# Great songs with not so great lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 30, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630 "2025-01-30T17:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/61 "2025-02-01T05:14:04Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > It was called [Lifehouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifehouse_(rock_opera)). The concept was brought somewhat more into focus recently with the Special Deluxe Edition package of Who’s Next. I’m not sure if it’s still in print, but in 2000 Townshend put out a Lifehouse box set which included the demos, some re-recordings and live performances and “new” music, and a radio play adaptation that he wrote for the BBC. It wasn’t domestically available when it came out and I had to mail the equivalent of £45 cash to a friend in the UK so they could order a copy and then ship it to me. He also had a website around 2007 or so where you could upload your vital statistics and download a synthesizer track based on them, which is the same way he composed the synth track on Baba O’Reilly (using Meher Baba’s data). Mine is still on my hard drive somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/62 "2025-02-01T06:14:43Z")
If I were Meher Baba (on whatever spiritual plane he may reside), I’d be rolling my eyes at the lyrics for “Baba O’ Reilly” _and_ “Let My love Open the Door”. Both great tunes in their respective styles, but the lyrics are particularly insipid for something written in devotion to a guru. “I’ll give you a four leaf clover Take all worry out of your mind” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/63 "2025-02-01T16:25:06Z")
_Letterkenny_ has some great music to accompany the fight scenes. My favorite such scene is in the Buck and Doe episode. The song is The Hunches’ _[Your Sick Blooms](https://youtu.be/O_QmqawgklA)_. At least the feel of the song is great. I can’t find the lyrics online and they are hard to make out. But from the bits I can discern … these are not nice lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/64 "2025-02-01T16:39:33Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > > [@A Horse with No Name](#): > > > > 'Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain > > Awful. What’s weird is that it can so easily be cleaned up and keep the colloquial double negatives without screwing up the meter: “'cause there ain’t no one who can give you no pain.” Like, I don’t mind those double negatives – I grew up with them. But “for to give you”? Ugh. I don’t think that’s dialect anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/65 "2025-02-01T18:24:54Z")
> [@Tin Man](#): > > And cause never was the reason for the evening, > Or the tropic of Sir Galahad My kid was listening to some meaningless hippie jam band noodling, and I had an epiphany: “I figured out what genre this music is! ‘We were high as fuck when we wrote this, and we’re counting on you being high as fuck when you listen to it’!” [note on my parenting: I learned all the good words from my kids] ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/66 "2025-02-03T15:01:34Z")
John Lennon, Imagine. One of the most beloved songs of the 20th century. And yet… He has a great structure going: 3 verses, 3 things that divide humanity: 1, Religion; 2, Countries; 3 Possessions. Except: verse 2 "Imagine there’s no countries, it’s easy if you do, nothing to kill or die for _and no religion too"_ Really, John? You couldn’t think of another line to end your Countries verse? Religion already had theirs. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/67 "2025-02-03T15:14:34Z")
Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” absolutely rocks but it has awful lyrics and is an awful topic. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/68 "2025-02-03T15:57:14Z")
To be fair, Lennon grew up in a country with a state religion. And the CoE likes to throw its weight around. While countries like Ireland and Italy share a primary religion, the government-like control of the Roman Catholic Church in the affairs of the society cause a lot of problems. France has struggled for a long time to keep the Roman Catholic Church our of politics and … they’re still working on it. We’ve seen a lot of effects of church interference in politics in the US, esp. recently. Most churches just can’t stop trying to control governments. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/69 "2025-02-03T16:39:25Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Most KISS songs, I would say. I know it’s fun to put down KISS, but in their early years, they were a perfectly fine form of that early glam rock period. Yeah, they aren’t know for their lyrics, but were their peers? I love these bands but listen to the lyrics from T Rex and New York Dolls. Bowie would be the exception, but glam wasn’t known for their stellar lyric writing. I still love them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/70 "2025-02-03T16:45:20Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > To be fair, Lennon grew up in a country with a state religion. And the CoE likes to throw its weight around. Sure, that’s fair; no problem with Religion getting a verse. But stay in your lane, religion. Verse 2 is for Countries. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/71 "2025-02-03T16:50:33Z")
Maybe. Or instead maybe the intended rhetorical effect is sort of like: > I’d like a pony. > No wait; I’d like a pony and a trip to Disneyland. > No, wait wait; I’d like a pony, and a trip to Disneyland, _and_ a great big ice cream cone! > And don’t forget the pony. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/72 "2025-02-03T18:42:30Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > lyrics from T Rex    _You dance_    _With your lizard leather boots on_    _And pull the strings that change_    _The faces of men_    _You diamond proud hag_    _You’re a gutter gaunt gangster_    _John Lennon knows your name_    _And I’ve seen his_ ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/73 "2025-02-03T19:00:33Z")
I’m not saying they are all bad/absurd, but they have quite a bit. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/74 "2025-02-03T19:29:08Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I have no idea WTF an abandoned hurricane is “Abandoned” can have two meanings - deserted/left, or uninhibited/unrestrained. The second sense works for a hurricane. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/75 "2025-02-03T19:37:15Z")
A tad obscure, but it is one of their better songs. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/76 "2025-02-03T19:43:50Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > > > I have no idea WTF an abandoned hurricane is > > “Abandoned” can have two meanings - deserted/left, or uninhibited/unrestrained. The second sense works for a hurricane. Attorneys of a certain vintage might say a criminal acted with an “abandoned and malignant heart.” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/77 "2025-02-03T20:04:15Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > Let’s also pay tribute to Cheap Trick’s signature song, “Surrender.” The lyrics (which rarely even rhyme) sound like a monologue from someone going senile: Love Cheap Trick, especially their (very underrated, IMO) debut album. But there is a song on that album that has the creepiest lyrics I’ve ever heard. The song is called _Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School_. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/78 "2025-02-03T20:35:35Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > But mommy isn’t one of those On the Live at Bukokan album, it’s worse. he sings “mommy’s _neither_ one of those”. Neither one of what? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/79 "2025-02-03T20:47:48Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I know it’s fun to put down KISS, but in their early years, they were a perfectly fine form of that early glam rock period. Yeah, they aren’t know for their lyrics… One of my absolute favorite lines in any rock song is from _Lick It Up_. High brow it’s not, but “You gotta live like you’re on vacation” are words to live by. (for me, anyway 🙃) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/80 "2025-02-03T23:35:35Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > > [@MrDibble](#): > > > > > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > > > > > I have no idea WTF an abandoned hurricane is > > > > “Abandoned” can have two meanings - deserted/left, or uninhibited/unrestrained. The second sense works for a hurricane. > > Attorneys of a certain vintage might say a criminal acted with an “abandoned and malignant heart.” Even today we speak of doing something with wild abandon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630.md?page=5)