# Favorite Song "Lyrically" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822 "2006-12-04T16:47:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822/21 "2006-12-05T09:05:04Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] _And if California slides into the ocean, Like the mystics and statistics say it will, I predict this motel will be standing, Until I pay my bill._ - from “Desperadoes Under the Eaves” [/QUOTE] A beautiful, beautiful verse. I haven’t heard that song for a few years, but I should dig it up. My favorite song, lyrically and overall, is “[I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free.](http://www.theguitarguy.com/iwishik2.htm)” > [@](#): > > I wish I could give all I’m longing to give > I wish I could live like I’m longing to live > I wish I could do all the things that I should do > Though I’m way overdue, I’d be starting anew. That looks beyond simplistic on the page, actually. But the words are moving and it’s all in the performance. Second place probably goes to “[Time](http://www.officialtomwaits.com/music/m_rd_lyr.htm#Time),” by Tom Waits. > [@](#): > > Well the smart money’s on Harlow and the moon is in the street > And the shadow boys are breaking all the laws > And you’re east of East Saint Louis and the wind is making speeches > And the rain sounds like a round of applause > And Napoleon is weeping in a carnival saloon > His invisible fiancee’s in the mirror > And the band is going home, it’s raining hammers, it’s raining nails > And it’s true there’s nothing left for him down here From the same album, I also like “Tango Till They’re Sore,” particularly the beginning of the chorus > [@](#): > > Let me fall out of the window with confetti in my hair > Deal out Jacks or better on a blanket by the stairs ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822/22 "2006-12-05T10:15:24Z")
Atmosphere, by Joy Division, about a collapsing marriage and life: > [@](#): > > Walk in silence, don’t turn away, in silence. > Your confusion, my illusion, worn like a mask of self-hate, > Confronts and then dies.Don’t walk away. Then there’s always The Smiths, I think Mozzer’s lyrics were one of the best things about them: > [@](#): > > And in a darkened under pass, I thought ‘Oh God! My chance has come at last’, > but then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldn’t ask. I > [@](#): > > am the son > And the heir > Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar > I am the son and heir > Of nothing in particular Another favourite lyricist is Ian Anderson: > [@](#): > > Oh the leaded window opened > To move the dancing candle flame > And the first moths of summer > Suicidal came, oh suicidal came ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822/23 "2006-12-05T17:31:36Z")
Getting more obscure… Marillion A spider wanders aimlessly within the warmth of a shadow Not the regal creature of border caves But the poor, missguided, directionless familiar of some obscure scottish poet. The mist crawls from the canal Like some primordial phantom of romance To curl, under a cascade of neon pollen While I sit tied to the phone like an expectant father Your carnation will rot in a vase * * * So you say you believe in all of mother natures laws You lust for gold with your sharpened knives Oh when your hoards are gathered and your enemies left to rot You pray with your bloodstained hands at the feet of your pagan gods Then you try to place the killers blade in my hand You call for justice and distort the truth Well Ive had enough of all your pretty pretty speeches Receive your punishment Expose your throats to my righteous claws And let the blood flow, and [let the blood flow], flow, flow, flow * * * ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822/24 "2006-12-05T19:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Gail] Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands for lyrics…I love this part in _Deacon Blues_ : **I crawl like a viper Through these suburban streets Make love to these women Languid and bittersweet** Languid and bittersweet—how often do you hear that phrase? [/QUOTE] Only my favorite song of all time! In fact, any Steely Dan lyrics do it for me. Considering the proliferation of celebrity tabloid nonsense today, I give you: _Showbiz kids make movies of themselves_ _And they don’t give a fuck about anybody else._ Just about anything written by **Sting** is also at the top of my list, if only for the literary references. And, in the 80s, no one ever turned phrases like **Duran Duran** , especially _Come Undone_ and _New Moon on Monday_ . Ditto **Dire Straits** --especially _Skateaway_ . ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822/25 "2006-12-06T00:23:10Z")
Billy Joel Piano Man. Croce Cats Cradle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-song-lyrically/382822.md?page=1)