<p>“Busted flat in Baton Rouge,
waiting for a train,
when I was feeling near as faded as my jeans.”</p>
<p>Or, it could just be the way Janis sings it.</p>
<p>or how joni sings “The Last Time I Saw Richard”</p>
<p>The last time I saw richard was detroit in 68,
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh, he said you think youre immune, go look at your eyes
Theyre full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realise theyre only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies</p>
<p>He put a quarter in the wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said drink up now its gettin on time to close.
Richard, you havent really changed, I said
Its just that now youre romanticizing some pain thats in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet</p>
<p>Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the tv on
And all the house lights left up bright
Im gonna blow this damn candle out
I dont want nobody comin over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin behind bottles in dark cafes
Dark cafes
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings
And fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days</p>
<p>Best ever? Yikes, what an assignment! I think most anything by Paul Simon might qualify, but in the spirt of CC here are some “cheery” lyrics from Merle Haggard:</p>
<p>“I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole.
No-one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried.
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied.
That leaves only me to blame 'cos Mama tried.”</p>
<p>Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People’d call, say, beware doll, you’re bound to fall
You thought they were all kiddin’ you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin’ out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.</p>
<p>How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone? </p>
<p>You’ve gone to the finest school all right, miss lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you’re gonna have to get used to it
You said you’d never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal? </p>
<p>Chorus</p>
<p>You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldnt let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal.</p>
<p>Chorus</p>
<p>Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you’d better lift your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.</p>
<p>Chorus</p>
<p>Steely Dan (Deacon Blues)</p>
<p>I cried when I wrote this song,
sue me if I play too long.</p>
<p>With due respect to OP–</p>
<p>Janis at her best:</p>
<p>Ball and Chain (can’t post all the lyrics)
Piece of my heart.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Gracie being Gracie:</p>
<p>White Rabbit</p>
<p>"One pill makes you larger,
one pill makes you small,
but the ones that mother gives you don’t do anythng at all…</p>
<p>Go ask Alice when she’s ten feet tall."</p>
<p>Blue Man Group covered this one. Though nobody beats a young Grace Slick</p>
<p>“I’ll Be (Your Crying Shoulder)”</p>
<p>The strands in your eyes
That color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains
Thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth</p>
<p>Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I’ll be captivated,
I’ll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows
Of heartache that hang from above</p>
<p>I’ll be your cryin’ shoulder
I’ll be love suicide
I’ll be better when I’m older
I’ll be the greatest fan of your life
**
I just love the imagery of the line “I’ll be the greatest fan of your life”. Isn’t that just what we want to be for our loved ones (esp. children)–on the sidelines, watching & cheering!</p>
<p>I could have also listed “A Day in the Life” or “In my Life,” but I’ll go with “Across the Universe”:
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.</p>
<p>Ely-- team soccer dad did a montage of last year’s season and this was one of the songs, at the end, as the photos of the cheering parents came up…not a dry eye in the house!</p>
<p>Elderly Woman behind the Counter in a Small Town
</p>
<p>I also love this one.</p>
<p>Crazy Mary
</p>
<p>One of my favorites (from memory, so apologies for mistakes):</p>
<p>Third-Rate Romance (Amazing Rhythm Aces - no idea who wrote it)</p>
<p>Sitting at a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant
She was staring at her coffee cup
He was trying to keep his courage up
By applying booze
Talk was small if they talked at all
They both knew what they wanted
There was never any doubt about it
They were old enough to start without it
And make it work</p>
<p>She said
“You don’t look like my type
But I guess you’ll do”
Third-rate romance, low-rent rendezvous</p>
<p>They left the bar and went to his car
And they drove away
They went to the Family Inn
She didn’t even have to pretend
She didn’t know what for
He went to the desk and made his request
While she waited outside
Then he came back with the key
And she said “Give it to me
I’ll unlock the door”</p>
<p>He said
“I’ll even tell you that I love you
If you want me to”
Third-rate romance, low-rent rendezvous</p>
<p>She said
“I’veneverreallydonethiskindofthingbefore
Have you?”
Third-rate romance, low-rent rendezvous
And he said
“Yes I have
But only a time or two”
Third-rate romance, low-rent rendezvous</p>
<p>Buffett</p>
<p>“If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane”</p>
<p>Springsteen </p>
<p>“Someday we’ll look back at this and it will all seem funny”</p>
<p>The Soft Parade by Jim Morrison of the Doors</p>
<p>I am troubled Immeasurably By your eyes
By your eyes I am struck By the feather
Of your soft Reply
The sound of glass Speaks quick Disdain
And conceals What your eyes fight
To explain </p>
<p>When I was back there in seminary school
There was a person there
Who put forth the proposition
That you can petition the Lord with prayer…
Petition the Lord with prayer…
Petition the Lord with prayer…
You cannot petition the Lord with prayer!</p>
<p>Can you give me sanctuary?
I must find a place to hide,
A place for me to hide.</p>
<p>Can you find me soft asylum?
I can’t make it anymore
The Man is at the door.</p>
<p>Peppermint, miniskirts, chocolate candy,
Champion sax and a girl named Sandy
There’s only four ways to get unraveled —
One is to sleep and the other is travel at dawn.
One is a bandit up in the hills,
One is to love your neighbor till
His wife gets home.</p>
<p>Catacombs,
Nursery bones,
Winter women
Growing stones,
Carrying babies
To the river;
Streets and shoes,
Avenues,
Leather riders
Selling news,
The monk bought Lunch.</p>
<p>He he he, he bought a little.
Yes, he did
Woo!</p>
<p>This is the best part of the trip.
This is the trip, the best part
I really like it.</p>
<p>What’d he say?
Yeah!
Yeah, right!
Pretty good, huh
Huh!
Yeah, I’m proud to be a part of this number!</p>
<p>Successful hills are here to stay,
Everything must be this way.
Gentle streets where people play,
Welcome to the Soft Parade.</p>
<p>All our lives we sweat and save,
Building for a shallow grave.
“Must be something else”, we say
“Somehow to defend this place.”
Everything must be this way,
Everything must be this way, yeah. Aah, yeah!</p>
<p>The Soft Parade has now begun
Listen to the engines hum.
People out to have some fun,
Cobra on my left,
Leopard on my right, yeah.</p>
<p>Deer woman in a silk dress,
Girls with beads around their necks,
Kiss the hunter of the green vest
Who has wrestled before
With lions in the night.</p>
<p>Out of sight!
The lights are getting brighter,
The radio is moaning,
Calling to the dogs.
There are still a few animals
Left out in the yard,
But it’s getting harder
To describe sailors
To the underfed.</p>
<p>Tropic corridor,
Tropic treasure,
What got us this far,
To this mild equator?
We need someone or something new,
Something else to get us through, yeah. C’mon!</p>
<p>1st voice 2nd voice 3rd voice
Callin’ on the dogs,
Callin’ on the dogs,
But it’s gettin’ harder Callin’ on the dogs,
Callin’ in the dogs,
Callin’ on the dogs,
Callin’ on the gods.
You gotta
Meet me Too late, baby!
Shoot a few animals аt the crossroads Too late!
let out in the yard.
But it’s getting harder Whoa!
Gotta meet me You’ve done great, hey!
at the edge of town, Having a good time.
You’d better come along
outskirts of the city Let’s fun!
Just you and I
and the evening sky. We are so alone.
Better bring your gun You’d better come along.
You’d better bring your gun.
We’re gonna have some fun! Tropic corridor
Tropic treasure.
“When all else fails,
We can whip the horse’s
Eyes and make them sleep
and cry.”</p>
<p>Actually, I just remembered two of the best song lyrics ever. They are a little older than the previous entries:</p>
<p>Full fathom five thy father lies
Of his bones are coral made
Those are pearls that were his eyes
Nothing of him doth decay
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange
Sea-nymphs hourly toll his knell
Hark, I hear them – ding-dong bell</p>
<p>(The tune isn’t so hot, and I wish he had found a better word than “ding-dong” for the last line, but Willy Shakespeare could have been a heck of a singer-songwriter.)</p>
<pre><code>And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold:
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.
</code></pre>
<p>(This one has a great tune, too.)</p>
<p>Her First Mistake, Lyle Lovett</p>
<p>Once upon a time ago
Way up in the land of sleet and snow
How this fairy tale would go
I could not have known</p>
<p>I had searched around this world so mean
From Livingstone to Palestine
Trying to pursue my dream
Of love</p>
<p>It was then I met this girl so fine
She made me think so fast I left my thought behind
And I tried to pass for a sophisticated
Northern man</p>
<p>I said why yes my dear I know exactly what you mean
Because there’s not so much I haven’t done or seen
And may I say your eyes are the loveliest
Shade of jade</p>
<p>I said come on baby
Come on baby
Come on baby</p>
<p>It was then I knew I had made my first mistake
She did not even start to wait
And as she turned around to walk away
This is what she had to say</p>
<p>She told me man I come from way down South
I’ve got a picket fence with a picket house
And I don’t need no fast talking Northern man
Like you around</p>
<p>I said well come on baby
Come on baby
Come on baby</p>
<p>Honey I don’t know what you just heard
But Alabama is my favorite word
And Birmingham
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>I could see the light began to shine
She turned back around her eyes met mine
And suddenly the whole world became
A better place</p>
<p>Even if it was only for an instant
Because it was then I knew I had made my
Second mistake</p>
<p>She told me man that was a real good try
But Alabama’s not where I reside
I come from where the river is wide
And the crawfish hide</p>
<p>I said well come on baby
Come on baby
Come on baby</p>
<p>Honey I don’t know what you just heard
But Louisiana is my favorite word
And New Orleans
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>She just looked at me and shook her head
Your lines are pretty sad she said
You are a lonely, weak, pathetic man
If this is doing the best you can</p>
<p>It was then I knew I had made my third mistake
Yes three strikes right across the plate
And as I hollered honey please wait
She was gone</p>
<p>I said well come on baby
Come on baby
Come on baby</p>
<p>Honey I don’t know what you just heard
But tender sentiments are my favorite words
Because the love I need
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>Oh the love I need
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>Yes well there I sat so all alone
Like a king who sits upon his throne
And whose kingdom may have just gone home
With another kingdom</p>
<p>So as you can imagine much to my surprise
When the door was flung back open wide
It was a miracle
She walked inside
And pulled her chair up next to me</p>
<p>And that’s when she knew
She had made her
First mistake</p>
<p>Honey I don’t know what you just heard
But come on baby
Are my favorite words
And where we’re going
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>And where we’re going
Is a long way from here</p>
<p>So like I said before
I could not have known
How this fairy tale would finally go
Still the only certain thing for sure
Is what I do not know</p>
<p>So like the years and all the seasons pass
And like the sand runs through the hour glass
I just keep on running faster
Chasing the happily
I am ever after</p>
<p>Fountain of Sorrow- Jackson Browne</p>
<p>Looking through some photographs I found inside a drawer
I was taken by a photograph of you
There were one or two I know that you would have liked a little more
But they didn’t show your spirit quite as true</p>
<p>You were turning 'round to see who was behind you
And I took your childish laughter by surprise
And at the moment that my camera happened to find you
There was just a trace of sorrow in your eyes</p>
<p>Now the things that I remember seem so distant and so small
Though it hasn’t really been that long a time
What I was seeing wasn’t what was happening at all
Although for a while, our path did seem to climb
But when you see through love’s illusions, there lies the danger
And your perfect lover just looks like a perfect fool
So you go running off in search of a perfect stranger
While the loneliness seems to spring from your life
Like a fountain from a pool</p>
<p>Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You’ve known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight
You’ve had to hide sometimes, but now you’re all right
And it’s good to see your smiling face tonight</p>
<p>Now for you and me it may not be that hard to reach our dreams
But that magic feeling never seems to last
And while the future’s there for anyone to change, still you know it’s seems
It would be easier sometimes to change the past
I’m just one or two years and a couple of changes behind you
In my lessons at love’s pain and heartache school
Where if you feel too free and you need something to remind you
There’s this loneliness springing up from your life
Like a fountain from a pool</p>
<p>Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You’ve known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight</p>
<p>You’ve had to hide sometimes but now you’re all right
And it’s good to see your smiling face tonight</p>
<p>Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You’ve known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight
You’ve had to struggle, you’ve had to fight
To keep understanding and compassion in sight
You could be laughing at me, you’ve got the right
But you go on smiling so clear and so bright</p>
<p>Billy Currington- God in Great, Beer is Good, People are Crazy</p>
<p>The first one quote by JHS was by Willy Shakespeare. I agree, it would make a great song.
The second one was by William Blake. When sung by the Labour Party in full throat, it is pretty rousing!</p>
<p>I’m pretty fond of this one, by ANON 
It’s so simple and so heartfelt:</p>
<p>Westron wind, when wilt thou blow?
That the small rain down can rain.
Christ, that my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again.</p>
<p>Kentucky Avenue</p>
<p>Well, Eddie Grace’s Buick got four bullet holes in the side
And Charlie DeLisle is sittin’ at the top of an avocado tree
Mrs. Storm will stab you with a steak knife if you step on her lawn
I got a half a pack of Lucky Strikes, man, so come along with me
And let’s fill our pockets with macadamia nuts
And go over to Bobby Goodmanson’s and jump off the roof</p>
<p>Well, Hilda plays strip poker when her mama’s cross the street
Joey Navinski says she put her tongue in his mouth
And Dicky Faulkner’s got a switchblade and some gooseneck risers
That eucalyptus is a hunchback, there’s a wind down from the south
So let me tie you up with kite string and I’ll show you the scabs on my knee
Watch out for the broken glass, put your shoes and socks on
And come along with me</p>
<p>Let’s follow that fire truck, I think your house is burnin’ down
And go down to the hobo jungle and kill some rattlesnakes with a trowel
And we’ll break all the windows in the old Anderson place
And we’ll steal a bunch of boysenberries and I’ll smear 'em on your face
I’ll get a dollar from my mama’s purse and buy that scull and crossbones ring
And you can wear it 'round your neck on an old piece of string</p>
<p>Then we’ll spit on Ronnie Arnold and flip him the bird
And slash the tires on the school bus, now don’t say a word
I’ll take a rusty nail and scratch your initials in my arm
And I’ll show you how to sneak up on the roof of the drugstore
I’ll take the spokes from your wheelchair and a magpie’s wings
And I’ll tie 'em to your shoulders and your feet
I’ll steal a hacksaw from my dad and cut the braces off your legs
And we’ll bury them tonight out in the cornfield
Just put a church key in your pocket, we’ll hop that freight train in the hall
We’ll slide all the way down the drain to New Orleans in the fall</p>
<p>Tom Waits</p>