She has so many wonderful, deep lyrics. Personally, I love the lyrics to "Irons In The Fire", "Wild Horses" and "Naked To The World", "Baby, I'm Your Fiend" just to name a few. What are yours?

One of my favorite songs is "Black Rain":

purplethunder3121 said:

One of my favorite songs is "Black Rain":

What Michelle say?
Do you love her as much as you love me?

I sit alone
I watch the phone get dial toned
Then you I've known
The marrow bone
A rolling stone

My body's well
On cigarettes and coffee grounds
Tears of a clown
Love had me downs
Reverbs and nouns

Because I can't stand the rain
Falling on the inside
Of my window pane
It gets so cold inside
So if you leave
Please make haste
Cause it's starting on the inside
And it just might be too late

Make no mistakes
You gonna drown and now it's on (?)
To hear my rhyme
Sad as it goes
Five seven slow (?)
I loved you so
Uh

The beautiful ones always smash the picture
Hooooo
No subtle hints
No words I missed
I quote a former Prince

Because I can't stand the rain
Falling on the inside
Of my window pane
It gets so cold inside
So if you leave
Please make haste
Cause it's starting on the inside
And it just might be too late

It's a thin line between love and hate baby
Here in my heart
Where pain is swift
And lyrics start
You took the best that I gave
As though I was your slave
Say it's not fair
It's willing tell her that you care
No time to delay
To be on your way

Black Rain
Black Rain
Black Rain
Black Rain!

Sweet black rain
I've been ordained
Taken from me again
Only plain rain remains

My heart is stained
Baptized by flame
You gave me pain
Sweet black rain
Only plain rain remains

Lord I love Black Rain
Black Rain
Black Rain
Black Rain, uh

Black Rain
Black Rain
I've been ordained
Black Rain

My sweet Black Rain
I wanna go outside
In Black Rain

I sit alone
I watch the phone get dial toned
Then you I've known
A rolling stone
The marrow bone

My body's well
On cigarettes and coffee ground
Tears of a clown
Reverbs and nouns
Love had me down
Sweet Black Rain

I love that one too..but I've always thought the lyric was "...my body's wound, on cigarettes and coffee grounds..."

Most favorite Teena lyrics.

All of Portuguese Love

All of Lover Girl

I need your lovin

M.O.N.E.Y. never did a thing for L.O.V.I.N.

Lips To Find You.

So you say you're leaving for the Southern tip of Spain, Soak up local color and forget my name. To leave me for the major not the minor chord. And forget HOW WE MADE LOVE IN A 57 FORD!

Cassanova Brown

He's had more girls, than Howard Hughes has money...and that's a lot of women.

She sang that last part live.

Standing room only, the concert's so loud. Everyone's there for the party, the hush turns to a shout. Everyone's got a piece of the pie of you and I. But nobody knows when the lights went down that the tears flowed harder than the whole damn crowd.

Throw it down my love. It's just about all I can do. Wasn't I the one who said, I'd have my cake and eat it too? Just couldn't wait any longer...you pushed until I was through.

I loved you so...but I had to. Le.he.hey.eyet. Le.he.hey.eyet. you gooooo.... Did you hear me crying? Baby? It sounded a little bit liiiiiiiiike thiiiiis. Sho be do be do. (and the rest of her scatting) until she hit's that shoo be do be do, hey hey hey, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, lol. That was a long note! I love it.

I love all of "If I were a Bell" but I really like these lyrics.

Early morning whispers to me
I was taken unaware
I remember sunlight creepin'
In the window over there

The day had promised true love
Smiles awaken as we rise
Our golden slumbers long gone
Only you got in my eyes
And now I'll never be the same
'Cause you made me over

As the flicker turns to flame and passion rises hot (Ooh...)
I have no choice but to carry the choice but to carry a torch

"Here's looking at you"

I raise my glass and toast your love to ecstasy, ecstasy, ecstasy

De Ja Vu

I Am Young And I Am Old
I Am Rich And I Am Poor
I Feel Like I've Been On This Earth Many Times Before
Once I Was A White Gazelle On Horseback Riding Free
Searching In The Darkness For A Piece Of Me

I Used To Be A Queen You Know
On An Island By The Sea
With Rainbow Coloured People, Hah!
Happy As Can Be
We Never Had A Problem
There Never Was A Care
The Love Was Everflowing And It's Feeling Shared

My Soul Feels Like the Universe
The Baskin Never Ends
The Stars To Me Are Children
The Babies Are My Friends

My Heart Is Like A Galaxy
Within My Spirit Flys
I've Felt This Way A Million Times
Please Don't Ask Me Why
The Question Of My Lifetime
And That's My Point Of View
They Say It All Was Karma
Call It Deja Vu/ Call It Deja Vu
Call It Deja Vu/ Call It Deja Vu
Call It Deja Vu

Work It

It's not the way that you're right by my side
Or the way that you smooth out the ride
It's not the way that you keep the beat
On or off your feet
It's not the way that you always come through
When you know what to do for my high
It's not the way you break the law
When you do-wa-wa

godyssey said:

Most favorite Teena lyrics.

All of Portuguese Love

All of Lover Girl

I need your lovin

M.O.N.E.Y. never did a thing for L.O.V.I.N.

Lips To Find You.

So you say you're leaving for the Southern tip of Spain, Soak up local color and forget my name. To leave me for the major not the minor chord. And forget HOW WE MADE LOVE IN A 57 FORD!

Cassanova Brown

He's had more girls, than Howard Hughes has money...and that's a lot of women.

She sang that last part live.

Standing room only, the concert's so loud. Everyone's there for the party, the hush turns to a shout. Everyone's got a piece of the pie of you and I. But nobody knows when the lights went down that the tears flowed harder than the whole damn crowd.

Throw it down my love. It's just about all I can do. Wasn't I the one who said, I'd have my cake and eat it too? Just couldn't wait any longer...you pushed until I was through.

I loved you so...but I had to. Le.he.hey.eyet. Le.he.hey.eyet. you gooooo.... Did you hear me crying? Baby? It sounded a little bit liiiiiiiiike thiiiiis. Sho be do be do. (and the rest of her scatting) until she hit's that shoo be do be do, hey hey hey, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, lol. That was a long note! I love it.

I love all of "If I were a Bell" but I really like these lyrics.

Early morning whispers to me
I was taken unaware
I remember sunlight creepin'
In the window over there

The day had promised true love
Smiles awaken as we rise
Our golden slumbers long gone
Only you got in my eyes
And now I'll never be the same
'Cause you made me over

As the flicker turns to flame and passion rises hot (Ooh...)
I have no choice but to carry the choice but to carry a torch

"Here's looking at you"

I raise my glass and toast your love to ecstasy, ecstasy, ecstasy

De Ja Vu

I Am Young And I Am Old
I Am Rich And I Am Poor
I Feel Like I've Been On This Earth Many Times Before
Once I Was A White Gazelle On Horseback Riding Free
Searching In The Darkness For A Piece Of Me

I Used To Be A Queen You Know
On An Island By The Sea
With Rainbow Coloured People, Hah!
Happy As Can Be
We Never Had A Problem
There Never Was A Care
The Love Was Everflowing And It's Feeling Shared

My Soul Feels Like the Universe
The Baskin Never Ends
The Stars To Me Are Children
The Babies Are My Friends

My Heart Is Like A Galaxy
Within My Spirit Flys
I've Felt This Way A Million Times
Please Don't Ask Me Why
The Question Of My Lifetime
And That's My Point Of View
They Say It All Was Karma
Call It Deja Vu/ Call It Deja Vu
Call It Deja Vu/ Call It Deja Vu
Call It Deja Vu

Work It

It's not the way that you're right by my side
Or the way that you smooth out the ride
It's not the way that you keep the beat
On or off your feet
It's not the way that you always come through
When you know what to do for my high
It's not the way you break the law
When you do-wa-wa

"How can U resist it now that U kissed it"

"Maybe that will express what I've been going through!"

On every early album she included this lyric once.

"My baby must be a magician, cause he sure got the magic touch"

debbiedean2 said:

"My baby must be a magician, cause he sure got the magic touch"

Yes! That song does a slow simmer, until it doesn't and then we end up with "My baby must be..."

(I still love the "Teena went to Wonderland / the plot is getting thick ..." breakdown.)

"Out On A Limb"

Tender was the kiss when you held me captive in your sweet embrace
My lips begin to burn and my heart beats faster then the normal pace
I try hard to resist that familiar smile that melts me just like wax
But what's the use, I'm yours and that means forever, there's no turning back

Baby, baby, baby, it's a mystery
Ooh, you got me spinning around, what have you done to me
Suspended animation, I'm lost inside of you
I feel so insecure and yet I've never felt so sure, what am I gonna do

I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again
Baby, baby, I...I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again

Sweeter than the taste of a midnight rendezvous, so sensual
The look upon your face when you loved me tender and my cup was full
Oh...softer than the sigh when it all was over and I slumbered deep
Lost inside of you like there's no tomorrow as I fall to sleep

Baby, baby, baby, it's a mystery
Ooh, you got me spinning around, what have you done to me
Suspended animation, I'm lost inside of you
I feel so insecure and yet I've never felt so sure, what am I gonna do

I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again
Baby, baby, I...I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again

Hold me
Keep me warm inside you and love me
Love me right away
This one thing is true
I would die for you

Oh...oh...oh...oh...
Oh...oh...oh...oh...
Oh...oh...oh...baby

I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again
Baby, baby, I'm out on a limb
I'm giving in to you again

Baby, I'm
Baby, I'm

Baby, I'm out on a limb for you
I'm giving in to you
I'm out on a limb
Baby, I'm giving in to you again

Ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...
Baby, I'm out on a limb
I'm out on a limb
Baby, baby, I'm out on a limb
I'm on a limb
I'm giving in to you again, babe

Nice thread.

She was such an under-recognized lyricist (among so many other things, of course).

I'll go with DejaVu right now, but there's a million. I'll have to come back to this thread with some.

Definitely some stuff from Passion Play.

Oh and the line I want to be the thorn that's closest to the rose...Oh-Mah-Gah!

I love the lyrics to "Since Day One" too..

Contrary to popular opinion I'm extremely shy
I'm not the kind of girl who goes for any kind of guy
I seem together yea you always say I'm cool
But baby ooh you know that there is always an exception to the rule

Cause I loved you since day one baby
I thought about it I'd swim the deepest sea
To love you my only lover

You are the answer and you are the deal
You are the driver the smoke and the spoke in the wheel
And I never, no I wouldn't lie
I'm gonna love you until I die

Since day one in my neighborhood
In my little black book, baby in my bed
Since day one in my daddy's car in my love my life
And I'll love you forever

Baby ooh I can't control my passion
I need to be free
I'm not too proud I want you baby
My desire it burns so righteously

I say forever that's a mighty long long time
I go down fast like second nature
Ooh wee baby that's the bottom line
Cause I loved you since day one baby

My knees were weak I loved you forever
I loved you since day one

You are the answer and you are the deal
You are the driver the smoke and the spoke in the wheel
And I never no I wouldn't lie
I'm gonna love you until I die

Since day one in my neighborhood
In my little black book, baby in my bed
Since day one in my daddy's car
In my heart and my soul
And I'll love you forever

Don't you get the feeling that
We've known each other somewhere before
Tenderly through time, Love's a mystery
Then it must be magic, effervescent, laced with passion Filled with ecstasy
Love is calling you, Love's calling me

Since day one...etc...

And I can't forget another classic..."Where's California?"

[Edited 1/25/11 18:33pm]

[Edited 1/25/11 18:34pm]

good stuff there....Teena is on high rotation at the moment!!

Batucada Suite:

"Mary's into new things, got a bag

Superficial living's made her life a drag.

World stereotypes as she coins the phrase

Living for the hot wax and the printed page.

She no longer wants to boss the bull around,

Contrary to popular belief.

All she wants to do is get inside your head

And play that funky rhythym from the street

...

Tribal drums of the African,

The reggae of the Rastaman,

Don Ragas of the Indian,

Rock and Roll music of my homeland.

The Salsa of Spanish descent

Tender lutes of the Orient

Jesus music is heaven sent

To remind us of what went.

...

As I taste life bittersweet, I know I am not complete

Until the message in my songs are yours.

If you feel a pain unfair, crosses too heavy to bear,

Preservation comes from peace not war..."

Surrealistic Pillow:

"You know I'm the brown sugar covered with snow and magnetism's animal ya know..whoa, whoa."

Jammin:

"The square root of a positive groove times a happening melody equals a jam."

365:

"I got a head rush, hush. You're heaven's dial, a crush. I prayed forever and then he sent you last November, finally."

"And with you comes the passion, like springtime I fathom grand. I cherish every blessing I get when you kiss and hold my hand."

Revolution:

"We need a moral constution, cause any old revolution won't do, the situation's gotten too far out of hand. We need a moral contribution, cause any old revolution won't do, we got to make a stand, stand up and throw up your hands...ow."

You So Heavy:

"You make me feel like drifting through my golden years, thoughts of you go to my head, you turn me on, ooh you so heavy. You tailor make me and I'm trusting secret fears, throughts of you go to my head you turn me on, ooh you so heavy."

Starchild:

"Since I was a child I yearned to wear the ring around Saturn...my finger burned."

They call me Casper, Shorty, Little Bit, and some they call me Vanilla Child.

But honey that don't mean my world to me cause honey names don't cramp my style.

MissEmeraldCity said:

Batucada Suite:

"Mary's into new things, got a bag

Superficial living's made her life a drag.

World stereotypes as she coins the phrase

Living for the hot wax and the printed page.

She no longer wants to boss the bull around,

Contrary to popular belief.

All she wants to do is get inside your head

And play that funky rhythym from the street

...

Tribal drums of the African,

The reggae of the Rastaman,

Don Ragas of the Indian,

Rock and Roll music of my homeland.

The Salsa of Spanish descent

Tender lutes of the Orient

Jesus music is heaven sent

To remind us of what went.

...

As I taste life bittersweet, I know I am not complete

Until the message in my songs are yours.

If you feel a pain unfair, crosses too heavy to bear,

Preservation comes from peace not war..."

Surrealistic Pillow:

"You know I'm the brown sugar covered with snow and magnetism's animal ya know..whoa, whoa."

Jammin:

"The square root of a positive groove times a happening melody equals a jam."

365:

"I got a head rush, hush. You're heaven's dial, a crush. I prayed forever and then he sent you last November, finally."

"And with you comes the passion, like springtime I fathom grand. I cherish every blessing I get when you kiss and hold my hand."

Revolution:

"We need a moral constution, cause any old revolution won't do, the situation's gotten too far out of hand. We need a moral contribution, cause any old revolution won't do, we got to make a stand, stand up and throw up your hands...ow."

You So Heavy:

"You make me feel like drifting through my golden years, thoughts of you go to my head, you turn me on, ooh you so heavy. You tailor make me and I'm dressed in secret fears, throughts of you go to my head you turn me on, ooh you so heavy."

Starchild:

"Since I was a child I yearned to wear the ring around Saturn...my finger burned."

This was always my favorite song from Teena. After she passed away, I was floored to listen to a recent interview where she stated it was her favorite song, too!

"Yes Indeed"

You are the seed and the grain of every harvest

planted in love by a being far beyond this

What can it be? Such a sweet yet painful feeling, came over me?

Knowing this can never be, do I love you? Yes indeed.

I am the bird which cannot be caged completely,

even though I long to spread my wings so bittersweetly.

What will I do ? Shall I hold my love in silence? Wonder if you feel it too.

Knowing this can never be, does it hurt me? Yes indeed.

I've heard it said that all is fair in love and war, but tell it like it is,

does the distance hide the scar? Living our lives all alone,

changing, never really knowing what games we're playing (oh baby),

Laughing when we should have both been praying (living, I'm living a lie)

You are the rush and the flow of every river,

soft as the touch of love when you want to be the giver.

How do I know? I guess I just imagined painfully so

Knowing this can never be, do I love you? Yes indeed

You Broke my spirit. You Broke My spirit.

All those nights I cried, tears I tried to hide.

You Broke my spirit. You Broke My Spirt.

Do I love you? Do I love you? Yes indeed.

Knowing this can never be. Do I love you? Yes indeed.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Aladdin's Lamp by Teena Marie

We were rich and we were poor

Two children playing grown-up games

The Prince and the princess

You loved me hard just like a rock

I threw away your building blocks

And left you with silence and who said the silence was golden

Now I'd trade one day of wealth and fame

For just one model airplane

Where is the love that you made me

If I had Aladdin's lamp

Here is what I'd do

I'd rub Aladdin's lamp until

Aladdin's lamp turned into you

You used to write me poetry

And emerald city love songs

The jest and the jester

And somewhere in your nursery rhymes

I found and lost my innocence

And what could be better

And now we live in separate worlds

But here inside I'm still your little girl

Where is the love that you made me

If I had Aladdin's lamp

Here is what I'd do

I'd rub Aladdin's lamp until

Aladdin's lamp turned into you

If I had Aladdin's lamp

Here is what I'd do

I'd rub that magic lamp until

Aladdin's lamp turned into you

If I had Aladdin's lamp

Here is what I'd do

I'd rub that lamp Aladdin bring him back

And ooh wherever you are this one's for you baby

Maybe that will express

What I'm going through

Aladdin Aladdin I'm gonna rub all over you rub me

I need some magic words while I'm alone

I'm feeling like a saxaphone

I need some magic words while I'm alone

I'm feeling like a saxaphone

Where is the love you made me

Where is the love you made me

Here I have nothing yeah here I have nothing

I need some magic words while I'm alone

I'm feeling like a saxaphone

Close

[Edited 1/25/11 18:34pm]