# Great song lyrics: 2 line philosophy only. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877 "2010-03-18T13:53:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/21 "2010-03-18T22:14:58Z")
Another one-liner: “A pretty face don’t make no pretty heart” – Moon Martin, [“Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Case_of_Loving_You) ---
**Author:** ![One\_Swell\_FlooP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c5a1d2/32.png) [@One\_Swell\_FlooP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_Swell_FlooP)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/22 "2010-03-19T02:59:02Z")
Another They Might Be Giants: _Speak softly, drive a Sherman tank. Laugh hard, it’s a long way to the bank._ From _Rhythm Section Want Ad_ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/23 "2010-03-19T04:23:02Z")
I love how the OP specifically asked for two lines, and 6 of the first 21 responses offered one-liners. 😃 Mine: _**She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle But there’s no place here for the mini-skirt waddle**_ -Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/24 "2010-03-19T05:11:20Z")
Some more from Wilco Took too long to see I was wrong to believe in me only –Solitaire How to fight loneliness? Smile all the time –How to Fight Loneliness No one wins but the thieves so why side with anything –Side With the Seeds I was maimed by rock and roll I was tamed by rock and roll –Sunken Treasure ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/25 "2010-03-19T05:18:23Z")
_There are waters hidden from us, in the maze you’ll find them still; I’ll take you to them, you take your young ones, may they take their own in turn._ “Testimony” Holly Near ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/26 "2010-03-19T05:24:31Z")
_I never was good looking but now I’m too old to let that get me down._ Chris Smither, “Confirmation” ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/27 "2010-03-19T05:33:52Z")
Losing love is like a window in your heart Everybody sees your blown apart –Graceland These are the days of miracle and wonder And don’t cry baby don’t cry –The Boy in the Bubble ---
**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:** [March 19, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/28 "2010-03-19T06:38:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > _It’s just nobody knows honey where love goes > But when it goes it’s gone gone_ > > Springsteen, _When You’re Alone_ > > Not great philosophy, maybe, but I always thought those lines rang true. Here’s another one: _Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king, And a king ain’t satisfied til he rules everything_ Springsteen, _Bad Lands_ And, of course, everybody knows this one from The Who: _Meet the new boss Same as the old boss_ _Won’t Get Fooled Again_ ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/29 "2010-03-19T07:23:35Z")
Frank Zappa - The meek shall inherit nothing. Those Jesus freaks, well they’re friendly but The shit they believe has got their minds all shut ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/30 "2010-03-19T15:13:31Z")
Mose Allison has a lot of pithy epigrams, such as: _Well I used to be troubled but I finally saw the light I don’t worry about a thing because I know nothing’s gonna be all right._ Here is my nomination for shortest world philosophy in song lyrics, by Laurie Anderson: _Let X = X._ ---
**Author:** ![dragoncat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/31 "2010-03-19T15:25:12Z")
Move over, Luda’s got something to say Do it now, 'cause tomorrow ain’t promised today. - Ludacris, Stand Up! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/32 "2010-03-19T16:00:30Z")
Carly got it right: It’s the stuff that dreams are made of It’s the slow and steady fire ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/33 "2010-03-19T16:51:28Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > Losing love is like a window in your heart > Everybody sees your blown apart > –Graceland > > These are the days of miracle and wonder > And don’t cry baby don’t cry > –The Boy in the Bubble Heck, I could pull two-line philosophies from every song on that album: “I know what I know I’ll sing what I said” “Breakdowns come and breakdowns go So, what are you going to do about it, that’s what I’d like to know” “People say I’m crazy, I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes Well that’s one way to lose these walking blues” “I want a shot at redemption, Don’t want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard” “This is the story of how we begin to remember This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein” “Strong wind destroy our home Many dead, tonight it could be you” “I have no opinion about this And I have no opinion about that” “A long time ago, yeah, before you was born dude When I was still single and life was great” and my favorite: “There’s no doubt about it, it was the myth of fingerprints I’ve seen them all and man they’re all the same” ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/34 "2010-03-19T20:56:47Z")
“And they say her flower has faded now, hard weather and hard booze But maybe that’s just the price you pay for the chains that you refuse.” _Beeswing_, Richard Thompson ---
**Author:** ![Meltdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/35 "2010-03-19T21:01:20Z")
“I’m from New Jersey, I don’t expect too much If the world ended today, I would adjust.” _I’m From New Jersey_, John Gorka ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/36 "2010-03-20T00:05:12Z")
A one liner that I always liked… “I am going to make it through this year if it kills me.” This Year by The Mountain Goats. Brendon Small ---
**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/37 "2010-03-20T02:21:36Z")
Subversion: Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box Religion, the smile on a dog. [Edie Brickell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDl3bdE3YQA) ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/38 "2010-03-20T03:07:40Z")
> [@](#): > > “For the ones who had a notion, had a notion deep inside > That it ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive” Bruce Badlands ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/39 "2010-03-20T03:24:47Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > “And they say her flower has faded now, hard weather and hard booze > But maybe that’s just the price you pay for the chains that you refuse.” > > _Beeswing_, Richard Thompson Yes! One of my favorite songs. Also from Beeswing: > [@](#): > > Brown hair zig-zag round her face and a look of half-surprise > Like a fox caught in the headlights, there was animal in her eyes ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877/40 "2010-03-20T06:47:52Z")
Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now. – Bob Dylan, _My Back Pages_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-song-lyrics-2-line-philosophy-only/532877.md?page=3)