Lyrics...

[fajrdrako]

From January 15, 2009: But, enough about books … Other things have words, too, right? Like … songs!

If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.

So, today’s question?

What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love? Why? And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them? You don’t have to restrict yourself to modern songsters, either … anyone who wants to pick Gilbert & Sullivan, for example, is just fine with me. Lerner & Loewe? Steven Sondheim? Barenaked Ladies? Fountains of Wayne? The Beatles? Anyone at all…

I love songs with interesting lyrics. Lyrics come first for me: a song catches my attention because of the words. I love songs with strong narratives. And I love showtunes. This is why I also love filk.

A caveat: I don't like song lyrics divorced from their tunes. I like hearing them sung; I don't like reading them. And I dislike songfic for that reason. Song lyrics don't work as poetry or as prose.

:Songs with specific lyrics I love:

• "Just You Wait" by Lerner and Leowe, from My Fair Lady
  
• "I'd Do Anything" by Lionel Bart, from Oliver!, especially the verse:

  Would you lace my shoe?
  Anything
  Paint your face bright blue?
  Anything
  Catch a kangaroo?
  Anything
  Go to Timbuctu?
  And back again

  
  
• "Anything Goes" from Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Or maybe "You're the Top", which is even better.
  
• Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" - and a lot of her other lyrics, too.
  
• Some of the other 1960s pop/rock lyrics, like Gene Pitney's "Backstage" and Patty Duke's "Please Don't Just Stand There"
  
• Certain filksongs, especially those by Tom Smith, especially "A Boy and His Frog".
  
• "The March of the Sinister Ducks" by Alan Moore
  
• Anything written by Gerard Way.
  
• "A Da in the Life" by The Beatles

Tempted to go on and on... and I haven't even mentioned the songs with romantic lyrics which I love, like "Hey There" (from The Pajama Game) or "On The Street Where You Live" (form My Fair Lady, that's a favourite), or "It Had to Be You" or "Embraceable You", which is Gershwin. Then there's Eartha Kitt, in a class of her own:

I like the old fashioned flowers, violets are for me -
Have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany.
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And an old fashioned millionaire.

Comments

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Yay for Gerard Way, lyricist extraordinaire!!! I happen to be listening to "Tell me I'm a bad bad bad bad man, kick me like a stray; tell me I'm an angel, take this to my grave". I love his lyrics.

And I have a soft spot for the playfulness of the lyrics of "You're the Top".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gerard Way, lyricist extraordinaire!!!

Just amazing, isn't he? He has a way of putting words together that makes them more than the sum of their parts. I wish I could do that.

I love his lyrics.

Me too. And the more I listen, the more I get from them - connotations and nuances.

I have a soft spot for the playfulness of the lyrics of "You're the Top".

Me too!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

You knew I'd comment, didn't you? About the wonderfulness of Gerard's lyrics, I mean. I am nothing if not wholehearted in my enthusiasms. Not to mention predictable. LOL.

PS Have you posted the Dr Who fic, BTW? I know you said Saturday, but can't remember if it was this or next Sat... What I'm trying to ask is whether my very sketchy and still unfinished beta comments would be any use or if I've left it too late. There's nothing exactly essential in them, so you haven't missed a lot if it is too late. Sorry. I do hope you went with the title I suggested, though - I'd like to feel I was helpful. :)

My Merlin fic has languished due to lack of time, energy and inspiration. Though that may be changing. ::crosses fingers::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You knew I'd comment, didn't you? About the wonderfulness of Gerard's lyrics, I mean.

I didn't know, but I hoped. [g] Your comments always welcome. Any topic.

PS Have you posted the Dr Who fic, BTW? I know you said Saturday, but can't remember if it was this or next Sat...

Next Saturday. And I had no time at all to look at it over the weekend. Or the other fic I wanted to work on. Such is life. I did have fun watching The Sarah Jane Adventures with Beulah, and rearranging maaseru's DVD collection. Oh, how I need longer weekends! I can't even catch up on sleep, let alone get fic written.

What I'm trying to ask is whether my very sketchy and still unfinished beta comments would be any use or if I've left it too late.

They would be. Oh yes, very much so. And not too late. Please!

I do love the title you suggested and will use it.

I hope to see your Merlin fic soon. Really. I'd love to beta it.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

That's a very beautiful icon. ::admires::

I know what you mean about weekends. I seem to have fallen into the habit of using them mainly to do laundry and recuperate from the preceding week, leaving me with little time or energy to do fun stuff. Which then depresses me. Hmm.

Am glad beta comments aren't too late - hurrah! Will work on expanding them a bit before sending them to you. Also glad about the title - go me! ;)

You have been entered as official beta for Merlin fic. When is another question and one which I am not currently mentally equipped to answer...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I seem to have fallen into the habit of using them mainly to do laundry and recuperate from the preceding week,

Yes. I'm too tired to do my errands through the week, so I have to do all the shopping, housekeeping, etc., on weekends. So each weekend I slave to get it all done and then I feel as if I haven't rested or had any fun. And the place still isn't as neat and clean as I'd like it to be. Waah! And worse, stories aren't written, and stories that are written aren't posted.

But... I persevere.

When is another question and one which I am not currently mentally equipped to answer...

It'll happen. Hang in there.

[elebridith]

Good lyrics can be like a kick in the guts...
Cole Porter is always a win! The musical "Les Miserables" has some of the most beautiful lyrics ever. I think it's the trait of a good musical to have good lyrics.

As for popular music - Suzanne Vega. "Luka" is such a kick in the gut.
http://www.lyricsdomain.com/19/suzanne_vega/luka.html
Sometimes it's just snippets - from "Knight Moves": "And if you wonder what I am doing as I'm heading for the sink, I am spitting out all the bitterness along with half of my last drink"

And of course - U2 has some of the best lyrics ever. Written about Bono's dad:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/sometimes-you-cant-make-it-on-your-own-lyrics-u2.html

I love it when I find haunting tunes with such lyrics. gives me goosebumps in the good way.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good lyrics can be like a kick in the guts...

Yup. I love discovering a new song, or a new song writer, with good lyrics.

Thanks for the tips re U2 and Suzanne Vega.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I saw an amateur production of Anything Goes before Christmas - I was surprised how many of the songs I already knew. And I spent a few minutes imagining Mr Barrowman in the main role.

I have trouble divoricing lyrics from the music as well - I couldn't say with most things whether it was the music or lyrics that made me like a song. Though I love Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I saw an amateur production of Anything Goes before Christmas -

Ooh, I wish I had! I've never seen it live at all.

I spent a few minutes imagining Mr Barrowman in the main role.

Nice, nice mental image.

I couldn't say with most things whether it was the music or lyrics that made me like a song.

No. It usually goes together.

I love Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, too. I really like Leonard Cohen. And I'd have trouble saying whether it was his music or his lyrics I like most.

[filkferengi]

One problem with being a filker is, we actually listen to the words. I can still enjoy the pop I was raised on, because of the nostalgic connections, but with new stuff I always wind up wondering, "Dude, where's my plot?" [or sometimes character development].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - all that narrative development. I tend to look for it, expect it - want it!