Worst lyrics in a song.
#1
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Worst lyrics in a song.
I got this idea from listening to Kevin & Bean (morning talk) this morning.
What are some just incredibly bad lyrics for songs? Like the writer just got lazy or had a brain fart?
Note: This thread isn't meant to trash a band. Some bad lyrics may be by bands you really like -- maybe even in songs that you like. Also, try to avoid giving songs that have purposely stupid or nonsensical lyrics (i.e. TMBG, Beck's "Loser", etc.)
One they mentioned was Blondie's "Rapture" -- which I totally agree. I hate that song because the lyrics are so horrible.
Their pick though, for worst lyrics was a Tom Jones song called "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer".
Another thing. The whole song doesn't have to have bad lyrics. It can just be one really bad line.
What are some just incredibly bad lyrics for songs? Like the writer just got lazy or had a brain fart?
Note: This thread isn't meant to trash a band. Some bad lyrics may be by bands you really like -- maybe even in songs that you like. Also, try to avoid giving songs that have purposely stupid or nonsensical lyrics (i.e. TMBG, Beck's "Loser", etc.)
One they mentioned was Blondie's "Rapture" -- which I totally agree. I hate that song because the lyrics are so horrible.
Their pick though, for worst lyrics was a Tom Jones song called "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer".
The young New Mexican puppeteer
He saw the people all lived in fear
He thought that maybe they'd listen to
A puppet telling them what to do
You know he got some string and he got some wood
He did some carving and he was good
And folks came running so they could hear
The young New Mexican puppeteer
He saw the people all lived in fear
He thought that maybe they'd listen to
A puppet telling them what to do
You know he got some string and he got some wood
He did some carving and he was good
And folks came running so they could hear
The young New Mexican puppeteer
#2
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The worst couplet I have heard in a while is from the new Good Life album, which has a line about seeing an old girlfriend:
"Some old flame/Some old burn victim"
I think that is just unforgivably bad.
"Some old flame/Some old burn victim"
I think that is just unforgivably bad.
#4
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
I really like the String Cheese Incident a lot. Billy Nershi (the guitarist) writes pretty good songs, lyrically and musically. Michael Kang (the mandolinist, violinist) is a really good musician, but the guy should not be allowed to write lyrics...ever. He tries to write songs about serious issues, but they come across like the rhymes of a 4th grader. An example..."Come as You Are".
In the past we’ve been told to fear
Strange new things as they’re coming near
Sometimes we listen without heed or care
We let our minds close before we see what is there
It’s not like we try to let the world fly by
Without thinking of truth or what is all right
So if you stop to consider a world that is bigger
We might just stop and consider this world
Chorus:
Come as you are, Oh come as you are (x4)
There’s no room for anger and hatred
Of people and things we have not faced yet
We’re so quick to condemn by the color of skin
Before we look closely at what makes a heart beat
So if you take a step backwards
And see how awkward it is to stay closed and protected in castles
You may come to a new understanding of freedom
When you wave your arms and shout in the air
Chorus
Strange new things as they’re coming near
Sometimes we listen without heed or care
We let our minds close before we see what is there
It’s not like we try to let the world fly by
Without thinking of truth or what is all right
So if you stop to consider a world that is bigger
We might just stop and consider this world
Chorus:
Come as you are, Oh come as you are (x4)
There’s no room for anger and hatred
Of people and things we have not faced yet
We’re so quick to condemn by the color of skin
Before we look closely at what makes a heart beat
So if you take a step backwards
And see how awkward it is to stay closed and protected in castles
You may come to a new understanding of freedom
When you wave your arms and shout in the air
Chorus
#5
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Cannibal Ox - "You were a stillborn baby / Mother didn't want you, but you were still born"
I can't fathom why anyone would want to recite such an awful joke, much less record and distribute it.
I can't fathom why anyone would want to recite such an awful joke, much less record and distribute it.
#6
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Originally posted by Aghama
Cannibal Ox - "You were a stillborn baby / Mother didn't want you, but you were still born"
I can't fathom why anyone would want to recite such an awful joke, much less record and distribute it.
Cannibal Ox - "You were a stillborn baby / Mother didn't want you, but you were still born"
I can't fathom why anyone would want to recite such an awful joke, much less record and distribute it.
#7
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from the Fine Young Cannibals' "Good Thing"
Then one day
She came back
I was so happy that I didn't act
Nothing horrible about that line, but way too simple even for a silly pop song and the way the lead singer placed each syllable exactly on each beat -- and therefore had to stretch out the word "didn't" over several beats -- bugs me whenever I think about it.
Which, thanks to this thread, is a lot more than I would have otherwise.
Then one day
She came back
I was so happy that I didn't act
Nothing horrible about that line, but way too simple even for a silly pop song and the way the lead singer placed each syllable exactly on each beat -- and therefore had to stretch out the word "didn't" over several beats -- bugs me whenever I think about it.
Which, thanks to this thread, is a lot more than I would have otherwise.
#8
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally posted by grunter
Pick any Stone Temple Pilots song.
ANY.
Pick any Stone Temple Pilots song.
ANY.
#9
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Um, Jewel is the best at bad lyrics:
From "Do you want to play?":
Don't ever give away what you can't take back
Don't try and understand what you can't comprehend
Underneath the disco neon daylight chandelier disco deity of the chivalry
I said, "take it back
take it back
take it back..."
huh?
From "Love me, Just Leave me Alone:
Your mother was a wolf bite
Your daddy was a cigarette
Your brother was a rosebud
Crossbred with a car wreck
Your sister was a stockbroker
But you ain't nothing but a turtleneck
Hookay.........
And last, but certainly not least, from "Sometimes it Be that way" (as if the title weren't enough):
Now flame licks the air with its silver tongue
Night has many hands but I have just one
???????????????? What the hell?!
From "Do you want to play?":
Don't ever give away what you can't take back
Don't try and understand what you can't comprehend
Underneath the disco neon daylight chandelier disco deity of the chivalry
I said, "take it back
take it back
take it back..."
huh?
From "Love me, Just Leave me Alone:
Your mother was a wolf bite
Your daddy was a cigarette
Your brother was a rosebud
Crossbred with a car wreck
Your sister was a stockbroker
But you ain't nothing but a turtleneck
Hookay.........
And last, but certainly not least, from "Sometimes it Be that way" (as if the title weren't enough):
Now flame licks the air with its silver tongue
Night has many hands but I have just one
???????????????? What the hell?!
#10
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Pick just about any GENE SIMMONS song.....'nuff said
#13
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Originally posted by grunter
Pick any Lenny Kravitz
Pick any Lenny Kravitz
I think Lenny has a "Cliches That Rhyme" lyric book that he uses to write all his songs.
#14
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Any rhyme using allright / light / night / tight / might / fight .. ugh!! eg. ----> hold you tight, all through the night, till the morning light to make you feel allright, yada yada.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is a relatively unknown British musician and songwriter, Peter Hammill, who has no peer in terms of literate lyric writing. He is untouchable. And at 40+ albums he has certainly proven his consistency. Check his website for examples of his lyrics.
http://www.sofasound.com
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is a relatively unknown British musician and songwriter, Peter Hammill, who has no peer in terms of literate lyric writing. He is untouchable. And at 40+ albums he has certainly proven his consistency. Check his website for examples of his lyrics.
http://www.sofasound.com
#15
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Nick Cave is pretty hit or miss...and when his lyrics are bad, they're terrible. The Murder Ballads album is a prime example - just awful. there are so many instances of rhyming lines with "la da dee" or something like it that it's sick.
On the flip side - The Mountain Goats have some of the best lyrics ever.
On the flip side - The Mountain Goats have some of the best lyrics ever.
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Ergyu
rap
Edit: ok ok, I just saw the spice girls video on MTV2 for Wannabe. The chorus takes the cake.
rap
Edit: ok ok, I just saw the spice girls video on MTV2 for Wannabe. The chorus takes the cake.
And I agree with the rap. Well mainstream rap, at least. All they talk about is b*tches, ho's, cars and life in the projects. And the worst thing is the way they glorify themselves. They need to get over themselves IMO.
#18
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally posted by Goat3001
they still play that video??
they still play that video??
#19
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Hey, don't forget Limp Bizkit:
This time we're gonna let it all come out
This time we're gonna stand up and shout
We're gonna do things my way
Cuz it's my way
My way or the highway
This time we're gonna let it all come out
This time we're gonna stand up and shout
We're gonna do things my way
Cuz it's my way
My way or the highway
#20
Originally posted by PaperStreetSoapCo
Hey, don't forget Limp Bizkit:
This time we're gonna let it all come out
This time we're gonna stand up and shout
We're gonna do things my way
Cuz it's my way
My way or the highway
Hey, don't forget Limp Bizkit:
This time we're gonna let it all come out
This time we're gonna stand up and shout
We're gonna do things my way
Cuz it's my way
My way or the highway
It goes, "Maybe we can a run and meet up on the sun"
Whatever. A kindergartner could spit out rhymes phatter than that.
#21
DVD Talk Hero
The worst line from a song as far as I'm concerned is from Van Halen's "Why Can't This Be Love":
"only time will tell if we stand the test of time".
Well duh.
"only time will tell if we stand the test of time".
Well duh.
#24
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
This one might take the cake (putting in spoiler tags due to the innate ability this song has to get stuck in one's head all day long):
Spoiler: