Song Lyrics that move you

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Sometimes, you just hear a song lyric, and it moves you. Maybe it gives you chills. Maybe it takes you back to a good time and place. Maybe it reminds you of a person you lost along the way. Maybe it gives you insight into the human condition. Maybe it just creates a beautiful picture in your mind.

 

What are some of your favorite lines in songs?

 

Here are a few of my favorites...

 

"Are you there? Say a prayer, for the Pretender. Who started out so young and strong, only to surrender."

From The Pretender, by Jackson Browne

 

This is a line that gives me chills. Depending on my mood, its either a cautionary tale, or, I really identify with that line.

 

_____

 

"Remember when, I moved in you, and the Holy Dove was moving too, and every breath we drew was Hallelujah?"

From Hellelujah, by Leonard Cohen

 

This song is amazing, this line in particular. The weaving back and forth between sexual and religious imagery is interesting. I once heard this song played in a church, by someone who doesn't listen to lyrics very closely.

 

______

 

"The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face."

From Visions of Johanna, Bob Dylan

 

I don't know why, but I've always liked this line. Just a vibrant picture I guess.

 

______

 

"Lemon yellow custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye."

From I Am The Walrus" by the Beatles

 

Its not an appealing image, but it sure is vibrant.

 

________

 

"And the people danced and prayed, to the neon god they'd made"

From the Sound of Silence, by Simon and Garfunkel

 

A pretty accurate depiction of our society's worship of technology and media.

 

________

 

Anyway, I could go on and on. Whatch got?

[Gepetto 977]

For me, the 2nd verse of: "Human Nature" (sung by Michael Jackson, from album Thriller)

[1st Verse]
Looking Out
Across The Night-Time
The City Winks A Sleepless Eye
Hear Her Voice
Shake My Window
Sweet Seducing Sighs

[2nd Verse]
Get Me Out
Into The Night-Time
Four Walls Won't Hold Me Tonight
If This Town
Is Just An Apple
Then Let Me Take A Bite

[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

[3rd Verse]
Reaching Out
To Touch A Stranger
Electric Eyes Are Ev'rywhere
See That Girl
She Knows I'm Watching
She Likes The Way I Stare

[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
I Like Livin' This Way
I Like Lovin' This Way

[4th Verse]
Looking Out
Across The Morning
The City's Heart Begins To Beat
Reaching Out
I Touch Her Shoulder
I'm Dreaming Of The Street

[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
I Like Livin' This Way
[Repeat Chorus - Ad-Lib/Fade-Out]

[SUXBNME 1,318]

 

For me, the 2nd verse of: "Human Nature" (sung by Michael Jackson, from album Thriller)

 

 

[1st Verse]

Looking Out

Across The Night-Time

The City Winks A Sleepless Eye

Hear Her Voice

Shake My Window

Sweet Seducing Sighs

 

[2nd Verse]

Get Me Out

Into The Night-Time

Four Walls Won't Hold Me Tonight

If This Town

Is Just An Apple

Then Let Me Take A Bite

 

[Chorus]

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

 

[3rd Verse]

Reaching Out

To Touch A Stranger

Electric Eyes Are Ev'rywhere

See That Girl

She Knows I'm Watching

She Likes The Way I Stare

 

[Chorus]

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

I Like Livin' This Way

I Like Lovin' This Way

 

[4th Verse]

Looking Out

Across The Morning

The City's Heart Begins To Beat

Reaching Out

I Touch Her Shoulder

I'm Dreaming Of The Street

 

[Chorus]

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

If They Say -

Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature

Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way

I Like Livin' This Way

[Repeat Chorus - Ad-Lib/Fade-Out]

 

That's pretty ghey

[Gepetto 977]

That's pretty ghey

 

Really? It's about anticipating going out to spend the night on the town.

[SUXBNME 1,318]

While it seems sick, sober up quick
Psycho lunatic crushing you with
HANDS OF FATE!
Shame to find out, when it's too late
But you're all the same
Trapped inside INFERNO AWAITS!
Evil thoughts can hide, I'll help release the mind
I'll peel away the skin, release the dark within

[Voltaire 4,550]

Rap moves me. Whenever I hear rap, I move as far away as possible. Whenever it comes on the TV, I jump up and begin a desperate search for the remote control.

[Gepetto 977]

While it seems sick, sober up quick

Psycho lunatic crushing you with

HANDS OF FATE!

Shame to find out, when it's too late

But you're all the same

Trapped inside INFERNO AWAITS!

Evil thoughts can hide, I'll help release the mind

I'll peel away the skin, release the dark within

 

What are you, a serial killer waiting to get your first kill? :scared:

[Voltaire 4,550]

________

 

"And the people danced and prayed, to the neon god they'd made"

From the Sound of Silence, by Simon and Garfunkel

 

A pretty accurate depiction of our society's worship of technology and media.

 

________

 

 

Nice choice but it's 'bowed and prayed', not 'danced and prayed'.

 

From that very same song:

 

"People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening"

 

resonates with me in China.

[SUXBNME 1,318]

In all seriousness, tho

 

"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy"

 

When I'm board of that, I go straight to TSOL:

TSOL Code Blue

Sub for awesome music!

Lyrics

I never got along with the girls at my school
Filling me up with all their morals and their rules
They'd pile all their problems on my head
I'd rather go out and the dead

'Cause I can do what I want
And they won't complain
I wanna , I wanna the dead

Middle of the night so silently
I creep on over to the mortuary
Lift up the casket and fiddle with the dead
Their cold blue flesh makes me turn red

Do what I want
And they won't complain
I wanna , I wanna the dead

And I don't even care how she died
But I like it better
If she smells of formaldehyde

Never on the rag or say leave me alone
They don't scream and they don't moan
Don't even cry if I shoot in their hair
Lying on the table she smiles and she stares

'Cause I can do what I want
And they won't complain
I wanna , I wanna the dead

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[GobbleDog 815]

None really move me. But I was always impressed with the double-entendres in "Life In The Fast Lane."

 

 

 

He was a hard-headed man, he was brutally handsome. And she was terminally pretty.

She held him up and he held her for ransom In the heart of the cold, cold city.

 

He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude. They said he was ruthless, said he was crude.

They had one thing in common they were good in bed. She'd say, "Faster, faster, the lights are turnin' red"

 

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane.

 

Eager for action, hot for the game.

The coming attraction, the drop of a name.

 

They knew all the right people, they took all the right pills They threw outrageous parties, they paid heavily bills.

There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face. She pretended not to notice, she was caught up in the race.

 

Out every evening until it was light He was too tired to make it, she was too tired to fight about it.

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane, everything all the time. Life in the fast lane.

 

Glowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst. They didn't see the stop sign, took a turn for the worst.

She said, "Listen baby, you can hear the engine ring. We've been up and down this highway, haven't seen a ###### thing."

 

He said, "Call the doctor, I think I'm gonna crash." "The doctor say he's comin' but you gotta pay in cash."

They were rushin' down that freeway, messed around and got lost. They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off and it was...

 

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind. Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane, everything all the time.

Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane

[jerryskids 5,151]

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band

 

Dan Fogelberg. Always brings a tear to my eye thinking of my Dad.

[Voltaire 4,550]

Seasons change with the scenery

Weaving time in their tapestry

Won't you stop and remember me?

----Bangles Hazy Shade of Winter

[SUXBNME 1,318]

Rap moves me. Whenever I hear rap, I move as far away as possible. Whenever it comes on the TV, I jump up and begin a desperate search for the remote control.

What is your definition of "Rap" ?

[Voltaire 4,550]

Hold onto sixteen as long as you can

Changes come around real soon

Make us women and men

John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane

[SUXBNME 1,318]

None really move me. But I was always impressed with the double-entendres in "Life In The Fast Lane."

 

 

 

He was a hard-headed man, he was brutally handsome. And she was terminally pretty.

She held him up and he held her for ransom In the heart of the cold, cold city.

 

He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude. They said he was ruthless, said he was crude.

They had one thing in common they were good in bed. She'd say, "Faster, faster, the lights are turnin' red"

 

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane.

 

Eager for action, hot for the game.

The coming attraction, the drop of a name.

 

They knew all the right people, they took all the right pills They threw outrageous parties, they paid heavily bills.

There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face. She pretended not to notice, she was caught up in the race.

 

Out every evening until it was light He was too tired to make it, she was too tired to fight about it.

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane, everything all the time. Life in the fast lane.

 

Glowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst. They didn't see the stop sign, took a turn for the worst.

She said, "Listen baby, you can hear the engine ring. We've been up and down this highway, haven't seen a ###### thing."

 

He said, "Call the doctor, I think I'm gonna crash." "The doctor say he's comin' but you gotta pay in cash."

They were rushin' down that freeway, messed around and got lost. They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off and it was...

 

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind. Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane, everything all the time.

Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane. Life in the fast lane

Those lyrics (yes, I know the song, obviously) remind a lot of "Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger.

[Voltaire 4,550]

What is your definition of "Rap" ?

1) The ear-bleeding noise black youth started listening to in the '80s and '90s known for glorifying crime, inducing headaches, and numbing the brain enough to cause permanent damage. Often confused as a form of music performed by untalented people.

 

2) 75% of the word 'crap'.

 

See also: hip-hop.

[jerryskids 5,151]

If you could read my mind love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old time movie

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well

In a castle dark or a fortress strong

With chains upon my feet

You know that ghost is me

And I will never be set free

As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see

If I could read your mind love

What a tale your thoughts could tell

Just like a paperback novel

The kind that drugstores sell

When you reach the part where the heartaches come

The hero would be me

But heroes often fail

And you won't read that book again

Because the ending's just too hard to take

 

I'd walk away like a movie star

Who gets burned in a three way script

Enter number two

A movie queen to play the scene

Of bringing all the good things out in me

But for now love, let's be real

I never thought I could act this way

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

I don't know where we went wrong

But the feelin's gone

And I just can't get it back

 

If you could read my mind love

What a tale my thoughts could tell

Just like an old time movie

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well

In a castle dark or a fortress strong

With chains upon my feet

But stories always end

And if you read between the lines

You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand

The feelin's that you lack

I never thought I could feel this way

And I've got to say that I just don't get it

I don't know where we went wrong

But the feelin's gone

And I just can't get it back

 

Gordon Lightfoot. They don't like breakup songs like this anymore.

[Voltaire 4,550]

Gordon Lightfoot. They don't like breakup songs like this anymore.

You mean he wrote other songs than the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald?

 

I did not know this. Thanks.

[GobbleDog 815]

I always thought Elvis was really incredibly talented... until someone pointed out he didn't write any of his songs.

[OldMaid 1,838]

What ravages of spirit conjured this temptuous rage?
Created you a monster; broken by the rule of love.
And fate has led you through it,
You do what you have to do.
Oh, and fate has led you through it,
You do what you have to do.
But I have the sense to recognize that I don't know how to let you go.

Every moment marked with apparitions of your soul.
I'm ever swiftly moving; trying to escape this desire.
The yearning to be near you,
I do what I have to do.
Oh, the yearning to be near you,
I do what I have to do.
And I have the sense to recognize that I don’t know how to let you go.
I don’t know how to let you go.

A glowing ember, burning hot, and burning slow.
Deep within I'm shaken by the violence of existing for only you.
I know I can't be with you,
I do what I have to do.
I know I can't be with you,
I do what I have to do.
And I have the sense to recognize that I don't know how to let you go.
I don't know how to let you go.
I don't know how to let you go.

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sarah_mclachlan/

[OldMaid 1,838]

Come up to meet you,
Tell you I'm sorry,
You don't know how lovely you are.

I had to find you,
Tell you I need you,
Tell you I set you apart.

Tell me your secrets,
And ask me your questions,
Oh let's go back to the start.

Runnin' in circles,
Comin' up tails,
Heads on a science apart.

Nobody said it was easy,
It's such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be this hard.
Oh take me back to the start.

I was just guessin',
At numbers and figures,
Pullin' the puzzles apart.

Questions of science,
Science and progress,
Do not speak as loud as my heart.

Tell me you love me,
Come back and haunt me,
Oh, what a rush to the start.

Runnin' in circles,
Chasin' our tails,
Comin' back as we are.

Nobody said it was easy,
Oh it's such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be so hard.
I'm goin' back to the start.

Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ohh,
Ah ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh,
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ohh,
Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ohh.

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/coldplay/

[BunnysBastatrds 1,902]

Finding time to make you my friend

Losing ground again and again

Just when I beg you to fawk me for real

You lose the forgiveness that made me so near

 

Night after night I brought you my fear

Never once asking you how you would feel

But late at dark in the middle of your tears

I tear your heart in with your own fawking ears

[frank 2,143]

I want candy, bubble gum, and taffy

Skip to the sweet shop with my sweetheart Sandy

Got my pennies saved so I'm her sugar daddy

I'm her Hume Cronyn and she's my Jessica Tandy, I want candy!

 

put it in a pile, split it with my bitty 50/50 down the line

kinda like close encounters of the cavity kind

im talkin liquorice kisses, talkin chocodile smiles

 

I want candy, i got a sugar tooth

put on your shin gaurds, Sandy, 'cause i wanna knock boots

lick my peppermint stick til' the lollipop droops

gumdrop that dont stop til' its licked knot loose

 

(ladies)

candy... candy...

 

i need candy bubble gum, and taffy

get in my way punk, you're gonna get ya ass beat, nasty

Do it till your dad sees, embarass your whole family

Just 'cause you came between a kid and his candy

I need candy, any kind'll do

Don't care if it's nutritious or "FDA approved"

It's gonna make me spaz like bobcats on booze

A hyperactive juice that only I can produce

 

And fuel a giant drill, bore straight into Hell

Releasing ancient demons from their sleep forever spell

So they can walk upon the earth, and get resituated

And Hock the diet pills that MC Pee Pants has created

 

I need candy, want some candy, eat candy til' I'm dead

I'll kill you for some candy, give me candy, candy head!

Where you keepin' all the candy?!

Who made you candy king?!

If you dont give me some candy, I will make the ladies sing!

 

(ladies)

Candy, in tha morning, candy on the way to school

Candy, at school, at lunch in the afternoon

Candy, in school, on your way home from school

Candy, at diner,at dinner, in bed!

 

Mess up the mix, mix up the mess

Come on down yo, here's the address

At 6-1-2 Wharf Avenue,

 

Right next to, gentlemen's club.

[Thornton Melon 542]

I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints

And then I smoke two more

[Blitzen 0]

The song is uber corny but on the day a bunch of people were leaving the university campus residences after our Bachelors degrees, a bunch of us were sitting around enjoying a last beer knowing that we likely would not see one another much if at all going forward, and the Andrew Gold song "Thank you for being a friend" started to play on the radio. Not too many dry eyes to be found amongst the gals and guys there at that moment. Hearing that song still gives me chills almost 30 years later.

[shotsup 830]

Wild Thing

[NewbieJr 540]

The song is uber corny but on the day a bunch of people were leaving the university campus residences after our Bachelors degrees, a bunch of us were sitting around enjoying a last beer knowing that we likely would not see one another much if at all going forward, and the Andrew Gold song "Thank you for being a friend" started to play on the radio. Not too many dry eyes to be found amongst the gals and guys there at that moment. Hearing that song still gives me chills almost 30 years later.

That's a good one. I used to DJ school dances, and there is a song by Vitamin C called Graduation (Friends Forever) that I would always be asked to play at the last dance of the school year. The lyrics were all about the fact that after graduation, everyone will be going their separate ways and many will never see each other again. But they will still be friends forever blah blah blah. And the entire senior class would dance arm in arm in a big circle and almost every one of them would be crying. It was actually moving for me, too. Since I was an adult and knew that they really had no idea about the fact that many of them never actually would see each other again.

[Electric Mayhem 35]

I want candy, bubble gum, and taffy

Skip to the sweet shop with my sweetheart Sandy

Got my pennies saved so I'm her sugar daddy

I'm her Hume Cronyn and she's my Jessica Tandy, I want candy!

Now all I want is candy, and I don't know why.

Meat man, wash me off one of those bunnies. I'm gonna eat it.

[Big Blue 06 195]

Old Maid actually stole my one answer with that Sarah Maclaghlin song. So many of her songs do that to me, but this one is my favorite (yes, I know that's a little ghey). But she creates some outstanding images with her lyrics and I her quite a lot. Also, good choice with The Scientist by Coldplay. Wow, I'm coming off uberghey in this thread, but I'm okay with it.

 

 

Since I've had my daughter, the songs that get to me are mostly country songs that talk about baby girls and things like that. One I heard the other day by Kip Moore.

 

Hey Pretty Girl"

Hey pretty girl, won't you look my way
Love's in the air tonight
You can bet you make this ol' boy's day
Hey pretty girl, won't you look my way

Hey pretty girl, can I have this dance
And the next one after that
Gonna make you mine there's a real good chance
Hey pretty girl, can I have this dance

Hey pretty girl, it feels so right
Just like it's meant to be
All wrapped up in my arms so tight
Hey pretty girl, it feels so right

Life's a long and winding ride
Better have the right one by your side
And happiness don't drag its feet
Time moves faster than you think

Hey pretty girl, wanna take you home
My momma's gonna love you
She'll make me sleep on the couch, I know
Hey pretty girl, wanna take you home

Hey pretty girl, let's build some dreams
And a house on a piece of land
We'll plant some roots and some apple trees
Hey pretty girl, let's build some dreams

Life's a long and winding ride
Better have the right one by your side
Happiness don't drag its feet
And time moves faster than you think

Hey pretty girl, you did so good
Our baby's got your eyes
And a fighter's heart like I knew she would
Hey pretty girl, you did so good

Hey pretty girl, when I see the light
And it's my time to go
I'm gonna thank the Lord for a real good life
A pretty little girl and a beautiful wife

 

I have to say, by the time it got to the bolded part, a little dust got in my eyes.

[Electric Mayhem 35]

From the coast of gold, across the seven seas

I'm travelin' on, far and wide

But now it seems, I'm just a stranger to myself

And all the things I sometimes do, it isn't me but someone else

 

I close my eyes and think of home

Another city goes by in the night, ain't it funny how it is

You never miss if til' it's gone away

And my heart is lying there and will be til' my dying day

So understand don't waste your time

Always searching for those wasted years

Face up, make your stand

And realize you're living in the golden years

 

Also pretty much all Tool lyrics are badass. To name a few:

Right in Two

Vicarious

Lateralus

[Bert 1,087]

You mean he wrote other songs than the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald?

 

I did not know this. Thanks.

I think this is his best work:

 

Sometimes I think it's a shame

When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain

 

Sometimes I think it's a sin

When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin again

 

[Bert 1,087]

Well, I don't believe that heaven waits,
For only those who congregate.
I like to think of God as love:
He's down below, He's up above.
He's watching people everywhere.
He knows who does and doesn't care.

Don Williams

[FlaHawker 24]

And she said, with a tear in her eye

Watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow

Watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow

 

--Frank Zappa

Chokes me up every time!!

[cbfalcon 824]

This song gave me goosebumps these last couple of years, as I essentially felt like I was living it.

 

I was drifting, crying
I was looking for an island
I was slipping under
I'll pull the devil down with me one way or another

I'm out of my mind; think you can wait?
I'm way off the line; think you can wait?

We've been running a sleepless run
Been away from the baby way too long
We've been holding a good night gone
We've been losing our exits one by one

I'm out of my mind; think you can wait?
I'm way off the line; think you can wait?

Did I?
(all I have is all)
Think you can wait?
Did I?
(all I have is all)
Think you can wait?

What I'm thinking is simple
I'll sell apples and ice water at the temple
I won't make trouble
I'll pull the devil down with me one way or another

We've been running a sleepless run
Been away from the baby way too long
We've been holding a good night gone
We've been losing our exits one by one

I'll try.
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)
I'll try, but I couldn't be better.
(all I have is all)

 

[cbfalcon 824]

Gordon Lightfoot. They don't like breakup songs like this anymore.

 

That song is easily in my top 5 of all time. I was going to post it if someone hadn't already.

 

[NewbieJr 540]

 

That song is easily in my top 5 of all time. I was going to post it if someone hadn't already.

 

Agreed. Great song.

[The Moz 69]

 

Really? It's about anticipating going out to spend the night on the town.

If sux is saying it's ghey then ..............damn. May a well go buy a rainbow flag and a ass plug.

[The Moz 69]

Fade To Black

Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filing me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now He's gone

No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death Greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye

---------- Winnah

[parrot 789]

Jason Isbell - Elephant

 

"Sharecropper eyes and her hair almost all gone"

 

[Electric Mayhem 35]

Yesterday seems as though it never existed

Death Greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye

That line does always give me goosebumps. Awesome song.