# 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:** 7
**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 5, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/121 "2025-02-05T01:35:42Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Stereolab, whose singer Laetitia Sadier mostly speaks French, has done the same thing, in both French and English. Who can forget those hauntingly poetic lyrics from “Ping Pong”: > It’s all right, 'cause the historical pattern has shown > How the economical cycle tends to revolve ---
**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 5, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/122 "2025-02-05T03:33:56Z")
It always seemed to me that the second stanza of _Wish You were Here_ had a couple lines that were flipped.        _Did they get you to trade_        _Your heros for ghosts_        _Hot ashes for trees_        _Hot air for a cool breeze_ Those last two lines are arranged in reverse relative to the line before, apparently for the scansion and rhyme. We just, I guess, accept it that way and assume the opposite meaning. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/123 "2025-02-05T12:08:57Z")
Good sleuthing! A few years ago, I had to move my copy of _Revolution in the Hesd_ from my home to my work office, because I was spending too much time reading it over and over. I kid you not! It was my addiction. ---
**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 5, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/124 "2025-02-05T14:22:30Z")
It may not be a “great” song, but Utopia’s Rock Love has this bit of wisdom: Let me be your adviser Keep the monkeys off your back Figure your taxes Stay up all night making sure that everything is right _Figure your taxes_? ---
**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 5, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/125 "2025-02-05T14:40:18Z")
Back in the day “figure” was a decent word for “compute”. Sort of short for “figure out”, but with a built-in arithmetical connotation. Whereas plain old “figure out” could apply to any problem-solving exercise. And it has the right number of syllables. ---
**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 5, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/126 "2025-02-05T15:18:29Z")
“Figure your taxes” sounds perfectly fine to my not-quite-50-year-old ears. I mean, there’s a current YouTube short entitled “figure your taxes in a few minutes,” so it is colloquially used, at least. If that doesn’t work for you, the IRS on its own homepage uses the verbiage “to figure your taxes” and the first verb definition on dictionary. com is “calculate.” Or is the complaint not about the words but the imagery chosen for those particular lines? That is a bit arbitrary and whimsical and perhaps intentionally humorous, but I don’t know the song. ---
**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 5, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/127 "2025-02-05T16:18:06Z")
There’s another line from “Rock Love” that’s worth remembering: _You got to choose your heroes, choose them well_ _They could be leading you straight into hell_ ---
**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 5, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/128 "2025-02-05T17:07:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Or is the complaint not about the words but the imagery chosen for those particular lines? That is a bit arbitrary and whimsical and perhaps intentionally humorous, Yeah, I meant this way. I’ll love you forever, buy you diamond rings and things right to your door, send you to the moon on gossamer wings, I’ll do all that. it’s romantic and shit. But…doing your taxes? That’s a bit to practical for a love song, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/129 "2025-02-05T17:32:06Z")
_Ça Plane Pour Moi_ is a great song with completely inane lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/130 "2025-02-05T17:39:35Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But…doing your taxes? That’s a bit to practical for a love song, IMO. I got it. It does a bit jarring. ---
**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 5, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/131 "2025-02-05T17:48:17Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > completely inane lyrics. I am the king of the divan! The only thing that makes it a good song is, I don’t speak French. He could be singing…anything! or nothing at all! Just like Prisencolinensinainciusol…all right! ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/132 "2025-02-05T18:15:56Z")
Get your colored balls dyed. ---
**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 5, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/133 "2025-02-05T18:28:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Just like Prisencolinensinainciusol…all right! _Ken Lee, a libadidiba do chu_ ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/134 "2025-02-06T00:17:49Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > So if you’re a lazy-ass songwriter who just wants to spend five minutes scribbling down some words that you’ll call a song, you’re more likely to get away with it if you present yourself as a rocker. Rock and roll inherited that from folk music, of course. _The tune don’t have to be clever,_ _And it don’t matter if you put a couple of extra syllables into a line._ _It sounds more ethnic if it aint good English_ _And it don’t even gotta rhyme!_ Excuse me…_rhyne_. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/135 "2025-02-06T00:38:33Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](#): > > Rock and roll inherited that from folk music, of course. Folk, ala Dylan: _Better jump down a manhole_ _Light yourself a candle_ _Don’t wear sandals_ _Try to avoid the scandals_ _Don’t wanna be a bum_ _You better chew gum_ _The pump don’t work_ _’Cause the vandals took the handles_ I know people worship Dylan, but come on, those are _ **terrible** _ lyrics! ---
**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 6, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/136 "2025-02-06T01:03:03Z")
It’s been speculated that he “borrowed” part of that rhyme scheme from Robert Browning: > Look, two and two go the priests, then the monks with cowls and sandals, > And the penitents dressed in white shirts a-holding the yellow candles; > One, he carries a flag up straight, and another a cross with handles. > And the Duke’s guard brings up the rear, for the better prevention of scandals… ---
**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 6, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/137 "2025-02-06T01:19:25Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > _The pump don’t work_ > _’Cause the vandals took the handles_ I could give you the upper lyrics, but I love these two lines. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/138 "2025-02-06T01:22:14Z")
Yes, but rhyming isn’t really the main problem I have with the Steve Miller song. I could write a whole bunch of stuff about it, but in a nutshell, the whole thing is just very sketchy, lacking enough detail to make it, well, actually interesting. They shot a guy while robbing him, ran away, and there’s some detective who hasn’t caught them. So what? I’m not asking for a novel, but if you’re paying attention to the lyrics, which is what this thread is about, Steve’s raising more questions than he answers, and a little bit more work on the song could probably smooth it out. Even the Applebee’s song, unfortunate though it may be from its very conception, acquits itself better on that account. (But I’ll agree that Steve’s song is better when you consider the music as well.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/139 "2025-02-06T01:43:34Z")
The Exception That Proves The Rule: AC/DC Big Balls ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630/140 "2025-02-06T08:34:25Z")
A meta take on this subject: _Hook_ by Blues Traveler. Maybe not a ‘great’ song but pretty damn good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-songs-with-not-so-great-lyrics/1013630.md?page=8)