# Lines in Your Favorite Songs that You Can't Explain **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 22, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636 "2018-05-22T22:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/1 "2018-05-22T22:16:27Z")
Not Mondegeens, but intelligible lines in songs you like that make you go, “Huh?” For me, from Kris Kristofferson’s _Loving Her was Easier_: _Teachin’ me that yesterday was somethin’ that I never thought of tryin’…_ Wha…Is his lost love from Gallifrey? What the hell, I’ll throw in these two from _Gentle on my Mind_: _It’s not clingin’ to the rocks and ivy planted on their columns now that bind me._ Ooookayyyy, some BDSM in the garden I guess. But the same verse says, _It’s just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving when I walk along some railroad track and find…_ I’m guessing he’s glad people won’t bitch about how long he’s away from his girlfriend, because she lets him come and go and never complains? Maybe. Just what was in that cup of soup, John? ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/2 "2018-05-22T22:20:33Z")
There’s a line in the INXS song _Never Tear Us Apart_ that has always bothered me: _We could live For a thousand years But if I hurt you I’d make wine from your tears_ You’d make wine from someone’s tears? What the hell’s wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/3 "2018-05-23T00:14:48Z")
**re: “Gentle on my Mind”** John Hartford smoked a pretty amazing amount of marijuana. That’s why _Steam-Powered Aeroplane_ is one of my “desert island” discs. He wrote marvelous lyrics to the old fiddle tune “Coo Coo’s Nest,” too. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0PwEfQ7Ge-g/maxresdefault.jpg "Coo Coo's Nest") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PwEfQ7Ge-g) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/4 "2018-05-23T00:38:17Z")
Got a feeling inside (can’t explain) It’s a certain kind (can’t explain) I feel hot and cold (can’t explain) Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (can’t explain) … Can’t explain I think it’s love Try to say it to you When I feel blue No, it’s no real contribution to the thread, but it was my first thought because I had to listen to it 120 times in a row because my roommate wanted to break the record for consecutive plays. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gfuXblWUGOs/hqdefault.jpg "I Can't Explain-The Who (with lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfuXblWUGOs) ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/5 "2018-05-23T00:42:29Z")
I can’t say it’s an absolute favourite song for me, but as far as I can tell, Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” has perfectly clear but nonsensical words in just about every line. I’m guessing the lyrics must have been heavily edited during the songwriting process, and some personal/identifying material taken out, leaving behind an earnest but incoherent remainder. Either that or it’s just a really bad lyric. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/6 "2018-05-23T00:44:09Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Got a feeling inside (can’t explain) > It’s a certain kind (can’t explain) > I feel hot and cold (can’t explain) > Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (can’t explain) > > … > > Can’t explain > I think it’s love > Try to say it to you > When I feel blue > > No, it’s no real contribution to the thread, but it was my first thought because I had to listen to it 120 times in a row because my roommate wanted to break the record for consecutive plays. > > [https://youtu.be/gfuXblWUGOs](https://youtu.be/gfuXblWUGOs) I love how all the "can’t explain"s are followed by an explanation. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/7 "2018-05-23T02:25:52Z")
In and around the lake Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there One mile over we’ll be there and we’ll see you Ten true summers we’ll be there and laughing too Twenty four before my love you’ll see I’ll be there with you I heard Jon Anderson explain the lyrics of their songs. The voice was considered another instrument and the words were a means to an end. The metre and rhythm of the words were more important than the meaning. And they took so many drugs. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/8 "2018-05-23T12:29:50Z")
Tequila. What the heck does that have to do with the rest of the song? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/9 "2018-05-23T13:24:00Z")
_Someone get me a ladder!_ ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/10 "2018-05-23T15:23:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Tequila. > > What the heck does that have to do with the rest of the song? If you got tequila, you don’t need no reason, man. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/11 "2018-05-23T16:37:23Z")
I’ve read that Paul Simon said that “_Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you_” has no specific meaning, and it was just something that sounded good to him at the time. Similarly, I personally suspect that the reason Don McLean consistently refused to explain the meaning of the lyrics of “American Pie” is because they too have no real meaning but just sounded good, and as long as people were willing to read all sorts of deep meaning into them it worked for him. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/12 "2018-05-23T18:21:54Z")
> [@campp](#): > > _Someone get me a ladder!_ Oh, God, yes. Worst line ever (love the song in general, though)! > [@Loach](#): > > _In and around the lake > Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there_ I always heard it as “mallards.” 😃 The spouse and I always quack at each other when that part comes on… ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/13 "2018-05-23T19:47:02Z")
I pretty much only like songs that aren’t written literally for my elementary school daughter. Or more specifically, pretty much written in the language of the songwriter and left to anyone else to interpret. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/14 "2018-05-23T19:56:52Z")
> [@campp](#): > > _Someone get me a ladder!_ At the time, I thought the line meant something. Now, I think Pete Sinfield was just messing with the listeners. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/15 "2018-05-23T19:58:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > In and around the lake > Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there > One mile over we’ll be there and we’ll see you > Ten true summers we’ll be there and laughing too > Twenty four before my love you’ll see > I’ll be there with you > > I heard Jon Anderson explain the lyrics of their songs. The voice was considered another instrument and the words were a means to an end. The metre and rhythm of the words were more important than the meaning. And they took so many drugs. A few years ago, I saw Jon Anderson doing a one-man Unplugged/Storytellers show here in Austin. After he did “Yours Is No Disgrace,” someone yelled out, “What does that song mean?” Anderson grinned and said, “People always ask what my songs mean. I don’t know what they mean.” He then giggled and puffed on an imaginary joint. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/16 "2018-05-23T20:35:33Z")
Pretty much the entire catalog of the Cars: Edge of night, distract yourself Obstacles don’t work Homogenize Decentralize It’s just a quirk geranium lover i’m live on your wire the museum director’s with their high shaking heads they kick white shadows until they play dead if the illusion is real let them give you a ride if they got thunder appeal let them be on your side ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/17 "2018-05-23T20:55:16Z")
If I listen to a song, and actually hear the lyrics, and they’re stupid, I have to really like the song to keep listening. But quite often it becomes a channel-changer. So. “Almond looks that go on forever.” All right you have mystified me. But I still love that song. “Children silently wait for the ice cream vendor” Needed the rhyme, too too obviously. Will not change the channel though, particularly since I hardly ever hear this one any more. Almost any Elton John song. I just do not like them enough to put up with the stupid meaningless lyrics which he sings so soulfully. I wish he was singing “la la la.” Exceptions: “I’m Still Standing,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Yellow Brick Road.” I mean those are the ones I will still listen to, not that I’m a fan of their lyrics. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/18 "2018-05-23T21:09:27Z")
It’s not one of my favorite songs, but the greatest rock and roll band in history needs a mention: Semolina Pilchard Climbing up the Eiffel tower Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe Goo Goo G’joob, baby. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/19 "2018-05-23T22:12:06Z")
_Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine And a side order of ham_ What kind of grade schooler drinks coffee? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636/20 "2018-05-23T22:15:14Z")
In the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers song \*Islands in the Stream \*there is one line that I always thought I was just hearing wrong: _I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb_ But apparently that is the lyric, whatever it means. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lines-in-your-favorite-songs-that-you-cant-explain/814636.md?page=2)