Lyrical, Lyrics and Lyricism

I've always been one for the lyrics in a song. I think, as probably most do, that songs can either be made, or broken with the words that are chosen to reflect the musical accompaniment. But the real question I would ask great lyricists would be, which came first, "rocking out?" or "gettin'er done?" After they hopefully answer correctly, I would then have to ask them, which came first, "the song?" (being the musical composition) or "lyrics?" It has to be a very difficult task to combine the two really, because the words itself create a song, and then you have to choose the tone and melody to accompany it. To me, the songs that truly rock, and get er done, somehow manage to truly sync the two in perfect harmony. Now it is completely unfair to lyricists ever to in anyway form some sort of top 10 of lyrics, or try and riddle it down to a specific number because lyrics are unique in that they speak to individuals. They are a phenomenon that I've noticed and been conscious of for a very long time. I call all other co-authors, especially one original rocker DJ (b/c you probably need something to do with your free time?) to fill us in on lyrics that truly speak to you. The following list of lyrics I've comprised are a mere needle in a haystack. I couldn't even begin to truly list every single lyric that truly calls to me, these are the ones that come to mind at this particular moment: (Preface: for me, every single josh ritter song would be listed here, but the blog is not long enough for that. If your into good acoustic, folkish/western vibed songs with good vocals and good lyrics I suggest Josh Ritter, try and youtube him, definitely some good chill music, and he's amazing in concert...) Onward:

Sorry DJ, I know you hate Corgan...

"Well crucify the insincere tonight, 

Well make things right, well feel it all tonight

Well find a way to offer up the night tonight, 

The indescribable moments of your life tonight

The impossible is possible tonight, 

Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight"

-Smashing Pumpkins, Song: Tonight, Tonight - 

Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

"In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more", 

With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"

In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more", 

With a rebel yell she cried "more, more, more"

More, more, more."

Rebel Yell, Billy Idol - Album: Rebel Yell (Blaze Your Own Trail...)

"And I spent half of my life, In the customer service line, 

Flaws in the design, A sign of the times
And that little voice, In the back of your mind, 

Just wants you to know, Just hopes that you know
Robots need love too, They want to be loved by you."

Dan Mangan - Robots - Album: Robotics

"If what's loosed on earth will be loosed up on high , 

It's a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die 
Where even Laurel begs Hardy for vengeance please , 

The fat man is crying on his hands and his knees 
Back in the peacetime he caught roses on the stage , 

Now he twists indecision takes bourbon for rage."

Josh Ritter - Thin Blue Flame - Album: The Animal Years

"I wonder which brother is better, 

Which one our parents love the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble, 

They seemed to let the other go
A tear fell from my father’s eyes, 

I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you, And I’m proud of you both, 

in so many different ways"

The Avett Brothers - Murder in the City - Second Gleam 

"People say that your dreams 

are the only things that save ya.
Come on baby in our dreams, 

we can live on misbehavior."

Arcade Fire. Rebellion. Album - Funeral

"Wake me up lower the fever, 

Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening, 

Everything will be fine
Waking up strong in the morning, 

Walking in a straight line
Lately I'm a desperate believer, 

But walking in a straight line."

Silverchair - Straight Lines - Young Modern

"Oh comely, I will be with you 

when you lose your breath,

Chasing the only meaningful memory 

you thought you had left.
With some pretty, bright and bubbly terrible scene, 

That was doing her thing on your chest.

....

Goldaline, my dear, We will fold and 

freeze together Far away from here.

There is sun and spring and green forever.
But now we move to feel for ourselves 

inside some stranger's stomach.
Place your body here, Let your skin 

begin to blend itself with mine."

Neutral Milk Hotel - Oh Comely - The Aeroplane Over the Sea

"Its a long way to Heaven, its closer to heaven, 

thats still a long ways from where we are,

and if evil exists, its a pair of train 

tracks and the devil is a railroad car."

Harrisburg- Josh Ritter - Live at Vicar Street

"I love a course that you can hit the driver 80% of the time"

grip it and rip it JD, you are a legend.

The. AD. 

ga ga ga Gettin'er