topic Re: Songs with Clever Lines in Rock N' Roll

Songs with Clever Lines

DarcyFarrow — Sat, 02 May 2020 06:49:22 GMT

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)

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Sat, 02 May 2020 09:09:07 GMT

This should be a fun category!

Sitting in an English garden

Waiting for the sun

If the sun don't come you get a tan

From standing in the English rain.

I am the Walrus

The Beatles

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

ls1873 — Sat, 02 May 2020 10:15:31 GMT

WAVE UPON WAVE OF DEMENTED AVENGERS MARCH CHEERFULY OUT OF OBSCURITY AND INTO THE DREAM......FROM THE SONG SHEEP BY PINK FLOYD.

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Sat, 02 May 2020 13:18:50 GMT

B-B-B-baby, baby, baby, why you want to treat me this way
You know I'm still your lover boy, I still feel the same way
That's when she told me a story 'bout free milk and a cow
She said no hug-ee no kiss-ee until I get a weddin' vow
My honey, my baby, don't put my love upon no shelf
She said don't hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

The Georgia Satellites

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

BeatleloverKT — Sat, 02 May 2020 17:32:27 GMT

You shook me all night long AC/DC

All their songs have clever lyrics, imo but this one, with references of a woman

to a car, is their best, imo

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

1968Hoya46 — Sat, 02 May 2020 18:06:47 GMT

”Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then”.

Against The Wind (nice turn of phrase by Bob Seger)

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Sat, 02 May 2020 18:47:06 GMT

Just Dropped In - Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Sat, 02 May 2020 21:45:15 GMT

You're So Vain - Carly Simon

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Sat, 02 May 2020 21:55:00 GMT

I hope Neil Young will remember

A southern man don't need him 'round anyhow

Sweet Home Alabama

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Mon, 04 May 2020 17:12:10 GMT

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

My Back Pages

Bob Dylan

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Mon, 04 May 2020 19:50:45 GMT

This entire song is well written. The lyrics are poignant and deliver a powerful message. But, I'll go with these lines from the third verse to this one - - -

Sound of Silence - S & G

"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Mon, 04 May 2020 20:08:03 GMT

Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum

And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Mon, 04 May 2020 20:13:24 GMT

Just about anything written by Lennon & McCartney could be filed under this topic! This is a good one.

Across the Universe - The Beatles

Words are flowing out
Like endless rain into a paper cup

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

BeatleloverKT — Tue, 05 May 2020 01:40:50 GMT

Ditto on anything by the Beatles but

tonight I’m going with

Whole lotta love Led Zeppelin

”You need cooling

Baby I’m not fooling

I’m gonna send ya

Back to schooling”

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Tue, 05 May 2020 14:35:27 GMT

Smuggler's Blues

Glen Frey

Here's your ticket, baby

Take your suitcase in your hand

Here's a little money, now

Do it just the way we planned

You be cool for 20 hours

And I'll pay you 20 grand

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Tue, 05 May 2020 14:38:30 GMT

Lawyers Guns and Money

Warren Zevon

I went home with a waitress the way I always do
How was I to know she was with the Russians, too?

I was gambling in Havana, I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns, and money
Dad, get me out of this!

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Tue, 05 May 2020 14:42:31 GMT

Time

Pink Floyd

Far away
Across the field
Tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

BeatleloverKT — Tue, 05 May 2020 15:59:38 GMT

Continuing with the amazing songs of Pink Floyd.

Today I choose “Have a Cigar“

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar

You’re gonna go far

You’re gonna fly high

You’re never gonna die

You’re gonna make it if you try

They’re gonna love you

And the best line of the song, imo:

We call it “Riding the gravy train”

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

LouLit01 — Tue, 05 May 2020 16:12:27 GMT

And the best line of the song, imo:

We call it “Riding the gravy train”

I like...

By the way, Which one's Pink?

Re: Songs with Clever Lines

MaVolta — Tue, 05 May 2020 17:27:45 GMT

And who else but Pink Floyd would think of this - -

"Wrong, do it again! Wrong, do it again!"
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You, yes, you behind the bike sheds, stand still, laddy"

Another Brick in the Wall