Great turns of phrase in lyrics

Subject: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 May 02 - 11:42 PM

We may have had similar threads, but if so I think they were awhile ago, or I missed the latest. My apologies if this seems redundant.

I've been listening to a Dave Carter/Tracy Grammer CD, "When I Go." I love all of his lyrics, but there is one phrase in his song "Frank to Valentino" which really strikes me. It's talking about a man who got married 20 years earlier when only 17 yrs old. His wife had a mouth on her that he thought would temper down over the course of time...anyway, 20 yrs later he's driving away, a short-range victim of her sawed-off mouth which I think is a great turn of ironic phrase.

Please feel free to share your favourite song phrase.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: khandu
Date: 18 May 02 - 11:54 PM

Yes, kat, you missed the last one which was a clone of one started by Kendall just a couple of months ago. But, what the heck, it is fun and informative! So here we go again!

I loved the phrase you mentioned! It certainly evokes mental images!

A phrase I love was written long ago by my dear friend, David A.,who none of you know. However, his phrase appeared on someone else's song years later. I cannot remember the other song at the moment.

David A.'s line was "When I jumped this train, I wore a younger man's shoes, a pocketful of dreams, and nothing to lose."

In context, it is marvelous, but even alone, the line speaks to something deep within me.

khandu

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Amos
Date: 19 May 02 - 03:49 AM

"...when I wore a younger man's clothes" appeared in the Elton John song "Play Me a Song Mister PIano Man"... if memory serves. Which is debatable, or at least it used to be ... I forget. :>)

I am currently enamored of Townes van Zant's "Many a Fair Lady" which is rich with finely formed phrase such as:

Ah, many a fine lady has laid down beside me
With her flesh made of velvet, andher eyes made of rain...

A

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Hrothgar
Date: 19 May 02 - 05:09 AM

"When I wore a younger man's clothes".......Billy Joel, "Piano Man"??

I always like the line attributed to the border reiver, Johnnie Armstrong, when he was refused mercy by King James V (of Scotland):

I haif asked grace at a graceless face,
But there is nane for my men and me.

(Child 169)

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 19 May 02 - 06:17 AM

Scott Cameron Smith from his song, "Greentown":

" . . . . living a life I was born for in truth;
unfettered by wisdom and fueled by youth."

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: gnu
Date: 19 May 02 - 06:40 AM

Jethro Tull, Little Sparrow (I think) : "Too much broth can spoil the cook."

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Zorro
Date: 19 May 02 - 08:30 AM

A local blues band has (I believe) an original song. The line is about a gal that works the bar in a bluesy hotel: "She's seen a lot of guys like you comin' around; they gotta find something they lost; gotta lose something they found."

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Celtic Soul, away from my 'puter
Date: 19 May 02 - 08:56 AM

Any song by Tom Lehrer has a dozen or so. Just too numerous to list here!

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Peg
Date: 19 May 02 - 09:58 AM

thanks for mentioning Tull; My favorite Ian Anderson lyric, from Songs from the Wood (Velvet Green, a song of a seducer of ladies in the fields), offers lots of subtly bawdy imagery:

"where the scent of wild roses turns the milk to cream"

hmmm...must listen to that album today!

Peg

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 May 02 - 12:00 PM

Don Maclean - "Ballad of Andrew McCrew"
full of clever twists but the dead down & out was exhibited as a mummy in sideshows (19th C USA). And Don's best line (IMHO) was something to the effect (if I can do it justice)
"Death gave him more life in death, than life gave him at birth"

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Big Mick
Date: 19 May 02 - 12:21 PM

"Her 'prenticed hand she tried on Man and then she made the Lasses O"

"humming some old love song, she learned it when the tune was very new"

"Mes souvenirs ne sont que des fantomes, qui survollent et danset dans le vent.
Ils demandent qu'on se souviens d'eux, meme si ce n'est qu'en chantant"

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Amos
Date: 19 May 02 - 02:40 PM

But since it falls unto my lot,
that I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and joy be with you all.

A

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Mudlark
Date: 19 May 02 - 02:52 PM

All the above are wonderful, and I've too many of my own to list. But a couple: T. vanZ's line from Pancho and Lefty, "The dust that Pancho bit down south, ended up in Lefty's mouth...", Ian Tyson's mournful line from 4 Strong Winds, "But by then it would be winter, not too much for you to do, and the wind sure blows cold way out there." Bo Jangles, "He spoke with tears of 15 years how his dog and him travelled about. The dog up and died, up and died, after 20 years he still grieves." Every single word in Morning has Broken, and Yeats...it had become a glistening girl, with apple blossom in her hair, who called me by my name and rain, and vanished in the brightening air...

Well, more than a couple...

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: fat B****rd
Date: 19 May 02 - 02:59 PM

"With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eyes" Ah ! Chuck you big softy.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Nurk the lurk
Date: 19 May 02 - 05:08 PM

I'm partial to some of David Byrne's twisted non sequiters, such as:

'like a pizza in the rain, no one wants to take you home'

from Loco de Amor

and every song from Creatures of Love

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 May 02 - 06:34 PM

Then she made her way homewards, with one star awake

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Micca
Date: 19 May 02 - 07:22 PM

" and I said let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day"

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 20 May 02 - 12:45 AM

From 'Have Some Nadeira M'Dear'

And he said as he hastened to put out the cat,
The wine, his cigar and the lamps:.....

She lowered her standards by raising her glass,
Her courage, her eyes and his hopes.....

When he asked, "What in Heaven?" She made no reply,
Up her mind, and a dash for the door.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Rich_and_Dee
Date: 20 May 02 - 10:12 AM

Hi,

Elvis Costello has written his share: "She said that she was working for the ABC News/It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use."

Billy Bragg also has a great ear for language: "With the money from her accident, she bought herself a mobile home/So at least she could get some enjoyment out of being alone."

Elvis and Billy's songs are peppered with lines like those.

Rich

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: aussiebloke
Date: 20 May 02 - 10:58 AM

In town we dress ourselves up and go and see a play.
We never think of being hard up nor how to spend a day
We steer up to those pretty girls that dress themselves in grandeur
And while they sweat our cheque they swear they love the overlander


From 'The overlanders' - aussie trad

aussiebloke

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: kendall
Date: 20 May 02 - 11:04 AM

...and off that rock we felt her slide
with a sickening list to the starboard side. (The Green Cove)

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Bruce E
Date: 20 May 02 - 11:13 AM

Don't tell me you don't know what love is, When you're old enough to know better - When you find strange hands in your sweater..

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: berk
Date: 20 May 02 - 12:24 PM

When I die let my ashes roll down the green river, let them roll all the way to the rocheseter dam, I'll be half way to heaven, with paradise waiting, just five miles away from wherever I am.

And-

There are beautiful girls hear, oh never you mind, With beautiful shapes nature never designed, lovely complections all roses and cream, but O'loughlin remarked with regards to the same, that if those young lassies you happen to sip, all the colors just might come away on your lip, so I'll wait for the young girl whose waiting for me, where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

I know I mess up on the last one, I just can't think today.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 20 May 02 - 12:31 PM

I think "Way down in East Cape Breton where they knit the socks and mittens" is chuck full of them..early in the autumn when the fish swim to the bottom...we're loaded with provisions, hard tack and salt fish mizzens...first the salt fish packer and then the railroad racker that steals the bread and cracker from the honest working man....once he was a greaseman but now he is a policeman for he could not earn his living as an honest working man..

then I always say these in all these threads but I'll just repeat them anyway.."I often thought that God made the mixer and the hod so that Paddy would know hell upon the ground." and "Donald was the bravest man and Donald he was mine" (Highland Widow's Lament)..."If you'll but stand to what you said I'll gang with ye my shephard lad and you can roll me in your plaid and I will be your dearie.." (Call the yowes)..

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Declan
Date: 20 May 02 - 12:39 PM

"I thought one look would tell me why, Its still for you I write, My memory didn't lie, Now its so hard to say goodbye"

- "Sometimes Love" by Kieran Halpin

"She was a rare thing, Fine as a bees-wing, And I miss her more than words could ever say, If I could just taste all of her wildness now, If I could hold her in my arms today, Then I wouldn't want her any other way"

- "Bees wing" by Richard Thompson

"Now our home's a holy place, bathed by loves abiding light, It warms my heart to hear you tell me, that it feels so right, And may all lovers be like us, and never rest until they find, The one true love that can bring true peace of mind"

- "The ribbon in her hair" by Tim O Brien

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: fat B****rd
Date: 20 May 02 - 05:22 PM

Thank you Rich and Dee, reminds me, Costello's killer line "Yours was Julie Andrews and mine was John Coltrane" I sometimes identify with that one. Yours pseudishly the fB.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Grab
Date: 20 May 02 - 05:44 PM

Plenty of Dire Straits:-

I promised you everything, you promised me thick and thin, now you just say "Oh now Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him".

That ain't working.

You say there is no reason, but you still find cause to doubt me. If you ain't with me girl, then you're gonna be without me.

Some Sting:-

I know that spades are the swords of a soldier. I know that clubs are weapons of war. I know that diamonds mean money for my art, but that ain't the shape of my heart.

Plenty of Paul Simon, the whole of "The Boxer" and particularly "50 ways to leave your lover".

Neneh Cherry:-

I've born and I've bred, I've cleaned and I've fed. And for my healing wits, I've been called a witch. I've crackled in the fire, and been called a liar. I've died so many times, I'm only just coming to life.

Billy Joel:-

JFK! Blown away! What else do I have to say!

Fleetwood Mac:-

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise. Run in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies.

Enough for the moment? ;-)

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From:
Date: 20 May 02 - 06:21 PM


An eye for an eye
Was all that filled their mind
And another eye and another eye
Till everyone is blind

'There Were Roses' Tommy Sands

Jack

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Midchuck
Date: 20 May 02 - 07:30 PM

So they boarded a Greyhound, in search of the Fountain;
Fat Boy and the aging film queen.
Through the great Painted Desert, and on across Texas,
Amarillo, Plainview, Abilene..

"Mineral Wells," Tom Russel - playing on the machine downstairs at the moment...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Midchuck
Date: 20 May 02 - 07:31 PM

Tom Russell.

Sorry.

P.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: The Pooka
Date: 20 May 02 - 09:34 PM

Amen to many of the above, & especially to Celtic Soul's nomination of "anything by Tom Lehrer." A genius.


The meadow path is lonely and the hearth it is cold and dim,
And the silent churchyard blossom blooms softly over him,
And my heart is ever yearning, for the calm that's coming on,
When its weary pulse lies sleeping, beside my Carroll Ban.

-"Carroll Ban"; John Keegan Casey

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 May 02 - 06:22 AM

And more:

Stan Rogers - "Bluenose"

Feel her bow rise free of mother sea
In a sunburst cloud of spray

and

Does she not take wing like a living thing,
Child of the moving tide,
See her pass with grace on the water's face
With clean and quiet pride.

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: kendall
Date: 21 May 02 - 07:50 AM

...her masts were gone, and, before you know'ed
she filled by the head, and down she goe'd
the crew made seven and twenty dishes
for the big Jack sharks and the little fishes;
over their bones the water swishes... The Loch Arcre by John Masefield

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:37 AM

Somewhat paraphrased:

Now the face that I see in my mirror
More and more is a stranger to me
More and more I can see there's a danger
Of becoming what I never thought I would be

Some Days are Diamond John Denver

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Micca
Date: 21 May 02 - 12:25 PM

I dont know why, but this has stuck for years

" and her face at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of Pale"

also

" Ah mother Nature is sound And Father Time wears the crown
And he'll take a way your youth before you've time to turn around
I can't say that I'd sell my soul, hang my hat where you call it home
But before my time, make up your mind 'fore the ropes may take a hold"

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 21 May 02 - 12:45 PM

Can't remember anything but one line from a song I heard only once:- "When you can't hear the song for the singer" How many singers could learn from that?

Subject: RE: Great turns of phrase in lyrics
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 May 02 - 02:09 PM

Just about everything I've ever heard from John Gorka...