# Song lyrics with poetic quality **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 30, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521 "2022-09-30T23:09:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/1 "2022-09-30T23:09:49Z")
pretty self explanatory… - Hello Darkness my old friend, I come to talk to you again - Words are falling out like endless rain into a paper cup ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/2 "2022-10-01T00:13:09Z")
One of the best. Pure poetry. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oecX_1pqxk0/maxresdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oecX_1pqxk0) And this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AwuCF5lYqEE/maxresdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - Visions of Johanna (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwuCF5lYqEE) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/3 "2022-10-01T00:16:51Z")
@EinsteinsHund dagnabbit, I came in here to post Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine man”. “Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky With one hand waving free Silhouetted by the sea Circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate Driven deep beneath the waves Let me forget about today until tomorrow” ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/4 "2022-10-01T00:17:07Z")
You can have your gold and your diamonds too. All I want is a ring dang doo. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/5 "2022-10-01T00:28:29Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JBNWkCsmqAY/hqdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - With Lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBNWkCsmqAY) ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/6 "2022-10-01T01:35:13Z")
[A Pillow of Winds by Waters and Gilmour](https://youtu.be/ZiJX0bkkcv4) A cloud of eiderdown draws around me, softening the sound Sleepy time when I lie with my love by my side, and she’s breathing low And the candle dies When night comes down, you lock the door, the book falls to the floor As darkness falls and waves roll by, the seasons change, the wind is warm Now wakes the owl, now sleeps the swan, behold a dream, the dream is gone Green fields, a cold rain is falling in a golden dawn \ ---
**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:** [October 1, 2022, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/7 "2022-10-01T04:45:30Z")
Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby Awaiting a word Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit, he runs Wishing he could fly Only to trip at the sound of goodbye \ [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WGtFRsCXRcc/hqdefault.jpg "Crosby, Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping (With Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtFRsCXRcc) Crosby, Still and Nash - Helplessly Hoping ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/8 "2022-10-01T09:48:35Z")
Nothing Rhymed Song by Gilbert O’Sullivan > When I’m drinking my Bonaparte Shandy > Eating more than enough apple pies > Will I glance at my screen > And see real human beings > Starve to death right in front of my eyes > > Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured > Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost > Nothing further than proof, nothing wilder than youth > Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine > Nothing physically recklessly, hopelessly blind > Nothing I couldn’t say > Nothing why 'cos today > Nothing rhymed ---
**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:** [October 1, 2022, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/9 "2022-10-01T12:07:53Z")
In her Leonard Cohen biography “I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen”, author Sylvie Simmons makes the distinction between poetry and song lyrics. Simmons states that writers of lyrics are writing words that fit the song, while poets are writing _poems_ (or something like that, I’m paraphrasing). Anyway, Cohen was a poet before he became interested in music, and it shows. * * * _Ring the bells that still can ring_ _Forget your perfect offering_ _There is a crack, a crack in everything_ _That’s how the light gets in_ * * * _And I choose the rooms that I live in with care_ _The windows are small and the walls almost bare_ _There’s only one bed and there’s only one prayer_ _I listen all night for your step on the stair_ * * * _We met when we were almost young_ _Deep in the green lilac park_ _You held on to me like I was a crucifix_ _As we went kneeling through the dark_ * * * mmm ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/10 "2022-10-01T14:28:55Z")
On a morning from a Bogart movie in a country where they turn back time you go strolling through the crowd like peter lorre contemplating a crime she comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain \ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/12 "2022-10-01T14:42:35Z")
To everyone, be careful quoting more than a small amount of Copyrighted material. Several in this thread appear to exceed fair use and the quote post is far over. I will remove some excess lines. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/14 "2022-10-01T15:44:18Z")
Does John Cooper Clarke count? Is it cheating because it started out as poetry? [Beasley Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37QUUwp9xIs) > Hot beneath the collar > An inspector calls > Where the perishing stink of squalor > Impregnates the walls > The rats have all got rickets > They spit through broken teeth > The name of the game is not cricket > Caught out on Beasley Street ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/15 "2022-10-01T23:55:30Z")
Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats Too noble to neglect Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect Good and bad, I define these terms Quite clear, no doubt, somehow Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now Why don’t we just give 94.2% of Dylan’s stuff an automatic bye in. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/16 "2022-10-02T00:03:01Z")
The Byrds: _To everything (turn, turn, turn)_ _There is a season (turn, turn, turn)_ _And a time to every purpose, under heaven_ _A time to be born, a time to die_ _A time to plant, a time to reap_ _A time to kill, a time to heal_ _A time to laugh, a time to weep_ _To everything (turn, turn, turn)_ _There is a season (turn, turn, turn)_ _And a time to every purpose, under heaven_ _A time to build up, a time to break down_ _A time to dance, a time to mourn_ _A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together_ _To everything (turn, turn, turn)_ _There is a season (turn, turn, turn)_ _And a time to every purpose, under heaven_ _A time of love, a time of hate_ _A time of war, a time of peace_ _A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing_ _To everything (turn, turn, turn)_ _There is a season (turn, turn, turn)_ _And a time to every purpose, under heaven_ _A time to gain, a time to lose_ _A time to rend, a time to sew_… I quote the song nearly in full as it is from the first eight verses of the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The exception being the “turn turn turn” which is fair use, and the last two lines which I did not post) Which I believe has fallen out of copyright… 😛 - “[Turn! Turn! Turn!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!) (To Everything There Is a Season)”, a song written by [Pete Seeger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger) in the late 1950s, which the [Byrds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byrds) scored a 1965 hit with. The lyrics, except for the title which is repeated throughout the song and the final two lines, are adapted word-for-word from the English [King James Version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version) of [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(King_James)/Ecclesiastes#3:1).[[25]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes_3#cite_note-26) The song became an international hit in late 1965 when it was covered by the American folk rock band [The Byrds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Byrds).[[26]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes_3#cite_note-allmusic-27) In the U.S., the song holds distinction as the #1 hit with the oldest lyrics, and also with the oldest lyric writer, King [Solomon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon) of [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel).[[27]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes_3#cite_note-28)\* ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/17 "2022-10-02T04:08:33Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cqZc7ZQURMs/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGBEgWihyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBa3Nd73dh8dM-6sDpyRl3cyPvv9Q "Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqZc7ZQURMs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XkYexMQ1BRI/maxresdefault.jpg "Sand In Your Shoes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkYexMQ1BRI) https://www.youtube.com/embed/zSPkQDKXfjc?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLzEG2f9QAl8Oq2k0TQ96E3rNhIkdtQkek https://www.youtube.com/embed/6tDnSiAL7Fg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLzEG2f9QAl8Oq2k0TQ96E3rNhIkdtQkek ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/18 "2022-10-02T04:49:46Z")
Guy Clark isn’t so well known, but he had a poet’s soul: **Dublin Blues** _So forgive me all my anger_ _Forgive me all my faults_ _There’s no need to forgive me_ _For thinkin’ what I thought_ _I loved you from the get go_ _And I’ll love you till I die_ _I loved you on the Spanish Steps_ _The day you said goodbye_ **The Randall Knife** _My father had a Randall knife_ _My mother gave it to him_ _When he went off to WWII_ _To save us all from ruin_ _If you’ve ever held a Randall knife_ _Then you know my father well_ _If a better blade was ever made_ _It was probably forged in hell_ _My father was a good man_ _A lawyer by his trade_ _And only once did I ever see_ _Him misuse the blade_ _It almost cut his thumb off_ _When he took it for a tool_ _The knife was made for darker things_ _And you could not bend the rules_ ---
**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:** [October 2, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/19 "2022-10-02T16:36:07Z")
A couple of observations from the late folk artist Bill Morrissey: . The house burnt down on a rainy night, and I never did find out why. I just stood alone ‘neath the silver maple, trying to keep my cigarettes dry. Waiting for the fireman I couldn’t save a thing, and deep within my home above the roar of the flames, I thought I heard my telephone ring… [_Man From Out of Town_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmw9JFHVtY) . I park my cab on Water Street, I’m waiting for a fare. Watching young girls in their first heels step like colts across the square. [_Handsome Molly_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqwK9eJz_yQ&list=OLAK5uy_mmgh2THCRYMn1C0zsQ7CC2kd4n3-Qa9H0&index=3) (Traditional, but still poetic) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/20 "2022-10-02T18:30:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Byrds: > _To everything (turn, turn, turn)_ That is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/21 "2022-10-02T18:40:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I quote the song nearly in full as it is from the first eight verses of the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The exception being the “turn turn turn” which is fair use, and the last two lines which I did not post) Yeah, the words “A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late” were added by the Byrds. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521/22 "2022-10-02T18:40:33Z")
_Confusion will be my epitaph_ _As I crawl a cracked and broken path_ _If we make it, we can all sit back and laugh_ _But I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-with-poetic-quality/972521.md?page=2)