Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Songs are simply bad poetry propped up by pretty sounds

Baraka_Guru · 11-18-2008, 07:17 AM

Prove me wrong.

As someone who spent most of a university degree studying poetry throughout history, I've had many things spoiled for me. One thing I've noticed is that I'll sometimes listen to a song playing on the radio and I'll focus on the lyrics, removing them from the context of the song. I will just listen to the words.

I often cringe.

Much of what I hear—what otherwise would be brilliant songs—can be considered nothing other than bad poetry if you look at it "lyrically." Some of the best songs ever written can be guilty of this. It's only when you look at the song as a whole do you find its power. But a song isn't a song without lyrics, and yet so much of this can be written off as subjective.

However, there are songs out there that have powerful or beautiful lyrics that can stand on their own. I want you to share these songs with me here. Prove to me that there are many songs out there that aren't bad poetry merely propped up by pretty sounds.

Try to focus on three (or fewer) selections, as it's easy to list all our favourites and lose focus. Feel free to revisit here when you think of more, but let's try to focus on the best of the best.

So I ask you to list songs whose lyrics are poetic in any capacity. Focus on all the elements that make poems poetry and apply them to lyrics of songs. These can stand as their own testament, or you can defend your choice with an explanation. I also recommend highlighting a few of the best lines of the song. Try not to post complete lyrics, as that too can easily become unfocused.

Here are a few to start:

"I Am the Walrus" The Beatles

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan from
Standing in the English rain.

I like the imagery and how the rhythm seems to shift to the pitter-patter of rain.

"The Sound of Silence" Simon & Garfunkel

Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

You can't go wrong with anthropomorphizing darkness. Also, the use of rhyme here isn't trite, partly because of the rhythm.

"Don't Dream It's Over" Crowded House

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof.
My possessions are causing me suspicion, but there's no proof.
In the paper today, tales of war and of waste,
But you turn right over to the t.v. page

I like the turn of the last line.

11-18-2008, 07:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Songs are simply bad poetry propped up by pretty sounds Prove me wrong. As someone who spent most of a university degree studying poetry throughout history, I've had many things spoiled for me. One thing I've noticed is that I'll sometimes listen to a song playing on the radio and I'll focus on the lyrics, removing them from the context of the song. I will just listen to the words. I often cringe. Much of what I hear—what otherwise would be brilliant songs—can be considered nothing other than bad poetry if you look at it "lyrically." Some of the best songs ever written can be guilty of this. It's only when you look at the song as a whole do you find its power. But a song isn't a song without lyrics, and yet so much of this can be written off as subjective. However, there are songs out there that have powerful or beautiful lyrics that can stand on their own. I want you to share these songs with me here. Prove to me that there are many songs out there that aren't bad poetry merely propped up by pretty sounds. Try to focus on three (or fewer) selections, as it's easy to list all our favourites and lose focus. Feel free to revisit here when you think of more, but let's try to focus on the best of the best. So I ask you to list songs whose lyrics are poetic in any capacity. Focus on all the elements that make poems poetry and apply them to lyrics of songs. These can stand as their own testament, or you can defend your choice with an explanation. I also recommend highlighting a few of the best lines of the song. Try not to post complete lyrics, as that too can easily become unfocused. Here are a few to start: "I Am the Walrus" The Beatles Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun. If the sun don't come, you get a tan from Standing in the English rain. I like the imagery and how the rhythm seems to shift to the pitter-patter of rain. "The Sound of Silence" Simon & Garfunkel Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again, Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping, And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence. You can't go wrong with anthropomorphizing darkness. Also, the use of rhyme here isn't trite, partly because of the rhythm. "Don't Dream It's Over" Crowded House Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof. My possessions are causing me suspicion, but there's no proof. In the paper today, tales of war and of waste, But you turn right over to the t.v. page I like the turn of the last line. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 11-18-2008 at 07:32 AM..