# Pretentious rock lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504 "2024-10-31T16:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/21 "2024-10-31T20:33:17Z")
The bit about leaving the cake out in the rain is _not_ a metaphor, in case you’re wondering. Webb told Gilbert Gottfried on Gil’s **Amazing Colossal Podcast** that he (Webb) and his girlfriend were having a picnic in the park, a storm blew in, and the cake got accidentally left behind. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/22 "2024-10-31T21:36:07Z")
“The Final Countdown”, by Europe. Pretentious, or just stupid? ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/23 "2024-10-31T22:25:17Z")
> [@digs](#): > > _Genesis (the Peter Gabriel one)_ stands out for actually having decent lyrics. I listened to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (the album) recently and it isn’t any less pretentious than those other Prog Rock bands – especially the linear notes story. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/24 "2024-11-01T00:03:47Z")
> [@digs](#): > > _Yes, King Crimson, Rush, EL&P, Triumvirat, Renaissance, Curved Air, Uriah Heap_… even more modern stuff like _Dream Theater_ and _Mars Volta_, they all seem to do the Unintelligible/Throwaway/Pretentious Lyrics thing. And then there’s _Jethro Tull_. I honestly can’t tell if out of all prog rock bands, their lyrics were the most pretentious, or the least. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/25 "2024-11-01T01:31:40Z")
There are several places online in which Jimmy Webb offers an explanation for “MacArthur Park,” and some of it makes sense when he presents them. But this part is downright ridiculous… _Between the parted pages and were pressed_ _In love’s hot, fevered iron_ _Like a striped pair of pants._ As you may recall, “striped” is pronounced “stripe-idd.” Now **that’s** pretentious! ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/26 "2024-11-01T01:46:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And then there’s _Jethro Tull_. I honestly can’t tell if out of all prog rock bands, their lyrics were the most pretentious, or the least. Well, “Snot is running down his nose” is definitely in the non-pretentious camp. 😁 ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/27 "2024-11-01T01:49:46Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > As you may recall, “striped” is pronounced “stripe-idd.” > > Now **that’s** pretentious! Almost as pretentious as an American rock band saying music is their “aeroplane.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/28 "2024-11-01T02:07:28Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > “The Final Countdown”, by Europe. > Pretentious, or just stupid? How about: totally kick-ass! ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/29 "2024-11-01T02:16:19Z")
I’m pretty sure the entirety of “One Night in Bangkok” is just Murray Head saying “I am smarter than you”. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/30 "2024-11-01T02:21:34Z")
The 90s band Live had some really pretentious lyrics as well. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/31 "2024-11-01T02:26:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’m pretty sure the entirety of “One Night in Bangkok” is just Murray Head saying “I am smarter than you”. Indeed, though it’s entirely on-brand for the character Head portrayed in the musical _Chess_ (from which that song comes). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/32 "2024-11-01T03:05:30Z")
I was a fan of Yes when I was a teenager in the 1970s, and was very familiar with three or four of their albums that I owned. But I didn’t follow them much after that. I once asked a friend what she thought their lyrics meant, and she said she just let the words flow over her. That’s kind of what I did too. I recently started thinking about and listening to these records again, and looked up what Anderson said about the lyrics. He seems to think he was communicating something, but I couldn’t make much sense of it even 50 years later. Knowing and liking this music as long as I have, and still liking it, I can’t bring myself to call it pretentious, even though I don’t pretend to understand it. I think a lot of art is like that. **And You and I** Coins and crosses Never know their fruitless worth, Cords are broken Locked inside the mother Earth, They won’t hide, hold, they won’t tell you Watching the world, watching all of the world, Watching us go by… (In the background under that:) Turn around tailor Assaulting all the morning of the interest shown Presenting one another to the chord All left dying rediscovered of the door That turned round to close the cover All the interest shown to turn one another, To the sign at the time float your climb. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/33 "2024-11-01T03:18:36Z")
Ronnie James Dio. He had such a high opinion of himself, I’m sure he thought his lyrics were all high art, as Jim Morrison did. But in reality, his lyrics were just a bunch of babbling nonsense. ---
**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:** [November 1, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/34 "2024-11-01T03:24:14Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I recently started thinking about and listening to these [Yes] records again, and looked up what Anderson said about the lyrics. He seems to think he was communicating something, but I couldn’t make much sense of it even 50 years later. I got a clue as to the depth of his lyrics when I watched a clip of a Yes concert, and between songs Mr. Jon Anderson, Writer of Deep Prog Poetry, said: “I have something important to say, based on the unique opportunities we’ve had to speak to people all around the world. And that is: _(dramatic pause) …_ Love is the most powerful force of all. Love keeps people together, and helps us overcome our differences. Love… it’s just love. Love is wonderful.” So “He seems to think he was communicating something…” is maybe the most charitable thing you can say. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/35 "2024-11-01T03:30:46Z")
Give me _I will remember you_ _Your silhouette will charge the view_ _Of distant atmosphere_ _Call it morning driving through the sound of_ _Even in the valley_ over _It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini_ _That she wore for the first time today_ _An itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini_ _So, in the locker, she wanted to stay_ any day. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/36 "2024-11-01T03:31:34Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I once asked a friend what she thought their lyrics meant, and she said she just let the words flow over her. That’s kind of what I did too. Same here, though I certainly learned all the lyrics, and would sing along (even if the words often didn’t seem to make sense). Anderson has apparently said that he often sees his lyrics as being a part of the music, and are there for tone and texture rather than telling a particular story, which would explain a lot. > [@commasense](#): > > I recently started thinking about and listening to these records again, and looked up what Anderson said about the lyrics. He seems to think he was communicating something, but I couldn’t make much sense of it even 50 years later. I think he saw himself as a poet, and I know that he was inspired by a lot of mystical and philosophical writing, which led to a lot of allegorical and florid wording. (I also suspect that, in a lot of cases, he was high on cannabis when he was writing. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/37 "2024-11-01T04:24:05Z")
For me, it depends on the day. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/38 "2024-11-01T05:15:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > My first thought was “Anything by Rush.” Ya know, I still like Rush, but yeah, a great deal of their lyrics suck. I still can’t find anything wrong with “The Spirit of Radio”. For a song about a literal subject, those are pretty good. But good god, some silly lyrics. “The Trees”, I’m looking at you. > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The 90s band Live had some really pretentious lyrics as well. God, their pretentiousness is only obscured by how stupid they are. > [@GESancMan](#): > > Ronnie James Dio. He had such a high opinion of himself, I’m sure he thought his lyrics were all high art, as Jim Morrison did. But in reality, his lyrics were just a bunch of babbling nonsense. Yep, very nice pipes, but those lyrics are awful. I have the same problem I have with him that I have with Glenn Danzig: I can’t take you seriously because you actually take yourself seriously. Even his Sabbath songs are pretty hit and miss with me. OTOH, I kind of love complete nonsense lyrics. Black Francis basically said he picks his words by which ones sound neato next to the others, with no other real consideration. Bowie often wrote via the cut-up method. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/39 "2024-11-01T05:17:37Z")
The Cocteau Twins didn’t really write lyrics; nobody in the band was any good at writing them, so they just sang random words and THOSE were the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/40 "2024-11-01T05:20:35Z")
That song, and this performance in particular, seems to have spawned more G-rated reaction videos than almost anything else on the Internet. > **[Rush - Xanadu (Live From The Montreal Forum / 1981)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTwLi35hGvE%2F)** > > “Xanadu” by Rush from their performance at Montreal Forum on March 27, 1981. From the concert film ‘Exit… Stage Left.’Stream Rush: https://stream.lnk.to/rush... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504.md?page=3)