Greatest Song Lyrics

Pross

As requested by FZ. As with any 'greatest song' type thing it's always really difficult to narrow it down on probably changes day by day so need to have a think. A lot of the best lyricists weren't, IMHO, great singers so there's some brilliant stuff by the likes of Dylan or Cohen that I wouldn't choose to listen to or that were sung better by others and then outside of 'pop' music there's genius like a lot of Cole Porter's work.

First thoughts for me are Sound Of Silence, Vincent, Your Latest Trick and Brothers In Arms. Up The Junction is great for telling an entire adult life in less than 3 minutes and National Express always makes me smile.

briantrumpet

Gotta be MacArthur Park chorus

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left my cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

pblakeney

Always makes me laugh when I hear National Express on BBC Radio.
Their censor department have clearly never listened/read the lyrics. 🤣

Pross

Pulp's Common People has some classic lines too. Maybe it applies to some of us when we discuss topics relating to poverty on here!

Pross

pblakeney said:

Always makes me laugh when I hear National Express on BBC Radio.
Their censor department have clearly never listened/read the lyrics. 🤣

Fat shaming the trolley woman is uncalled for and should get it cancelled. Probably doesn't get played now Ken Bruce has moved on, it was one of his regulars that I never heard anyone else play along with Rhinestone Cowboy, Oh What A Circus and Music.

webboo

Gordon is a moron, by Jilted John has got to be up there.

pblakeney

It's on 6 Music often enough given it's vintage.

Stevo_666

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned 'DILLIGAF' by Kevin Bloody Wilson.

wakemalcolm

"Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand: ignorance and prejudice, with fear walk hand in hand" Neil Peart
It pretty much describes everything that's wrong with social media interaction today despite being written more than 40 years ago.

kingstongraham

Pross said:

pblakeney said:

Always makes me laugh when I hear National Express on BBC Radio.
Their censor department have clearly never listened/read the lyrics. 🤣

Fat shaming the trolley woman is uncalled for and should get it cancelled. Probably doesn't get played now Ken Bruce has moved on, it was one of his regulars that I never heard anyone else play along with Rhinestone Cowboy, Oh What A Circus and Music.

It's not one of their best.

Sunrise is great, and obviously Tonight We Fly is always just perfect.

https://youtu.be/4NUfjBbyFPg

focuszing723

Here We Go - Stakka Bo

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go, here we go, here we go

As some sort of prototype I serve to be
You see tomorrow's dream has never been part of me
Consume today and leave the rest behind you
Tomorrow's a surprise party buy a ticket or two (two)
Faster livin', faster, live as fast as you're able
Eat the food while it's still hot on the table (table)
Now spend if you can, the greens are burning in your pocket
If you spend it right now you'll get as high as a rocket
Everything you don't use will lose its value tomorrow
Consumed too much today, you can always borrow
This paradigm's the best one since the day of creation
Get your gear and shape up, this is the revelation
Shop till you drop has built this civilization
Don't believe what you hear 'bout the next generation
If you go with a lot of toys you'll slip away a happy man
The greens are burning in you pocket, spend it while you can

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go-go-go with a total dedication

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go, here we go, here we go

The moon and the stars they all look down on me and say
There's a correlation between tomorrow and today
I say you won't gain a thing on that sick repudiation
We're right here, right now, that's the only situation
You can't fool me, we live on borrowed time
So I spend the funds I have to the nickel and dime
Check it in, check it out, it's not a matter of contention
Get your gear and shape up and join the church of consumption

Use it in, wear it out, then throw it all away
Go get yourself a new one all you gotta do is pay
Because the more I will get, the more I will own
With a lot of things around me I will never feel alone
I work around the clock just to earn my livin'
And I wanna get, I won't spend my funds on givin', now
I'm acting irresponsible, is that what you say?
Hey, Somalia got my toaster just the other day

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go-go-go with a total dedication

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go, here we go, here we go

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go-go-go with a total dedication

Oh, oh
Oooooh

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go-go-go with a total dedication

Here we go again
Here we go-go-go to the temple of consumption
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go, here we go, here we go

Here we go again
Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go
Get your gear and start to spend
Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go

Here we go again
Get your gear and start to spend

Here we go again
Get your gear and…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNK-cOtxSs



This song is perfection in term of melody and lyrics, which is proven by the 50/50 spilt pie chart.

More analysis to come...

JimD666

Courtesy of Wind Rose:

"I am a dwarf, and I'm digging a hole
Diggy diggy hole, diggy diggy hole
I am a dwarf, and I'm digging a hole
Diggy diggy hole, digging a hole"

Modern classic

focuszing723

Pross said:

As requested by FZ. As with any 'greatest song' type thing it's always really difficult to narrow it down on probably changes day by day so need to have a think. A lot of the best lyricists weren't, IMHO, great singers so there's some brilliant stuff by the likes of Dylan or Cohen that I wouldn't choose to listen to or that were sung better by others and then outside of 'pop' music there's genius like a lot of Cole Porter's work.

First thoughts for me are Sound Of Silence, Vincent, Your Latest Trick and Brothers In Arms. Up The Junction is great for telling an entire adult life in less than 3 minutes and National Express always makes me smile.

Yeah, I agree with that. Listen to a song too much and it becomes old hat.

kingstongraham

I mean the answer is Time by Pink Floyd, isn't it?

orraloon

Trio's 'Da, Da, Da'?

hanshotfirst

Arab Strap - Packs of Three (Philophobia - 1998)

If you know, you know.

JimD666

orraloon said:

Trio's 'Da, Da, Da'?

I'll see that and raise you The Police's De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

Pross

Cats In The Cradle, I suspect there’s a time in the life of most parents where they can identify with the story.

monkimark

The gentle wit of half man half biscuit takes some beating, pick a song, any song

There’s a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets

I am also greatly enjoying a rediscovery of NOFX at the moment, it's not exactly Hallelujah but they do make me smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmFgnQ0H_4Q&ab_channel=MarxOdyssey

rick_chasey

hanshotfirst said:

Arab Strap - Packs of Three (Philophobia - 1998)

If you know, you know.

Guy at my work sounds *exactly* like him. Was very weird when I first joined. Though I prefer first big weekend.

First.Aspect

John Hiatt is a great lyricist, if you like a bit of proper American story telling country music (not the shit they play on the radio).

Trudy and Dave:

"Well Trudy and Dave, those crazy kids
Had a baby of their own and you heard what they did
In the middle of a strip mall shots rang out
Shots heard all over the world no doubt
'Cause it was there in the paper the very next day
'Bout a couple and a baby and a Chevrolet
Who shot up an automatic teller machine
Took the money for the laundry and drove away clean"

Your Dad did:

"Well the sun comes up and you stare your cup of coffee, yup
Right through the kitchen floor
You feel like hell so you might as well get out and sell
Your smart ass door to door

And the Mrs. wears her robe slightly undone
As your daughter dumps her oatmeal on your son
And you keep it hid
Just like your did"

Stevo_666

Let's not leave out the Euorpop entries. Ca Plane Por Moi by Plastic Bertrand must be in with a shout.

Wam! Bam! Mon chat, splatch
Gît sur mon lit a bouffé sa langue en buvant dans mon whisky
Quant à moi, peu dormi, vidé, brimé
J'ai dû dormir dans la gouttière, où j'ai eu un flash (hou-hou-oou-oou!)
En quatre couleurs
Allez hop! Un matin une louloute est v'nue chez-moi
Poupée de Cellophane, cheveux chinois
Un sparadrap, une gueule de bois
A bu ma bière dans un grand verre en caoutchouc (hou-hou-oou-oou!)
Comme un indien dans son igloo
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi, moi, moi, moi, moi, ça plane pour moi
(Hou-hou-oou-oou!) ça plane pour moi
Allez hop! La nana
Quel panard, quelle vibration de s'envoyer sur le paillasson
Limée, ruinée, vidée, comblée
"You are the king of the divan!"
Qu'elle me dit en passant (hou-hou-oou-oou!)
I am the king of the divan
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi, moi, moi, moi, moi, ça plane pour moi
(Hou-hou-oou-oou!) ça plane pour moi
Allez hop! T'occupe, t'inquiète, touche pas ma planète
It's not today que le ciel me tombera sur la tête
Et que l'alcool me manquera
(Hou-hou-oou-oou!)
Ça plane pour moi
Allez hop ma nana s'est tirée, s'est barrée
Enfin c'est marre, a tout cassé, l'évier, le bar me laissant seul
Comme un grand connard
(Hou-hou-oou-oou!)
Le pied dans l'plat
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi, moi, moi, moi, moi, ça plane pour moi
(Hou-hou-oou-oou!) ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi
Ça plane pour moi, moi, moi, moi, moi, ça plane pour moi

rick_chasey

Surprised none have you have mentioned Wheeler Walker Jr

rick_chasey

rick_chasey said:

Surprised none have you have mentioned Wheeler Walker Jr

Strong opener, though the censor won’t like it

I'm sorry I fucked your friend and finished on her ass
I'm sorry that you found out from a student in your class
Sorry 'bout your cousin Jane, sorry I jacked her off
It was all we did I swear, I was drunk, my dick got soft

First.Aspect

That's profound, man. Dylanesque, almost.

monkimark

Next stop, Macc lads...

bonk_king

monkimark said:

Next stop, Macc lads...

That's amazing, lol. I was just replying to your previous post regarding half man half biscuit and NOFX. I was going to add The Macc Lads to those two!!

None of them will ever win the Shakespeare prize for lyrical content, but for comedy value all three are right up there. Half man half biscuit in particular. Absolute genius.

JimD666

“Weird Al” Yankovic

(To the tune of American Pie)

"The Saga Begins"

A long, long time ago
In a galaxy far away
Naboo was under an attack
And I thought me and Qui-Gon Jinn
Could talk the federation into
Maybe cutting them a little slack
But their response, it didn't thrill us
They locked the doors and tried to kill us
We escaped from that gas
Then met Jar Jar and Boss Nass
We took a bongo from the scene
And we went to Theed to see the Queen
We all wound up on Tatooine
That's where we found this boy...

Oh my my this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
"Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"

Did you know this junkyard slave
Isn't even old enough to shave
But he can use the Force, they say
Ah, do you see him hitting on the queen
Though he's just nine and she's fourteen
Yeah, he's probably gonna marry her someday
Well, I know he built C-3PO
And I've heard how fast his pod can go
And we were broke, it's true
So we made a wager or two
He was a prepubescent flyin' ace
And the minute Jabba started off that race
Well, I knew who would win first place
Oh yes, it was our boy

We started singin' ...
My my this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
"Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"

Now we finally got to Coruscant
The Jedi Council we knew would want
To see how good the boy could be
So we took him there and we told the tale
How his midi-chlorians were off the scale
And he might fulfill that prophecy
Oh, the Council was impressed, of course
Could he bring balance to the Force?
They interviewed the kid
Oh, training they forbid
Because Yoda sensed in him much fear
And Qui-Gon said "Now listen here"
"Just stick it in your pointy ear"
"I still will teach this boy"

He was singin' ...
My my this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
"Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"

We caught a ride back to Naboo
'Cause Queen Amidala wanted to
I frankly would've liked to stay
We all fought in that epic war
And it wasn't long at all before
Little Hotshot flew his plane and saved the day
And in the end some Gungans died
Some ships blew up and some pilots fried
A lot of folks were croakin'
The battle droids were broken
And the Jedi I admire most
Met up with Darth Maul and now he's toast
Well, I'm still here and he's a ghost
I guess I'll train this boy

And I was singin' ...
My my this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"
"Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"

We were singin' ...
My my this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin' "Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi"

webboo

Does this thread need to be changed to the Greatest p!ss taking song lyrics.

Pross

webboo said:

Does this thread need to be changed to the Greatest p!ss taking song lyrics.

Nah, I'm just going to take my thread and go home if people won't play properly.

kingstongraham

Just take it seriously, and reflect on what some people consider the pinnacle of the songwriting craft.