# Songs with powerful lyrics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227 "2003-04-08T03:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/1 "2003-04-08T03:02:54Z")
Most all songs have some kind of message to them, but what are some of your favorite songs that have very powerful/meaningful lyrics? My vote goes to “I Don’t Call Him Daddy” by Doug Supernaw. It talks about how divorce affects kids and their parents. Part of it goes: * * * God bless the little hearts, they’re the ones who really pay When Mom and Dad can’t work things out and go their seperate ways. In a way I’m glad there’s someone there to fill the empty space Tears of understanding streak down a dirty face. ## He said “I don’t call him Daddy, but he takes care of things. When you pick me up on Friday are you gonna bring me anything? Oh, don’t worry Dad, you know it don’t matter what we do. I don’t call him Daddy, he could never be like you.” ---
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/2 "2003-04-08T04:03:37Z")
On a very similar note, “Styrofoam Plates” by **Death Cab For Cutie** includes these words about a deadbeat dad: You’re a disgrace to the concept of family The priest won’t divulge that fact in his homily I’ll stand up and scream if the mourning remain quiet You can deck out a lie in a suit but i won’t buy it I won’t join in the procession thats speaking their piece Using five dollar words while praising his integrity Just cause he’s gone it doesn’t change the fact: He was a bastard in life thus a bastard in death. ---
**Author:** ![Blackhawkeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@Blackhawkeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackhawkeye)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/3 "2003-04-08T04:30:47Z")
“Last Good Sleep” by Company Flow is an extremely vivid recount of an abusive stepfather. It’s very powerful. The ignorance was blissfulness, in recollection A gift of innocent time from a merciful deception Awoke to hazy landscapes to find my world defied the laws my mind mandates Patching jugulars with Band-aids Paternal unit well above my bed Coherent only barely through the shock of what her broken face told me “You should have known what happened” I was young and oblivous “He almost killed your mom” If I knew I could have done something “You’ll never see him again” Yeah but I see him every night And cover my ears in tears as he beats his fucking wife ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/4 "2003-04-08T04:39:26Z")
“Billy Austin” by Steve Earle. ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/5 "2003-04-08T05:20:42Z")
XTC’s “Books are Burning”: “Books are burning In the still air And you know where they burn books People are next” ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/6 "2003-04-08T06:40:58Z")
Tool’s _Prison Sex_. Creepy, depressing and powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/7 "2003-04-08T12:38:12Z")
So many songs, too many to name. I’ll offer up one that immediately takes me back to my childhood. Makes me cry almost everytime I hear it. One of my favorite modern rock/pop songs: **Everclear** - _Wonderful_ > [@](#): > > I close my eyes when I get too sad > I think thoughts that I know are bad > Close my eyes and I count to ten > Hope it’s over when I open them > > I want the things that I had before > Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door > I wish I could count to ten > Make everything be wonderful again > > Hope my mom and I hope my dad > Will figure out why they get so mad > Hear them scream, I hear them fight > They say bad words that make me wanna cry > > Close my eyes when I go to bed > And I dream of angels who make me smile > I feel better when I hear them say > Everything will be wonderful someday > > Promises mean everything when you’re little > And the world’s so big > I just don’t understand how > You can smile with all those tears in your eyes > Tell me everything is wonderful now > > Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now > > I go to school and I run and play > I tell the kids that it’s all okay > I laugh aloud so my friends won’t know > When the bell rings I just don’t wanna go home > > Go to my room and I close my eyes > I make believe that I have a new life > I don’t believe you when you say > Everything will be wonderful someday > > Promises mean everything when you’re little > And the world is so big > I just don’t understand how > You can smile with all those tears in your eyes > When you tell me everything is wonderful now > > No > No, I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now > No > No, I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now > > I don’t wanna hear you say > That I will understand someday > No, no, no, no > I don’t wanna hear you say > You both have grown in a different way > No, no, no, no > I don’t wanna meet your friends > And I don’t wanna start over again > I just want my life to be the same > Just like it used to be > Some days I hate everything > I hate everything > Everyone and everything > Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now… > > I don’t wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/8 "2003-04-08T12:41:17Z")
I’d go for Mz Dynamite’s It Takes More "Now who gives a damn About the ice on your hand If it’s not too complex Tell me how many Africans died For the bagettes on your Rolex So what you pushing a nice car Don’t you know there’s no such thing as superstars We leave this world alone So who gives a about the things you own Certainly not me Certainly not me 'Cos baby personally I like to be challenged mentally Content’s insignificant And it don’t help to pay my rent It’s pure negativity That you impose on me" ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/9 "2003-04-08T12:42:16Z")
“Let Us Love in Peace” from \*\* The Beautiful Game \*\* by ALW and Ben Elton: People need love, that’s what we live for. Now is the time; it’s not too late. We have to love, try to forgive more. No child was ever born to hate. I will fight for peace with all my might. That’s what’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/10 "2003-04-08T12:52:34Z")
Nine Inch Nails’ _Hurt_ did not strike me as particularly powerful. But when [Johnny Cash](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=163487) sings it… _Damn!_ ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/11 "2003-04-08T12:56:21Z")
_Millworker_ by **James Taylor** : > [@](#): > > - > > Millwork ain’t easy, millwork ain’t hard. > Millwork, it ain’t nothin’ but an awful boring job. > I can ride home in the evening, staring at my hands > swearing by my sorrows that a young girl ought to stand a chance. > > And then it’s me and my machine for the rest of the morning, > For the rest of the afternoon, > Gone - the rest of my life.\* ---
**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/12 "2003-04-08T12:59:49Z")
Bob Dylan - Masters of War. Seems somehow appropriate at the moment. -Oli ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/13 "2003-04-08T14:07:20Z")
Julian Lennon’s “Saltwater”. I also believe his dad was a songwriter of some sort… “We light the deepest ocean Send photographs of Mars We’re so enchanted my how clever we are Why should one baby feel so hungry she cries Saltwater wells in my eyes” ---
**Author:** ![TJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@TJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/14 "2003-04-08T14:14:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Fingolfin: > Everclear - Wonderful: I just want my life to be the same just like it used to be I just wanted to agree with you **Fingolfin** - this song has me welling up every time I hear it! The line above is the one that sets me off the most - it reminds me so much of when I was 11 years old, and my parents were divorcing. I went through a phase of listening to it a lot, but now I have children I find it upsets me even more. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/15 "2003-04-08T14:57:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by starman \* > \*\*Bob Dylan - Masters of War. > Seems somehow appropriate at the moment. > -Oli \*\* Yep. War Pigs as well. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/16 "2003-04-08T14:58:45Z")
Yeah, um, War Pigs by Black Sabbath. I don’t know what I thought I was quoting. hehe. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/17 "2003-04-08T15:12:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by starman \* > \*\*Bob Dylan - Masters of War. > Seems somehow appropriate at the moment. > -Oli \*\* That’s a good one… Dylan has a lot of them. _Percy’s Song_ always gets me (but 99 years, he just don’t deserve, turn, turn to the rain and the wind). Nick Cave also has some powerful songs, like [_The Mercy Seat_](http://www.elyrics4u.com/t/the_mercy_seat_nick_cave_the_badseeds.htm). > [@](#): > > It began when they come took me from my home > And put me in Dead Row, > Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know. > And I’ll say it again > I…am…not…afraid…to…die. > > I began to warm and chill > To objects and their fields, > A ragged cup, a twisted mop > The face of Jesus in my soup > Those sinister dinner meals > The meal trolley’s wicked wheels > A hooked bone rising from my food > All things either good or ungood. > > … > > And anyway I’m yearning > to be done with all this weighing of the truth, > and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, > and any way I told the truth, > but I’m afraid I told a lie [[http://www.maxlyrics.com/songView/9](http://www.maxlyrics.com/songView/9)]_{And Are You the One} I’ve been waiting for?_ Whoah for funky coding, don’t know what’s up with that. > [@](#): > > I felt you coming girl as I drew you near > I knew you’d find me cause I longed you here > are you my destiny, is this how you’ll appear > wrapped in a coat with tears in your eyes > > well take that coat baby and throw it on the floor > Are you the one that I’ve been waiting for > > … > > We will know won’t we > stars will explode in the sky > but they don’t do they > stars have their moments then they die ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/18 "2003-04-08T16:21:48Z")
Johnny L.A… I agree on “Hurt”, the video is even more jarring when you see the state he’s in. If you want to talk powerful lyrics on the theme of war, how about the master? (Roger Waters, if you didn’t know:)) “Forward they cried from the rear and the front ranks died The generals sat, and the lines on the map Moved side to side.” With all the pro-war sentiment disguised as “support our troops”, it’s a little on the nose don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![one\_energy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f6c823/32.png) [@one\_energy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/one_energy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/19 "2003-04-08T16:26:56Z")
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” I’m too scared to see the lyrics to post a link to them. Jeff Buckley’s cover of it is frighteningly beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227/20 "2003-04-08T19:09:15Z")
Southern trees bear a strange fruit/Blood on the leaves and blood at the root/Black body swinging in the Southern breeze/Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees Pastoral scene of the gallant South/The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth/Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh/And the sudden smell of burning flesh Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck/For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck/For the sun to rot, for a tree to drop/Here is a strange and bitter crop." gives me chills… [http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/08/apontv.strange.fruit.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/08/apontv.strange.fruit.ap/index.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-powerful-lyrics/167227.md?page=2)