I think that Kris Kristofferson has written many, many songs with brilliant lyrics. Sunday morning coming down and Loving her was easier than anything I’ll ever do being two of many wonderful examples.
Kris Kristofferson. Wasn't he once married to Rita Ritacoolidge? And he appeared with Bob Bobdylan in the film Pat Patgarrett and Billy the Billykid
Was one of the Highwaymen and can't sing for toffee. Makes my ears bleed
On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre Contemplating a crime. She comes out of the sun in a silk dress Running Like a water colour in the rain. Don't bother asking for explanations She'll just tell you that she came In the year of the cat.
You may not agree with his politics, and his singing is an acquired taste, but Billy Bragg writes some bloody good lyrics. Personal favourite is probably "Must I Paint You A Picture", which starts off
"It's bad timing and me:
We find a lot of things out this way.
And there's you
a little black cloud in a dress.
The temptation to take the precious things we have apart to see how they work
must be resisted for they never fit together again."
Although as a football fan I've always been tickled by the bit in "Greetings to the New Brunette" that goes
"Sometimes when we're as close as this,
it's like we are in a dream.
How can you lie there and think of England
when you don't even know who's in the team?"
Those New Brunette lyrics had me chuckling all day. I used to love his raw singing and guitar, coupled with some clever lyrics.
Brilliant love song, wrote this on the back of a postcard & gave it to my new partner over dinner on holiday. She cried........Feel the same now as I did then.
If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you Still my heart this moment Or it might burst Could we stay right here 'til the end of time 'til the earth stops turning Wanna love you 'til the seas run dry I've found the one I've waited for
All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs Wanna stay right here 'til the end of time 'til the earth stops turning Gonna love you 'til the seas run dry I've found the one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
All I've known All I've done All I've felt was leading to this All I've known All I've done All I've felt was leading to this Wanna stay right here 'Til the end of time 'till the earth stops turning I'm gonna love you till the seas run dry I've found the one I've waited for The one I've waited for The one I've waited for
Wanna stay right here 'Til the end of time 'till the earth stops turning I'm gonna love you till the seas run dry I've found the one I've waited for The one I've waited for The one I've waited for
What kind of love have you got?
You should be home, but you’re not cos a room full of noise and dangerous boys
still makes you thirsty and hot
I heard about you and that man
There’s just one thing I don’t understand
You say he’s a liar and he put out
your fire
How come you still got his gun in your hand?
Victim of love , I see a broken heart
You got your stories to tell
Victim of love, it’s such an easy part
and you know how to play it so well
I'm sure it was an accident My hands are made of nitroglycerine That explains the incident
Fortune built my homes in daydreams Pages I'd never seen I'm sorry you were so disappointed The contract states quite fundamentally The undersigned is you Lay your life on the line
No questions (Life on the line) That's fine (Life) Just sign on the dotted line
You didn't hesitate at the inkwell A sample of the poet's blood Guitars pluck a tune in the ozone But me, I'm just stuck in the mud
Fortune left my hopes in daydreams Pages I'd never seen I'm sorry you were so disappointed The contract states quite fundamentally The undersigned is you Lay your life on the line
No questions (Life on the line) That's fine (Life) Just sign on the dotted line
Fortune built my hopes in daydreams Pages I'd never seen I'm sorry you were so disappointed The contract states quite fundamentally The undersigned is you Lay your life on the line
I met her at a baseball game That got held up by August rain Beneath the mezzanine I huddled up against her hand By then the rain had left the ground And Seger threw a few on the mound We stood to face the flag that flew above the Navy band Then the anthem began to blare through the stadium It rang through the open air And I knew this was the time to make my pitch
Won't you come home with me? I've a room you should see With a warm waterbed And pillow for your head I've a robe you could wear And smoke we could share You are blond – I am tall And I think that says it all A quick glass of wine Then I'll feed you a line Nilsson will sing And you won't feel a thing Oh say you will stay with me, love Must I say "I love you?"
"Well, how do ya' like my pad?" "Oh, it's great. I mean, I love purple." "I – I bet you're an Aquarius, aren't you?" "No. Actually I'm a Leo." "I knew you were one of those." "You know, Leos are very big on Women's Lib." "I don't, uh, believe in Women's Lib." "Uh, somehow I didn't think you did." "Let me just turn on the hi-fi here." "Oh, that's pretty. Uh, what kind of wine is this?" "Oh, that's uh – that's red wine." "Red! That's my favorite kind." "Are you having a terrific time?" "Oh, yeah. I'm having a very terrific time."
On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre Contemplating a crime. She comes out of the sun in a silk dress Running Like a water colour in the rain. Don't bother asking for explanations She'll just tell you that she came In the year of the cat.
Where mister when you're young They bring you up to do like your daddy done Me and Mary we met in high school When she was just seventeen We'd ride out of this valley down to where the fields were green We'd go down to the river And into the river we'd dive Oh down to the river we'd ride
Then I got Mary pregnant And man that was all she wrote And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat We went down to the courthouse And the judge put it all to rest No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle No flowers no wedding dress
That night we went down to the river And into the river we'd dive Oh down to the river we did ride, yeah yeah
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy Now all them things that seemed so important Well Mister they vanished right into the air Now I just act like I don't remember Mary acts like she don't care
But I remember us riding in my brother's car Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir At night on them banks I'd lie awake And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take Now those memories come back to haunt me They haunt me like a curse Is a dream a lie if it don't come true Or is it something worse
That sends me down to the river Though I know the river is dry That sends me down to the river tonight, yeah Down to the river My baby and I Oh down to the river we ride, oh Ooh ooh, ooh ooh Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Now I go cleanin' windows to earn an honest bob For a nosy parker it's an interestin' job Now it's a job that just suits me A window cleaner you would be If you can see what I can see When I'm cleanin' windows
Honeymoonin' couples too You should see them bill 'n coo You'd be surprised at things they do When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard But I'll never stop I'll climb this blinkin' ladder Till I get right to the top
The blushin' bride, she looks divine The bridegroom he is doin' fine I'd rather have his job than mine When I'm cleanin' windows
The chambermaids' sweet names I call It's a wonder I don't fall My mind's not on my work at all When I'm cleanin' windows
I know a fella, such a swell He has a thirst, that's plain to tell I've seen him drink his bath as well When I'm cleanin' windows
Oh, in my profession I'll work hard But I'll never stop I'll climb this blinkin' ladder Till I get right to the top
Pyjamas lyin' side by side Ladies nighties I have spied I've often seen what goes inside When I'm cleanin' windows
Now there's a famous talkie queen She looks a flapper on the screen She's more like eightie than eighteen When I'm cleanin' windows
She pulls her hair all down behind Then pulls down her... Never mind And after that pulls down the blind When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard But I'll never stop I'll climb this blinkin' ladder Till I get right to the top
An old maid walks around the floor She's so fed up, one day I'm sure She'll drag me in and lock the door When I'm cleanin' windows When I'm cleanin' windows
Billy Joel - 'Piano Man' (just a cleverly composed and factual story, love how it builds).
The Jam - 'That's Entertainment' (of it's time).
Depeche Mode - 'Blasphemous Rumours' (lyrically quite simple, but totally resonated with me and my views on religion, and was the song that really got me hooked).
In one single moment your whole life can turn around, I stand there for a minute staring straight into the ground. Looking to the left slightly then looking back down the world feels like its caved in proper sorry frown. Please let me show you how we could only just be for us, I can change and I can grow or we can adjust. The wicked thing about us is we always have trust. We can even have an open relationship if we must. I look at her, she stares almost straight back at me but her eyes glaze over like she's looking straight through me. Then her eyes must have closed for what seems an eternity, when they opened up she's lookin down at her feet.
Dry your eyes mate, I know it's hard to take but her mind has been made up. There's plenty more fish in the sea. Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
So then I moved my hand off and down by my side, shaking, my life is crashing before my eyes. I turn the palm of my hand up to face the skies, touched the bottom of her chin and let out a sigh. Because I can't imagine my life without you and me, there's things I can't imagine doing, things I can't imagine seeing. It weren't supposed to be easy, surely, please please, I'm begging, please. She brings her hands up towards where my hands rested she wraps her fingers around mine with the softness she's blessed with. She peels away my fingers looks at me and then gestures, by pushing my hand away to my chest from hers.
Dry your eyes mate, I know it's hard to take but her mind has been made up. There's plenty more fish in the sea. Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
And I'm just standing there. I can't say a word. 'Cause everything has just gone. I've got nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Trying to pull her close out of bare desperation, put my arms around her to try to change what she's saying. Put my head level with hers so she might engage in. Look into her eyes to make her listen again, I'm not gonna fuckin' just fuckin' just leave it all now. 'cause you said it would be forever and that was your vow, and your gonna let our things simply crash and fall down. Your well out of order now, this is well out of town. She pulls away, my arms that are tightly clamped around her waist gently pushes me back as she looks at me straight. Turns around so she's now got her back to my face, takes one step forward, looks back and then walks away.
Dry your eyes mate, I know it's hard to take but her mind has been made up. There's plenty more fish in the sea. Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
I know in the past I've found it hard to say, telling you things but not telling you straight. But the more I pull on your hand the more you pull away.
Dry your eyes mate, I know it's hard to take but her mind has been made up. There's plenty more fish in the sea. Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now.
The Streets,
Just sums up what most blokes have gone through at sometime.
I've been undecided over what to nominate on this thread. It's impossible for me to really choose the best lyrics of one artist I like, let alone the best of all my favourite artists. Some of the music I like is quite unknown, but of those well-known there seem to me to be too many candidates that haven't yet been mentionned, ignored for those far far less worthy imo. I shall continue to wait and see if anyone else nominates these.
In the meantime your use of the word 'genius' has reminded me that at the Reading Festival back in 1998 or 99 I once shouted during a gap between songs 'Martin you're a genius' which was probably heard by everyone in the 'tent', and for which one particular friend continues to have a friendly dig at me from time to time. Nevertheless the artist concerned remains one of my most favourite songwriters. Back in the late nineties, it was as though he was speaking directly from my heart. I've decided though to nominate a song of his written far more recently, which thankfully is not a subject that concerns me personally.
From this cliff, its a long fall So let's sit and be thankful we met Two jumpers who never got to leap Now that driftwood can float Unencumbered No splash, tonight... The Moon alone manipulates the sea Back home, it's a long haul, and we've nothing to go for It's warm, it's dry The stars will keep an eye on you and me Until day comes to mock us with birdsong There's no-one else alive So I guess we should get back, to what? Yes, Ive asked that But leave, we must: It's time for us to walk our different ways Darling sorrow one more thing, before you go: Same place; Tonight
Comments
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd
like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime.
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress
Running
Like a water colour in the rain.
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat.
Always liked that....
Brilliant love song, wrote this on the back of a postcard & gave it to my new partner over dinner on holiday. She cried........Feel the same now as I did then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbUfDXrWgbs
If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
Still my heart this moment
Or it might burst
Could we stay right here
'til the end of time 'til the earth stops turning
Wanna love you 'til the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
All this time I've loved you
And never known your face
All this time I've missed you
And searched this human race
Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs
Wanna stay right here
'til the end of time
'til the earth stops turning
Gonna love you 'til the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
All I've known
All I've done
All I've felt was leading to this
All I've known
All I've done
All I've felt was leading to this
Wanna stay right here
'Til the end of time 'till the earth stops turning
I'm gonna love you till the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
Wanna stay right here
'Til the end of time 'till the earth stops turning
I'm gonna love you till the seas run dry
I've found the one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
The one I've waited for
Great Words, superb melody, worth a listen on Utube!
Buys a gun steals a car
Tries to run but he dont get far
Sadly happening a lot with todays youth .
The Jam - Going Underground
Japan - Sons of Pioneers
She’s leaving home......The Beatles.
Ohio.....Crosby Stills and Nash.
You should be home, but you’re not
cos a room full of noise and dangerous boys
still makes you thirsty and hot
I heard about you and that man
There’s just one thing I don’t understand
You say he’s a liar and he put out
your fire
How come you still got his gun in your hand?
Victim of love , I see a broken heart
You got your stories to tell
Victim of love, it’s such an easy part
and you know how to play it so well
In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty
I want to be
In the warm hold of your loving mind.
To feel you all around me
And to take your hand
Along the sand,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.
When sundown pales the sky
I want to hide a while
Behind your smile,
And everywhere I'd look, your eyes I'd find.
For me to love you now
Would be the sweetest thing,
'T would make me sing,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.
When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears,
To help me to leave all my blues behind.
For standin' in your heart
Is where I want to be
And long to be,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.
'I don't like much really do I
But what I do like
I love passionately.'
My hands are made of nitroglycerine
That explains the incident
Pages I'd never seen
I'm sorry you were so disappointed
The contract states quite fundamentally
The undersigned is you
Lay your life on the line
(Life on the line)
That's fine
(Life)
Just sign on the dotted line
A sample of the poet's blood
Guitars pluck a tune in the ozone
But me, I'm just stuck in the mud
Pages I'd never seen
I'm sorry you were so disappointed
The contract states quite fundamentally
The undersigned is you
Lay your life on the line
(Life on the line)
That's fine
(Life)
Just sign on the dotted line
Pages I'd never seen
I'm sorry you were so disappointed
The contract states quite fundamentally
The undersigned is you
Lay your life on the line
I met her at a baseball game
That got held up by August rain
Beneath the mezzanine I huddled up against her hand
By then the rain had left the ground
And Seger threw a few on the mound
We stood to face the flag that flew above the Navy band
Then the anthem began to blare through the stadium
It rang through the open air
And I knew this was the time to make my pitch
Won't you come home with me?
I've a room you should see
With a warm waterbed
And pillow for your head
I've a robe you could wear
And smoke we could share
You are blond – I am tall
And I think that says it all
A quick glass of wine
Then I'll feed you a line
Nilsson will sing
And you won't feel a thing
Oh say you will stay with me, love
Must I say "I love you?"
"Well, how do ya' like my pad?"
"Oh, it's great. I mean, I love purple."
"I – I bet you're an Aquarius, aren't you?"
"No. Actually I'm a Leo."
"I knew you were one of those."
"You know, Leos are very big on Women's Lib."
"I don't, uh, believe in Women's Lib."
"Uh, somehow I didn't think you did."
"Let me just turn on the hi-fi here."
"Oh, that's pretty. Uh, what kind of wine is this?"
"Oh, that's uh – that's red wine."
"Red! That's my favorite kind."
"Are you having a terrific time?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm having a very terrific time."
I come from down in the valley
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school
When she was just seventeen
We'd ride out of this valley down to where the fields were green
We'd go down to the river
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we'd ride
Then I got Mary pregnant
And man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
And the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle
No flowers no wedding dress
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we did ride, yeah yeah
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important
Well Mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don't remember
Mary acts like she don't care
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I'd lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
They haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
Or is it something worse
That sends me down to the river
Though I know the river is dry
That sends me down to the river tonight, yeah
Down to the river
My baby and I
Oh down to the river we ride, oh
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Now I go cleanin' windows to earn an honest bob
For a nosy parker it's an interestin' job
Now it's a job that just suits me
A window cleaner you would be
If you can see what I can see
When I'm cleanin' windows
Honeymoonin' couples too
You should see them bill 'n coo
You'd be surprised at things they do
When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
The blushin' bride, she looks divine
The bridegroom he is doin' fine
I'd rather have his job than mine
When I'm cleanin' windows
The chambermaids' sweet names I call
It's a wonder I don't fall
My mind's not on my work at all
When I'm cleanin' windows
I know a fella, such a swell
He has a thirst, that's plain to tell
I've seen him drink his bath as well
When I'm cleanin' windows
Oh, in my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
Pyjamas lyin' side by side
Ladies nighties I have spied
I've often seen what goes inside
When I'm cleanin' windows
Now there's a famous talkie queen
She looks a flapper on the screen
She's more like eightie than eighteen
When I'm cleanin' windows
She pulls her hair all down behind
Then pulls down her... Never mind
And after that pulls down the blind
When I'm cleanin' windows
In my profession I'll work hard
But I'll never stop
I'll climb this blinkin' ladder
Till I get right to the top
An old maid walks around the floor
She's so fed up, one day I'm sure
She'll drag me in and lock the door
When I'm cleanin' windows
When I'm cleanin' windows
The Jam - 'That's Entertainment' (of it's time).
Depeche Mode - 'Blasphemous Rumours' (lyrically quite simple, but totally resonated with me and my views on religion, and was the song that really got me hooked).
Looking to the left slightly then looking back down the world feels like its caved in proper sorry frown.
Please let me show you how we could only just be for us, I can change and I can grow or we can adjust. The wicked thing about us is we always have trust.
We can even have an open relationship if we must.
I look at her, she stares almost straight back at me but her eyes glaze over like she's looking straight through me.
Then her eyes must have closed for what seems an eternity, when they opened up she's lookin down at her feet.
There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
I turn the palm of my hand up to face the skies, touched the bottom of her chin and let out a sigh.
Because I can't imagine my life without you and me, there's things I can't imagine doing, things I can't imagine seeing.
It weren't supposed to be easy, surely, please please, I'm begging, please.
She brings her hands up towards where my hands rested she wraps her fingers around mine with the softness she's blessed with.
She peels away my fingers looks at me and then gestures, by pushing my hand away to my chest from hers.
There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
I can't say a word.
'Cause everything has just gone.
I've got nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Put my head level with hers so she might engage in.
Look into her eyes to make her listen again, I'm not gonna fuckin' just fuckin' just leave it all now.
'cause you said it would be forever and that was your vow, and your gonna let our things simply crash and fall down.
Your well out of order now, this is well out of town.
She pulls away, my arms that are tightly clamped around her waist gently pushes me back as she looks at me straight.
Turns around so she's now got her back to my face, takes one step forward, looks back and then walks away.
There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now, its over.
There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Dry your eyes mate, I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts, but you've got to walk away now.
The Streets,
Just sums up what most blokes have gone through at sometime.
In the meantime your use of the word 'genius' has reminded me that at the Reading Festival back in 1998 or 99 I once shouted during a gap between songs 'Martin you're a genius' which was probably heard by everyone in the 'tent', and for which one particular friend continues to have a friendly dig at me from time to time. Nevertheless the artist concerned remains one of my most favourite songwriters. Back in the late nineties, it was as though he was speaking directly from my heart. I've decided though to nominate a song of his written far more recently, which thankfully is not a subject that concerns me personally.
Darling Sorrow
Martin RossiterSo let's sit and be thankful we met
Two jumpers who never got to leap
Now that driftwood can float
Unencumbered
No splash, tonight...
The Moon alone manipulates the sea
Back home, it's a long haul, and we've nothing to go for
It's warm, it's dry
The stars will keep an eye on you and me
Until day comes to mock us with birdsong
There's no-one else alive
So I guess we should get back, to what?
Yes, Ive asked that
But leave, we must: It's time for us to walk our different ways
Darling sorrow one more thing, before you go:
Same place;
Tonight