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Post by Nonfatman on May 29, 2014 13:49:17 GMT -5
Ian doesn't usually misfire with his lyrics, but here are some musically great songs that are marred by subpar, or downright bad lyrics, and the reasons why I feel the lyrics are below average or bad:
Far Alaska - Musically, I'd say this is the strongest track on Dot Com (though often overlooked), but I hate the lyrics. I say that because I think this is
one of the first examples of Ian cramming too many words and syllables into a phrase that doesn't really fit the music. The trend was
continued to some extent on SLOB (e.g., Sanctuary) and Rupi's Dance (The Capuccino Song), and it plagues many of the songs on the new
album as well. I also don't like the 'psycho air rage doom' line.
Out of the Noise - I love Martin's guitar, and the music has an aggressive edge to it, I think it's one of the best on RTB. It doesn't really sound like other
Tull songs to me. But the lyrics about a dog crossing a road are inconsequential and a little silly, so the song doesn't quite work
for me. (Unless I am missing some hidden meaning or symbolism, but I don't think I am...it really is just about a dog, isn't it?)
The Browning of the Green - I love the music to this song, one of the best on the album musically in my opinion, and although it obviously is the same
basic melody as The Turnpike Inn, I like how Ian takes it in a different direction. The lyrics though are another story.
Aside from being ill-matched to the meter of the song, there is a particularly bad rhyme (multiply/comply), the dreadful
'imbecile fecundity' phrase and too-obvious 'tight as canned sardine' metaphor.
Are there any others that anyone can think of where the music is great, but the lyrics uncharacteristically suck?
Jeff
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Post by Morthoron on May 29, 2014 20:23:04 GMT -5
I have despised "Bungle in the Jungle" since it was released. The music is good, as is the orchestration, but the lyrics are fucking stupid.
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Post by Michael Crowe on May 30, 2014 0:28:40 GMT -5
Sparrow On The School yard Wall. I cringe.
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Post by TM on May 30, 2014 11:31:57 GMT -5
Bungle is an excellent example since it is considered to be one of Tull's best songs.
And I like the song Out Of The Noise Jeff. I love the musicianship and I've always viewed the lyrics as just being a metaphor on some poor guys life. Perhaps I see it that way because I was listening to this song on my way to work years ago and witnessed someone getting run over by a tractor-trailer. What a messed up way to start your day.
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StanDup
One of the Youngest of the Family
Posts: 85
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Post by StanDup on Jun 11, 2014 21:00:37 GMT -5
the cracks in his wall of his lyrics first occurred to me with A Passion Play. There was some line that went something like (paraphrasing) " some of this and some of that is not enough to skin the cat". Wow, I just realized how prophetic that line is, he raises those Sphynx cats that look like they've been skinned.
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Post by Biggles on Jun 11, 2014 22:08:01 GMT -5
They're Benal cats! "iniquitous toad"! ..er 'um that's the one that grinds me.. "iniquitous toad" and "send doggie poo poo's in your morning mail" from "Down At The End Of Your Road".
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Post by Nonfatman on Jun 12, 2014 10:38:07 GMT -5
Bungle is an excellent example since it is considered to be one of Tull's best songs. And I like the song Out Of The Noise Jeff. I love the musicianship and I've always viewed the lyrics as just being a metaphor on some poor guys life. Perhaps I see it that way because I was listening to this song on my way to work years ago and witnessed someone getting run over by a tractor-trailer. What a messed up way to start your day. I do like it musically, Paul, I think it's one of the best tracks on RTB, but not crazy about the words. Jeff |
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Post by Nonfatman on Jun 12, 2014 10:45:18 GMT -5
the cracks in his wall of his lyrics first occurred to me with A Passion Play. There was some line that went something like (paraphrasing) " some of this and some of that is not enough to skin the cat". Wow, I just realized how prophetic that line is, he raises those Sphynx cats that look like they've been skinned. I've never really fully understood most of the lyrics to Passion Play. Some of them seem to be there solely for the intended purpose of appealing to druggie Tull fans, and I'm not just referring to The Hare. Perhaps Ian was catering to his audience at that time? Although this thread is about musically great songs with lousy lyrics, and Automotive Engineering is far from great musically, I think that song has the worst lyrics of any of Ian's 300+ songs. "well the Japs are coming...." and so forth is just horrible. Jeff P.S. Haven't forgotten about your avatar request, Jon....will try to get one up for you soon! |
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Post by TM on Jun 12, 2014 15:36:19 GMT -5
Well if we were to use just any Tull song with terrible lyrics we'd have to include I Don't Want To Be Me. I'll post the lyrics when I get to me PC.
Now there's nothing left in the cupboard
and three bears' been eating my soup.
My life is one big critical mess if you take a look.
And the butler's off in Ibiza on expense account gone berserk.
But I can't check out of this crazy world
without being a jerk
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Post by TM on Jun 13, 2014 8:42:49 GMT -5
Bungle is an excellent example since it is considered to be one of Tull's best songs. And I like the song Out Of The Noise Jeff. I love the musicianship and I've always viewed the lyrics as just being a metaphor on some poor guys life. Perhaps I see it that way because I was listening to this song on my way to work years ago and witnessed someone getting run over by a tractor-trailer. What a messed up way to start your day. I do like it musically, Paul, I think it's one of the best tracks on RTB, but not crazy about the words. Jeff How do you compare that song Jeff to Rover? It's really no difference in that they are both just metaphors yes? |
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StanDup
One of the Youngest of the Family
Posts: 85
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Post by StanDup on Jun 14, 2014 10:45:09 GMT -5
Saw 2 performances of Passion Play on the heels of its release. Great theatrical opening-God they were on a roll back then.
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Post by LJG on Jun 15, 2014 12:50:07 GMT -5
Sanctuary is one of my favourite tracks off of SLOB... I'll have to re-listen and pay more attention to the lyrics. The song is also a good indication of what a well placed fiddle/violin can do instead of a squeezebox. If only Change of Horses had been recorded for this album....  |
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Post by Nonfatman on Jun 15, 2014 15:30:14 GMT -5
I do like it musically, Paul, I think it's one of the best tracks on RTB, but not crazy about the words. Jeff How do you compare that song Jeff to Rover? It's really no difference in that they are both just metaphors yes? Rover is a love song using the dog as a metaphor, but Out of the Noise is just a mangy mongrel dodging traffic. I'm not sure a metaphor was intended or if it is just literally a dog crossing a road. Jeff |
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