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- Apr 12, 2005
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Okay, there are artists who are generally acknowledged to write excellent or effective song lyrics -- Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Chuck D, Cole Porter, etc.
But sometimes, I'm struck by the lyrics from a band I'd never have expected. Maybe, sometimes, because the tunes are so strong, the lyrics don't get noticed.
The band I'm thinking of at the moment is - wait for it -
Madness
Two examples of some Madness lyrics that :
Night Boat to Cairo
It's just gone noon, half past monsoon
on the banks of the river Nile
Here comes the boat only half-afloat
oarsman grins a toothless smile
Only just one more to this desolate shore
last boat along the river Nile
Doesn't seem to care, no more wind in his hair
as he reaches his last half mile
The oar snaps in his hand before he reaches dry land
but the sound doesn't deafen his smile
Just pokes at wet sand with an oar in his hand
floats off down the river Nile
floats off down the river Nile
My Girl
My girl's mad at me
I didn't wanna see the film tonight
I found it hard to say
She thought I'd had enough of her
Why can't she see
She's lovely to me?
But I like to stay in
And watch TV on my own
Every now and then
My girl's mad at me
Been on the telephone for an hour
We hardly said a word
I tried and tried, but I could not be heard
Why can't I explain?
Why do I feel this pain?
'Cause everything I say
She doesn't understand
She doesn't realise
She takes it all the wrong way
My girl's mad at me
We argued just the other night
I thought we'd got it straight
We talked and talked until it was light
I thought we'd agreed
I thought we'd talked it out
Now when I try to speak
She says that I don't care
She says I'm unaware
And now she says I'm weak
---
Anybody else who surprises you with their unsung song words?
But sometimes, I'm struck by the lyrics from a band I'd never have expected. Maybe, sometimes, because the tunes are so strong, the lyrics don't get noticed.
The band I'm thinking of at the moment is - wait for it -
Madness
Two examples of some Madness lyrics that :
Night Boat to Cairo
It's just gone noon, half past monsoon
on the banks of the river Nile
Here comes the boat only half-afloat
oarsman grins a toothless smile
Only just one more to this desolate shore
last boat along the river Nile
Doesn't seem to care, no more wind in his hair
as he reaches his last half mile
The oar snaps in his hand before he reaches dry land
but the sound doesn't deafen his smile
Just pokes at wet sand with an oar in his hand
floats off down the river Nile
floats off down the river Nile
My Girl
My girl's mad at me
I didn't wanna see the film tonight
I found it hard to say
She thought I'd had enough of her
Why can't she see
She's lovely to me?
But I like to stay in
And watch TV on my own
Every now and then
My girl's mad at me
Been on the telephone for an hour
We hardly said a word
I tried and tried, but I could not be heard
Why can't I explain?
Why do I feel this pain?
'Cause everything I say
She doesn't understand
She doesn't realise
She takes it all the wrong way
My girl's mad at me
We argued just the other night
I thought we'd got it straight
We talked and talked until it was light
I thought we'd agreed
I thought we'd talked it out
Now when I try to speak
She says that I don't care
She says I'm unaware
And now she says I'm weak
---
Anybody else who surprises you with their unsung song words?