The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #157237   Message #3709710
Posted By: GUEST,leeneia
18-May-15 - 11:51 AM
Thread Name: Grammar for Songwriters
Subject: RE: Grammar for Songwriters
In the OP, Joe asked what grammatical errors get on our nerves. For me, it's this, from "I Wonder as I Wander":

...how Jesus, our savior, was born for to die
for poor ornery people like you and like I....

To tell you the truth, it's just one of several things I dislike about this pretentious, waffling, would-be-weltschmerzlich song.

I find it helps to change it a little:

for poor ornery people like you - (two notes for 'you') and I....

This way, 'like' is separated from 'I' a little bit and the error isn't so glaring.   
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Please note that ornery should probably be pronounced on'ry. At least, that's how a lot fo country people say it. It's more singable that way, too.