I’m a big fan of really great lyrics that together with a great melody produce a memorable song. Here are some examples of some of my favorites, followed by lyrics from two best selling 2016 pop songs.
Yes I know I am cherry picking, but in my 100% biased opinion a lot of the lyrics in songs in recent years (not all artists of course) are really not that interesting and IMO pretty dull…
“Oh, God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe said, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God said, “No” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’, you better run”
Well, Abe said, “Where d’you want this killin’ done?”
God said, “Out on Highway 61”
Bob Dylan (Highway 61)
“Money’s just something you throw
Off the back of a train
Got a head full of lightning
A hat full of rain
And I know that I said
I’d never do it again
And I love you pretty baby but I always take the long way home”
Tom Waits (Long way home)
If I’m gonna go down, I’m gonna do it with style.
And you won’t see me surrender.
You won’t hear me confess. ’cause you’ve left me with nothing
But I’ve worked with less.
And I learn every room long enough to make it to the door.
And then I hear it click shut behind me.
And every key works differently.
And I forget every time
And the forgetting defines me. Yea that’s what defines me.”
Go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms,
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires,
in the humming wires
Hey man, you know
you’re never coming back
Past this square, past the bridge,
past the mills, past the stacks
On a gathering storm comes
a tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat with
a red right hand”
Here are two best selling songs from 2016
I don’t wanna be your fool
Pick me up whenever you want it
Throw me down when you are through
‘Cause I’ve learned more from what’s missing
It’s about me and not about you
I know I made some bad decisions
But my last one was you”
Heard he in love with some other chick
Yeah yeah, that hurt me, I’ll admit
Forget that boy, I’m over it
I hope she gettin’ better sex
Hope she ain’t fakin’ it like I did, babe
Took four long years to call it quits
Forget that boy, I’m over it”
