# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/81 "2024-11-02T21:32:22Z")
If you’ve ever a mind to check it out, the band Gwar did a [cover of “Carry On, Wayward Son”](https://youtu.be/HJzecKumufM?si=TSWVT7ZJu5Oip6Yk) that’s actually pretty enjoyable. Well, as enjoyable as [intergalactic warlords in codpieces](https://gwar.net/) can be. Which, to me, is pretty damned entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/82 "2024-11-02T22:47:08Z")
Someone else here has heard of Stereolab! My favorite song by them is “Outer Accelerator”, and I have no idea what the words are. Most likely, they aren’t in English anyway, nor is most of “Jenny Ondioline.” ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/83 "2024-11-04T06:20:09Z")
From “Jungle Love”: The question to everyone’s answer Is usually asked from within But the patterns of the rain And the truth they contain Have written my life on your skin ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/84 "2024-11-04T14:42:54Z")
Heard another one this weekend that I think fits. I love Deacon Blue, but their first big hit “Dignity,” a sweet song about a local junkman saving up to buy a boat when he retires, has the immortal verse: _And I’m telling this story_ _In a faraway sea_ _Sipping down raki_ _And reading Maynard Keynes_ Sure. ---
**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 4, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/85 "2024-11-04T14:46:54Z")
> [@Hakushon](#): > > From “Jungle Love”: > The question to everyone’s answer > Is usually asked from within > But the patterns of the rain > And the truth they contain > Have written my life on your skin Can’t believe you chose that over this infamous line: > 'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love ---
**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 4, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/86 "2024-11-04T15:28:03Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Can’t believe you chose that over this infamous line: > > > 'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love This is a callback to an earlier song of his, “Enter Maurice”, from the album Recall the Beginning…A Journey From Eden: _My dearest darling, come closer to Maurice,_ _So I can whisper sweet words of epismetology[sic] in your ear,_ _And speak to you of the pompitous of love._ ---
**Author:** ![Hakushon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hakushon/32/5503_2.png) [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/87 "2024-11-04T15:55:58Z")
Cecil explained this in 1996. The lyric was “borrowed” from Vernon Green. “The Letter” contained the line, “Oh my darling, let me whisper sweet words of pizmotality and discuss the puppetutes of love.” Miller misheard “puppetutes” as “pompitous.” (“Puppetute” means “a secret paper-doll fantasy figure who would be my everything and bear my children,” according to Green.) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/88 "2024-11-04T18:44:35Z")
Wikipedia defines pompatus as a ‘nonce’ word. I guess I’ve spent too much time in the UK…the pompatus of love would be very bad indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/89 "2024-11-04T21:06:22Z")
I love the music of Roxy Music (Bryan Ferry as a person? Not so much.) I’d say Ferry’s lyric writing is more wilful than flat out pretentious. I adore A Song For Europe - even with parts of the lyric in Latin and French. No, really: _Ecce momenta_ _Illa mirabilia_ _Quae captabit_ _In aeternum_ _Memor_ But at times you just gotta say…y’know? _Give now the host his claret cup_ _And watch Madeira’s farewell drink_ _Note his reaction, acid sharp_ _Should make the cognoscenti think_ (Bitters End) j I think the rules require a translation. Per google Here are the moments She is wonderful Which will capture Forever Remember ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/90 "2024-11-04T23:08:32Z")
Also from “Jungle Love” (and I’ve always found these lines disturbing): You treat me like I was your ocean You swim in my blood when it’s warm ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504/91 "2024-11-05T06:11:56Z")
You find it hard to imagine Ricky ross reading economics on a Mediterranean vacation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretentious-rock-lyrics/1009504.md?page=4)