Port Said Red Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 2 hours ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said: Agree about Shane, but just a word about the late Philip Chevron, and his superbly moving lyrics for ‘Thousands are sailing’. Also nice to see Mark Hollis and Mike Scott getting a mention, though Mike Scott does tend to wander off up his own fundament sometimes… Just to change the subject a little though: the greatest single song lyrics ever written? No question: America by Paul Simon. “Cathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping…”. Astonishing. Amazing that he just seemed to have that one great song in him really. I was going to include Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen but I consider them more as poets who have their work set to music, like John Cooper Clarke or Benjamin Zephaniah. One person I haven't seen mentioned is Bernie Taupin, it's always annoyed me how much credit Elton John gets for the songs that he provided the lyrics for. Someone Saved My Life Tonight is a particular favourite. An almost complete unknown I would like to mention is a guy called Al Joshua. He formed a band called Orphans and Vandals back in 2007 and although they were short lived they made one really great album called I am Alive and You Are Dead. I really thought they were going to be the next big thing, but hey...... You might like to try this track, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Saturday Boy Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 hour ago, Port Said Red said: Amazing that he just seemed to have that one great song in him really. I was going to include Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen but I consider them more as poets who have their work set to music, like John Cooper Clarke or Benjamin Zephaniah. One person I haven't seen mentioned is Bernie Taupin, it's always annoyed me how much credit Elton John gets for the songs that he provided the lyrics for. Someone Saved My Life Tonight is a particular favourite. An almost complete unknown I would like to mention is a guy called Al Joshua. He formed a band called Orphans and Vandals back in 2007 and although they were short lived they made one really great album called I am Alive and You Are Dead. I really thought they were going to be the next big thing, but hey...... You might like to try this track, Cheers! I enjoyed that. I think you might enjoy Tensheds https://youtu.be/nMGgtsMfkVg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTone Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 On 08/02/2022 at 22:08, AppyDAZE said: Yes, we all know about the Dylans, the Lennons, the Bowies, the Morrisseys of this world, but I'm keen on hearing about some of the other lesser known natural born word-spinners in the rock world. I've a few that I have as constant favourites to go back to and they include Andy Partridge (XTC) Ric Ocasek (The Cars) Steve Kilbey (The Church) James Mercer (The Shins) I know there are many others, but these blokes just seemed to be natural born geniuses when it came to putting pen to paper for song lyrics. Right Said Fred ........ da da da Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Another one is Tom Waits - his voice might not be to everyone’s taste but his lyrics are brilliant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dolman Pragmatist Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 hour ago, Offside said: Another one is Tom Waits - his voice might not be to everyone’s taste but his lyrics are brilliant. “The eggs chase the bacon round the frying pan…” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zider'ed Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 4 hours ago, Masala said: Top three for me, Billy Bragg Kirsty MacColl Beans on Toast I randomly came across Beans on Toast on a small bandstand stage at Glastonbury, was quite a few years ago now, had me in stitches! Gets much bigger crowds now and fully deserved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Saturday Boy Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 13 minutes ago, zider'ed said: I randomly came across Beans on Toast on a small bandstand stage at Glastonbury, was quite a few years ago now, had me in stitches! Gets much bigger crowds now and fully deserved. I did exactly the same. Saw him in Stroud in December, seeing him in Bristol in March 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacker Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 6 hours ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said: Agree about Shane, but just a word about the late Philip Chevron, and his superbly moving lyrics for ‘Thousands are sailing’. Also nice to see Mark Hollis and Mike Scott getting a mention, though Mike Scott does tend to wander off up his own fundament sometimes… Just to change the subject a little though: the greatest single song lyrics ever written? No question: America by Paul Simon. “Cathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping…”. Astonishing. "I was so upset that I cried,all the way to the chip shop". Jilted John. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRIAN WILSON Posted February 10, 2022 Report Share Posted February 10, 2022 Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks (yes his lyrics, which are quite straightforward for him) - Superb Song Though Surf's Up A diamond necklace played the pawn Hand in hand some drummed along, oh To a handsome man and baton A blind class aristocracy Back through the opera glass you see The pit and the pendulum drawn Columinated ruins domino Canvass the town and brush the backdrop Are you sleeping? Hung velvet overtaken me Dim chandelier awaken me To a song dissolved in the dawn The music hall a costly bow The music all is lost for now To a muted trumpeter swan Columinated ruins domino Canvass the town and brush the backdrop Are you sleeping, Brother John? Dove nested towers the hour was Strike the street quicksilver moon Carriage across the fog Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne The glass was raised, the fired rose The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting While at port adieu or die A choke of grief heart hardened I Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted February 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 14 hours ago, Slacker said: "I was so upset that I cried,all the way to the chip shop". Jilted John. And the B=Side is just as good. "Oh, I love you, Sharon" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted February 11, 2022 Report Share Posted February 11, 2022 On 10/02/2022 at 00:38, Red-Robbo said: I'm adding Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) & Pete Shelley (the Buzzcocks) to that list. Plus why has no one mentioned either Ray Davies or Paul Weller??! If you want a wild card, I'm going to throw in Carl Puttnam of late80s/early 90s band Cud. His lyrics are wordy and funny as hell. I'm a massive fan of both, but when it comes to this sort of discussion they're kind of taken for granted. That's why I didn't mention them, I typed out how I saw similarities. Early Jam and the stories Weller wrote about we very much about a similar England that `Ray Davies wrote about , just different times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverRed Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash fame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshtonGreat Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 Peter Gabriel in Genesis came up with some great stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 On 11/02/2022 at 09:51, 1960maaan said: I'm a massive fan of both, but when it comes to this sort of discussion they're kind of taken for granted. That's why I didn't mention them, I typed out how I saw similarities. Early Jam and the stories Weller wrote about we very much about a similar England that `Ray Davies wrote about , just different times. Waterloo Sunset and That's Entertainment both represent a zenith of English lyricism in my opinion. Up The Junction is there as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Port Said Red Posted February 12, 2022 Report Share Posted February 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said: Waterloo Sunset and That's Entertainment both represent a zenith of English lyricism in my opinion. Up The Junction is there as well. I always thought that London's Brilliant Parade by Elvis Costello was a cousin of those songs. each verse gives a view of London's history and present. From the gates of St. Mary's, there were horses in Olympia And a trolley bus in Fulham Broadway The lions and the tigers in Regents Park Couldn't pay their way And now they're not the only ones At the Hammersmith Palais In Kensington and Camden Town There's a part that I used to play The lovely Diorama is really part of the drama, I'd say Just look at me, I'm having the time of my life Or something quite like it When I'm walking out and about In London's brilliant parade 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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