Ok, to correct my bad song karma: SONG WITH BEST LYRICS EVER

[Bossy Monkey]

Heading out for supper, so I won't be here to nursemaid this like the Worst Lyrics poll. However, as we're a positive attitude bunch, I'm sure the response will be at least as enthusiastic.

I also don't have any obvious reply to suggest, at least not anything anybody's heard of. I'd probably have to go with "Wilderness" by Peter Case, the only song I know of to flash from the Civil War to Vietnam to Jesus. Doesn't have a good beat, nor can you dance to it, but those aren't criteria this time out, fortunately.

Best lyrics is a lot tougher to focus on than worst, isn't it? Well share me some anyway!:)

Edit: Links are probably helpful. Cutting and pasting the lyrics into your post, however, is naughty unless it's a very short song. Alas, I don't think Peter has any lyrics online.

[kimchi]

1. Imagine.

I think most people know the lyrics by heart.

[sweetladybug]

2. IMAGINE (MY FAVORITE SONG)

[Radical Activist]

14. You and Kucinich

That was his campaign theme song

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Gee, maybe I should have said "to correct the Lounge's bad song karma"

Ok, heading out. Gimme some more replies, will ya?

[mitchum]

4. Hey, undisclosedlocation...

my best friend was just out in California recording with Case for his upcoming album. Plus...he's been cowriting some songs with Steve Wynn. God, it would be so easy to hate him if I didn't like him so much :)

Best lyrics? Lou Reed's "Oh Jim"

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Too cool; thanks for letting me know

I kind of lost track of Case's career when my cd money ran out, but as I've had a recent infusion I might be catching up. Infuriatingly uneven records he puts out, but when he's good there's none better.

[ACK]

5. Democracy by Leonard Cohen

That's all just very good.

[ironflange]

6. Tequila!

mmmmmm. . . tequila

[Bossy Monkey]

8. But I don't like tequila :)

On a similar theme, you could go for Song for Guy by Elton John, the lyrics to which go something like this:
Life isn't everything
isn't everything
isn't everything
Life isn't everything
isn't everything
isn't everything
Life
Life
Life

[bbernardini]

9. Dead Kennedys - "Short Songs"

I like short songs (repeat 13 times)

[kodi]

10. desolation row

.

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Thanks, I was afraid this thread would die Dylan-less

'though I'd have gone with Tangled up in Blue.

[kodi]

13. i love tangled up in blue, bur DR's lyrics are better to my measure

the imagery of the lyrics is amazing and the way they just seem to tumble out is nigh on indescribable

the entire Highway 61 Revisited is.

his best album, alongside blood on the tracks

[Servo300]

12. Kansas - "Miracles out of Nowhere"

[Radical Activist]

15. A case of you

by Joni Mitchel

It probably has my favorite lyrics by someone not named Bob Dylan.

A few Rage Against the Machine songs come to mind too. Powerfull stuff.

[Red State Rebel]

17. Excellent suggestion!

I love her new rendetion of Both Sides Now in that low voice she sounds like Rosemary Clooney.

[bhunt70]

16. Common People by Pulp

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at St Martin's College
That's where I
Caught her eye

She told me that her dad was loaded
I said, "In that case I'll have rum and Coca Cola"
She said "fine"
And then in 30 seconds' time
She said

"I wanna live like common people
I wanna do whatever common people do
Wanna sleep with common people
I wanna sleep with common people like you

Well what else could I do?
I said, "I'll..."
"I'll see what I can do."

I took her to a supermarket
I dunno why, but I had to start it somewhere
So it started
there
I said, "Pretend you've got no money"
But she just laughed and said, "Oh, you're so funny!"
I said "yeah" (huh)
(But I can't see anyone else smiling in 'ere.)
"Are you sure?"

"You wanna live like common people
You wanna see whatever common people see
Wanna sleep with common people
You wanna sleep with
Common people like me?"

But she didn't
understand
Oh, she just smiled and held my hand

Oh, rent a flat above a shop
And cut your hair and get a job
And smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'Cos when you're laying in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad he could stop it all, yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do what common people do
Never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And then dance
and drink
and screw
because there's nothing else to do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along even though they're laughing at you
And the stupid things that you do
Because you think that poor is cool

Like a dog lying in the corner
They will bite you and never warn you - look out
They'll tear your insides out

'Cos everybody hates a tourist
Especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh
(sniff) yeah!
And the chip stains and grease
Will come out in the bath

You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright whilst you can only wonder why

Oh, rent a flat above a shop
And cut your hair and get a job
And smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
And still you'll never get it right
'Cos when you're laying in bed at night
Watching
Roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad he could stop it all, yeah

Never live like common people
Never do what common people do
Never fail like common people
Never watch your life slide out of view
And then dance and drink and... screw
Because there's nothing else to do

Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you, la la la la
Oh, la la la la
Oh, la la la la
Oh, la la la la lala
Oh yeah.