# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/61 "2024-11-01T22:02:56Z")
I feel like the overarching variable in this entire thread just _has to_ be pot. I was in awe of many of these lyricists … well … y’know … when… 😉 ---
**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, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/62 "2024-11-01T22:03:08Z")
This great video accompanied the closest thing Wire had to an American hit. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/j3fLn4FYWH0/hqdefault.jpg "Wire - Eardrum Buzz") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3fLn4FYWH0) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/63 "2024-11-01T22:34:51Z")
Can’t believe we’ve gotten this far in and no one’s mentioned _A Horse With No Name_ The ocean is a desert with its life underground And a perfect disguise above Under the cities lies a heart made of ground But the humans will give no love But my all-time favorite is the Association’s _Along Comes Mary_, which combines pretentiousness with with the oh so clever trick of jamming as many words into the meter of the song as you can. And when the morning of the warning’s passed The gassed and flaccid kids are flung across the stars The psychodramas and the traumas gone The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/64 "2024-11-01T22:44:44Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > But my all-time favorite is the Association’s _Along Comes Mary_ Even the lyricist has admitted that it is a song about… > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I feel like the overarching variable in this entire thread just _has to_ be pot. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/65 "2024-11-01T23:42:57Z")
Add me to the list of Yes fans. I think I remember reading in some article about Yes that there is a term for lyrics that sound good to the ear (al la Kenobi\_65) but don’t necessarily make sense. At one time I could sing all (well, almost all) the lyrics of Tales from Topographic Oceans. Along with the album, of course. Completely clueless as to meaning. And did somebody besmirch Jethro Tull? 😮 I’ll go with the “least pretentious” option.Still one of my all time favs. They just don’t make 'em like they used to. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/66 "2024-11-02T00:43:21Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Can’t believe we’ve gotten this far in and no one’s mentioned _A Horse With No Name_ > > The ocean is a desert with its life underground > And a perfect disguise above > Under the cities lies a heart made of ground > But the humans will give no love More America (Sandman): I understand you’ve been running from the man Who goes by the name of the Sandman (Fine so far) He flies the sky like an eagle (Ok, a little cliché, but we’ll go with it) in the eye of a hurricane (I’m not a expert in eagles or hurricanes, but this seems like a bad place for an eagle to be. This seems like a dead eagle) that’s abandoned. (A hurricane that’s abandoned? What is an abandoned hurricane? How does one abandon a hurricane? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?) Nice tune, but that chorus always leaves me shaking my head. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/67 "2024-11-02T00:50:06Z")
I’m not sure if this qualifies - probably more glurgy than pompous Sting’s “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” lyrics based a phrase that was on thousands of dorm room walls. And he was an English teacher, ---
**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:** [November 2, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/68 "2024-11-02T00:50:12Z")
I’m not sure how it scores on the pretentious meter but I’ve always gotten a chuckle from one particular line from Uriah Heep’s _Circle of Hands_: “Today is only yesterday’s tomorrow”. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/69 "2024-11-02T01:06:49Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > _Nice tune, but that chorus always leaves me shaking my head._ You must be psychic! I was just about to post those lyrics myself. That chorus is repeated four times at the end of the song. It’s a damn good hook, if completely nonsensical. I’ve always found this verse to be interesting: _Ain’t the years gone by fast_ _I suppose you have missed them_ _Oh, I almost forgot to ask_ _Did you hear of my enlistment?_ _Funny, I’ve been there_ _And you’ve been here_ _And we ain’t had no time to drink that beer._ Then…_I understand you’ve been running from the man_ _Who goes by the name of the Sandman._ Et cetera. I have that album and haven’t listened to it in years. I must admit, however, that “Sandman” is a guilty pleasure of mine. I almost feel like dusting off the old Pioneer turntable, turning it up and singing that chorus. Again and again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/70 "2024-11-02T02:24:20Z")
There’s this one that was written because Lou Reed liked the way the words flowed together > **[The Velvet Underground - The Black Angel's Death Song (Lyrics)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6tc-GKP4-g%2F)** > > The Velvet Underground - The Black Angel's Death Song with lyrics This one’s more of a parody. Pretentious, moi? > **[Chumbawamba - Love Me I'm A Liberal (Peel Session)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U8574HtseQ%2F)** > > Love Me I'm A Liberal by Chumbawamba, taken from the Peel Session recorded on 21 October 1993. ---
**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 2, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/71 "2024-11-02T02:42:28Z")
Stereolab, “Ping Pong” > It’s alright, 'cause the historical pattern has shown > How the economical cycle tends to revolve ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/72 "2024-11-02T03:02:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@scabpicker](#): > > > > But good god, some silly lyrics. “The Trees”, I’m looking at you. > > The one I was going to mention. First time I heard that song it was actually on one of those rhythm games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. I was familiar with all of Rush’s radio play songs, but this one didn’t get radio play around here. I just about doubled over in laughter at the hamfisted metaphor/allegory, nursery rhyme-like lyrics, and hit-you-over-the-head “moral of story.” Ugh. What a terrible, terrible song. It commonly and inexplicably finishes around 10th in typical Rush fan song polls tho, note. [I am with you, worst song of theirs by a mile] ---
**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 2, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/73 "2024-11-02T03:14:27Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > But good god, some silly lyrics. “The Trees”, I’m looking at you. Pretty much anything from Neil Peart’s “I just read this book called Atlas Shrugged and it was REALLY deep” era is pretentious to the core. “2112” would be unforgivably pretentious if it didn’t rock so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/74 "2024-11-02T04:17:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > This one’s more of a parody. Pretentious, moi? I like that they name-check Phil Ochs (‘I’m as Bob Roberts to your Phil Ochs, Talking political’), the left-wing folkie who of course wrote the [original song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me,_I%27m_a_Liberal) they’re taking inspiration from. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/75 "2024-11-02T04:28:21Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > The first song that came to mind was _Silent Lucidity_. There’s only one verse in that song that really bothers me. Your mind tricked you to feel the pain/ Of someone close to you leaving the game [short pause] of life/ It just wasn’t necessary to clarify that we’re talking about the death of someone. We knew what was meant by someone leaving the game. My apologies, but I’ve needed to get this off my chest since 1991. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/76 "2024-11-02T13:17:32Z")
Getting back to Sting: gotta give him credit for rhyming _shake and cough_ with _Nabokov_. 🙂 > [@anny\_m](#): > > Maybe it doesn’t count, but I think “Late Lament” (the poem spoken in the Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”) was pretty damn pretentious. They blew it with the institutional, bureaucratic phrase “senior citizens,” so wrong for the tone of the piece. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I love their arty lyrics, but Wire could perhaps fit this, although I find their lyrics willfully playful moreso than pretentious. But from one of my favorites, “Map Ref. 41°N 93°W”: I love maps and geodesy (duh), but I’ve never heard this. Thanks for the tip. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/77 "2024-11-02T13:28:14Z")
There’s also a good shoegaze cover of it by My Bloody Valentine, if you’re interested. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/78 "2024-11-02T13:30:05Z")
I’ll check it out. (I had to remind myself what the “shoegaze” subgenre referred to). ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/79 "2024-11-02T14:09:21Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > It commonly and inexplicably finishes around 10th in typical Rush fan song polls tho, note. [I am with you, worst song of theirs by a mile] I’ll see your _The Trees_ and raise you one _Virtuality_ and one _Tai Shan_. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/80 "2024-11-02T21:04:45Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > At one time I could sing all (well, almost all) the lyrics of Tales from Topographic Oceans. Along with the album, of course. Completely clueless as to meaning. I saw Yes perform Tales. From the second row. Tripping my ass off. The lyrics were deep, man. Deep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504.md?page=5)