"If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself."
I am not a lyrics guy but I surely love some lyrics from old-school PJ songs like Evenflow, Given to Fly and Breakerfall. Those lyrics make these perfect songs uber-perfect, IMO.
What's your part, who you are?
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
I feel like the purpose of this thread got totally jacked, by the way.
Also, I think Backspacer gets too much crap from a lyrical standpoint. I think there are some standout moments on that record. Poetically speaking, there's nothing wrong with gems and rhinestones. It's an imagery thing. He's talking about stars.
Anyway, I'd add a masterful Ed line to the thread, but there are just too many. Can I just say "every single word of Getaway?"
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
Anyway, I'd add a masterful Ed line to the thread, but there are just too many. Can I just say "every single word of the entire album lightning bolt?"
Fixed. Seriously. I love BS and will never say a bad word about any of it but LB lyrics have that multi layered, head shaking in wonder, stop-your-car-in-the-street-to-listen quality that I've been craving. I would name specific songs but they all do this to me at some point just from a poetic, lyrical stand point. I'm blown away
5/3/92 Omaha, NE
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1 4/7/17 RRHOF New York City 9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2 9/18/21 Asbury Park 2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden 9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
:fp:
Jack White
Bono
Bob Dylan
Jim James
Prince
Springsteen
Fiona Apple
Thom Yorke
Michael Stipe
Neko Case
Jeff Tweedy
Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
Kanye West
Conor Oberst
Jay-Z
Neil Young
Lauryn Hill
PJ Harvey
Leonard Cohen
Ryan Adams
Matt Berringer (The National)
The list goes on ...
What a ludicrous comment
I agree . What a great list and you named most of my favorites!
He is so fucking talented. A modern day poet. Can anyone name a single music artist that has put words to music better than him over the last 20+ years? I think not.
Let's put a list together of our favorite Ed lyrics. Try to keep it to short one liners. The more obscure the better. I'll start it. You top it. And as you remember more, post it.
"It's like his thoughts are too big for his size"
the last 20+ years??? I'm a big Ed fan, but come on...just of the bat, think of some of Ed's heroes. Springsteen and Young to name 2 off the top of my head. Yes, they've been around for longer than 20 years, but the music and lyrics they've put out in the last 20 are just as good.
Bristow, VA - 5.13.10
East Troy, WI - 9.3.11
East Troy, WI - 9.4.11
Atlanta, GA - 9.22.12
Las Vegas, NV - 10.31.12 (EV)
Las Vegas, NV - 11.1.12 (EV)
Chicago, IL - 7.19.13
Dallas, TX - 11.15.13
Oklahoma City, OK - 11.16.13
Seattle, WA - 12.6.13
Lincoln, NE - 10.9.14
Moline, IL - 10.17.14
St. Paul, MN - 10.19.14
Milwaukee, WI - 10.20.14
New York, NY - 5.1.16
New York, NY - 5.2.16
Boston, MA - 8.5.16
Boston, MA - 8.7.16
Chicago, IL - 8.20.16
I'd like to throw Brian Fallon's name into the mix, not that I think he is on their level but because I believe he will be. He has written some amazing lyrics and he is only getting started
I think Ed was one of the best in the 90's, but now his lyrics are much more straight forward. There's nothing wrong with that, but I feel that there are better lyricists today (I've named a few already, but here are a few more):
I think Ed was one of the best in the 90's, but now his lyrics are much more straight forward. There's nothing wrong with that, but I feel that there are better lyricists today (I've named a few already, but here are a few more):
Alex Turner
Jack White
James Mercer
To me, there's nothing wrong with more straightforward lyrics. You don't get point for being cryptic or writing about Dungeons or Dragons or something else nobody can figure out. I'm sort of over music as homework.
To me, great lyrics are about an idea. Do you have an interesting point of view? And how is that idea communicated? What words are chosen and how do those words fit together?
For instance, there's a moment in Sirens in which Ed wishes to communicate the idea that when he was younger, before he had a family to care for and care for him, he was more reckless and carefree with his life, unafraid of whatever dangers might lurk around the corner.
To have that mouthful manifest itself as "I danced in laughter with the everafter" is an example of pretty fucking stellar lyricism.
everybody wants the most they can possibly get
for the least they could possibly do
:fp:
Jack White
Bono
Bob Dylan
Jim James
Prince
Springsteen
Fiona Apple
Thom Yorke
Neko Case
Eminem
Conor Oberst
Jay-Z
Neil Young
Lauryn Hill
PJ Harvey
Leonard Cohen
Ryan Adams
Matt Berringer (The National)
The list goes on ...
What a ludicrous comment
Fine. Though I would disagree with 3 or 4, I would also add Tom Waits and Zack de la Rocha in there.
Perry Farrell,Trent Reznor, and Jim James to add 3 more
"If you want a friend, feed any animal." - JA
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
"I am lost, I'm no guide.
But I'm by your side.
I am right by your side."
"Wonderland pullin' Alice in the hole."
"Behind her eyes there's curtains, but they've been closed to hide the flames. Remains."
Looks like bottom line its the lyricist, or lyrics you identify with the best that counts.
For me its Ed.
Everyone previously mentioned is certainly good at the craft
I think Ed was one of the best in the 90's, but now his lyrics are much more straight forward. There's nothing wrong with that, but I feel that there are better lyricists today (I've named a few already, but here are a few more):
Alex Turner
Jack White
James Mercer
To me, there's nothing wrong with more straightforward lyrics. You don't get point for being cryptic or writing about Dungeons or Dragons or something else nobody can figure out. I'm sort of over music as homework.
To me, great lyrics are about an idea. Do you have an interesting point of view? And how is that idea communicated? What words are chosen and how do those words fit together?
For instance, there's a moment in Sirens in which Ed wishes to communicate the idea that when he was younger, before he had a family to care for and care for him, he was more reckless and carefree with his life, unafraid of whatever dangers might lurk around the corner.
To have that mouthful manifest itself as "I danced in laughter with the everafter" is an example of pretty fucking stellar lyricism.
You're right, something doesn't have to be cryptic to mean something. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with being straight forward. I just prefer the tone and style of Eddie's lyrics from the 90's as opposed to todays. That's not to say that he hasn't had his moments of greatness since (Into the Wild).
For me, it's not just the words alone that Ed writes but the phrasing and how he delivers them. There are so many examples of what I mean but I'll use a new one because it's fresh in my mind obviously. In Sirens I like how he turns overwhelmed into two words. And the line "held you high above, true".
From Down - "And if hope could grow from dirt like me. It can be done."
From the new album,
Getaway - "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith...in your faith"
MYM - " Try my patience, my patience tried" (I just love the way he delivers this line)
RM
I believe it's "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith...in NO faith" but I don't have the official lyrics in front of me. And yes, he kills it on MYM with that lyric.
So I got the CD today and got to see the lyrics for the first time (I don't like to look in other places for many reasons) and I think this is the strongest lyrical album in the band's existence. I'm really impressed. One man's opinion.
Comments
And Leonard Cohen put a pen to paper in the last 20 years so NUFF SAID
I am not a lyrics guy but I surely love some lyrics from old-school PJ songs like Evenflow, Given to Fly and Breakerfall. Those lyrics make these perfect songs uber-perfect, IMO.
2012: Arras, Berlin 1-2
2013: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires
2014: Milano, Trieste, Vienna, Berlin
2016: NY MSG 1
How I choose to feel is how I am
Ghost was an Ed/Jeff co-write. And, though I don't know for certain, I would bet my life saving the "soap" line came from Ed.
for the least they could possibly do
Also, I think Backspacer gets too much crap from a lyrical standpoint. I think there are some standout moments on that record. Poetically speaking, there's nothing wrong with gems and rhinestones. It's an imagery thing. He's talking about stars.
Anyway, I'd add a masterful Ed line to the thread, but there are just too many. Can I just say "every single word of Getaway?"
for the least they could possibly do
Fixed. Seriously. I love BS and will never say a bad word about any of it but LB lyrics have that multi layered, head shaking in wonder, stop-your-car-in-the-street-to-listen quality that I've been craving. I would name specific songs but they all do this to me at some point just from a poetic, lyrical stand point. I'm blown away
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 NYC Global Citizen
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/2/18 Fenway 1 9/4/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
2/4/22 EV Earthlings NYC 2/6/22 EV Earthlings Newark 9/11/22 MSG 9/14/22 Camden
9/3/24 MSG 1 9/4/24 MSG 2 9/7/24 Philly 1 9/9/24 Philly 2
You're God and you've got big hands
The colors blend... the challenges you give man"
Grand Rapids - 5/19/06
Auburn Hills - 5/22/06
Chicago - 8/5/07
Hartford - 6/27/08
East Troy - 9/3/11
East Troy - 9/4/11
Chicago - 7/19/13
I agree . What a great list and you named most of my favorites!
the last 20+ years??? I'm a big Ed fan, but come on...just of the bat, think of some of Ed's heroes. Springsteen and Young to name 2 off the top of my head. Yes, they've been around for longer than 20 years, but the music and lyrics they've put out in the last 20 are just as good.
Just IMO.
"Troubled souls unite, we got ourselves tonight, I am fuel you are friends, we got the means to make amends"
East Troy, WI - 9.3.11
East Troy, WI - 9.4.11
Atlanta, GA - 9.22.12
Las Vegas, NV - 10.31.12 (EV)
Las Vegas, NV - 11.1.12 (EV)
Chicago, IL - 7.19.13
Dallas, TX - 11.15.13
Oklahoma City, OK - 11.16.13
Seattle, WA - 12.6.13
Lincoln, NE - 10.9.14
Moline, IL - 10.17.14
St. Paul, MN - 10.19.14
Milwaukee, WI - 10.20.14
New York, NY - 5.1.16
New York, NY - 5.2.16
Boston, MA - 8.5.16
Boston, MA - 8.7.16
Chicago, IL - 8.20.16
put your faith in big hands
for the least they could possibly do
Waiting for the next PJ euro Tour
Hoping not to get drown in the wave of life
Nuclear fission
Alex Turner
Jack White
James Mercer
To me, there's nothing wrong with more straightforward lyrics. You don't get point for being cryptic or writing about Dungeons or Dragons or something else nobody can figure out. I'm sort of over music as homework.
To me, great lyrics are about an idea. Do you have an interesting point of view? And how is that idea communicated? What words are chosen and how do those words fit together?
For instance, there's a moment in Sirens in which Ed wishes to communicate the idea that when he was younger, before he had a family to care for and care for him, he was more reckless and carefree with his life, unafraid of whatever dangers might lurk around the corner.
To have that mouthful manifest itself as "I danced in laughter with the everafter" is an example of pretty fucking stellar lyricism.
for the least they could possibly do
One if the best concert moments in history?
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV
But I'm by your side.
I am right by your side."
"Wonderland pullin' Alice in the hole."
"Behind her eyes there's curtains, but they've been closed to hide the flames. Remains."
Looks like bottom line its the lyricist, or lyrics you identify with the best that counts.
For me its Ed.
Everyone previously mentioned is certainly good at the craft
How 'bout writing a song called Dissident?
You're right, something doesn't have to be cryptic to mean something. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with being straight forward. I just prefer the tone and style of Eddie's lyrics from the 90's as opposed to todays. That's not to say that he hasn't had his moments of greatness since (Into the Wild).
From the new album,
Getaway - "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith...in your faith"
MYM - " Try my patience, my patience tried" (I just love the way he delivers this line)
RM
I believe it's "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith...in NO faith" but I don't have the official lyrics in front of me. And yes, he kills it on MYM with that lyric.