Not just rock, mind you. It’s totally an overarching thing of our culture worthy of its own discussion, and it makes a lot of people itchy. But here’s a contribution to the thread, and a fascinating artist for readers to explore.
A couple of more from Don Henley:
“'Cause a man with a briefcase can steal more money than a man with a gun.”
“All these Trumped-up towers, they’re just golden showers.”
Both from Gimme What You’ve Got.
Well Whiskey, by Bright Eyes:
… And just when I got fed up with that grey sky
The sun came out of nowhere like a bar fight
Do you mean Jackie DeShannon or that it was part of the lexicon before the song? Because, Googling, I couldn’t find an earlier example than the song.
And it’s too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around
Pink Floyd Animals.
The generals sat, and the lines on the map, moved from side to side
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon
Til I speak double Dutch, to a real double duchess
Elvis Costello New Amsterdam
Give me the needle, give me the rope, gonna melt them down, for pills and soap
Elvis Costello Pills & Soap
Before the phone hits the receiver, you’re halfway out the door. The voice said get out while you can, there’s just 10 minutes nothing more.
Al Stewart Running Man
The Holy Sister bars her doors against the East, Her house has stood too long divided
The uninvited guests are breaking up the feast, She may not bid them leave again
Al Stewart Constantinople
And Eric Clapton: “Cocaine!”
Someone (not Weird Al) did a parody called “Marty Feldman Eyes.”
“Even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.”
The Doors. Woke up this morning and got myself a BEER.
Oh, I hate The Doors. But you may fit right in. Welcome, @doc481!
J.J. Cale.
Against The Wind by Bob Seger
Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then
All we are is dust in the wind
Agreed
Welcome to the jungle. We got fun and games; we got everything you want; honey, we know the names. We are the people that can find whatever you may need; if you got the money, honey, we got your disease…
Good pick.
I’d guess that (after all these years) that line rings true for a lot of people.
“Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” - Bob Dylan, “My Back Pages.” Though I much prefer the Byrds’ version.
Another vote for the line from “Year of the Cat” that was in the OP: “She comes out of the sun in a silk dress, running like a watercolor in the rain.”
“Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe”
Lennon/McCartney
I’d been racking my brain for something to contribute here, because I’ve sung so many great lines from great songs.
But I stepped out today and it felt tropical! (well, warm enough for the snow to start melting), so I started singing a line from Zac Brown:
.
Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair…
First thing I thought of when I saw the thread title
She had to heave me right across her shoulder, 'cuz I just can’t seem to drink you off my mind.
Rolling Stones
And the fields are full of dancing, full of singing and romancing, the music never stopped.
Grateful Dead
Turns out Earl was a missing person that nobody missed at all.
Dixie Chicks
Always bonus points for being the first line of the song:
“I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling ‘bout half past dead”
The Band
- More bonus points for being used in Easy Rider