Ever come across a really great lyric whilst listening to a song and wanted to share it?

Then do so.

After all, a lyric is nothing but a story, or perhaps a poem, so I believe it fits on this forum nicely.

I was struck by the lyric of Bruce Cockburn's Tell the Universe upon a recent listen. Strongly anti-Bush (just like me), I connected with it right away.


Tell the Universe

Tell the universe what you've done
Out in the desert with your smoking gun
Looks like you've been having too much fun
Tell the universe what you've done

Tell the universe what you took
While the heavens trembled and the mountains shook
All those lives not worth a second look
Tell the universe what you took

You've been projecting your shit at the world
Self-hatred tarted up as payback time
You can self destruct-that's your right
But keep it to yourself if you don't mind

Tell the universe where you've been
With your bloodstained shoes and your dunce's grin
Got to identify next of kin
Tell the universe where you've been

- Bruce Cockburn

OK, a pair since I'm on Cockburn now.

A beautiful piece called Strange Waters - an almost more questioning, doubt-filled "Our Father". Nothing is wrong with doubt on this spiritual journey we make - it proves we're human.

Interesting that both songs use the S-word, a departure from normal for a Christian artist.


Strange Waters

I've seen a high cairn kissed by holy wind
Seen a mirror pool cut by golden fins
Seen alleys where they hide the truth of cities
The madders blessing you miles to accept without pity
I've stood in airports guarded glass and chrome
Walked rifled roads and landmined loam
Seen a forest in flames right down to the road
Burned in love till I've seen my heart explode
You've been leading me
Beside strange waters
Across the concrete fields of man
Sun ray like a camera pans
Some will run and some will stand
Everything is bullshit but the open hand
You've been leading me
Beside strange waters
Streams of beautiful lights in the night
But where is my pastureland in these dark valleys?
If I loose my grip, will I take flight?

- Bruce Cockburn

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Doug Spaulding,

For Cockburn songs, I like "Pacing The Cage".

For great lyrics, how about (from "The Witch Doctor":
"Oooh Eee Ooo Ah Ah
Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang!"

I love Pacing the Cage!

Very introspective.

October is an appropriate moonth for a song featuring the lyric "Shadows that threaten when
dancing like skeletons", no?

By the way, I did not misspell moonth.


Every Little Thing

For every little thing I did to hurt you
For every little way I made you cry
There's another line etched in my face
Another trace of sorrow in my eyes
For every careless word you spoke against me
For every time I staggered through your lies
There's another tear stain in your face
Another trace of anger in your eyes
Measuring the angle of the pain
Taking all the pleasure that remains
Shadows that follow you
Into this solitude
For every little thing I did to hurt you
For every little way I made you cry
There's another line etched in my face
Another trace of sorrow in my eyes
Swallowing the bitter and the vain
Seeing madness following in train
Shadows that threaten when
Dancing like skeletons
For every careless word you spoke against me
For every time I staggered through your lies
There's another tear stain in your face
Another trace of anger in your eyes

- T Bone Burnett

There's no songwriter quite like John Prine. A two-fer today.

First up, a song which would make George Clayton Johnson smile:


Illegal Smile

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
That I was havin' ... no fun

Chorus:
But fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun

Last time I checked my bankroll,
It was gettin' thin
Sometimes it seems like the bottom
Is the only place I've been
I Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I sat down in my closet with all my overalls
Tryin' to get away
From all the ears inside my walls
I dreamed the police heard
Everything I thought... what then?
Well I went to court
And the judge's name was Hoffman

Ah but fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun
Well done, hot dog bun, my sister's a nun

- John Prine

Annoyed by those loud TV adverts? So was John:


Quit Hollerin' At Me

I don't want your big French Fry
I don't want your car
I don't want to buy no soap
From no washed-up movie star
You are so much louder
Than the show I wanna hear
With your sugarless gum
Gee, but I'm dumb
Non-alcoholic beer
It's enough to make a grown man
Blow up his own TV
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me

I heard you the first time
I heard myself say
Seems like the little woman
Is getting bigger every day
You don't have to tell the neighbors
A little silence ain't no sin
They already think my name is
Where in the hell you been?
Louder, louder, louder, louder, louder
Constantly
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me
Whoa oh whoa oh
Sweet Serenity
Whoa oh whoa oh
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me

Ain't it great at the end of the day
When there ain't no sound around
Just me and the fence post
Staring each other down
Nothing but a big bunch of nothing
Driving me insane
Cause there ain't no voice that's louder
Than the one inside my brain
Hey you go on
Go on and let me be
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me
Whoa oh whoa oh
Sweet Serenity
Whoa oh whoa oh
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me
Quit hollerin' at me

- John Prine

Sounds like another dysfunctional relationship to me!

That too!

How's about this very SWTWC-reminiscent number?


Phil Keaggy - Chase The Bad Away lyrics

Merry go round but not so merry
Very much like a hurricane.
Instead of looking up you turn your head away,
Far away, far away and so ashamed.

So tasteless, odorless, a waste of your time
Consumed with, no strength left, a world so unkind.
But you can talk to me, yes you can talk to me.
I'll chase the bad away.

Embracing the cold with your outstretched fingers
Eyes and heart resisting me.
It's growing in your veins, you've slipped into a maze,
Back and forth, back and forth so endlessly.

So tasteless, odorless, a waste of your time
Consumed with, no strength left, a world so unkind.
But you can talk to me, yes you can talk to me.
I'll chase the bad away.

Give it up to me, give it all to me.

Merry go round but not so merry
Very much like a hurricane.
Instead of looking up you turn your head away,
Far away, far away and so ashamed.

So tasteless, odorless, a waste of your time
Consumed with, no strength left, a world so unkind.
But you can talk to me, yes you can talk to me.
I'll chase the bad away.

Another Keaggy fan - brilliant! I've been following this extraordinary talent for over twenty years. He's the best guitarist I've ever heard, and as I've seen him live many times, I can testify that he is jaw-droppingly good, as well as one of the sweetest spirits I've ever met.

Not bad for a guy with nine fingers!


LET EVERYTHING ELSE GO

Chasing down hot air balloons on Sunday morning,
In pace with a familiar tune
I reach for nothing less, but something more.
All the day, and the wind is at my back most of the way.

Holding conversation with a friend I know is near,
Great anticipation fills my soul,
It fills my heart, it fills the air.
All the day, and the wind is at my back

Oh I can't wait to see you Jesus, face to face,
Nothing in this world can take Your place.
All the pride of man laid low,
And all his works of gold,
Nothing can compare with what You are,
Let everything else go.

Oh I can't wait to see you Jesus, face to face,
Nothing in this world can take Your place.
All the pride of man laid low,
And all his works of gold,
Nothing can compare with what You are,
Let everything else go.

- Phil Keaggy

Droppingly is a good word.

The Problem

Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The man in charge has got to go
Cause he dances 'round the problem, boy
And the problem is the man in charge you know
Now, the young knows what I'm talking 'bout
It's a con in the old man's game
The man in charge, he don't know what he's doing
He don't know the world has changed
Power seems to be so far up
The man on the street ain't got a clue
The high top cats running your life
Think the problem is me and you
Born in a time that has gone by
The old tell the young what to do
Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The problem is the man in charge of you
The problem is the man in charge of you
Power seems to be so far up
The man on the street ain't got a clue
The high top cats running your life
Think the problem is me and you
Have you heard the news that's going 'round here
The man in charge has to go
The man in charge has got to go
The man in charge has to go

- J. J. Cale

Let my inspiration flow
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm
that will not forsake me
till my tale is told and done

While the firelight's aglow
strange shadows from the flames will grow
till things we've never seen
will seem familiar

Shadows of a sailor forming
winds both foul and fair all swarm
down in Carlisle he loved a lady
many years ago

Here beside him stands a man
a soldier from the looks of him
who came through many fights
but lost at love

While the storyteller speaks
a door within the fire creaks
suddenly flies open
and a girl is standing there

Eyes alight with glowing hair
all that fancy paints as fair
she takes her fan and throws it
in the lion's den

"Which of you to gain me, tell
will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you
if you will not take a chance"

The sailor gave at least a try
the soldier being much too wise
strategy was his strength
and not disaster

The sailor coming out again
the lady fairly leapt at him
that's how it stands today
you decide if he was wise

The storyteller makes no choice
soon you will not hear his voice
his job is to shed light
and not to master

Since the end is never told
we pay the teller off in gold
in hopes he will come back
but he cannot be bought or sold

Inspiration move me brightly
light the song with sense and color,
hold away despair
More than this I will not ask
faced with mysteries dark and vast
statements just seem vain at last
some rise, some fall, some climb
to get to Terrapin

Counting stars by candlelight
all are dim but one is bright:
the spiral light of Venus
rising first and shining best,
From the northwest corner
of a brand-new crescent moon
crickets and cicadas sing
a rare and different tune

Terrapin Station

in the shadow of the moon
Terrapin Station
and I know I'll be there soon
Terrapin---I can't figure out
Terrapin---if it's the end or beginning
Terrapin---but the train's put its brakes on
and the whistle is screaming Terrapin