Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

Songs with Clever Lines

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 2, 2020
237 replies
65346 views

So which lines jump out at you as especially clever or well written?

To start: "We have to shout above the din of our Rice Crispies" ("Synchronicity II," the Police)

"Is her power all in her club sandwich?" ("Waitress," Tori Amos)

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DarcyFarrowAuthor

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

Who By Fire (Leonard Cohen):

"And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?"

MaVolta

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

Wind Of Change - Scorpions

The wind of change
Blows straight into the face of time
Like a storm wind that will ring the freedom bell
For peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix

J

JohnD131536

Community Champion ⭐⭐

Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley

"You read you lines so cleverly and never missed a cue, then came act two"

DarcyFarrowAuthor

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

California (U2):

"I've seen for myself
There's no end to grief
That's how I know

That there is no
There is no end to love"

N

nli28210

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Jerry Butler "He Will Break Your Heart"

He uses all the great quotations
He says the things I wish I could say
Whoa, but he's had so many rehearsals
Girl, to him you're just another play

But wait
And when the final act is over
And you're left standing all alone
When he takes his bow and makes his exit
Oh, oh, I'll be there to take you home

TheGent2U

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

From Peter Green (RIP) and Fleetwood Mac:

"Don't ask me what I think of you. I might not give the answer that you want me to."

https://youtu.be/Z-C6p-GwHfA

B

BJames1955

Contributor ⭐

error

N

nli28210

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Rocket Love - Stevie Wonder

A female Shakespeare of your time
With looks to blow Picasso's mind
You were the best
Your body moved with grace and song

Like symphonies by Bach or Brahms
Nevertheless, oh oh
You took me riding in your rocket gave me a star

But at a half a mile from heaven you dropped me back down to this cold, cold world

N

nli28210

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

As (I'll Be Loving You Always) - Stevie Wonder

I'll be loving you

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky

Loving you

Until the ocean covers every mountain high

Loving you

Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea

Loving you

Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Be loving you

Until the day is night and night becomes the day

Loving you

Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away

Loving you

Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four

Loving you

Until the day that is the day that are no more

Loving you

Until the day the earth starts turning right to left

Be loving you

Until the earth just for the sun denies itself

Loving you

Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through

Loving you

Until the day that you are me and I am you

Now ain't that loving you

J

JohnD131536

Community Champion ⭐⭐

Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley

Honey, You lied when you said you loved me

And I had no cause to doubt you

But I'd rather go on hearing your lies

Than to go living without you

MaVolta

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

Her hair is Harlow gold, her lips sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold, she's got Better Davis eyes
She'll turn the music on you, you won't have to think twice
She's pure as New York snow, she got Bette Davis eyes

And she'll tease you, she'll unease you
All the better just to please you
She's precocious, and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
She got Greta Garbo's standoff sighs, she's got Bette Davis eyes

She'll let you take her home, it works her appetite
She'll lay you on the throne, she got Bette Davis eyes

She'll take a tumble on you, roll you like you were dice
Until you come out blue, she's got Bette Davis eyes

She'll expose you, when she snows you
Hope you're pleased with the crumbs she throws you
She's ferocious and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she's a spy, she's got Bette Davis eyes

And she'll tease you, she'll unease you
All the better just to please you
She's precocious, and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she's a spy, she's got Bette Davis eyes

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Donna Weiss / Jackie De Shannon

Jackie De Shannon recorded the original version in 1975 in a jazz r&b style. You can find the original on YT. The Kim Carnes' version in 1981 was an amazing transformation. The lyrics are terrific in either case!

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix

TheGent2U

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Where To Now, Saint Peter? - Elton John (Bernie's lyrics, of course.)

"I took myself a Blue balloon and I floated like a leaf."

Taking a balloon is getting shot. This Confederate took a Union bullet and died. And he is asking Saint Peter what comes next.

https://youtu.be/mOHLQg4VfqE

TheGent2U

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Hey, Saint Peter - Flash and the Pan. https://youtu.be/RgOMxTxWPuQ

The morning was cold and lonely
City lights old and gray
The sun arose, and, trying to smile
Gave it all away
The honky-tonk called a stranger
The stranger couldn't pay the bill
Made a stand, raised his hand
Sang a song, no time to kill

I said, hey (hey), hey, St. Peter
I've got a tale to tell
I've just been down in New York town
It really feels like hell
It really feels like hell

TheGent2U

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

Moonlight in Vermont - Frank Sinatra (and a ton of others) - https://youtu.be/VMDYd-j_Gas

All of the verses are written in haiku.

J

JohnD131536

Community Champion ⭐⭐

Keeping The Faith - Billy Joel

Gonna put on my sharkskin jacket

You know the kind with the velvet collar

Diddy bop shades

BeatleloverKT

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

Any Dylan song would qualify in this topic,

but for today I’ll go with one of my favs.
The song is pure genius.
From the 4th verse:

Positively 4th Street (1965)

You see me on the street, you always

act surprised

You say “How are you?” “Good luck”,

but ya don’t mean it

When you know as well as me, you’d

rather see me paralyzed

Why don’t you just come out once and scream it

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