# Completely Nonsensical Lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415 "2006-04-12T19:04:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/21 "2006-04-13T01:39:16Z")
> [@Black Francis](#): > > With your feet in the air > And your head on the ground > Try this trick and spin it (yeah) > Your head will collapse > But there’s nothing in it > And you’ll ask yourself > > Where is my mind? It’s in the place all minds go when they’re on lots and lots of drugs…The Pixies were among the best for making complete nonsense sound very cool. I’d say, besides “Everybody Hurts”, REM has written hardly anything comprehensible. Half the songs on the first six albums or so are so mumbled you can’t even make out what Stipe is singing. On the rest it’s basically a word salad. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/22 "2006-04-13T02:28:27Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > Isn’t this the one with waht sounds like > “…_wrapped up like a douche and a roller in the night_” > and > “…_and little early twirlie gave my anus curly-wirrly and asked me if I needed as ride…_” > > Just askin’ It sounds more like that in Manfred Mann’s cover than it does in the Boss’ original version. IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/23 "2006-04-13T02:32:32Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > That’s the first lines from _Close to the Edge_. And it continues on that way for pretty much the entire album side. > > 😕 **Continues on that way for pretty much the entire album side??** It continues on that way for the rest of their recording career! [sub]but I do like listening to them[/sub] I blame Jon Anderson. > [@](#): > > Olias awoke from a dream and drank his soul into the ocean > that sailed past the brink of his window that long summer. > > Then build the ship the Moorglade Mover > to sail a silence which nobody knows… > > Olias shines as clear as his sons emotions retrace him. > (As one delivers always one will shine over you) Dance of Ranyart, from Olias of Sunhillow, by Jon Anderson ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/24 "2006-04-13T02:37:20Z")
I edited your post, **hawksgirl** , because it went a bit beyond Fair Use. Please remember to only post a small portion of a song, and not the whole thing. If you want others to see the entire set of lyrics, please link to those lyrics instead of posting them here. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/25 "2006-04-13T03:13:08Z")
Just about all of the Promise Ring’s discography was two or three unrelated lines sung over and over, making it sound bad ass. Like, [B is for Bethlhem](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=11552) “And the red in your face is touchable to the blues and the Muscles in a memory. Where I have lost my voice and I smell like paste again where we’ll be resting, when we rest.” Firery Furnaces also have what-the-hell lyrics, but they some how get you to actually think you know what is going on. Like, "[Inca Rag/Name Game](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858522961) " gives you a good little story line, it’s just that the details are collectively bollocks. " In the cracker barrel dumpster I found a bag Red white striped I opened it–gag Mummy day pizarro dressed in a Inca rag Call on in to work quick Tell 'em that I’m seasick Uncle Ricky’s schooner’s docked Pompano Beach Weigh anchor and me and him each Need some extra sunblock, do it for 'em he can’t reach San Juan by next Sunday Mummy mummy mummy" More at random… Modest Mouse - [Classy Plastic Lumber](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=32909): “So this is about ugly lovers And this is about pretty songs Cause I’m a bastard bastard bastard In my lipstick I’m so much fun Connect your wood feet to a motor And the chrome dance trophy is won A little classy plastic lumber I’m embarassed but I ain’t that stunned” The Robot Ate Me - [Apricot Tea](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858529527) “Oh, will you be the one that smiles for me? I’ll bake you muffins and apricot tea” One of my favorites, Camper Van Beethoven - Take the Skinheads Bowling (from memory, because Song Meanings has it screwed up I think, but am too lazy to check): “Every day, I get up and pray to John And he decreases the number of lives by exactly one Everybody’s comin’ home for lunch these days Last night there were skinheads on my lawn Take the skinheads bowling Take them bowling” Finally, I’ll mention my favorite love song ever: Beat Happening’s “Jamboree”. What the hell is that about, and why do I love it so? I love it like a chocolate cake, at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/26 "2006-04-13T03:17:17Z")
A Change Would Do You Good by Sheryl Crow. Name checks Falstaff beer, Amana Radaranges, and Mercedes Ruehl, all for no reason. “Jack off Jimmy, everybody wants more.” ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/27 "2006-04-13T03:39:52Z")
The lyrics to _Deuce_ by KISS always had me scratching my head. To wit: “Get up And get your grandma outta here Pick up Old Jim is workin’ hard this year And baby Just do the things he says to do” WTF? “Get your grandma outta here”? ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/28 "2006-04-13T07:30:44Z")
For me, the kings of nonsensical lyrics are the Presidents of the United States of America. From “Zero Friction”: > [@](#): > > Massive gorilla > Put down that chew toy and take a break > And think about the cages > At the zoo where you spend your whole life eating steak > You’ve been unstoppable since prehistoric times…yeah yeah! Froom “Drool At You”: > [@](#): > > I wanna run my nose through your hair > But if I did I think I’d lose it there > I wanna swallow your little mouth > But if I did I’d lose my water wings and drown (I’d lose my wings and drown!) > I kiss your head when you feel a tear > But it’s easier to drool at you froooooooooom here > > … > > I wanna pluck each one of your toes > But if I did I’d have to suck out the bones (I’m suckin’ out the bones!) > I wanna lick your lambchops dry > So please excuse me while I hump the sky ---
**Author:** ![Exploding\_Oven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Exploding\_Oven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exploding_Oven)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/29 "2006-04-13T07:37:32Z")
My brother joked about how you could insert any lyrics, provided they contained about the write number of syllables, into the song “White Room” by Cream and it would still sound the same. He would jokingly sing “Deep dish pizza, salad dressing, fire hydrant…” as lyrics. It sounds good to me! Virtually the same as “yellow tigers, crouched in jungles, in your dark eyes.” I’m used to crazy lyrics, though. I’m a Donovan fan. He wrote a few sane ones (“Catch the Wind” is beautiful), but for the most part, if you want to listen to Donovan, you have to be fine with lyrics like “Elevator in the brain hotel-a, broken down but just as well-a.” Joey ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/30 "2006-04-13T09:01:56Z")
> [@Exploding Oven](#): > > My brother joked about how you could insert any lyrics, provided they contained about the write number of syllables, into the song “White Room” by Cream and it would still sound the same. He would jokingly sing “Deep dish pizza, salad dressing, fire hydrant…” as lyrics. > It sounds good to me! Virtually the same as “yellow tigers, crouched in jungles, in your dark eyes.” Wow, I just tried that with a random word generator, and it works. “Rainy critic, mindless mecha, variation.” ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/31 "2006-04-13T12:20:09Z")
Wow! 30 posts and nobody’s mentioned Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale!” I used to try to figure out what it meant. Maybe it just means I don’t do enough hallucinogenic drugs… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/32 "2006-04-13T12:37:37Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > \*\*Jailbreak \*\* by either Foghat or Thin Lizzy… > > “…tonight’s there gonna be a jailbreak, > somewhere in this town…” Thin Lizzy, and what’s wrong with it? It \*is \* possible the town has more than one jail. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/33 "2006-04-13T12:53:52Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > _Talking Heads_ **Burning down the house** I submit that virtually anything by \*Talking Heads \* falls into the “nonsensical lyrics” category. ---
**Author:** ![swissmtndog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@swissmtndog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swissmtndog)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/34 "2006-04-13T14:18:45Z")
I’d vote for anything by Supertramp. Especially from their biggest disc - Breakfast in America, which featured the inaptly named - “The Logical Song” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/35 "2006-04-13T18:06:31Z")
Niel Diamond went most of his career without writing a lyric that made any sense. David Byrne of Talking Heads is similar, just patching together pithy phrases over an incredible rhythm section. I love it, but I don’t claim to understand it. _Good Morning Starshine,_ from the Hair soundtrack, and covered by the Cowsills or someone like them, is completely meaningless. Several songs on Paul Simon’s _Graceland_ are very enjoyable gibberish. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/36 "2006-04-13T18:08:51Z")
> [@Dr. Rieux](#): > > Thin Lizzy, and what’s wrong with it? It \*is \* possible the town has more than one jail. Well, then I think that the break would likely be taking place at one of the jails. “_Somewhere_ in this town…”? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/37 "2006-04-13T18:22:31Z")
[_Kerosene Hat_](http://www.the-van.com/songs/index.php?artist=cracker&song=Kerosene+Hat) by Cracker Here’s an excerpt: "So don’t you bother me death with your leathery ways and your old chaise lounge (old chaise lounge) Wickerman’s fence of leathery tyres And the cook’s gone bad, started several fires Everything seems like a dream When your submarine Head like a stream she says softly to me from the rattling chair Bring me a steak and my old pair of crows, my medicine lamp" ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/38 "2006-04-13T18:27:39Z")
All this talk about seemingly nonsensical lyrics and no one’s mentioned Bob Dylan yet? > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Occasionally a _King Crimson_ song had a lyric that halfway made sense, but thankfully it always descended rapidly into incoherence: > > \*The gardener plants an evergreen > Whilst trampling on a flower. > I chase the wind of a prism ship > To taste the sweet and sour. > The pattern juggler lifts his hand; > The orchestra begin. > As slowly turns the grinding wheel > In the court of the crimson king. > > On soft gray mornings widows cry > The wise men share a joke; > I run to grasp divining signs > To satisfy the hoax. > The yellow jester does not play > But gentle pulls the strings > And smiles as the puppets dance > In the court of the crimson king.\* > > No understand…need drugs… I don’t think this song is necessarily nonsensical (likewise many of those also mentioned in this thread). On the surface, you can understand what it’s about (i.e., the goings-on in “the court of the crimson king”). But, because there are more levels to the song, the lyrics can be interpretted many ways. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/39 "2006-04-13T18:46:04Z")
Dave Grhol’s efforts on the first **Foo Fighters** disc was an excecise in writing nonsense lyrics. After the death of Kurt Cobain, he was pretty depressed. Anything creative of his at the time was tainted by this. As a form of therapy for himself, he consciously attempted to write a collection of songs that contained no meaning. When the first single “This is a Call” was released, I don’t know who looked into further meaning of lines such as… "Fingernails are pretty, Fingernails are good Seems that all they ever wanted was a marking Them balloons are pretty big, And say they should Ever fall to ground Call the magic marker This is a call to all my Past resignations" That album rocked though. I guess it’s worth noting that The Foo Fighter’s went on to attempt to write more meaningful lyrics after that, and to some extent they succeeded. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415/40 "2006-04-13T18:48:41Z")
Listening the Bloodhound Gang’s _Ralph Wiggum_, I 'd always assumed the song was about little Ralphie. Looking up the lyrics, I discovered that: > [@](#): > > I’m going to Africa yes ma’am I’m a brick was President Lincoln okay? mitten > There’s a dog in the vent chicken necks? I pick Ken Griffey Jr. I fell out 2 times > I’m pedaling backwards this snowflake tastes like fish sticks we’re a totem pole dying tickles > I heard a Frankenstein lives there she’s touching my special area go banana the song is composed of random ralphie quotes strung together, nothing more. Awesome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/completely-nonsensical-lyrics/352415.md?page=3)