Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
All right, how about this one. What are the worst lyrics that stick in your head by the artists you really like? So, in other words, you don't get to post the entire Sammy Hagar catalogue to this thread. It has to be an artist who normally writes good stuff, or at least has pretensions to write good stuff, and somewhere along the line they just threw out a serious clunker.
I'll start with a line that I've tried to think about in lots of ways as meaning this or that, because of course the lyrics are usually great. I have finally concluded, however, that this line is just stupid. Bob Dylan, "Shelter from the Storm":
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn
What is the crocodile doing in the corn? Do crocodiles eat corn? And who ravages crocodiles?
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Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Nothing beats the line from a great band the Animals
"I smoked my first cigarette at ten
And for girls, I had a bad yen"
Talk about your bad rhyme for rhyme
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Those are both favorites, and I've often quoted the terrible lyrics of Eric Burdon in a fake baritone - especially those he wrote after having a San Francisco, born-again experience. Just listen to "San Francisco Nights." In fact, a guy lurking at our last Ship Room show called out for "Sky Pilot," and I happily obliged with a sort of off-key blast of "skyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy pi-lot, how high can you fly...."
Another classic line is from one of my favorite Dylan tunes, "Visions of Johanna," which I'm happy to play out any chance I get. The line cracks me up, though, and I can't help but fall into my best Dylan voice:
"See the primitive wallflower freeze
When the jelly-faced women all sneeze
Hear the one with the mustache say, "Jeeze
I can't find my knees"
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Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
as a side note to the Eric Burdon thing; Scott, Roger, Ron, Gabe, Maro and I have have a pretty great, funny story about when we opened for The Animals this summer with Shana Morrison. It's multi part and better told when a few of us are together to tell it. So next time you see us, remind us to tell you the Eric Burdon in Albany story. :)
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Yeah, that story is a good'un. Alas, I'd keep going on about the cute feisty van driver tho...
R
blech.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
I do want to hear it. I have a "bad yen" to hear it. I also want to hear how these gigs came about.
I'll stop by my first available Thursday and we'll talk over an Old Engine Oil.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
On NPR today they were talking with someone who made a movie with a part that mimicked Bob Dylan in which they talk all kinds of nonsensical words and put them together. It was really well done and hilarious.
I didn't catch the whole show but it sounded interesting.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
I've always found that rock lyrics fall pretty flat when the music is removed. (Mine fall flat even with the music.)
In my experience as an English teacher, students always jump at the chance to bring lyrics for poetry units. Once displayed, though, they just don't stand up to poetry. We all cringe at the bare lyrical verses and cheap allusions. It happens even with tunes I otherwise love. I particularly remember it happening years ago with DMB's "#41," a great tune that just doesn't translate on paper.
In fact, there's a direct corellation to the song's amount of earnest yelling and "yeahs" and other non-verbal utterances.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Lyrics usually benefit from the soundtrack.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Quote:
well putRe: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
True that! I agree. A good song is the sum of lots of tangible and intangible elements.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
I'll be the first to admit that some of his lyrics are totally ridiculous, most are kinda out there, and some are just pure genius, but I cannot stand this song, I can't really pick out just one verse that I don't like, it's pretty much the whole thing:
(U don't understand, I ain't scared of u mutha fuckas) [Kick it!]
(Stir it like coffee)
The Pope
(Stir it like muthafuckin' coffee)
The Pope
(The hell)
This is the Pope
Oh, your car got mags that be dippy dippy dope
But the whole damn nation got the same
Honey only flock 2 the bee that's the Pope
Not the President with government lame
Put me on a slow movin' parlimentary hackin' bandwagon
U could put me little ass in the grave
Everytime u want it I'll be live, bring a date
I mean computer when its over press save
So u can be the President (U can be the President) [Kick it]
I'd rather be the Pope (Rather be the Pope)
(I'd rather be... so happy)
Yeah u can be the side effect (U can be the side effect)
I'd rather be the dope (Rather be the dope)
(I ain't scared of u mutha fuckers) [Kick it]
Call your girl named Sally and u figure u were chill (Chill)
Then u find out I'm the reason Sally's on the Pill (Pill)
What am I supposed to do when the President can't get nothing passed
Find an alley, find an alley
Undress Sally right in front of your ass
(Well she helped me once again)
I say u can be the President (U can be the President) [Kick it]
I'd rather be the Pope (Rather be the Pope)
(I'd rather be... so help me)
Yeah u can be the side effect (U can be the side effect)
I'd rather be the dope (Rather be the dope)
(Fuck that)
The Pope
(Oh no motherfucker, not today)
Pope
U can be the President (Rather be the Pope)
So help me
Who's the funky drummer with the crooked little sticks (Sticks)
He might have better luck if he was drummin' with his dick (Dick?)
If u don't play the piccolo, why u wanna lick?
(Ch-check) Now check the drum solo and tell me not to kick it
(Seek and destroy. It'll fuck u up)
I love the taste of unpredictable licks
A loop is a loop is a loop
A loop is a loop is a loop [Fuck that]
A loop is a loop is a loop is a loop is a loop is a loop is a loop
Your car got mags that be dippy dippy dope
But the whole damn nation got the same
Honey only flock 2 the bee that's the Pope
Not the President with government lame
Put me on a slow movin' parlimentary hackin' bandwagon
U could put me little ass in the grave
Everytime u want it I'll be live, bring a date
I mean computer when its over press save
(So) So u can be the president (U can be the President) [Kick it]
I'd rather be the pope (Rather be the Pope)
(I wanna be... so happy)
U can be the side effect (U can be the side effect)
I'd rather be the dope (U, u, u) [U can be the dope]
The Pope
U can be the President (Fuck that)
Rather be the Pope
Baby, so help me please
Press Save
I Love u
Peace
(U don't understand)
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Quote:
It's fine that they fall flat, writing the lyrics is not the craft completely, reading the lyrics is taking it out of context. Sort of like reading the script instead of watching the movie.Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
That was for the new John C. Riley movie, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
"DE DO DO DO DE DA DA DA" Sting
He claims that this was some sort of statement about how people are attracted to the simplist songs. I don't buy it. I think it's his pretentious way of defending his own nonsense.
"Radio goo goo radio ga ga." Freddie Mercury.
I just find it hard to take goo goo and gah gah seriously.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Re: Radio Ga Ga - I am almost 100% positive that drummer Roger Taylor wrote that song. It was meant to state that the stuff that the masses love on the radio is in fact no better than baby talk.
My submission (from my favorite writer Mr. Townshend) is this inexcusably lazy couplet from the last verse of the otherwise brilliant "Tattoo":
"A rooty-toot-too tooty-tooty-too-too,
rooty-too-too tattoo too... to you..."
Ouch. Makes one pine for a kazoo, doesn't it?
I also agree that some lyrics are not well served by being read without the accompanying music. "Lyrics" and "poetry" are not always quite the same thing.
And yet, I've lived your future out, by pounding stages like a clown
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Pete's always got somoe clunkers. He's hardly poetic, in the literary sense. But he still sings a razor line every time!
I loooove "Tattoo." Brilliant is right, and way ahead of its time thematically. Gene Simmons named "Tattoo" as one of his top 10 songs. Huh?!
But seriously folks, how could I have forgotten to mention this one? This has got to be the most ridiculous set of lyrics ever published, since Sammy Hagar published his lyrics. Dig it below.
"Pandora's Box"
Aerosmith
When I'm in heat
And someone gets a notion
I jump to my feet
I hoof it to the ocean
We hit a beach
Where no one gives a hoot
Nobody never ever wears a suit
The ladies there
They look so proud
That's 'cause they know
That they've been so well endowed
Now, I ain't much
For Fannie's conversation
Or care too much
About her operation
But every time Pandora comes my way
I get high
Can't explain the sensation
To get it on
I gotta watch what I say
Or I'll catch hell
From the women's liberation
(Chorus)
Sweet Pandora
Good-like aura
Smell like a flora
Open up your door-a for me
Sweet Pandora
Good-like aura
Smell like a flora
Open up your door-a for me
Sweet Pandora
Mama crack a smile for me
Just for me, just for me
Just for me, just for me
Just for me, just for me
Just for me
Now I ain't what
You'd call a city slicker
Or claim to fame
To be a slitty licker
But every time Pandora comes my way
I get high
Can't explain the sensation
To get it on
I gotta watch what I say
Or I'll catch hell
From the women's liberation
(Chorus)
Get this: The website, in its disclaimer, said that these were "for educational purposes only."
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Oh, yeah, and "Start Me Up," by The Stones. Download the Folksmen version from "A Mighty Wind." It'll bring you to your knees.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
and then there's this one:
"and we speak....of the "pompetence" of love...... "
The Joker: Steve Miller Band.
Pompetence is not even a word.
Re: Bad Lyrics by Good Artists
Straightdope had a good break down of it a while ago. I remember reading it in college.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/972/in-steve-millers-the-joker-what-is-the-pompatus-of-love
Good bands/bad lyrics
I've never liked the first verse of "Band On the Run" by Wings.
Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash as we fell into the sun,
And the first one said to the second one there i hope you're having fun.
Band on the run, band on the run.
And the jailer man and sailor sam were searching every one.
Maybe I just don't understand it....but it makes me turn the song off.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - RR