Awesome Lyrics

[Lyron]

Ya know, those lyrics, the ones that stand out from what was otherwise background noise, or hit you square in the feels, or make you laugh every time you hear them. This is a place to praise the creativity or resonance of the songs we listen to.

While there are no doubt songs that are all-around well-written, are there specific lines or verses that speak to you the most? What are they and why?

To start...

Sober - Pink

The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth

I love this kind of metaphor, and it does a good job of capturing the feeling of avoiding demons, or facing silent judgment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSNgbdTdb4w


Heavy - Linkin Park

I don't like my mind right now
Stacking up problems that are so unnecessary

And

I wanna let go but there's comfort in the panic

Overall, the song is great about describing mental illness, but those lines stand out the most to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dmQ3QWpy1Q


Spotlight - Machine Gun Kelly

There's some good imagery, but I like these the most:

What if life was simple as a hug?

And right next to the gun that's on my dresser
Are plastic orange bottles of peer pressure

So what you do when the cop lights
Turn into a stage and a spotlight?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNcOYL8bqmM


What do others have?

[Blythe]

I absolutely love that song by Pink! Good songs & a great thread idea. 

One that I think has good lyrics is Lover's Death by Ursine Vulpine & Annaca.

The line 'Forever is not for everyone' hit me deep in my feelings.

[echoes]

If I can get in on this as well, I'm going back to something that has stuck with me since the 80's.

Marillion was Prog Rock at it's finest in a time where pop was king. This came out in 87' and means a
bit more now that I'm here and writing more than I have in a long time.


"And the only sign of life is the ticking of the pen
Introducing characters to memories like old friends
Frantic as a cardiograph scratching out the lines
A fever of confession a catalogue of crime in happy hour"

I will think of more but this was the first one to hit me when I read the intro on this thread.

Cheers,

E.

[Argyros]

Papercut (2003), Linkin Park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHECKcnloCE

I have a personal affiliation with this song and believe it captures my introspective thoughts and daily perception of the world. In particular, the second verse has profound, meaningful connotations for me:


"I know I've got a face in me
Points out all my mistakes to me
You've got a face on the inside too
And your paranoia's probably worse

I don't know what set me off first
But I know what I can't stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can't add up to what you can"


For me, the second verse introduces the individual realizing that he has an internalized entity and is not alone; everyone has a “face” (i.e. consciousness). The first sentence may refer to the theme of judgement and its negative impact when internalized (I know I've got a face in me / Points out all my mistakes to me). Personally, I am ashamed of myself when recognizing and conceding my faults, quick to exaggerate the severity of my mistakes and accept its flaws as a part of myself. The next phrase may indicate tendencies of blame or assumption (You've got a face on the inside too/And your paranoia's probably worse), which for me severely impedes my ability to create meaningful relationships in real life.

The next phrase harbours a tremendous impact on my emotions (i.e. "right in the feels"). From my perspective, the individual in the song is expressing his animosity against his peers as he compares his worth to another person's (But I know what I can't stand / Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is /I can't add up to what you can). I have always struggled with an inferiority complex, which makes me consistently compare myself to my colleagues in every sector of life, including academics, athletics, work and even recognition. It is incredibly frustrating and devastating to be told I “wasn’t good enough”, “didn’t try hard enough” or “didn’t have what it takes”. Presently, I am working on some techniques to overcome this destructive behaviour. But yes, these lyrics hit very close to home for me.

[Cold Heritage]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPmZRK27zNo

"Oh I would kill for what I want / Between your legs forever."

This line speaks to me. I feel a sort of yearning and wanting in it.

[Oniya]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMxkxBGJbFg

Offered without comment.  No words of mine would be adequate.

[Yuna]

Babygirl - Overbored

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr_jAMlZiUw

If you wanted to leave I would let you
Not the type who would ask for a redo
Say you need something new ya well me too
I'll never figure it out

On a scale of the universe I'm pretty fucking small
So if I sleep in 'til 3 pm it doesn't matter at all

I'm over you
I'm overbored
I'm surrounded by people who were hoping for more

Think my pilots asleep on the runway
Diagnosed with a case of the Mondays
Wanna stay, wanna lay in the sun rays
Out on the roof of my house

On a scale of the universe I'm pretty fucking small
So if I sleep in 'til 3pm it doesn't matter at all

I'm over you
I'm overbored
I'm surrounded by people who were hoping for more

This song speaks to me on so many levels.

[Akkas]

"The pain you feel is the pain that you deny" (2:17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsAzSqmLipY

That one sentence really turned into a life lesson. Whenever I feel/felt sad, I thought to myself "well this and this happened and those are very sad situations. It's normal to feel this way about that". And then I didn't deny the sadness anymore, and I instantly felt better.

[Lyron]

Loving the input so far! All of these songs are great, and it's fun seeing the lyrics that speak to everyone.

To give one more...

The Jester - Badflower

In the first verse:

But I couldn't find a place mat
The dinner table's full and there's no room for me to sit

And in the chorus:

With tears on their shoes and ice on their shoulders

The feeling of isolation hits home, and I love the imagery in that line from the chorus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAa6O6IjB1c

[Trilobite]

And I dreamt of a factory
Where they manufactured what I needed
Using shiny new machines
And the headstones climbed up the hills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNTpfKqMaXk

Honestly The Mountain Goats have a ton of songs I could post in this thread, but this is the one that has been hitting me lately, even though the song is mostly about heroin addiction.

I guess I might as well also post my pick for the most depressing song of all time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm-NW1RwPY8

[Yuna]

Paramore - Fake Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8vsuOXZBXc

You see, it's easy when I'm stompin' on a beat
But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath

but also,

I know I said that I was doing good and that I'm happy now
I should've known that when things were going good that's when I'd get knocked down

[Azuresun]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnzpg5GgQCo

Really, most of the verses in this song could qualify, but this bit always jumped out to me. Melancholy, but in an "eh, what you gonna do?" way rather than wallowing.

Once upon a time at home, I sat beside the telephone.
Waiting for someone to pull me through.
When at last it didn't ring, I knew it wasn't you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c

London Calling--
Yes, I was there too.
And you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!

[Blythe]

For all that it's a song about dragons, one verse stood out a lot.

Is it the past I see
When I look up to the heavens
Believing in the magic
That I know could never be

That verse always hit me really hard and felt like the verse was very well-written. It always felt like a verse that was meant to highlight the sorrow of becoming older and giving up certain dreams.

[Lyron]

And I dreamt of a factory
Where they manufactured what I needed
Using shiny new machines
And the headstones climbed up the hills

[Palmcorder Yajna - The Mountain Goats]

Yes! That's a deep chorus. I was checking out genius.com and for:

Carpenter ants in the dresser
Flies in the screen
It will be too late by the time we learn
What these cryptic symbols mean

I saw this little nugget:

"While introducing a screening of Medea at the Lincoln Film Center, John Darnielle discussed the very precise meaning of the cryptic symbols lyric. Darnielle referenced how in Greek tragedy there are often various omens in the form of symbols that the victim of the tragedy, if they were able to read them, would be able to avoid their fate. However, to be able to understand the symbols, the victim must first experience the tragedy."

Very cool! I also like the imagery in:

Laugh lines on our faces
Scale maps of the ocean floor

I guess I might as well also post my pick for the most depressing song of all time:

[No Children - The Mountain Goats]

*Cackles* That is terrible. I love it.

Paramore - Fake Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8vsuOXZBXc

You see, it's easy when I'm stompin' on a beat
But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath

Yes! That is an enjoyable song. Those lyrics are relatable. A good reminder that everyone is not as they seem on the surface.

[A New England - Kirsty MacColl]

Really, most of the verses in this song could qualify, but this bit always jumped out to me. Melancholy, but in an "eh, what you gonna do?" way rather than wallowing.

Once upon a time at home, I sat beside the telephone.
Waiting for someone to pull me through.
When at last it didn't ring, I knew it wasn't you.

I like that this song was rewritten from a woman's perspective, and added upon--kinda interesting. Those are pretty noteworthy lyrics, and a good touch to provide an ending.

[London Calling - The Clash]

London Calling--
Yes, I was there too.
And you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!

Nice song! (I really can't say any more words about it that would do it justice. )

For all that it's a song about dragons, one verse stood out a lot.

Is it the past I see
When I look up to the heavens
Believing in the magic
That I know could never be

That verse always hit me really hard and felt like the verse was very well-written. It always felt like a verse that was meant to highlight the sorrow of becoming older and giving up certain dreams.

Ooh, yes! Kinda like the dragons are a metaphor for those dreams, with a sorta childlike feel because of the fantasy of it. Pretty cool! (And sad, lol.)

[Oniya]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbkOZTSvrHs

Video linked due to shameless 80's hair  epic bagpipe solo a few images of a child.

We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh-whoa-oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh-oh
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear
Oh-whoa-oh-oh, oh-whoa-oh-oh

[Lyron]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbkOZTSvrHs

Video linked due to shameless 80's hair  epic bagpipe solo a few images of a child.

Heard this one on the radio once or twice. Between this one and the previous you posted, I'm beginning to think music from previous decades had something over today's songs. For the past couple days I've been trying to recall a more current, popular song that has similar sentiments, but the closest I'm coming up with is The Black Eyed Peas "Where Is the Love?". That's over 15 years old now. "Firework" and "Born This Way" are more pro-individuality than pro-kindness/humanity. A band covered The Beatles' "Come Together" not too long ago, and that at least gets radio play on the rock stations here. Not quite the same as an original song, but it's something. I'm kinda hoping I'm forgetting one.

[Lyron]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4w2FLDs0ow

This is a very emotional rap (set to music that Naruto fans might recognize).

You were right it's evidential
I've been better with my instrumentals than friends
[...]
All I got is pencils, pens, and a verse
You deserve, the years I disappeared
Not a song

I perch atop a simple roof, not a single thought
Through my mind's aloof, and these shingles got
But a single truth[...]

Broken glass, car windows,
Broken grasp, as you fall into

[Giantmutantcrab]

Sorry for the necro but I just realised that this thread exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHeZZ00ku7k

At the 2:44 mark.

And now the hands of Time are standing still,
Midnight Angel won't you say you will...