All About the Lyrics
Be yourself, share your words, here
I am including the video because the song is great, and it fits with my mental health theme. Have you ever had a panic attack or something worse? Take a listen.
by bluecamuflase on youtube.com
In song lyrics, we find some of the most honest and soulful expressions of what it means to be human. Music enriches us, yes, but I want to focus specifically on the words. You might disagree with my choices, but I see this only as a start.
Below I have included some of my favorite lyrics that make me feel something. It has to be genuine and powerful. You may find sadness, joy, defiance, humor, or introspection. I have made an effort to keep each set of lyrics short and have done a mediocre job. Also, I avoided the most obvious and well-known lyrics. Anyway, you can judge for yourself. What are your favorite lyrics and how are you affected by them?
I would be grateful to a willing collaborator who could help me make a bigger and better list. Please offer your opinions in the comments.
Big boss man, Can't you hear me when I call? Well you ain't so big, you just tall, that's all Jimmy Reed "Big Boss Man"
Losing love is like a window in your heart Everybody can see you're blown apart Everybody can see the wind blow... --Paul Simon "Graceland"
If you find me in a gloom, or catch me in a dream Inside my lonely room, there is no in between Whispering Pines, rising of the tide if only one star shines, That’s just enough to get inside I will wait until it all goes round With you in sight, the lost are found —The Band “Whispering Pines”
Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the Word —Cat Stevens from an old hymn “Morning Has Broken”
I decided long ago Never to walk in anyone's shadows If I fail, If I succeed At least I'll live as I believe No matter what they take from me They can't take away my dignity --Whitney Houston "The Greatest Love of All"
But I was so much older then, I am younger than that now —Bob Dylan “My Back Pages”
But I don't want to pray to my maker I just want to be what I see Not just who I am but the pink and golden land And that wide wild sky over me Help me to the sun, hey I'm looking everywhere See, I'm looking to become not the pray-er but the prayer —Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes “I Don’t Wanna Pray”
Sail on, silver girl, sail on by Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way See how they shine Oh, if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind Like a bridge over troubled water --Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge over Troubled Water"
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
—Neil Young “Harvest Moon”
In the twilight glow I see her Blue eyes crying in the rain When we kissed goodbye and parted I knew we'd never meet again Love is like a dying ember And only memories remain And through the ages I'll remember Blue eyes crying in the rain --Willie Nelson "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"
And there's so much time to make up Everywhere you turn Time we have wasted on the way So much water moving Underneath the bridge Let the water come and carry us away --Crosby, Stills, & Nash "Wasted on the Way"
Pin your ear to the wisdom post
Pin your eye to the line
Never let the weeds get higher
than the garden
Always keep a sapphire in your mind
Always keep a diamond in your mind
Gotta Get behind a mule, in the morning and Plow
—Tom Waits “Get Behind a Mule”
I'm not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow
'Cause nothing's ever gonna be alright, no how
No matter how I struggle and strive
I'll never get out of this world alive
—Hank Williams “I’ll Never Get out of this World Alive”
I love you in a place
Where there's no space or time
I love you for my life
You're a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone
And I was singing this song to you
—Leon Russell “A Song for You”
I walked 47 miles of barbed wire
I use a cobra snake for a necktie
I got a brand-new house on the roadside
Made from rattlesnake hide
I got a brand-new chimney made on top
Made out of a human skull
Now come on take a walk with me Arlene
And tell me who do you love?
—Bo Diddley “Who Do You Love?”
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly, with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly, with his song
—Roberta Flack “Killing Me Softly”
Eleanor Rigby
Died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie
Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
—The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby”
There were Seven Spanish angels
At the altar of the sun
They were prayin' for the lovers
In the valley of the gun
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And Seven Spanish angels
Took another angel home
Ray Charles and Willie Nelson “Seven Spanish Angels”
I'm gonna kneel and pray every day
Unless I should become vain along the way
Hey, I'm just an old chunk of coal now, Lord
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day
Billy Joe Shavers “Old Chunk of Coal”
I press my fingers to the wood
To tell you of my dreaming
To sing you songs from olden times
To keep the love light gleaming
Because there's a place where we can go
Where we will not be parted
And who alone will enter there?
Only the broken-hearted
—Eric Clapton “Only the Broken-Hearted”
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel like my only friend
Is the city I live in, the city of angels
Lonely as I am, together we cry
I drive on her streets 'cause she's my companion
I walk through her hills 'cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds and she kisses me windy
Well, I never worry, now that is a lie
—Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge”
If you're lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, (I'll be waiting) I will be waiting
Time after time
—Cyndi Lauper “Time after Time”
I can't help about the shape I'm in
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to
—Fleetwood Mac “Oh Well”
She came in through the bathroom window
Protected by a silver spoon
But now she sucks her thumb and wanders
By the banks of her own lagoon
Didn't anybody tell her?
Didn't anybody see?
Sunday's on the phone to Monday
Tuesday's on the phone to me
—The Beatles “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”
Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
—James Taylor “Fire and Rain”
But you're so far away Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore? --Carole King "So far Away"
Question: What should I add or change?
Question: What are your favorite lyrics, and how do they make you feel?
Thanks for reading. Subscribe below.
—The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby”
One of my favorites!
One wing in the fire. There is a lyric in there about My Daddy always there for me. It can be a little sad but for me it brings good thoughts and memories. I LOVE IT. TRENT TOMLINSON