Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 WOOF Fortunately, quality lyrics are rarely integral to a good song. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 Well, you've got to remember, he wrote it while they were on a hippie pilgrimage with the Maharishi - you know, nature and yoga and shit. You can't really write "How Can You Sleep?" when you're sitting in circles, singing kum-ba-ya and meditating for inner peace. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 All their lyrics were crap. Not very good musicians either. Excellent composers... that's where it's at. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 Look, we can go through their entire post-Rubber Soul discography if you want—I'm sure there's many examples of childish sentiments to be found. I happened to highlight the most egregious example. Speaking of Rubber Soul, I'm listening to it right now. "Nowhere Man" always bugged me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 All their lyrics were crap. I wouldn't say all—or even most—of their lyrics were crap. Most of it was acceptable, which is all you can ask out of rock lyrics, really. Something approaching genuine poetry is rare. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I spoke in hyperbole, but it wasn't one of their strengths, I'm sure you'll agree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I agree. Hey, here's a bad lyric from a good song: "He who fucks nuns will later join the church." Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I spoke in hyperbole, but it wasn't one of their strengths, I'm sure you'll agree. Discounting when Lennon would drop acid and write crazy, unintelligible stuff like "I Am The Walrus", I'd agree with you, yeah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I had considered writing a parody rap version of "I Am the Walrus" for the line "Bitch you been a naughty ho, you let your niggas down" but I couldn't think of anything else of that quality. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin MacPhisto 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I agree. Hey, here's a bad lyric from a good song: "He who fucks nuns will later join the church." Wow. Hey, I always kinda liked that line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 The line before it is what makes the Clash lyric so bad. And it's not really that good a song. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I don't get that post at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godthedog 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 great beatles lyrics: "a day in the life" "eleanor rigby" "julia" "yer blues" "hey jude" "tomorrow never knows" "here comes the sun" "come together" "happiness is a warm gun" "for no one" "taxman" "strawberry fields forever" "let it be" I'd agree with inc's sentiment that rock lyrics approaching poetry is rare, but aside from dylan i think the beatles came the closest with the most consistency. they weren't terribly original lyricists (except for lennon's confessionals), but they could pick apart a style that was out there, find out what makes it good, and make it their own. they had some hammy bullshit (to this day i can't listen to "it's only love" and some others), but on the whole i certainly wouldn't say lyrics were their weak point. sometimes with their stuff it gets hard to judge whether they're "good" lyrics or not, like "honey pie" or "why don't we do it in the road." they don't stand on their own well, but the lyrics are just a small part of the framework of the style they're trying to accomplish, and to that end, they're successful. "honey pie" is supposed to be hokey and old-school, and it is. "why don't we..." is supposed to be ridiculously simple, bluesy and raunchy, and it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godthedog 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I had considered writing a parody rap version of "I Am the Walrus" for the line "Bitch you been a naughty ho, you let your niggas down" but I couldn't think of anything else of that quality. it might help if, like lennon, you work on it while on drugs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 Eh. I can think of other songwriters whose lyrics surpass the Beatles in terms of poetry, like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Lou Reed (mainly thinking the VU-era, here, though his solo stuff has some gems)...there are some others, but those are the most immediately recognizable names. Still, the Beatles, more often than not, got the job done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 I'll add Elvis Costello to the above, though he's often guilty of overly precious wordplay and forcing certain turns of phrase. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
godthedog 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2005 Eh. I can think of other songwriters whose lyrics surpass the Beatles in terms of poetry, like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Lou Reed (mainly thinking the VU-era, here, though his solo stuff has some gems)...there are some others, but those are the most immediately recognizable names. Still, the Beatles, more often than not, got the job done. shit. forgot about reed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2005 "a day in the life" "eleanor rigby" "julia" "yer blues" "hey jude" "tomorrow never knows" "here comes the sun" "come together" "happiness is a warm gun" "for no one" "taxman" "strawberry fields forever" "let it be" Lennon McCartney Lennon Lennon McCartney Lennon Harrison Lennon Harrison McCartney Harrison Lennon McCartney Six for Lennon, three for Harrison, and four for McCartney. And, honestly, I'd only count maybe two of those for McCartney ("Eleanor Rigby", "Hey Jude"). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DMann2003 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2005 "a day in the life" "eleanor rigby" "julia" "yer blues" "hey jude" "tomorrow never knows" "here comes the sun" "come together" "happiness is a warm gun" "for no one" "taxman" "strawberry fields forever" "let it be" Lennon McCartney Lennon Lennon McCartney Lennon Harrison Lennon Harrison McCartney Harrison Lennon McCartney Six for Lennon, three for Harrison, and four for McCartney. And, honestly, I'd only count maybe two of those for McCartney ("Eleanor Rigby", "Hey Jude"). Trust me, "Let it Be" was all Paul's. And y'all be hating on "Dear Prudence"? That's messed up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giuseppe Zangara 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2005 I like "Dear Prudence" in spite of its awful lyrics. Which was the point of this thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 0 Report post Posted January 24, 2005 I always liked Siouxsie and the Banshees' cover of 'Dear Prudence.' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zorin Industries 0 Report post Posted January 24, 2005 ^ beat me to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest krazykat72 Report post Posted January 27, 2005 Am i reading wrong or did you give Happiness is a Warm Gun to Harrison? I'm pretty sure that's Lennon.......While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which is even better, is Harrison. Also, I've read Lennon's I am the Walrus, while drug related, was also in response to Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues. (with "non sensical" lyrics) -Paul Jacobi- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
