|
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". 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 |
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. |
Pick any Lenny Kravitz or Stone Temple Pilots song.
ANY. |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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. ;) |
Originally posted by grunter Pick any Stone Temple Pilots song. ANY. |
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?! |
Pick just about any GENE SIMMONS song.....'nuff said
|
Anything by ELO.
|
rap
Edit: ok ok, I just saw the spice girls video on MTV2 for Wannabe. The chorus takes the cake. |
Originally posted by grunter Pick any Lenny Kravitz I think Lenny has a "Cliches That Rhyme" lyric book that he uses to write all his songs. |
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 |
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. |
I can't think of any lines that drive me nuts right now, but I do know that Alanis Morissette has some stuff that is pure nonsensical drivel.
|
Originally posted by Ergyu 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. |
Originally posted by Goat3001 :yack: they still play that video?? |
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 :yack: |
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 :yack: It goes, "Maybe we can a run and meet up on the sun" Whatever. A kindergartner could spit out rhymes phatter than that. |
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. |
My vote goes for the godawful "Last Resort" by Papa Roach. The line "suffocation, no breathing" is not only redundant, but lame.
|
Aerosmith's "Cryin'" - "What can i do/ I'm sad like the color blue".
|
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:
|
That reminds me, how about Counting Crows Long December (I think that's the title).
"Nah nah nah nah nah na nah na nah, nah na nah na, yea" |
more limp bizkit:
"I did it all for the nookie, yeah the nookie, so you can take that cookie, and stick it up your.." repeat ad nauseum Puddle of Mudd: "I love the way you smack my ass" I could go on, but why bother. Just turn on the radio or MTV2, Much Music etc. |
Originally posted by joshhinkle Puddle of Mudd: "I love the way you smack my ass" I could go on, but why bother. Just turn on the radio or MTV2, Much Music etc. |
Originally posted by Tom Banjo 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:
|
Originally posted by atlantamoi I can't think of any lines that drive me nuts right now, but I do know that Alanis Morissette has some stuff that is pure nonsensical drivel. I gotta go with Lenny Kravitz here, although it's really his music that's more repetative, dull, and painful to listen to than his lyrics. |
Originally posted by dfbennett That reminds me, how about Counting Crows Long December (I think that's the title). "Nah nah nah nah nah na nah na nah, nah na nah na, yea" Admittedly, "A Long December" is one of my favorite songs, so I'm biased, but I'd've written the same thing if you'd been quoting the same lyrics from some 'NSync song (if there is one, in fact, with nah-nah-nah's). |
"why don't you be my girlfriend and ill treat you good." (i listen to some top 40 but this song period makes me laugh it is that lame.)
|
Counting Crows...anything of theirs ive ever heard
|
"I just cut myself on a piece of your broken heart"
and a few other winners at http://home.earthlink.net/~schenz/C_W.htm |
Originally posted by costanza187 Counting Crows...anything of theirs ive ever heard |
I vote for whatever the new Pink single is called. (Protect me from me or something like that). I accidently left for work without my cd case a week or so ago and ended up flipping through the radio. I happened upon it right at the verse about her not selling out to be a popstar and not being pretty like "Damn Brittany Spears". I almost wrecked my car I was laughing so hard.
|
"Urgent" or pretty much anything by Foreigner. I like the music, but I try very hard to turn off my brain when they sing. Dirty White Boy, Head Games, Seventeen, Feels Like The First Time, Cold As Ice, Hot Blooded. Man, the list goes on and on...
|
Originally posted by Rypro 525 well actually, a radio staiton said that it was consitered a creative lyric and when it first came out on the radio, people refered it to the "smack my ass" song. The lyric did make for good marketing, but that doesn't make it a good, well-written lyric. Besides, most radio stations wouldn't know a good lyric if it smacked them upside the head. :D |
Originally posted by joshhinkle Besides, most radio stations wouldn't know a good lyric if it smacked them upside the head. :D |
"Meaning less than a game of chess"
*clang* |
Originally posted by maxfisher I vote for whatever the new Pink single is called. (Protect me from me or something like that). I accidently left for work without my cd case a week or so ago and ended up flipping through the radio. I happened upon it right at the verse about her not selling out to be a popstar and not being pretty like "Damn Brittany Spears". I almost wrecked my car I was laughing so hard. |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:22 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.