# The best closing lines/stanzas in songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 4, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878 "2022-02-04T00:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/41 "2022-02-05T00:00:15Z")
Mose Allison’s Parchman’s Farm has the most powerful ending line in music. The song sets you up to think of the poor man is suffering in prison with the line “And I ain’t never done no man no harm.” Then you get to the final verse. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCpbWLjlrdU) It’s best to listen to it for the full effect. But here are the lyrics if you want the short version. Well I’m gonna be here for the rest of my life I’m gonna be on this farm for my natural life Well I’m a gonna be here for the rest of my life And all I did was shoot my wife ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/42 "2022-02-05T00:45:59Z")
_In the end, Swamper and Greeny_ _Finally succumbed to the ways of Harold,_ _And in doing so, each gave_ _Just a little bit of their soul away._ _What a couple of dumbshits._ -Primus ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/43 "2022-02-05T01:20:32Z")
This is from Fairport Convention’s “Matty Groves”, their version of a 1700s folk ballad. They sing it a bit too fast for the words to have the full effect. Lord Donald surprises his wife in bed with young Matty: Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more And then Lord Donald took his wife and he sat her on his knee Saying “Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?” And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free “I’d rather a kiss from dead Matty’s lips than you or your finery” Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawl He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall "A grave, a grave, " Lord Donald cried, “to put these lovers in But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin” ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/44 "2022-02-05T16:12:53Z")
You know she came to see him one last time Oh, and we all wondered if she would And it kept runnin’ through my mind This time - he’s over her for good He stopped loving her today They placed a wreath upon his door And soon they’ll carry him away He stopped loving her today – George Jones Written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/45 "2022-02-05T17:33:05Z")
The last verse of, _Green, Green Grass of Home_, sets the whole song on its ear. In a good way. Did he kill Mary? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/46 "2022-02-05T18:24:46Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > And the three men I admire most > The father, son, and the Holy Ghost > They caught the last train for the coast > The day, the music died. > > (To refrain) If we can so relegate this or that bit as a parenthetical, then: _I know what I am, and I’m glad I’m a man, and so is Lola._ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/47 "2022-02-05T22:13:15Z")
> They would not listen, they’re not listening still, > Perhaps they never will. Don McLean, “Vincent” > Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for, > One little kiss, and Felina, goodbye. Marty Robbins, “El Paso”. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/48 "2022-02-05T22:26:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Maybe not the ‘best’ closing stanza but a nice dark twist, I always thought-- The first 3 verses of The Doors’ “Moonlight Drive” sounds like a fairly conventional love song, then Jim hits you with the outro: I guess that one’s part of the disturbing subgenre of songs about guys killing their girlfriends down by the river, along with Sugar’s “A Good Idea” and Nick Cave’s “Where The Wild Roses Grow.” ---
**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:** [February 5, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/49 "2022-02-05T22:50:14Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > I guess that one’s part of the disturbing subgenre of songs about guys killing their girlfriends down by the river, along with Sugar’s “A Good Idea” and Nick Cave’s “Where The Wild Roses Grow.” Yeah, that’s an age old genre of American and British folk. My favorite is “Knoxville Girl”, here are my two favorite versions, by the Louvin Brothers and the Lemonheads: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KhMiKeSffns/hqdefault.jpg "Knoxville Girl - The Louvin Brothers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhMiKeSffns) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/10XFxu9Vdmo/hqdefault.jpg "The Lemonheads -Knoxville Girl") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10XFxu9Vdmo) ---
**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:** [February 6, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/50 "2022-02-06T00:58:27Z")
The murder ballad! Alive and well of late. Kate McCannon by Colter Wall Closing lines _So I made for the creek_ _Where she and I did meet_ _And found her with some other lover_ _And I put three rounds into Kate McCannon_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hCebq5lLgos/maxresdefault.jpg "Original 16 Brewery Sessions - Colter Wall - "Kate McCannon"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCebq5lLgos) ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/51 "2022-02-06T02:15:46Z")
_You can run on for a long time Run on for a long time Run on for a long time Sooner or later God’ll cut you down Sooner or later God’ll cut you down_ The Johnny Cash version is probably most well known, but I believe Elvis did it as well. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/52 "2022-02-06T02:22:11Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > I guess that one’s part of the disturbing subgenre of songs about guys killing their girlfriends down by the river, along with Sugar’s “A Good Idea” and Nick Cave’s “Where The Wild Roses Grow.” Not to mention: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KflCXmEX6BY/maxresdefault.jpg "Down by the River (2009 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KflCXmEX6BY) Or: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0JWJbUrBmtM/maxresdefault.jpg "J.J Cale - The River Runs Deep (studio version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JWJbUrBmtM) ---
**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:** [February 6, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/53 "2022-02-06T02:35:35Z")
But the song ends too soon for us all. — Jethro Tull (Ian Anderson), “Life is a Long Song” ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/54 "2022-02-06T03:22:08Z")
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin’ flowers up on Choctaw Ridge And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/55 "2022-02-06T04:19:22Z")
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation We have assumed control We have assumed control We have assumed control _=_=_=_======_=_=_=_=\* Neil Peart of Rush {RIP, Professor} wrote MANY great lyrical lines in his career but the dramatic closing lines of “2112” still electrify me! ---
**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:** [February 6, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/56 "2022-02-06T04:25:16Z")
_Look my eyes are just holograms_ _Look your love has drawn red from my hands_ _From my hands you know you’ll never be_ _More than twist in my sobriety_ _More than twist in my sobriety_ _Look my eyes are just holograms_ _Look your love has drawn red from my hands_ _From my hands you know you’ll never be_ _More than twist in my sobriety_ _More than twist in my sobriety_ _More than twist in my sobriety_ —_ **Twist in My Sobriety** _, Tanita Tikaram ---
**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:** [February 13, 2022, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/57 "2022-02-13T05:28:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Sometimes I don’t thrill you > Sometimes I think I’ll kill you > Just don’t let me fuck up, will you > Because when I need a friend it’s still you > > What a mess -_Freak Scene_, Dinosaur Jr. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2022, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/58 "2022-02-13T05:32:34Z")
Iron Maiden, “The Trooper”; _We get so close, near enough to fight_ _When a Russian gets me in his sights_ _He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow_ _A burst of rounds take my horse below_ _And as I lay there gazing at the sky_ _My body’s numb and my throat is dry_ _And as I lay forgotten and alone_ _Without a tear, I draw my parting groan_ ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/59 "2022-02-20T15:13:08Z")
Warren Zevon, **Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner** _Patty Hearst Heard the burst Of Roland’s Thompson gun And bought it_ ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878/60 "2022-02-21T04:12:08Z")
Simon and Garfunkel, _Poem on an Underground Wall_: And his heart is laughing, screaming, pounding, The poem across the tracks rebounding. Shadowed by the exit light, His legs take their ascending flight To seek the breast of darkness And be suckled by the night. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-closing-lines-stanzas-in-songs/958878.md?page=4)