Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Lyrics
Post your lyrics and whatever associated commentary you'd like to make in the comments section to this post. If you want to comment on someone else's post, make sure you quote the bit of lyric you want to talk about as well as citing which poster you're responding to. Have fun and email me with any questions.
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Björk- "Bachelorette" (1st verse)
I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl
You're the bird on the brim
Hypnotised by the whirl
DMB- Where Are You Going
I am no Superman, I have no answers for you
I am no hero, oh that's for sure
But I do know one thing, is where you are,
is where I belong
I do know where you go, is where I want to be.
I had to edit my first comment- sorry! There is no comma between "are" on the third line and "is" on the fourth. It should read like this:
I am no Superman, I have no answers for you
I am no hero, oh that's for sure
But I do know one thing, is where you are
is where I belong
I do know where you go, is where I want to be.
Breaking Benjamin "Breath" Phobia
You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
'cause I will be the death of you.
This will be all over soon.
Pour salt into the open wound.
--This song really "gets under my skin" because the lyrics speak of the consequences of love. Have you ever loved someone so much that you want to die?
Billy Joel: "Uptown Girl"
Uptown Girl,
Shes been living in her uptown world.
I bet she never have a back street guy.
I bet her mama never told her why.
I chose the first verse from Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" because it was playing on my friends computer when I got home after class!I also wanted to choose a song that most people in the class know, so that the exercise would be more fun for everyone!
I think that this song is a great example of several poetic devices we have discussed so far including: stresses, syntactic breaks, secondary stresses, polysyllabic words which create a flow at the end of each line, and repetition/rhyming techniques.
oops- I messed up too. Heres the correct lyrics.
Uptown Girl,
Shes been living in her uptown world.
I bet she never HAD a back street guy.
I bet her mama never told her why.
Lookin good. It's funny, until you start looking at lyrics, it's easy to forget that so much music is about relationships. No one ever writes songs about red wheel barrows or apple trees.
Here's my lyric, just 'cause it's what I'm listening to right now as I'm working and I've been excited about the album. It's from Arcade Fire, "Black Mirror"
"Shot by a security camera
You can't watch your own image
And also look yourself in the eye.
Black Mirror,
Black Mirror,
Black Mirror."
It's interesting to pay attention to how Win Butler sings the lines -- using timing and emphasis he promotes a lot of stresses that wouldn't normally be there:
"SHOT BY a secURity CAm'ra,
YOU CAN'T WATCH YOUR own IMage..."
The effect is powerful and disorienting. Which works well with the song.
I hope this posts ok since I'm doing it from my phone:
Lauryn Hill- When it Hurts so Bad
I loved real, real hard once
But the love wasn't returned
Found out the man I'd die for
He wasn't even concerned
I tried, and I tried, and I tried
To keep him in my life
I cried, and I cried, and I cried
But I couldn't make it right
I picked these lyrics because they remind me of being 16. The lyrics also give examples of strong and weak breaks when it comes to syntax. I also like how "tried" gets stressed 3 times. It really let's the reader/listener understand that she made a big attempt to make the relationship work. Every two lines make a complete sentence and that is the basic structure of the entire song when it comes to the verses.
It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
By Bob Dylan
For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.
While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And then say God bless him.
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.
But I mean no harm nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him.
"Liquid Diamonds" Tori Amos
I guess I'm an underwater thing
So I guess I can't take it personally
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I'm liquid running
Theres a sea secret in me
It's plain to see it is rising
But I must be flowing liquid diamonds
"Dancing" by Elisa
My eyes are on you, they're on you,
And you see that I can't stop shaking.
No, I won't step back,
But I'll look down to hide from your eyes
Because what I feel is so sweet
and I'm scared that even my own breath,
Oh, could burst it if it were a bubble.
And I'd better dream if I have to struggle.
Boys Like Girls "Thunder"
Yeah I'm walking on a tightrope
I'm wrapped up in vines
I think we'll make it out
But you just gotta give me time
Strike me down with lightning
Let me feel you in my veins
I wanna let you know how much I feel your pain
"A Time for Us"
from 1968 Romeo and Juliet
A time for us, some day there'llbe
When chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free
A time when dreams so long denied can flourish
As we unveil the love we now must hide
A time for us, at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me
The Clash - Train In Vain
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Now I got a job
But it don't pay
I need new clothes
I need somewhere to stay
But without all these things I can do
But without your love I won't make it through
But you don't understand my point of view
I suppose there's nothing I can do
Alicia Russell
boots of spanish leather- bob dylan
Oh, but I just thought you might want something fine
Made of silver or of golden,
Either from the mountains of Madrid
Or from the coast of Barcelona.
Oh, but if I had the stars from the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean,
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss,
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'.
"I'll Back You Up"
Dave Matthews Band
And your lips burn wild
Thrown from the face of a child
And in your eyes
The seeing of the greatest view
Do what you will, always
Walk where you like, your steps
Do as you please, I'll back you up
I chose these lyrics because the complexity of the words work well with the simplicity of the acoustic guitar and vocals giving the song its charm. It's a love song that is realistically sweet rather than obsessively aching.
Jimmy Eat World: "Hear You Me"
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
I love this song because of how perfectly it captures the feelings of a person left behind with such simplicity.
Joanna Newsom, “Sawdust and Diamonds”
From the top of the flight
Of the wide white stairs
Through the rest of my life
Do you wait for me there?
There's a bell in my ears
There's a wide white roar
Drop a bell down the stairs
Hear it fall forevermore
Bob Dylan - I Shall be Released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears he's not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
New Order - 60 Miles An Hour
You could take me to an island
Ride across a stormy sea
We could worship pagan idols
There together you and me
Common- "Be"
Walk like warriors, we were never told to run
Explored the world to return to where my soul begun
Never looking back, or too far in front of me
The present is a gift, and i just want to Be
Sorry for the late post I just checked my email!!
Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli)- Respiration (Feat. Common)
chorus-
So much on my mind that I just can't recline
Blastin holes in the night til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin
Chest heavin, against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving
I chose this song because of the imagery that's found in Mos, Kweli and Common's lyrics. The song's really long, so I just posted the chorus, but the entire song really paints a vivid picture of NYC lifestyle for the listener.
Devin,
Should we pay attention to how the artist sings the lyrics??? I was having trouble with my paper cause Dave sings it a little different than how you might normally read it if it was in a book of poetry. I hope I didn't comment too late...I should have asked yestereday!!!
Thanks,
Megan
A great mix of lyrics here.
Meg asked a good question. You don't *have* to pay attention to how the singer/rapper emphasizes the lyrics, but it might be easier to focus on how its performed, and then, if we discuss it in class, we can talk about the difference between that performance and how the words would usually be emphasized.
In other words, if you're prepared to talk about how it's performed, the class can help you examine how else it might be expressed.
From Elton John's Crocodile Rock
I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
"The Great Below" - NIN
Staring at the sea
Will she come?
Is there hope for me
After all is said and done
Anything at any price
All of this for you
All the spoils of a wasted life
All of this for you
All the world has closed her eyes
Tried faith all worn and thin
For all we could have done
And all that could have been
Ocean pulls me close
And whispers in my ear
The destiny I've chose
All becoming clear
The currents have their say
The time is drawing near
Washes me away
Makes me disappear
I descend from grace
In arms of undertow
I will take my place
In the great below
I can still feel you
Even so far away
Red Hot Chilli Peppers- "Scar Tissue"
Soft spoken with a broken jaw
Step outside but not to brawl
Autumn’s sweet we call it fall
I’ll make it to the moon if I have to crawl and
With the birds I’ll share
This lonely view...
Tool - Eulogy
Would have done nin...but its been done
Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice so strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I'm so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me.
John Legend-"Save Room"
This just might hurt a little
Love hurts sometimes when you do it right
Don't be afraid of a little bit of pain
Pleasure is on the other side
Let down your guard just a little
I'll keep you safe in these arms of mine
Hold on to me pretty baby
You will see I can be all you need if you stay
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