Best lyrics?

[My Aural Stimulator]

You can't sue Buddah for libel
You can't rewrite the Bible.

"Shake Your Head" - Was (Not Was)

[NuWaveRx]

So many choices, so little time:

looking like a born again
living like a heretic
listening to arthur lee records
making all your friends feel so guilty
about their cynicism
and the rest of their generation
not even the government are gonna stop you now
but are you ready to be heartbroken?
are you ready to be heartbroken?
pumped up full of vitamins
on account of all the seriousness
you say you're so happy now
you can hardly stand
lean over on the bookcase
if you really want to get straight
read norman mailer
or get a new tailor
are you ready to be heartbroken?
are you ready to be heartbroken?
are you ready to bleed?
"Are you ready to be Heartbroken" Lloyd Cole and the Commotions


Quick to forgive and so slow to blame, the very thought fills me with shame
But that didn’t stop it happening

The thrill of it - can I call it that ? - was cheap
And feeling cheap’s the only thing you keep
It’s so unsightly to walk from her arms so lightly
Selling it all up the swanee

Horsin’ around’s a serious business, last thing you’d want somebody to witness
I was the fool who always presumed that I’d wear the shoes and you’d be the doormat
You wonder why my hands are still shaking : in need of a cry the shoulders are taken...

I deserve to be kicked so badly
You deserve more than I sold you for
Horsin’ around, horsin’ around
"Horsin' Around" Prefab Sprout

Since we’re skimming the surface darling
Now’s time to get in deep
You’ve opened up the envelope
But there’s still one secret you keep
A pirate station or the late night show
A sunken ship with a rich cargo
Buried treasure that the four winds blow
Wind and rain it only goes to
Show me, show me
Show me that your mine
"Show Me" ABC

[Dave]

I agree with beatschool, DayGloJo, marie3 and 2Nu.

"This is the Day" - The The is the first song I thought of as well. The lyrics got me through high school, and still get me through rough days.

But on the more light-hearted side, how can you overlook Devo - Gates of Steel?

"Twist away the gates of steel
Unlock the secret voice
Give in to ancient noise
Take a chance a brand new dance
Twist away the gates of steel"

After all, the ape regards his tail!

[WolverineSyr]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Dave[/i]

But on the more light-hearted side, how can you overlook Devo - Gates of Steel?

"Twist away the gates of steel
Unlock the secret voice
Give in to ancient noise
Take a chance a brand new dance
Twist away the gates of steel"

After all, the ape regards his tail!
[/quote]

Repeats until he fails
Half a Goon and Half a God
A Man's not made of steel....

Dave, that's a great song.

[andrewkstone]

XTC has consistently written great lyrics. As a writer, I'm always listening to lyrics. One reason I've never been a clasic rock fan is because of the prevaleance of stupidity lyrically -- "I wanna rock and roll all night ..." Lyrics shouldn't be an afterthought or something to fill the space between guitar solos (as a very clever LEs Paul advertisment put it).

I've always thought the Bristish try harder with songrwriting in general. I wrote about this in my new wave novel, ALL FLOWERS DIE. My theory is that the cultural differences force the Brits to work harder because they don't have as many choices -- with the class structure and educational system over there, there aren't many choices for people who aren't rich or are mediocre in school. America has so many opportunities, I sometimes wonder if we are lazy. Of course, I'm generalizing, but there are so many great British songs (NW and non-NW) that are like short stories. For me, Ray Davies of the Kinks has always been the quintessential man about teh village green, making poignant observation. Squeeze does this, too, as does Joe Jackson. But XTC are my faves in the NW genre. Check out Respectable Street for social commentary, or That's Really Super, Supergirl and Great Fire for (respectively) love lost and a love won songs. Reel by Real -- Orwell with a guitar solo. And one of my faves --

The Ugly Underneath

First there's the handshake
It's so warm that you could bake by it
Designed to take attention from their
Ugly Underneath
Then there's the wedding
The co-ordinated bedding
And the fairy tale shredding
Boy it's Ugly Underneath
After the pretty
There's a gluttony of pity
On a cake called nitty gritty
And it's Ugly Underneath
Did you ever try to prise away the mask
Go ahead, take a spoon and try
I can tell you it's a herculean task
Go ahead, it's okay to cry
What you're chewing on's the truth
And that's the hardest thing
To wash down with a glass of lemonade
The Ugly Underneath
The thing with politicians is
I wouldn't have suspicions
If I saw their worst positions
And their Ugly Underneath
But after all the voting
Suck away the sugar coating
Now they've had you and they're gloating
Boy it's Ugly Underneath
Did you ever try to take away the wheel
Go ahead, take a fork and try
See the unattractive things that make us real
Go ahead, it's okay to cry
What you've trodden in's the truth
And that's the hardest thing
To wash down with a glass of lemonade

Sorry for the length!

Night all!

Andrew K. Stone
Author of
ALL FLOWERS DIE and DISAPPEARING INTO VIEW
read the first chapters at
http://www.sotherebooks.com

[wozgo]

I just remembered why I love you all so much. Because you're always right. [8D]

MATT JOHNSON/THE THE = THE BEST LYRICS.


*Honorable Mentions*
Mark Burgess/The Chameleons
Kate Bush
Martin Gore/Depeche Mode
Midge Ure/Ultravox

[golfer]

I love the line...

"There's no idle gossip in Braille"

In The Flat Field...BAUHAUS

[DavidRavenMoon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by andrewkstone[/i]
<br>XTC has consistently written great lyrics.[/quote]

... You beat me to it! I was going to say anything by XTC, especially Andy Partridge. Brilliant song writer. Also Elvis Costello... another of my favorite lyricist.

One of my favorite Post New Wave quirky song writers is Imani Coppola. [shameless plug... I'm also her webmaster... www.imanicoppolamusic.com] [:p]

Regarding the starting post... I actually own the 12" vinyl single of Computer Games by Mi-Sex! I bought it when it was current.

I always liked the lyric to "Let's Go to Bed" by the Cure ... Silly but good!

[FreeWave]

The Smiths Smiths Smiths Smiths Smiths Smiths Smiths Smiths [:D]

[Frau_Blucher]

Sex Pistols "My Way"

A little outta character for them but very lyrical. You can hear their pain, their life's trials and tribulations. But dammit, they did it their way! [:D]

[DavidRavenMoon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>Sex Pistols "My Way"

A little outta character for them but very lyrical. You can hear their pain, their life's trials and tribulations. But dammit, they did it their way! [:D]
[/quote]

They didn't write those lyrics... it was a Frank Sinatra song... co-written by Paul Anka. [;)]

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon[/i]
<br>They didn't write those lyrics... it was a Frank Sinatra song... co-written by Paul Anka. [;)]
[/quote]
Frank who? You're not yanking my chain are you?!

Sorry, I'll be less subtle next time...

<font size="7"><marquee>THAT WAS SARCASM</marquee

[waukena]

you mean Frank Sinatra wrote:

'You cunt, I'm not a queer
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain?????'

wow, he was Chairman of the Bored...

[DavidRavenMoon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon[/i]
<br>They didn't write those lyrics... it was a Frank Sinatra song... co-written by Paul Anka. [;)]
[/quote]
Frank who? You're not yanking my chain are you?!

Sorry, I'll be less subtle next time...

<font size="2"><marquee>THAT WAS SARCASM</marquee></font>
[/quote]

You did see the wink, right? [;)]

I was also being sarcastic...

[:p] [8)]

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon[/i]
<br>You did see the wink, right? [;)]

I was also being sarcastic...

[:p] [8)]
[/quote]
DOUBLE DARNIT! Foiled again by too-subtle web humor. [:D]