Poerty In Music, Lyrics

This topic is rite up my ally my two passions in life are music and poetry so when I find a song that has a wealth of both I'm ecstatic!! All too often we get so caught up in the music we don't pay attention to the poetry in it. I work with young people on a daily basis, there music blaring almost inaudible. I asked one young man what his favorite song was about and he was clueless, he'd never taken the time to really listen to the words. So if you please post the lyrics of your favorite songs and lets see what we come up with. You may find things you didn't even realize were there. I have too many to post so I had to narrow them down.(As you will undoubtably notice there all Moody Blues songs).


Artist: Moody Blues
Song: You Can Never Go Home

I don't know what I'm searching for,
I never have opened the door.
Tomorrow may find me at last,
Turning my back on the past.

But time will tell of stars that fell,
A million years ago.
Memories can never take you back,
Home, sweet, home.
You can never go home any more.

All my life I never really knew me till today.
Now I know I'm just another step along the way.

I lie awake for hours,
I'm just waiting for the sun,
When the journey we are making has begun.

Don't deny the feeling,
That is stealing through your heart,
Every happy ending needs to have a start.

All my life I never really knew me till today.
Now I know I'm just another step along the way.

Weep no more for treasures,
You've been searching for in vain, '
Cos the truth is gently falling with the rain.

High above the forests,
Lie the pastures of the sun,
Where the two that learned the secret now are one.

I don't know what I'm searching for,
I never have opened the door.
Tomorrow might find me at last,
Turning my back on the past.

But time will tell of stars that fell,
A million years ago.
Memories can never take you back,
Home, sweet, home.
You can never go home any more.
(END)

Artist: Moody Blues
Song: What Am I Doing Here?
Pale the young squire who goes to fight
To die at his master's side Living is just a dream inside You ask me why he cried:
What am I doin' here?
What am I doin' here?

Beautiful princess, fair and pale
Stares out across the sea
Alone in her castle dark and grey Her
love she'll never see What am I doin' here?
What am I doin' here?

Tenderly bury the fair young dead
Place a wooden cross at his head
All the words you can say have been said
It's for you my tears are shed
What can be done, you won't believe
Listen and you may see
Everyone's dream is deep within
Find it and you'll be free
What am I doin' here?
What am I doin' here?

Tenderly bury the fair young dead
Place a wooden cross at his head
All the words you can say have been said
It's for you my tears are shed

Tenderly bury the fair young dead
Place a wooden cross at his head
All the words you can say have been said
It's for you my tears are shed
(END)

Artist: Moody Blues
Lyrics Song: Forever Autumn

The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
And darker days are drawing near
The winter winds will be much colder
Now you're not here

I watched the birds fly south across the Autumn sky
And one by one they disappeared
I wish that I was flying near them
Now you're not here

Like the song through the trees you came to love me
Like a leaf on the breeze you blew away
Through Autumn's golden gown we used to kick our way
You always loved this time of year
The fallen leaves lie undisturbed now
Cause you're not here (3x)
(Instrumental break)

Like the song through the trees you came to love me
Like a leaf on the breeze you blew away
A gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes
As if to hide a lonely tear
My life will be forever Autumn
Cause you're not here (repeat)
(END)

Are you really gonna try and make me pick favorites?? Let's say I just had two songs from a new CD move from "Skip over" status to "definately play" based on poetic merit while I was writing a review. I think it quite sad when someone doesn't actually listen to the lyrics. I used to not be able to stand insturmentals, because I wanted to hear what the song was about. You're missing half the song if you don't listen to what's being said. (which is the only redeeming feature in Rap/Hip Hop for me).

The first time I listen to a CD, I don't listen very deep. I don't really listen to the lyrics. Subsequently, however, I make a point to listen to them. Even so, it may be some time later before I really realise what the song is about. If I were to make a list of some I think are among the best poetry, I'd have to include The Doors, Heather Dale, Evanescence, Clint Black, Rise... And, of course, I could go on, and on, and on... Roxette, perhaps too I'd probably end up listing about half my library anyway....

Jim Morrison was a poetic genius.

I like the music and lyrics of Stevie Nicks.

Dreams By Stevie Nicks

Now there you again,
You say you want your freedom
Well who am I to keep you down?
Its only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat,
Drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering
What you had
And what you lost
And what you had
And what you lost

Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when they're playing
Women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know

Now here I go again
I see the crystal vision
I keep my visions to myself
Its only me that wants to
Wrap around your dreams and
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness
Like a heartbeat drive you mad
In the stillness of remembering
What you had
And what you lost
And what you had
And what you lost

Thunder only happens when its raining
Players only love you when they're playing
Women, they will come and they will go,
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know

You'll know

Glad I found this thread! I would have to agree that Jim Morrison was a big talent, both as singer and poet. His poetry album (can't particularly place the name atm) was an excellent buy. I wonder if he had any more work lurking around?

Other great poets masquerading as songwriters/musicians: Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, John Denver, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, and Nick Drake just to name a few. The funny thing is, I took a rather interesting class while in college called "Dead Poets and Pop Stars", which illustrated the parallels of what we're discussing here. Each week was dedicated to a particular running theme which poetry and songcraft shared: love, regret, dreams, etc. and each morning would start with her playing a song fitting the theme or reciting a poem likewise.

It was my favorite class!

One more note, Stevie Nicks is definitely an exciting worker of words. Her music is so beautiful, haunting. I wish she'd come out with something new soon

i don't really like any of the artists you guys mentioned.

neil diamond? wtf?

ha...i'm a lynyrd skynyrd fan myself. now thats peotry.

Well Cale,

To each his own man! Think I liked lynyrd skynyrd for about 2 minuets back in 1980.
And BTW, I didn't see anyone mention Neil diamond.

That's hilarious!

I haven't read back, but I probably mentioned Neil somewhere in the mix.

Skynard's good too

Anyone big on Bob Marley? I used to listen to his stuff, like, all of the time...he had a great poetic sensability.

Also, been listening to a lot of Radiohead lately and their stuff is extremely poetic, somber, brooding.

Kinda makes you wonder what sort of dreams those guys have at night. Freaky crazy, but beautiful at the same time. Reminiscent of Poe or Browning or somebody.