ClaviSound wrote:
Scatman John has always had some beautifully raw language in his songs. And I don't mean that in the sense of slang, but in the sense that he contrasts scatting, which is literally nonsense syllables, with straightforward, simple, punch-to-your-gut verses. It's what makes his songs truly beautiful.
My favorite Scatman lyrics are to his self-titled song
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you
As a matter of fact
Don't let nothing hold you back
If the scatman can do it
So can you
Everybody says that the scatman stutters
But doesn't ever stutters when he sings
But what you don't know
I'm gonna tell you right now
That the stutter and the scat is the same thing
Yo, I'm the scat man
Where's the scat man? I'm the scat man.
It's meaningful when you know Scatman's story, with his stuttering. He turned his greatest problem into his greatest assist, and the"If the scatman can do it So can you " becomes so motivational.
Kyoga wrote:
In Flames - Take This Life
It's not so much the pain
It's more the actual knife
Pretending the picture is perfect,
I cut myself to sleep
I close my eyes for a second
And meet a fragile soul
I scream to hide that I'm lonely,
The echo calls my name
If I ever... if I never...
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see... make me be...
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
The water drops
Just beg to hit me
Why now? Haven't rained for days
No time to play hide and seek
I call upon you to take me on
Break me down to pieces
Put me back,
Do it right this time
Struggling to fill this empty stream
Burn my efforts in the end it means NOTHING
If I ever... if I never...
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see... make me be...
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
These thougths burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
These thougths burn a hole in my heart
These thoughts will keep me feeling
If I ever... if I never...
Make me understand the thought whatever
Make me see... make me be...
Make me understand you're there for me
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Take this life
I'm right here
Stay a while and breathe me in
Neaera - Liberation
The house, the storm
Feather and tar
Art, existence
The flower in the sewer
The day of mourn are pass
All sorrow aside
I finally arrived
In a realm I thought not be true
Here I dwell forever
Eternal ease
Found a lotus in the sewer
A lake for the sword
No longer sick of running
- no longer scared of burning
The world has silenced
The voices are gone
I made oil my water
And dust my air
Found relief, salvation
Quit the downward spiral
Sad years, bygone
Future - the brightest white
Grand, imperial peace
I left the wretched, the scarred
Despise all grief
Antagonism obsolete
Great In Flames song with great lyrics. While I don't think the song is In Flames's best, I think The Quite Place has some of their best lyrics:
Spinning further, deeper
I know you're out to try me
I'm not in this to be a slave
Push the dirt, make me feel
Locate what swallows life
Night bird you build my world
..and then I close my eyes
..and then I close my eyes
Judge me now
Used to be afraid to let it show, bow down
A king in my own mind
Everything's in place so much brighter from today
Drown the monster
Make all bad dreams go away
Whatever it takes to keep your hands free
Open scars, the quiet place
All the bridges fall to the ground and you say you sacrificed
..and then I close my eyes
..and then I close my eyes
Judge me now
Used to be afraid to let it show, bow down, bow down!
A king in my own mind
Everything's in place so much brighter from today
A king in my own mind
Judge me now
A king in my own mind
Judge me now
A king in my own mind
Judge me now
Used to be afraid to let it show, Bow down, bow down!
A king in my own mind
Everything's in place so much brighter from today
A king in my own mind
I just like and need my quiet place. Also it doesn't really make much sense if I think about it, but I feel like a relate to the chorus of Clayman.
How come it's possible?
I wish there was a way
I feel so invincible
I'm the sculpture made of clay
Maybe I'm subconsciously picking up on the rest of the lyrics. I also like the lyrics to "Pinball Map", "Come Clarity", and "Crawl through Knives". Sometimes I just feel like I'm crawling through knives. :P
Anyway, Tool and System of a Down also have lots of great lyrics. I'll start with Tool. Some of their lyrics are just pretentious drug addled mystic nonsense, but other ones are actually really clever. Stinkfist is one of the songs. I really like the one line "Relax, turn around, and take my hand". When I learned the alternative interpretation of that line, it just really struck me, and ultimately it means there is two ways to take the ending of the song, a cynical and an ideal one. Another great one is vicarious:
Eye on the TV
Cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be
Like
Killed by the husband"
"Drowned by the ocean"
Shot by his own son
She used a poison
In his tea
And kissed him goodbye
That's my kind of story
It's no fun until someone dies
Don't look at me like
I am a monster
Frown out your one face
But with the other
Stare like a junkie
Into the TV
Stare like a zombie
While the mother holds her child
Watches him die
Hands to the sky crying,
"Why, oh why?"
Cause I need to watch things die, from a distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all need it too, don't lie
Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold
Were writers of the stories told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
I need to watch things die... from a good safe distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same, so
Why can't we just admit it?
Blood like rain come down
Drum on grave and ground
Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore and voyeur
Still have the transmitter
Synched to the death rattle
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie (x4)
Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head of your hippie haze, and give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive, so it is, so it's always been
We all feed on tragedy
It's like blood to a vampire
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I
Besides the way he says "lie lie lie", the thing I love the most is the irony of the name. Vicarious implies an empathetic experience, yet the song is about enjoying hearing about others dying, which is rather sadistic and thus seemly the opposite of empathetic. The song is bold and illuminates a horror in our world, are unhelathy obsession with death in the media. Another good one is "The Pot", but my all time favorite Tool lyrics is "Right in Too"
Angels on the sideline
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused.
Don't these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly old monkeys,
Where there's one you're bound to divide it
Right in two
Angels on the sideline
Baffled and confused
Father blessed them all with reason.
And this is what they choose.
Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground
Silly monkeys give them thumbs,
They forge a blade, and where there's one they're bound to divide it
Right in two.
Right in two.
Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground
Silly monkeys give them thumbs, they make a club
And beat their brother down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.
Repugnant is a Creature who would squander the ability
To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky and
Fight over life, over blood, over air and light,
Over love, over sun, over another.
Fight for the time, for the one, for the rise and
Angels on the sideline again
Been so long with patience and reason
Angels on the sideline again
Wondering when this tug of war will end
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Cut and divide it all right in two
Right in two
Right in two
Despite being very opposed to organized religion and definitely not being Christian, Maynard uses religious imagery beautifully and mostly unironically (it could be interpreted as referring to religious wars) to deliver a great message to believers and non-believers alike. It even appears to be referencing Solomon's Story, showing that even Maynard finds there to be some wisdom in the Bible. Aside from calling people monkeys it still a respectful song when interpreted as being anti-religious. Well, anyway, great song.
With System, I think their lyrical height was around
Toxicity, with lyrics the appear nonsensical, but the presence of a deeper meaning is subtle and drives you to want to investigate the song, and then you find out so much. They appear to have an intended meaning, but they can still be interpretted many different ways. "Spiders" had great lyrics with "The piercing radiant moon, The storming of poor june, All the life running through her hair" and " and "Dreams are made winding through my head", but I find the line about v-chips was too blunt, contrasting with the more subtle nature of the rest of the song. The problem with many of the lyrics on Hypontize is likewise they are also too politically blunt. Now, most of the songs on
Toxicity have great lyrics, but I think the best is ATWA.
Hey you, see me, pictures crazy
All the world I've seen before me passing by
I've got nothing, to gain, to lose
All the world I've seen before me passing by
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
Anymore... nananananananananana
Hey you, are me, not so pretty
All the world I've seen before me passing by
Silent my voice, I've got no choice
All the world I've seen before me passing by
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
I don't see, anymore
I don't hear, anymore
I don't speak, anymore
I don't feel
Nananananananananananana... (x2)
Hey you, see me, pictures crazy
All the world I've seen before me passing by
I've got nothing, to gain, to lose
All the world I've seen before me passing by
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
You don't care about how I feel
I don't feel there anymore
I don't sleep, anymore
I don't eat, anymore
I don't live, anymore
I don't feel
What makes it the best is that on it's own the lyrics are really general, just raw and emotional, but not in any way generic. However, when combined with the title a specific meaning starts to become clear. ATWA is an abbreviation for "Air, Trees, Water, Animals", which was the mantra of Charles Manson. This makes me wonder whether the narrator of the song is supposed to be Charles Manson or Mother Earth. Either way, I think it's pretty deep, and a rather stark message.
Oh, and Bounce
Jump, Bounce, Down, Up
I went out on a date,
With a girl, a bit late,
She had so many friends,
Gliding through many hands.
I brought my pogo stick,
Just to show her a trick,
She had so many friends,
Gliding through many hands.
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Unannounced twister games,
All players with no names,
They lined up double quick,
But just one pogo stick,
Everyone gets to play,
Runaway, expose',
It was so exotic,
But just one pogo stick.
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Oh, I like to spread you out,
Touching whoever's behind
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
If you trying really hard that song is completely innocent. XD
Now, this isn't quite System, it's from for Serj's solo career, but I think the single best line in a song is "i loved you yesterday before you killed my family" from "Empty Walls". I don't think the lyrics to the whole song are the greatest, but the way he sings that one line....damn. With each word the meaning becomes clearified and it's so haunting, especially after it's all put together.
My absolute favorite lyrics as a whole are actually from someone from the fandom, though not a song from the fandom. The song is "Burnout" by Tarby.
I know it’s hard when the world is changing
I know you cry yourself to sleep
I know that times are tough, you’re another diamond in the rough
With promises you always fail to keep
You’re losing touch with all around you
You’re giving up on all your friends
I’ve seen you waste away; there’s little I could do or say
To ever bring your problems to an end
Flying away, leaving your home, your dreams, and all that you desire
Throwing away everything you loved, you're burning in your fire
Burnout, Burnout. You're burning in your fire!
Burnout, Burnout. You're giving up again.
I know you’re feeling rather desperate
For answers you know you won’t get
You’re at the perfect age, with strength and spirit none could gauge
And still, you try your hardest to forget
Every secret, every answer
Every lie you’ve ever told
Every guilty sigh, and every time you fell to cry
Your strength became a weakness, in the end you became cold.
Flying away, leaving your home, your dreams, and all that you desire
Throwing away everything you loved, you're burning in your fire
Burnout, Burnout. You're burning in your fire!
Burnout, Burnout. You're giving up again.
You won, but at what cost?
The spirit of everything you’ve lost
Is haunting all your memories
You’re doing your best but they won’t leave you be!
But now’s the time to set things right
You gotta set straight what you call a life
And put it behind you, Now is the time to go!
Flying away, leaving your home, your dreams, and all that you desire
Throwing away everything you loved, you're burning in your fire
Burnout, Burnout. You're burning in your fire!
Burnout, Burnout. You're giving up again.
It's a subject which rarely comes up, but it's an important one. I feel like a relate with those lyrics far more than I should, and I just listened to it over and over to try to keep my sane in a crazy period of my life were I just wanted to Burnout. The other song lyrics I really like from Tarby is the chorus to "Sentimental".
I miss the days when all was fine
We'd walk the streets to our own time
But now reality has shown
That in the end, we haven't grown
And now those times are said and done
It seems the worst has just begun
Those days, they used to be so fun
Now we're left running from the sun
The chorus sounds pretty awesome too with that crunching riff and wall of guitars. Anyway, I relate to those lyrics, though ironically enough I find myself relating to the instrumental on the album more than anything. How do you even relate to an instrumental? The song is called "Furthest You've Ever Been From Home".
Also from the fandom, I really like the lyrics to "Someone Like Me" by Aviators.
I'm feeling like a photograph
Life never changes but it goes by fast
Far too fast for me to catch
They tell me I'm too insecure, that
I should believe in myself more
If only it was as easy as that
Sometimes I just feel like
A stranger in my life
Sometimes I don't feel right at all
I may be lonely
But maybe I'm supposed to be 'cuz
No one's there to hear me when I call
Things get complicated
So I've watched and waited
For the moment I'll find
Someone like me
I feel so underrated
Some just leave me frustrated
Feels like I'll never find
Someone like me
My wings feel broken but they work fine
I guess confidence never was mine
A harsh word can leave me stunned
Some say I'm unique and others strange
Some say I'm just living up to my name
But I can't be the only one
Sometimes I just feel like
A stranger in my life
Sometimes I don't feel right at all
I may be lonely
But maybe I'm supposed to be cuz'
No one's there to hear me when I call
Just when I thought I was all alone
You came and showed me I'm not on my own
I'm not that different, you've made me see
I've finally found someone like me
Things get complicated
So I've watched and waited
For the moment I'll find
Someone like me
I feel so underrated
Some just leave me frustrated
Maybe I've finally found
Someone like me
I wouldn't exactly describe myself as shy, more so in the past (though I think I've actually gotten more stage freight over time :P), but I still really relate to this song. Fluttershy is my favorite characters for reasons.
What else, I like the lyrics to "Supersonic" by Bad Religion.
Well am I making haste or could it be haste is making me
What's time but a thing to kill or keep or buy or lose or live in
I gotta go faster
Keep up the pace
Just to stay in the human race
I could go supersonic
the problem's chronic
Tell me does life exist beyond it
When I need to sate
I just accelerate
Into oblivion
Into oblivi yah yah yah yah yah yah yan
Now here I go again
everything is alien
How does it feel to be outstripped by the pace of cultural change
My deeds are senseless
and rendered meaningless
When measured in that vein
I could go supersonic
the problem's chronic
Tell me does life exist beyond it
When I need to sate
I just accelerate into oblivion
Into oblivion
I won't lie
it's exciting
When I try
to decide things
I just want to live
decently
meaningfully
I'm in misery
I could I go supersonic
the problem's chronic
Tell me does life exist beyond it
When I need to sate
I just accelerate into oblivion
Into oblivi yah yah yah yah yah yah yan
Find them somewhat relatable. Anyway, Bad Religion is great in that their lyrics are catchy without being stupid, like in songs like "American Jesus" and "21st Century Digital Boy".
Finally I'll finish with Boulevard of Broken Dreams, that should be enough for now.
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's only me to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of broken dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a-
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ahhh-Ah
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone
Read between the lines of what's
Fucked up and everything's all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a-
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I'll walk alone...
Ah-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah
Ahhh-Ah Ah-Ah Ah-Ah
I walk alone
I walk a-
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of broken dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a-
My shadows the only one that walks beside me
My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I'll walk alone