah
She never wanted to be my neon messiah

Roll over tell Stravinsky
She lost herself to please me
I can't handle intelligent women
They're far too deep to swim in

She never wanted to be my neon messiah
She never wanted to be my neon messiah

~~~~~
I Have Faith In These Desolate Times

I have faith in these desolate times
A roar down the road of a rumbling war
I have faith in these desolate times
A chill from the eyes of a man of political skill
I have faith but for how much longer?

It seems to me, bitter trees, full of fleas
Summarily hold the branches
People we, falling leaves, watching thieves
Stealing keys, to our ranches

I have faith in these desolate times
A score to the sound of the feet of a journeyman's tour
I have faith in these desolate times
A feel and a hope and belief that man's peace will be still
I have faith but for how much longer?

The village green, people seen, full of beans
Imagining the course of action
And in between, shopping scenes, plasticine
Suburban dreams, an empty faction

I have faith in these desolate times
Show fear, and the smoke of a gun trigger pulling finger pressure comes near

I have faith in these desolate times
Before long, the lamb and the lion may lie with the lass in the grass at dawn

I have faith but for how much longer?

The Late Great Donny Hathaway



The Late Great Gerald Levert.

The Late Otis Redding

MsLegs said:

Sananda is my choice as well . But you cannot be serious about Lenny .

midnightmover said:

Define wise for me.

Damn, it didn't take long for this thread to descend into foolishness. Madonna? Lenny Kravitz? Lord help us.

stevenpottle said:

Don't you have a dictionary? Only joking. In this context I define it as having mature insights into life, and some suggestions as to the best way to live it. I get many things from Morrissey, but I don't get that. I see him more as the poet of frustration and disappointment. If I want someone to tell me what it feels like to be unhappy, I'll go to Morrissey. If I want someone who can actually step outside his own neuroses, and see the bigger picture then I'll go elsewhere.

midnightmover said:

Express yourself, dont repress yourself

And I'm not sorry
It's human nature
And I'm not sorry
I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me

You wouldn't let me say the words I longed to say
You didn't want to see life through my eyes
You tried to shove me back inside your narrow room
And silence me with bitterness and lies

Did I say something wrong?
Oops! I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex
Did I stay too long?
Oops! I didn't know I couldn't speak my mind

You punished me for telling you my fantasies
And breaking all the rules I didn't make
You took my words and made a trap for silly fools
You held me down and tried to make me break

Did I say something true?
Oops! I didnt know I couldnt talk about sex
Did I have a point of view?
Oops, I didnt know I couldn't talk about you

Express yourself, dont repress yourself
Express yourself, dont repress yourself

I'm not apologizing
Would it sound better if I were a man?
You're the one with the problem
Why don't you just deal with it?

Would you like me better if I was?
We all feel the same way
I have no regrets
Just look in the mirror

I don't have to justify anything
I'm just like you
Why should I be?

Deal with it.

midnightmover said:

I totally agreed with you about Morrissey, until he released this last year:

I was wasting my time
Trying to fall in love
Disappointment came to me and
Booted me and bruised and hurt me

But that's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

I was wasting my time
Looking for love
Someone must look at me
and see their sunlit dream

I was wasting my time
Waiting for love
For the love that never comes from
Someone who does not exist

That's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

Let me live before I die
Oh, not me, not I

I was wasting my life
Always thinking about myself
Someone on their deathbed said
"There are other souls, too"

I was driving my car
I crashed and broke my spine
So yes, there are things worse in life than
Never being someone's sweetie

That's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

As for me I'm ok
For now anyway...

OK, since I am of a fan of the man from the Chocolate City, I might as well post one of my favorite songs from him:

Anger
(M. Gaye/D. Ashby)

...Up and down my back, my spine
In my brain, it injures me (anger), babe
Anger can make you old (anger)
Yes it can, I say anger (anger) can make you sick, children
(Oh Jesus)
Anger (anger) destroys your soul, woo...

Rage, there's no room for rage in there
There's no room for rage in here
Line up some place to go to be mad
It's a sin to treat your body bad

When anger really gets the best of us
We really lost our heads
Often say a lot of things, oh darlin'
Wish we'd never said

Ah reason is beyond control
And the things we do for spite
Makes me ashamed, and I mean this, baby
Makes me want to do things right

Someday soon I'll hope and pray like Jesus
I'll reach that wiser age
Hope I will learn I really never, never profit
From things I do in rage

One more time
Anger! More anger when it's flaming hot!
Anger burns to the bitter end
Know what I'm talkin' 'bout?

Woo, when it cools, I find out too late
I have lost at love, love, love, dear friend

I said anger (anger) can make you sick, children
(Oh Jesus) Anger (anger) destroys your soul, woo...

I'm not gonna let you get the best of me, babe
Gonna go somewhere and cool
This is not the way my head's supposed to be, babe
Got me feelin' like some silly fool
But I know a real nice place where I can go
And feel the way I'm supposed to feel

I don't wanna be mad at nobody
I don't want to be feelin' bad
Up and down my back, my spine, in my brain
It injures me, babe (anger)

Anger can make you old (anger)
Yes it can, I said anger (anger) can make you sick, children
(Oh Jesus) Anger (anger) destroys your soul (woo...)

Anger
Anger
Anger
Anger
Anger!

(C)1978 Jobete Music Publishing Co., Inc (Motown)
---

Ace said:

This is basically just a millionaire defending themselves 'cos their publicity seeking backfired on them. What's wise about that? It's one of her better lyrics, but it certainly couldn't earn her a place alongside the likes of Tracy Chapman or Joan Armatrading, or a hundred other more serious writers.

And the bits I highlighted sound pretty petulant and childish.
[Edited 5/3/08 14:32pm]

Here's another one:

Sparrow
(M. Gaye/E. Townsend)

I used to hear a sparrow singing, baby
Oh but one day as I went along, I didn't hear his song
But I know a sparrow should sing
Sing on such a morning in spring
Oh sparrow why don't you sing?

Sing to me, oh sparrow, come around
Come around, why don't you come around
Sing about a melody, a melody about the things you see
Anything you wanna sing about, just sing it out loud now, sing it out loud
Let the world know what life's all about
Sing little sparrow, sing

Sing little sparrow, sing
Oh sing little sparrow, won't you sing for me
And for the rest of the whole wide world, they'll appreciate it, I know
Whenever I'm feelin' low, I know I can always count on you
Sing little sparrow

About the troubles you're in
The places you've been
You can sing, I know it
Don't you try to pretend
But sing while you're here
Sing a song my dear

Let me hear your song
Did you mean to call?
Sing little sparrow sing
I want you to sing little sparrow, sing
I want you to sing little sparrow, sing
Oh pretty bird song

(instrumental)

Sing to me
Let me hear your agony
Did you say man's sucking up the land?
Sing to me of peace and love
Sing to me of God above
Sing sparrow
Oh sparrow, sing

Sing to me about man's inhumanity
And all of the injustice you see
Sing sparrow, oh sparrow, sing
Oh sing about what to give
Sing about how to live
I want you to sing your tune, sparrow
Oh little sparrow sing

Sing to me of jealousy
Ah sing what life's all about
Sing it out loud
SHOUT! Little sparrow
Oh sing at me
Sing me a song
I wanna know what's wrong, little bird, tell me
Ah sparrow

Sing, sparrow
'Cause I wanna know
You sweet itty, bitty, pretty bird
Sing before you go
Sing to me, Marvin Gaye
Before you fly away
Never stop singing, sparrow
'Til we hear your song

Sing your song
Sing your song
On and on and on and on
And on and on and on and on and on and...
I remember a bird

----
In other words, "I need some fucking help!"

EccentricLady said:

novabrkr said:

In the seventies Stevie was writing some hard hitting lyrics. Even some of his '80s songs like "Free" and "You Will Know" are quite deep. For sure, some of his stuff is naive and utopian, but at his best he's a very profound writer.

I think this song was wise beyond its years:

Someday We'll All Be Free
(D. Hathaway/E. Howard)

Hang on to the world as it spins around
Just don't let the spin get you down
Things are moving fast
Hold on tight and you will last

Keep your self-respect, your manly pride
Catch yourself in gear
Keep a stride
Never mind your fears
Brighter days will soon be here

Take it from me
Someday we'll all be free, yeah

Keep on walking tall
Hold your head up high
Lay your dreams right up to the sky
Sing your greatest song
And you'll keep going, going on

Take it from me
Someday we'll all be free

Hey, just wait and see
Someday we'll all be free, yeah

Take it from me
Someday we'll all be free

And it won't be long
Take it from me
Someday we'll all be free

Take it from me
Take it from me
Take it from me
Take it from me, yeah...

----
This song could mean a lot of things to so many people. While some think this was simply about Black pride, in truth these lyrics were about self-esteem issues that Donny was really facing at the time.
[Edited 5/3/08 14:52pm]