# Most impressively sung single line of lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 20, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360 "2021-02-20T19:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 21, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/21 "2021-02-21T03:35:02Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Roy Orbison on “Only the Lonely” Or “Crying”. His [duet with K.D.Lang](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA) on that song still gives me goosebumps. Now, the interesting thing for this thread is that Lang is emoting her heart out… and hitting the really high notes: “The touuuuuch of your hand” [at 1:45](https://youtu.be/4uNoAp7RNUA?t=104) … who else could match chops like that with Roy? (That’s from a [great live version](https://youtu.be/4uNoAp7RNUA?t=18) - Top of the Pops, 1988) ---
**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:** [February 21, 2021, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/22 "2021-02-21T12:19:32Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > For Nirvana I quite like the end of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” from their Unplugged set. Around 4:45 here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEMm7gxBYSc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEMm7gxBYSc) This was going to be my contribution to the thread. I still get The Shivers when I hear it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/23 "2021-02-21T14:32:20Z")
Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” is hands down the prettiest song of the classic rock era. (Yes, it’s classic rock. The Beatles also did harpsichords. And string quartets.) The song haunts, partly because of the plaintive addressing of the melody but also because of SImon’s anti-war “Canticle” in counterpoint. It all peaks with the last repetition of “Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme” at 2:36, with their high harmonies on “thyme” sending chills down your spine. There’s an apt comment on YouTube, “This is a song that makes you stop doing whatever you’re doing and just sit still and listen.” Few other songs can make that claim. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-Jj4s9I-53g/maxresdefault.jpg "Simon & Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair/Canticle (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jj4s9I-53g) ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/24 "2021-02-21T15:20:55Z")
The last chorus of Brandi Carlile’s **The Story** really cranks. [Brandi Carlile - The Story - YouTube](https://youtu.be/o8pQLtHTPaI?t=5) Jump to about 2:50 if you must. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/25 "2021-02-21T15:47:32Z")
I don’t think I could even come close to picking one impressively sung line. - You don’t need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows. - In the clearing stands a boxer, he’s a fighter by his trade - And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve and to mourn and to pity - Someday we’ll return to our valleys and our farms, and we’ll no longer yearn to be brothers in arms - Oh the sisters of mercy they have not departed or gone ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/26 "2021-02-21T16:02:11Z")
> [@Guy\_Incognito](#): > > I’m always struck by the way Eddie Vedder sings the last lines of “Black” by Pearl Jam. Likewise for me is the last line in “Alive”: _“Is something wrong?” she said_ _Well, of course there is_ _“You’re still alive,” she said_ _Oh, do I deserve to be?_ _Is that the question?_ _And if so, if so_ _Who answers, who answers?_ The subtle pain in “who answers” is just…perfect. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/27 "2021-02-21T16:21:32Z")
The line “baby it’s you” sung at about 2:30 - [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wTu3SaIcZSc/maxresdefault.jpg "Baby It's You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTu3SaIcZSc) chills every time ---
**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 21, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/28 "2021-02-21T17:27:45Z")
Perhaps there is a defect in me that the symbolism of 9/11 eludes me. New York lost two of its ugliest monuments to ugliness, and the response was a nightmare of wrongness. But the Tori Amos [does a haunting song](https://youtu.be/_8hbPa_Mygw) that puts it on a personal level that should reach just about anyone. You said you would find me Even in death And you said you would find me But I can’t see New York Circling down, in a white cloud Falling out ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/29 "2021-02-21T18:21:45Z")
Got in an argument many moons ago with a BIL about Joan Baez’s handling of X-Mas carols. He felt that her frequent vibrato rendered everything saccharine, and I’m like - fuck that noise - [_this_](https://youtu.be/5wUc-WMNmwE?list=PLr_SwoyFffkv2aXEXjrkK51FAU3uqtU_q&t=185) is pretty darn fine, as far as I’m concerned, TYVM. (Her “Coventry Carol” off this album - haunting, transcendant, moves me, totally in my DNA) [Pass me some of that dumbass over there; hey Bubba, I tell ya…](https://youtu.be/ebbc0IMv9uQ?t=101) The Buttholes. Beautiful. Not too technically demanding or anything - just plain really nice sounding - the Pretenders’ Chrissy Hynde in [“I’ll Stand By You”,](https://youtu.be/FoZKgyM98aM?t=162) especially the quietly powerful notes she hits during _Won’t let nobody hurt you_ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H2di83WAOhU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGGUgVyhSMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA3NrJF86S1SEKNkchRZinqth4FxA "The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2di83WAOhU) _Yet today, my love has gone away, I am without my love (without my love)_ ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/30 "2021-02-21T19:19:25Z")
Any line from Janis singing _Ball and Chain_ :[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/31 "2021-02-21T19:29:17Z")
Impressively sung? Got to be the song Focus by Hocus Pocus, yodeling with speed metal prog rock. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/32 "2021-02-21T19:55:34Z")
> [@Didi44](#): > > Any line from Janis singing _Ball and Chain_ This. 100% this. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/33 "2021-02-22T02:22:32Z")
Juliet, when we made love you used to cry said I love you like the stars above, love you til I die. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/34 "2021-02-22T02:43:07Z")
You mean “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. Gotta love the hard rock yodeling! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/35 "2021-02-22T02:53:22Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Gotta love the hard rock yodeling! Once you said that, I realized I’d sure like to declare for “Zombie” by The Cranberries. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/36 "2021-02-22T15:05:58Z")
One that pops out for me is “And I won’t be denied” by Sarah McLachlan in [Possession](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itydwcyywBc) (around 3:25) It doesn’t really push her vocals or anything (that’s practically impossible), it is just so pointedly powerful sexy. ---
**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 22, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/37 "2021-02-22T15:25:32Z")
Not impressive range or anything, but it would be interesting to see if you played [Ticket to Heaven](https://youtu.be/TogC7bus8JM) for a good Christian whether they were to hear an inspirational song or satire. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/38 "2021-02-22T15:38:49Z")
Ooh, that’s a good one! I hear what you mean when you say it sounds sexy, but it also sounds very threatening. Not surprising when the inspiration for this song was notes that she had been receiving from obsessed fans who had been sending disturbing letters to her. Puts a different slant on these lyrics when you consider that: _And I would be the one_ _To hold you down_ _Kiss you so hard_ _I’ll take your breath away_ _And after I’d, wipe away the tears_ _Just close your eyes dear_ ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/39 "2021-02-23T12:31:47Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > - And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve and to mourn and to pity From “And the Band played Waltzing Matilda”. Another memorable series of lines: “I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war And the young people ask “What are they marching for?” And I ask myself the same question,” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VktJNNKm3B0/hqdefault.jpg "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - John McDermott") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VktJNNKm3B0) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360/40 "2021-02-23T12:49:07Z")
The Who, _Won’t Get Fooled Again_, “Ye-e-e-e-e-e-s!” Janis Joplin, _Cry Baby_, any of the choruses “C’mon and cry, baby!” Etta James, _At Last_, first line “At last, my love has come along” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impressively-sung-single-line-of-lyrics/933360.md?page=3)