Favourite Song Lyrics

In line with the themes of favourite quotations, favourite books, favourite pieces of music, favourite works of etc... I would like to propose another suggestion which is very close to my heart. ‘Favourite Song Lyrics.’

At different times, different phases of our lives, our preference for particular song lyrics will change - keeping pace with a recognition of our current emotional circumstances.

Lyrics have the power to make us laugh, make us cry, transport us elsewhere, touch our hearts, and maybe even sustain us in our hardest times of need.
This one does just that for me.

“Who Can I Turn To.”

“Who can I turn to when nobody needs me?
My heart wants to know and so I must go where destiny leads me
With no star to guide me and no one beside me
I'll go on my way and, after the day, the darkness will hide me
And maybe tomorrow I'll find what I'm after
I'll throw off my sorrow, beg, steal, or borrow my share of laughter
With you I could learn to, with you what a new day
But who can I turn to if you turn away?
With you I could learn to, with you what a new day
But who can I turn to if you turn away?”

Dave xx
Jazzer

 

Crash Test Dummies - Superman's Song:

Superman never made any money for saving the world from Solomon and Grundy.

 

Van Morrison:

And when heart is open
And when heart is open
You will change just like a flower slowly openin'
And when heart is open
You will change just like a flower slowly openin'
When there's no comin'
And there's no goin'
And when heart is open
You will meet your lover...

Van Morrison - When Heart Is Open

 

"It's WonderfuI"

“It's wonderful to look into your eyes
And realise you care a little bit
It's wonderful to know that you love me.
It's glorious to feel that
I'm a part of you sweetheart
To share your happiness
It's marvellous how lovely love can be.

Who'd dream that I'd be allowed
Through the doorway of heaven,
I'm drifting high on a cloud
You're an angel and this is heaven.

It's wonderful to have your lips divine
combine with mine
And dream for evermore
It's wonderful to know that
You love me.”

 

It's Wonderful by Ella Fitzgerald with Lyrics

 

"I like my sugar with coffee and cream"

 

"We dug these holes we crawled into now they're my home
Now here I can not feel the wind, can't feel the rain oh no
And I believe in gentle harmony
Well how I loathe all this obscenity
Is this the way my life has got to be?
Have I a single opportunity?

Look at me oh look at me is this the way I'll always be
Oh no, oh no
Now I pray that somebody will quickly come and kidnap me
Oh no, oh no
Everyday I lie awake and pray to god today's the day
Oh no, oh no
Here I am oh here I am oh when will someone understand?
Oh no, oh no"

 

What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
"I love you"

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Oh yeah

-----------------------------------------------------------

The part highlighted in bold is one of my favourite ever lyrics. It's so simple, but every time I hear it it hits me hard.

 

As a pretty left wing guy, I'm particularly touched by Alain Souchon's Foule Sentimentale (Sentimental Crowd). It's about commodification of our desires as opposed to appreciating things that have personal/sentimental value, like helping people out, justice, addressing inequality, preserving rainforests, wildlife, art, historical sites, etc. The bottom line is that capitalism creates a veil of ignorance of what we want to pursue in life & that you can't always put a price tag on the things that matter to you the most

Alain Souchon - Foule sentimentale

Oh la la la vie en rose
Le rose qu'on nous propose
D'avoir les quantités d'choses
Qui donnent envie d'autre chose
Aïe, on nous fait croire
Que le bonheur c'est d'avoir
De l'avoir plein nos armoires
Dérisions de nous dérisoires car

Foule sentimentale
On a soif d'idéal
Attirée par les étoiles, les voiles
Que des choses pas commerciales
Foule sentimentale
Il faut voir comme on nous parle
Comme on nous parle

Il se dégage
De ces cartons d'emballage
Des gens lavés, hors d'usage
Et tristes et sans aucun avantage
On nous inflige
Des désirs qui nous affligent
On nous prend faut pas déconner dès qu'on est né
Pour des cons alors qu'on est

Translation:

Oh dear! Life through rose-tinted spectacles
The spectacles that they suggest to us
To have loads of things
That make us want other things
Ouch! We are made to believe
That happiness is to have
Our wardrobes full of assets
In scorn of us, [it's] pathetic because

Sentimental crowd that we are
We are pining for ideals
Attracted to the stars, sails
[To] only non-commercial things
Sentimental crowd that we are
You should see the way they talk to us
The way they talk to us

There emerge
From those cardboard boxes
Washed-up people, out of order
And sad and without any benefits
Desires that distress us
Are imposed on us
They take us -no need to fool around - as soon as we are born
For idiots, while we are a....

Alain Souchon - Foule sentimentale

 

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

-----------------------------------------------------

Powerful stuff.

 

Fabulous lyrics, and a wonderful melody for the greatest jazzman who ever drew breath, Louis Armstrong.

For some years I traveled all over the U.K. with the show “Basin Street to Broadway.”
This number was our benediction for each performance.

 

It's a classic, and Satchmo is a legend. What an awesome musical brain.

 

Billie Holiday - Deep Song (Decca Records 1947)

“Lonely grief is hounding me
Like a lonely shadow hounding me
It's always there just out of sight
Like a frightening dream on a lightening night
Lonely wind cries out my name
Sad as haunted music in the rain
It's born of grief and born of woe
But I hear it call and I've got to go.

Where can I be headed for
The blues crawled in my door
To lick my heart once more
Love lives in a lonely land
Where there's no helping hand to understand.

Why does it bring this hate to me
Why - it don't matter why
I only know misery has to be part of me
Never hope to count on love
To be a partner of that heaven up above
Never hope to understand
Love is a barren land
A lonely land
A lonely land.”

Lyrics: Douglas Cross/George Cory
Sung by Billie Holiday.
(September 1947)

 

I appreciate the song writers portrayal of depression as being like a predatory wolf, slinking in an open door, ‘to lick my heart once more.’

So very perceptive.

Depression comes in, to some of us, on a daily basis, to feed us yet again with its false, negative history of all of our many faults and failures.

This is Freud’s ‘super ego,’ referred to by many psychologists as ‘the condemning self within,’ and by Eckhart Tolle as the persistent ‘pain body’, that robs us of our happiness and our ability to live in the present, by forcing us back into a negative, hurtful past.

Terrific lyric writing.

 

I've always enjoyed Phil Elverum's lyrics (The Microphones, Mount Eerie etc) and the way he describes how small we are as individuals in the universe and nature's indifference towards the destiny of mankind. And not in a nihilistic depressing way but more in a sobering way. Nature (specifically the type you'd find in the pacific northwest) often has a central role in his lyrics as this huge mystical force which I also find neat since I'm a huge fan of Twin Peaks.

"I'm small. I'm not a planet at all."

"These rocks don't care if I live or die."

^Some examples that are simple, yet very effective (for me at least).

I'll post his song "Through the Trees pt. 2" and lyrics below.

Mount Eerie - Through the Trees Pt. 2

"Misunderstood
And disillusioned
I go on describing this place
And the way it feels to live and die
The "natural world"
And whatever else it's called
I drive in and out of town
Seeing no edge, breathing sky
And it's hard to describe
Without seeming absurd
I know there's no other world:
Mountains and websites
Dark smoke fills the air
Some from the fire in my house
Some from me driving around
I could see the lights of town
Through the trees on the ridge
On my way home in the dark
I meant all my songs
Not as a picture of the woods
But just to remind myself
That I briefly live
The gleaming stone
The moon in the sky at noon
There is no other world
And there has never been
I still walk: living, sleeping
Life in the real world of clouds
Clawing for meaning
Still when I see branches in the wind
The tumultuous place where I live
Calls out revealing
"Can you see the river in the branches
And know that it means you will die
And that pieces are churning?"
"Can you find a wildness in your body
And walk through the store after work
Holding it high?"
I've held aloft some delusions
From now on I will be perfectly clear:
There's no part of the world more meaningful
And raw impermanence echoes in the sky
There is either no end
Or constant simultaneous end and beginning
A pile of trash
The fog on the hill
Standing in the parking lot, squinting"

 

"I don't bother chasing mice around"

Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut

 

There's a lightning storm each and every night
Crashing inside you like motorbikes
We toss and turn, sleep so loud
Grind the teeth in our empty mouths

Are empty...

There's a forest fire burning bright
Spreading quickly towards our last rites
Nowhere to run, pointless to hide
Just lay there and scream, pretending to try

Pretending...

Intending to burn, pretending to fight it
Everyone learns faster on fire
Things took a turn, lost all desire
You live and you burn

This impending doom is left deep inside
And it's haunting you each and every night
Like starving wolves counting sheep
We close our eyes, pretending to sleep

Descending...

Intending to burn, pretending to fight it
Everyone learns faster on fire
Things took a turn, lost all desire
You live and you burn - you live and you burn

You live and like hell, we are anxiously waiting
Like hell, burning silently strong
Somehow we fell down by the wayside
And somehow this hell is home

As we burn, pretending to fight it
Everyone learns faster on fire
Things took a turn, lost all desire
You live and you burn

You live and you...

Like hell, we are anxiously waiting
Like hell, burning silently strong
Somehow we fell down by the wayside
And somehow this hell is home

Right now, this hell is my home

Songwriters: Grant Derek R, Andriano Daniel Michael, Skiba Matthew Thomas

Alkaline Trio - Burn

 

“Layin' face down on the ground
My fingers in my ears to block the sound”

FNM - Falling to Pieces.

(Not my favourite song, but the lyrics are a good representation of my life)

 

Oh, misty eye of the mountain below
Keep careful watch of my brothers’ souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin’s sons

If this is to end in fire
Then we should all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night
Calling out father oh
Stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side

And if we should die tonight
Then we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine for the last time

Calling out father oh
Prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
And I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me

Oh, should my people fall
Then surely I’ll do the same
Confined in mountain halls
We got too close to the flame

Calling out father oh
Hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me

And if the night is burning
I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns
Then my brothers will die
And as the sky is falling down
It crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground
I hear my people screaming out

Now I see fire
Inside the mountains
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze

I see fire (oh you know I saw a city burning out)
And I see fire (feel the heat upon my skin, yeah)
And I see fire
And I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side

Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (Music Video)

 

Glacier & Summit - "Windows"...

 

I like modest mouse and issac brock’s lyrical sensibilities. Some of it comes off as “gibberish” but it matches well the sound of the music and the overall emotions of the song. I like these lyrics from “teeth like god’s shoe shine”. Good story telling and evocative with contrasting western and modern despair “themes” and imagery in many songs. Apology in advance for my horrendous forum formatting skills.

“Oh! If you could compact your conscience
Oh! And you might.
Oh! If you could bottle and sell it you might have done
Oh! And you might
Oh! If you could compact your conscience
And sell it save it for another time
You might have to use it.
And the televisions gone
Go to the grocery store, buy some new friends
And find out the beginning, the end, and the best of it
Well, do you need a lot of what you've got to survive?
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
This syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
So long, farewell, good-bye
Take 'em all for the long ride
And you'll go around town
No one wants to be uptight anymore
You can be ashamed
Or be so proud of what you've done
But not no one, not now, not ever or anyone
Take 'em all for the sense of happiness
That comes from hurting deep down inside
Or you can walk th line and give a shit
I'm on the corner of this and this and this and this
And its all all wrong, and its all all gone
Well, you can add it up and give a shit
Go to the family doctor
Its all worth it
And its all all gone, and its all all wrong
Here's the man with teeth like God's shoeshine
He sparkles shimmers shines
Let's all have another Orange Julius
Thick syrup standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
So long, farewell, good-bye
And the telephone goes off
Pick to receiver up, try to meet ends
And find out the beginning, the end and the best of it”

 

Wow, I had completely forgotten about the existence of Modest Mouse.

I wasn't ever really a fan, but then, I wasn't ever really not a fan either. I just never got around to actually exploring any of their repertoire.

But seeing them mentioned takes me back a long time. As far back as 2004 in fact. Sitting in my room with "Float On" playing on MTV2 every 20 minutes, using my slow as f*ck desktop PC to connect to the MTV2 forums via dial up internet, and then (re)discovering that I wasn't popular with any of the MTV2 forum music nerds when I finally did.

Good times.

 

Depending on your musical taste you may really like them! If you are ever bored or feel compelled, I suggest of any of their early albums! They’re really great, my favorites.
The Lonesome Crowded West or This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About.

And yeah funny how music is so tied to memory and certain phases of our life.

 

'Tis the Season! My favourite line is 'rooty-toot toots and rummy-tum tums'. Enjoy!

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town, gather 'round

He's making a list
And checking it twice;
He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town

(He sees you when you're sleeping)
(He knows when you're awake)
He knows if you've been bad or good
{So be good for goodness sake}!

{You better watch out}!
{You better not cry}
{Better not pout}
{I'm telling you why}
Santa Claus is comin' to town

(Little tin horns, little tin drums)
(Rudy-toot-toot and rummy tum tums)
(Santa Claus is comin' to town)

(And curly head dolls that cuddle and coo),
(Elephants, boats and kiddy cars too).
(Santa Claus is comin' to town).

The kids and girls in boy land
Will have a jubilee.
They're gonna build a toy land town
All around the Christmas tree.

(You better watch out), you better not cry).
(You better not pout), I'm telling you why).
(Santa Claus is comin' to town).

(He sees you when you're sleepin')
(And he knows when you're awake).
He knows when you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

You better watch out!
(You better not cry)
You better not pout
(I'm telling you why)
{Santa Claus is comin' to town}

{You better watch out}!
{You better not cry}
{Better not pout}
{I'm telling you why}
{Santa Claus is comin' to town}

You mean, the big fat man with the long white beard
(He's comin' to town)

 

HO HO!! Someone's getting their Christmas on already!!


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‘Bloody hell - he sounds as scary as god!
But then I don’t waste time on mythology.
Philosophy - yes - of course.
The wisdom of the ages.’
(Guess I’ll end up on the proverbial barbecue.)

 

Hi @Jazzer! I totally agree, it does sound a bit creepy, doesn't it? I guess since it has such a happy tune I didn't really notice that part. Plus I just really like Christmas. Hope you're keeping well despite everything.

 

@LilSass, for me, when physical interactions are limited or missing, remembering connections to the ones I love is more important than ever. Your song brings warm memories to me.

 

Thanks for the good wishes LS.

Life is incredibly challenging for me now, but joining a philosophy school has helped me to see things in a different light.

Best Wishes
Dave xx
Jazzer

 

I'm becoming less defined
As days go by
Fading away
Well you might say
I'm losing focus
Kind of drifting into the abstract
In terms of how I see myself

Sometimes I think I can see right through myself
Sometimes I think I can see right through myself
I think sometimes I can see right through myself

Less concerned
About fitting into the world
Your world that is
'Cause it doesn't really matter
No it doesn't really matter

No it doesn't really matter any more
None of this really matters any more
Yes, I am alone
But then again I always was

As far back as I can tell
I think maybe it's because
Because you were never really real
To begin with

I just made you up to hurt myself
I just made you up to hurt myself

Yeah, and I just made you up to hurt myself
I just made you up to hurt myself
Yeah, and I just made you up to hurt myself
And it worked

Yes it did
There is no you
There is only me
There is no you

There is only me
There is no fucking you
There is only me
There is no fucking you

There is only me
Only
Only
Only
Only

Well the tiniest little dot caught my eye
And it turned out to be a scab
And I had this funny feeling
Like I just knew it's something bad

I just couldn't leave it alone
Picking at that scab

It was a doorway trying to seal itself shut
But I climbed through

Now I am somewhere I am not supposed to be
And I can see things I never really should of seen
And now I know why
And now I know why
Things aren't as pretty
On the inside

There is no you
There is only me
There is no you
There is only me
There is no fucking you
There is only me
There is no fucking you
There is only me
Only
Only
Only
Only
Only
Only
Only
Only

Nine Inch Nails - Only