Why You Treat Me Like a Dog?: What Are Your Favorite Song Lyrics?

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Jack's Shack and Sweettooth both have posts about their favorite song lyrics. Coincidentally, I had been working on just such a post last week, but through the magic of me screwing up, it somehow got deleted before I could post it. Anyway, in no particular order, here's another go at some of my favorites:

Before you slip into unconsciousness
I'd like to have another kiss
Another flashing chance at bliss
Another kiss, another kiss
- The Doors, The Crystal Ship

This song to me just kind of epitomizes the Doors and Jim Morrison. Sex, drugs and rock and roll! During my teenage, psychedelic phase, this just seemed so cool.

But I remember us riding in my brother's car
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I'd lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
they haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
Or is it something worse
- Bruce Springsteen, The River

The Boss just has so many awesome lyrics that he's written. To me this one captures so beautifully the restlessness and desperation of the love story described in the song.

We stop for a while, she gives me a smile,
And snuggles her head on my chest.
We started to pet, and thats when I get
Her talcum all over my vest.
-Nat King Cole, Walkin' My Baby Back Home

A sweet, sweet song that I've always loved. My wife and I chose it to end our wedding video and it works so well!

I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say I go about things the wrong way ?
I am Human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
-The Smiths, How Soon is Now?

High school. My awkward stage. Enough said.

The monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere,
And the elephants are kindly but they're dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical
Of changes in their cages,
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.
- Simon & Garfunkel, At The Zoo

I could write post after post of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel lyrics. I love them all. It always cracks me up how Paul Simon assigned random human qualities to the animals at the zoo, and it just works! I've been enjoying singing this song to my son lately.

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
-Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here

This song brings back many memories. Discussing its meaning in eighth grade English class, singing along at camp, hearing it at a bar in Jerusalem. Who cares what it means?

I can make it through the rain
I can stand up once again on my own
And I know that I'm strong enough to mend
And everytime I feel afraid I hold tighter to my faith
And I live one more day and I make it through the rain
- Mariah Carey, Make It Through The Rain

This song was released by Mariah after she had a bout with severe depression. Some people might consider it (and her) cheesy, but its helped me get through some tough times myself.

I'm fixing a hole
where the rain gets in
and stops my mind from wondering
- The Beatles, Fixing a Hole

Like Simon & Garfunkel, I could write post after post about Beatles lyrics. This one has always appealed to me, because I never understood how the rain gets in and stops his mind from wondering. But somehow it still makes sense that it did...

"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
- Bob Dylan, All Along the Watchtower

No collection of lyrics could leave off the master poet, Bob Dylan. This song was probably made more popular by Jimi Hendrix, but Dylan's version tells it like it is.

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind
that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world
- Elton John, Your Song

Like most classic Elton John songs, the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. I could well quote the whole song, it really holds together so well, and Elton does such a great job singing it.

So there you have it, ten of my favorites, and there's many many more. Music is just one of the things that makes life so great, no?

- posted by wanderer @ 11:16 PM

Comments:

Back in December 2004, I posted these lyrics on my blog; it's a most beautiful song by a Canadian songwriter, Amy Sky. She captures motherhood in her words. Excuse me for the length of my response. (now I have to head over to Sweettooth and Jack's Shack and name these lyrics there, too!)

ORDINARY MIRACLES

AMY SKY- DAVID PICKELL

At six weeks you learned to smile
at three months you learned to laugh
at six months you cut a tooth
and at ten months you took a step

At two years you made a best friend
at three years you rode a bike
at four years you learned to skate
and at five years you learned to write

CHORUS
Just ordinary miracles
ordinary miracles
but all the same they're miracles to me
the days that Ill remember well
have a simple kind of wonderful
of ordinary miracles

Your silky head beneath my chin
for bedtime books and lullabies
your angel kiss upon my cheek
your teddy bear clutched to your side

How soon the bike wheels turn to car wheels
the lullabies to rock and roll
the teddy bears to pretty girls
and instead of you these thoughts I'll hold

CHORUS
Just ordinary miracles
ordinary miracles
but all the same they're miracles to me
the days that Ill remember well
have a simple kind of wonderful
of ordinary miracles

BRIDGE
And I know the day will come
that you'll spread your wings and fly
but I'll treasure these moments all my life

A gentle kind of wonderful
the sweetest days are always full
of ordinary miracles
each time I hold you near
it's an ordinary miracle

Latte Music (SOCAN)/ Warner Chappell Music Canada

# posted by

torontopearl : 5/21/2006 7:50 AM

Wanderer: what a great post! I love how eclectic your musical tastes are.
I've been listening to a greatest hits of Simon and Garfunkel lately, which reminded me how eloquent and how much of an old soul Paul Simon was at such a young age.
If you are a Dylan fan...do you like Blood on the Tracks? (Got me through college along with Springsteen, Dave Mason and Bad company)
Hey Wanderer: Elliot made it lot farther than we all thought...who will win?

# posted by

cruisin-mom : 5/21/2006 9:23 AM

Springsteen has so many great lyrics- The River is just haunting.

# posted by

Jack Steiner : 5/21/2006 10:40 AM

Wow, thanks for the mention. I can get quite sappy with my love for song lyrics, but it's often because I wish I had the ability to express myself like so many of the talented songwriters that I had mentioned in Jack's post.

Like Cruisin Mom, I am also impressed by your ecletic taste.

# posted by

... Is the Window to Our Soul : 5/21/2006 5:44 PM

TP - what a beautiful song and sentiment. I'd love to hear the music that goes along with it.

Cruisin' - Elliot really grew on me in the end, especially his personality, and I was disappointed to see him go. Bottom line, though, is that Chris should be the American Idol - I can't believe he was voted off. Taylor is OK, but lacks that Idol quality. Katherine has a great voice, and is beautiful, but her personality (princess) has turned me off. Taylor will win, hands down.

Jack - yes that's why they call him The Boss. I also love "Atlantic City" on the Nebraska album.

Sweettooth - I don't really consider my taste eclectic (I guess it is), I just love good music. I also love opera. I would post the lyrics to some good arias, but then I'd have to look up the translations....

# posted by

wanderer : 5/21/2006 9:39 PM

Did you exchange
your heroes for ghosts?
hot ashes for trees?
hot air for a cool breeze?
cold comfort for change?
and did you exchange
a walk on part in a war
for a lead role in a cage?

Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here is one of my favorites too.

Another favorite:

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al

# posted by

Doctor Bean : 5/21/2006 10:05 PM

You can call me Al...great video

Wanderer, Chris will have a career anyway, no doubt. Catherine's rendition of Over the Rainbow was amazing...but I don't like her personality either...Taylor is pure joy and grateful to be there, unlike Catherine who seems entitled.

# posted by

cruisin-mom : 5/21/2006 11:09 PM

Yes any video starring Chevy Chase is ok by me. He's always kinda reminded me of my favorite uncle. Don't ask...

I don't think Katherine is any more entitled than any one else from the Valley... ;)

# posted by

wanderer : 5/22/2006 9:17 PM

Try this link for a brief sampler of the Amy Sky song; when on it, also listen to "I Will Take Care of Your" (written when her daughter was born; "Ordinary Miracles" was written when her son was born)

http://www.thelogoedcd.com/index.ecs/5475

# posted by

torontopearl : 5/23/2006 7:59 AM

did you just take a shot at this valley girl, Wanderer? Like, Oh ma G-d! ;)

# posted by

cruisin-mom : 5/23/2006 8:07 AM

Thanks for the link Pearl! Very sweet songs, indeed!

Me take a shot at the Valley? Never!

# posted by

wanderer : 5/23/2006 10:18 PM

Wanderer: sweettooth and I miss movie night. We both sit at our computers every saturday night, waiting. (don't you feel sorry for us?)

# posted by

cruisin-mom : 5/28/2006 10:27 AM

I'm sorry - I'll see if I can come up with something in the weeks to come.

I just realized I haven't actually been to a movie since before Baby wanderer was born 10 months ago!

# posted by

wanderer : 5/28/2006 9:44 PM

Wanderer, now you have gone and miss your chance to go out and see a movie. Once the baby hits 6 months, forget it, can't take it with you anymore. Guess you will just have to teach Bella to doggie dial 911 in case of an emergency, so she can watch baby wanderer.

# posted by

... Is the Window to Our Soul : 5/30/2006 7:17 PM

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