"These lyrics are so deep, man!"

[Mr Cat Dog]

Got any favourite lyrics from songs that you'd like to share? Why do they mean so much to you, and what makes them stand out from other lyrics?

NOTE: This is NOT an excuse to simply post song lyrics. The impetus is to get you to explain why the lyrics mean so much. Thank you. :D

For me, the lyrics to the song 'America' from the film version of West Side Story are the first to come to mind. The music in and of itself is great, with its constant time sig changes, and the choreography in the movie is a dream... but what makes that song stand out over the others in the film are the lyrics. Sung by Puerto Rican immigrants that have recently emigrated to the US, the women in the group are exhalting the praises of their newfound home, while the men find it fit to point out all the 'opportunities' promised to them are only really for white people.

This is probably my favourite exchange in the song, but there are many others like it:

GIRLS: Here you are free and you have pride
BOYS: Long as you stay on your own side
GIRLS: Free to be anything you choose
BOYS: Free to wait tables and shine shoes
BERNARDO: Everywhere grime in America/Organized crime in America/Terrible time in America
ANITA: You forget I'm in America

So, what about everyone else?

 

[Gabri]

I could quote a lot of lyrics here, but I'd say that some of my favourite lyrics are from Megadeth's "Hook In Mouth", from their 1988 album "So Far, So Good... So What!"
It's basically a direct attack on the PMRC (Parents' Musical Resource Center), an organization led by Tipper Gore which many musicians (mainly in the rock and metal scene) saw as a threat to freedom of speech because they labeled some records as having potentially explicit content in their lyrics.

I pretty much love the way Dave Mustaine plays with the rhymes and with the word "freedom", turning it into an acronym while attacking the PMRC with it. Here is the chorus:

"F is for fighting,
R is for red; ancestors' blood in the battles they've shed
E, we elect them,
E, we eject them; in the land of the free and the home of the brave
D, for your dying,
O, your overture,
M, they will cover your grave with manure

This spells out FREEDOM, but it means nothing to me
As long as there is a PMRC"
[Note: In the second time he sings the chorus, he replaces "M, they will cover your grave with manure" with "M is for money and you know what that cures".]

Other than this, I'd also like to quote the lyrics from "Countdown To Extinction", also from Megadeth. This song talks about hunting and the resulting extinction of animal species. I think the lyrics are very well written with a lot of thought and they make you think about a very important matter.
I'm putting in the entire set of lyrics, so they'll go in a spoiler:

Spoiler:

"Endangered species, caged in fright
Shot in cold blood, no chance to fight
The stage is set, now pay the price
An ego boost, don't think twice
Technology, the battle's unfair
You pull the hammer without a care
Squeeze the trigger that makes you Man
Pseudo-safari, the hunt is canned...
The hunt is canned!

(Chorus)
All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it, this is the Countdown to Extinction

Tell the truth, you wouldn't dare
The skin and trophy, oh so rare
Silence speaks louder than words
Ignore the guilt, and take your turn
"Liars"'s anagram is "lairs"
Man you were never even there
Killed a few feet from the cages
Point blank, you're so courageous...
So courageous!

(Chorus)

One hour from now,
another species of life form
will disappear off the face of the planet
forever... and the rate is accelerating

(Chorus)"

 

[Kung Fu Ferret]

The entire song "Eeyore" by Slipknot. Too explicit to post, but very deep for a metal song, even for Slipknot standards.

 

[MuffinPaula]

Music from today that talk about people making out.

Like 95% of the songs on the radio is like that =_=

 

[BraveVesperia]

The rap part of Nicki Minaj on My Chick Bad
It doesn't have a deep meaning but her verses are so addicting and crazy

now will all these *****es wanna try and be my bestie
But I take a left and leave them hanging like a testi
Trash talk to em then I put em in a hefty
Running down the court i'm dunkin' on 'em Lisa Leslie

It's going down, basement, friday 13th guess who's playing Jason
Tuck yourself in you better hold on to your teddy
It's nightmare on Elm street and guess who's playing Freddy
(SCCCCRRREEEEEAAAAMMMM)
(my chick bad)

Chef cooking for me,
They say my shoe game crazy
The mental Asylum looking for me
You a rookie to me
I'm in dat bam wam purple lam damn ***** you better been a fan.

 

[GGJ]

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd describes me while I'm depressed perfectly.

Simple Man by Shinedown is so true to me because sometimes it truly is the best to just be a simple man.

Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers is just.... amazing.

Big River by Johnny Cash is perfect for when you meet that amazing girl but.... then you forget to get her number.........

 

[Gunn]

I used to be suicidal and whenever I was feeling severely down, the song by Poets of the Fall, "Diamonds for Tears" would come to mind. They're positive lyrics and I truly believe that this part of the song's lyrics tolled to some of my recovery process:

Why in these days of manmade wonders we still bicker over flies
When you come seeking for forgiveness, I'll be forced to choose my side

If I deny you what you're searching, do I do it out of fear
Am I ruling out my reason, killing that which I hold dear

Out of my way I'm coming, with an excuse just underway
Reality's so daunting, and I've got no way to explain

Cos when you're sound asleep next to me, I know you're the one
So when I hear you calling my name, why do I turn away to run
I guess that's why it's raining diamonds, sweet happiness in tears
Crying heaven shed your diamonds, diamonds for tears

In the light of recent findings, there's no greater taint than grace
But to relinquish all our bindings, always finds us out of place

If I rested here a while more, would you hold me to your heart
Will I know what it's meant for, will I know to play my part

Out of my way I'm coming, another excuse before I'll stay
Reality's applauding, I know I don't know the right way

Cos when you're sound asleep next to me, I know you're the one
So when I hear you calling my name, Yeah, I know you're the one
I guess that's why it's raining diamonds, sweet happiness in tears
Crying heaven shed your diamonds, diamonds for tears

Is it a lost cause,
Can we overlook this taint
Are these the dead laws
Like a doubt eating the saint

And though I fear these shackles, like my darkness closing in
I will hold out my hands, I will hold out my hands

Cos when you're sound asleep next to me, I know you're the one
So when I hear you calling my name, I'll know the good I've done
I guess that's why it's raining diamonds, sweet happiness in tears
Crying heaven shed your diamonds, diamonds for tears​

I've learned now that even during the worse of times, I will always be searching for that tiny spark of hope and I -will- pull out of it. These lyrics perfectly fit the situation and thinking process I was going through. I didn't realize how much I was throwing away, but now I'm a stronger person. I don't regret anything; everyone has their own battles and I clearly won mine.

 

[Alley Cat]

Angel of Death by Slayer is a very... intense song. I'm not going to post it here, but go check it out if you want. It is a very strong piece. Such a sensitive topic portrayed in an interesting way, it is chilling, sort of.

 

[Arma]

Oh my, there are a lot of songs I could be posting here. XD But two of them that really stand out are the choruses from Keep the record on play by Outlandish and Diddy's I'm coming home. Both songs really cheer me up and remind me that you won't solve anything with feeling down.

Keep The Record On Play yeah
If you had a hard day yeah
Don't let it get the best of you
Brush it off, turn the radio up
Keep The Record On Play yeah
No matter, no matter what they say yeah
I got the remedy for you
Everybody turn the radio up

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
Tell the World I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the World that I'm coming

 

[Rogue planet]

Some songwriters are clearly objectively better than others. But when it really comes down to it, much like musicians themselves, nobody is objectively the best or much better than everyone else.
All my favourite songs are my favourites because of the intrumentation and lyrics combined. I don't think I'm capable of liking a song purely for the lyrics.

I usually like sad and down to earth songs. Guy Garvey from Elbow is nearly always great at this; Tom Waits and Nick Cave are my two favourite songwriters, and they're very eclectic. My favourite songs by them are nearly always the more simplistic ones though.

Just a few extracts:
Talk Show Host by Radiohead.

Spoiler:

I want to, I want to be someone else or I'll explode
Floating upon the surface for
The birds

You want me, well ****ing well come and find me
I'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches
And nothing

Kentucky Avenue by Tom Waits.

Spoiler:

Eddie Grace's Buick got 4 bullet holes in the side
Charlie Delisle sittin at the top of an avocado tree
Mrs Storm'll stab you with a steak knife if you step on her Lawn
I got a half pack of lucky strikes man, come along with me

What Can I Give You? by Nick Cave.

Spoiler:

The shadow came creeping, a criminal
That you chased, babe, from my life
And sometimes when I'm sleeping I see him shuffle against the night
Oh, he's waiting, yeah he's waiting to return
And each step I take moves me one step below you
And you must do in order to console me
Help me, help me, help me, baby, reach down and collect me

Some Riot by Elbow.

Spoiler:

A friend of mine grows his very own brambles
They twist all around him 'til he can't move
Beautiful, quivering, chivalrous shambles
What is my friend trying to prove?