Songs with Clever Lines

[DarcyFarrow]

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)

[DarcyFarrow]

Leonard Cohen's "Anthem":

"Every heart, every heart to love will come
But like a refugee"

[JohnD131536]

September Of My Years - Frank Sinatra

beginning to end!

[TheGent2U]

Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles   https://youtu.be/pHNbHn3i9S4

So, play the game: existence to the end of the beginning.

[TheGent2U]

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

All of the verses are written in haiku.

[JohnD131536]

Keeping The Faith - Billy Joel

Gonna put on my sharkskin jacket

You know the kind with the velvet collar

Diddy bop shades

[BeatleloverKT]

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

[TheGent2U]

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]

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

[nli28210]

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

[JohnD131536]

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]

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!

[JohnD131536]

High Hopes - Frank Sinatra

Just what makes that little old ant

Think he'll move that rubber tree plant

Anyone knows an ant, can't

Move a rubber tree plant

[nli28210]

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   

[BJames1955]

 error

[TheGent2U]

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

[nli28210]

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 

[DarcyFarrow]

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"

[DarcyFarrow]

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]

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

[JohnD131536]

Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley

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

[DarcyFarrow]

Don't Make Me Wait (Sting and Shaggy):

"I'm already sold on the idea of you and I
Just tell me where I need to sign"

[DarcyFarrow]

Emotional Allegiance (Johnny Clegg):

"I don't want to be a tourist in your heart
I don't want to visit someone else's ruins
Don't want a day trip to the feelings in the dark"

[TheGent2U]

"It's too easy humming songs to a girl in a yellow dress."

"The four Kings of EMI are sitting stately on the floor"

Randy Scouse Git - written by Mickey Dolenz, performed by the Monkees.

About a party welcoming the Monkees that was hosted by the four Kings of EMI - The Beatles.

The girl in yellow dress? Mama Cass Elliot.

[TheGent2U]

"Good old General Hand Grenade
Ridin' in a motorcade
Sippin' on a lemonade
And waving at his fans

Isabella Band Aid
Wavin' at the Shrine parade
Eatin' toast and marmalade
And getting sticky hands

Good old General Hand Grenade
Ridin' in a motorcade
Lookin' for the cavalcade
To take him off to war

Isabella Band Aid
Suckin' on a Gatorade
Lookin' at the mess he made
And wonderin' what it's for

People gettin' high

People gettin' low

People gettin' nowhere

Cause they don't know where to go"

General Hand Grenade - Trooper  https://youtu.be/HwtKTpfNevU

[TheGent2U]

"Said my get up and go must've of got up and went."

Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith

[TheGent2U]

'Innocence and undying love will reign"

From "All Of The Above" - Transatlantic

[HeyBoomer]

Oh Very Young by cat stevens

Oh very young, what will you leave us this time
You're only dancin' on this earth for a short while
And though your dreams may toss and turn you now
They will vanish away like your dads best jeans
Denim blue, faded up to the sky
And though you want them to last forever
You know they never will
...
And the patches make the goodbye harder still

Oh very young what will you leave us this time
There'll never be a better chance to change your mind
And if you want this world to see a better day
Will you carry the words of love with you
Will you, will you ride the great white bird into heaven
And though you want to last forever
You know you never will
...
And the goodbye makes the journey harder still

[BeatleloverKT]

Gypsy (1982), Fleetwood Mac. From the

Mirage album, Stevie Nicks, songwriter. Has been my fav Mac song for forever 😎

So I’m back to the velvet underground

Back to the floor that I love

To a room with some lace and paper flowers

Back to the Gypsy that I was

To the Gypsy that I was

[BeatleloverKT]

Black Water (1974), Doobie Brothers.

From the album “What were once vices

are now habits” Songwriter is Patrick

Simmons, who is on lead vocals. Hard

to believe this was the B side to Another

park, another Sunday!

Well, if it rains, I don’t care

Don’t make no difference to me

Just take that streetcar that’s goin’ uptown

Yeah, I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland

and dance a honky-tonk

And I’ll be buyin’ ev’rybody drinks all ‘roun’

[MaVolta]

Sting In The Tail  -  Scorpions

I'm driving out of town just follow my heart
I think I'm gonna be a rock 'n' roll star
The girls would go mad I'd give 'em all I can give
If I had a cheap guitar and one dirty riff