# Incredibly beautiful song lyrics (But no love songs! We spit on love songs!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182 "2008-04-06T14:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/61 "2008-04-07T16:46:47Z")
From Jewel: If I could tell the world just one thing It would be that we’re all OK And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful And useless in times like these [LYRICS DELETED] They were playing it a lot at a time when I really needed it. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/62 "2008-04-07T16:49:34Z")
From one of the most fey albums I have ever heard in my short life: > [@](#): > > Let me bring you all things refined: > galliards and lute songs served in chilling ale. > Greetings well met fellow, hail! > I am the wind to fill your sail. > I am the cross to take your nail: > A singer of these ageless times. > With kitchen prose and gutter rhymes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/63 "2008-04-07T17:05:22Z")
> [@](#): > > 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 -Warren Zevon, Desperados Under the Eaves > [@](#): > > 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 -Tom Waits, Time > [@](#): > > Reach out your hand if your cup be empty > If your cup is full may it be again > Let it be known there is a fountain > That was not made by the hands of men -The Grateful Dead, Ripple [never understood why this one gets to me, but it just does] ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/64 "2008-04-07T17:08:53Z")
Just a couple that pop to mind (I’m sure I could come up with many more): I’m not even particularly a fan of the band, but Death Cab for Cutie’s "[What Sarah Said](http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858552951) " really hit me: “'Cause there’s no comfort in the waiting room Just nervous paces bracing for bad news Then the nurse comes around and everyone lifts their head But I’m thinking of what Sarah said That love is watching someone die.” And Janis Ian’s “[At Seventeen](http://http://janisian.com/lyrics/At%20Seventeen.pdf)” (pdf link): “Remember those who win the game lose the love they sought to gain in debentures of quality and dubious integrity Their small-town eyes will gape at you in dull surprise when payment due exceeds accounts received at seventeen.” ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/65 "2008-04-07T17:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] -Tom Waits, Time [/QUOTE] Tom Waits has some awesome imagery. “The wind is…” is just a great description. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/66 "2008-04-07T17:33:04Z")
One of my favorite Dylan songs, “Not Dark Yet” _Shadows are falling and I’ve been here all day It’s too hot to sleep and time is running away._ [LYRICS DELETED] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/67 "2008-04-07T17:43:34Z")
Just a Mod-ly reminder, folks, but try to keep your song quotes reasonably short. Fair use and all. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/68 "2008-04-07T17:53:42Z")
My all-time favorite is “Tonight We Fly” by **The Divine Comedy** : Tonight we fly Over the houses, the streets and the trees - Over the dogs down below; They’ll bark at our shadows As we float by on the breeze. [LYRICS DELETED] ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/69 "2008-04-07T19:57:33Z")
A couple faves: Songs:Ohia/Magnolia Electric Company from Farewell Transmission The real truth about it is There ain’t no end to the desert I’ll cross [LYRICS DELETED] Hayden from Trees Lounge I Need something to forget What got me in this mess I’m feeling less and less My Judgement is not clear I do things that I fear, I would never do Nick Cave from Papa Won’t Leave You Henry I passed beside the mission house Where that mad old buzzard, the reverend, Shrieked and flapped about life after your dead [LYRICS DELETED] ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/70 "2008-04-07T20:16:31Z")
Tom Waits-Alice (I like it so much it’s going to be the bride and grooms dance song at Nashiitasii and I’s wedding) It’s dreamy weather we’re on You waved your crooked wand Along an icy pond with a frozen moon [LYRICS DELETED] And so a secret kiss Brings madness with the bliss And I will think of this When I’m dead in my grave [LYRICS DELETED] ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/71 "2008-04-07T20:18:37Z")
Moderator interjects: Whoa, gang. We’ve had some discussion before about how much of a song one can quote on these message boards. Here’s the discussion: [Song lyrics and copyright violation - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455110) Here’s our policy in general on [quoting from copyright material](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7696968#post7696968) We don’t directly address songs, but we will remedy that in the next day or two. The answer for songs is: a line or two is plenty … and then provide a link to a website that has the rights. I am going through and editing down all the quotes. It’s not always clear whether you’re quoting a couple of lines from six different songs, or a huge long amount from one song. If you feel that I’ve edited unfairly, then please send me an email and I’ll be glad to reconsider. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/72 "2008-04-07T20:31:23Z")
[QUOTE=BurnMeUp] \ **Nick Cave** from\* Papa Won’t Leave You Henry\* \ [/QUOTE] That is one of my favorite songs. I love the line after he kills the guy - And its into the shame, And its into the guilt, And its into the fucking fray, And the walls ran red around me, A warm arterial spray. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/73 "2008-04-07T20:31:49Z")
How I wish, how I wish you were here We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground What have you found? The same old fears Wish you were here ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/74 "2008-04-07T21:18:15Z")
Remember when you were young You shone like the sun Shine on you crazy diamond ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/75 "2008-04-07T21:41:02Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] Vincent by Don McClean Full lyrics here. [http://www.lyrics007.com/Don%20McLean%20Lyrics/Vincent%20Lyrics.html](http://www.lyrics007.com/Don%20McLean%20Lyrics/Vincent%20Lyrics.html) The whole song is beautiful. [/QUOTE] Word. It makes me cry every time I hear it. Its a shame Don McClean faded away so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/76 "2008-04-07T22:01:15Z")
Tool lyrics are overlooked a lot because of the band’s strange sound, and how hard it is to tell just what Maynard is saying sometimes. Here’s some good ones. “I embrace my desire to/ feel connected, enough to/ weep like a widow” “Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion” “The universe is hostile, so impersonal; devour to survive so it is, so it’s always been.” “Dim my eyes if they should compromise our fulcrum Want and need divide me then I might as well be gone.” Note to mods: Each set of quotes is from a single song, separate from the others. No need to snip! ---
**Author:** ![This\_ll\_Do](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/this_ll_do/32/3023_2.png) [@This\_ll\_Do](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_ll_Do)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/77 "2008-04-07T22:23:44Z")
“[Anthem](http://www.lyricscafe.com/e/eder_linda/080.htm),” from the musical _Chess_, by Andersson and Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice. A Soviet defector sings about his homeland: _How can I leave her? Where would I start? Let man’s petty nations tear themselves apart My land’s only borders lie around my heart._ ---
**Author:** ![coffinjumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@coffinjumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffinjumper)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/78 "2008-04-07T23:54:38Z")
We’ve already got two of my faves from musicals, so two more. “For Good” from Wicked Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun Like a stream that meets a boulder half way through the wood Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better But because I knew you I have been changed for good. and “No More” from Into The Woods Hard to see the light now. Just don’t let it go Things will come out right now. We can make it so. Someone is on your side No one is alone ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/79 "2008-04-08T01:02:54Z")
Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen Carry me back to the days i knew then. Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir Of the life and the time of the Mull of Kintyre. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182/80 "2008-04-08T01:21:14Z")
_I woke last night to the sound of thunder How far off I sat and wondered Started hummin’ a song from 1962 Ain’t it funny how the night moves when you just don’t seem to have as much to lose Strange how the night moves with autumn closing in_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-beautiful-song-lyrics-but-no-love-songs-we-spit-on-love-songs/444182.md?page=5)