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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
 Posted - 04/28/2005 : 21:14:05
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I love the idea of this. I think almost every good rock band needs at least one song like this, a song with maybe only two lines in the lyrics that are repeated again and again. It's something I think takes a lot of wit to do well.
"Surfin' Bird" might be THE classic example. "Why Don't We Do it in the Road?" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" are also ideal and are both in my Top 25 or so Beatles songs. Paul McCartney did some cool ones later ("Darkroom", "Check My Machine"). The Pixies also have a couple of great ones ("There Goes My Gun", "Dancing With the Manta Ray"). Pere Ubu's "Folly of Youth" kicks ass. There might some on The Monks' album, but I forget.
I think there must be a lot more, but I can't come up with any. CAN YOU, DEAR READER?
The rules for these songs:
1. They should be normal song length or at least a minute and a half. If a track is only 30 seconds long, it doesn't count. That's not long enough to drill a minimal lyric into yer brain.
2. Lots of repetition of the lyrics. Repetition is what makes a minimal lyric stand out.
3. Only one or two lines is ideal. Three is okay, too. Four is pushing it, but it can still be okay. Five, six, or above, probably not.
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2005 : 22:13:19
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Most of the songs from The Stooges' Fun House. Especially "Dirt."
 "Join the Cult of Quincy, M.E. / And never settle for the obvious answer" |
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Brackish Heart
- FB Fan -
Australia
176 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2005 : 22:47:40
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Nirvana's School off Bleach springs to mind.
Wont you believe its just my luck etc
No Recess etc
Youre in high school again.etc
classic tune |
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two reelers
* Dog in the Sand *
Austria
1036 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2005 : 23:48:28
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YR MOUTH IS MILES AWAY !
YR MOUTH IS MILES AWAY !
YR MOUTH IS MILES AWAY !
oh, and the beatles again: honey pie
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 00:12:41
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Barbarism Begins At Home - The Smiths
Morrissey wails for about 5 friggin' minutes.
 Take a bite of the chocolate coffin. |
Edited by - ObfuscateByWill on 04/29/2005 00:57:31 |
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Newo
~ Abstract Brain ~
Spain
2674 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 00:53:33
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Stormy Weather
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"Here love," brakes on a high squeak, "it´s not backstage at the old Windmill or something, you know." |
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geertos
- FB Fan -
Belgium
158 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 01:05:39
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Hold it, hold it... Can you tell me even one line of "Dirt" that's often repeated? "TV Eye" seems a better choice to me.
And the Beatles' Honey Pie has quite some lyrics ("You became a legend of the silver screen", etc...). I presume you meant WILD Honey Pie, thats the one that's just 'Honey Pie' over and over.
Some songs come to mind:
- lots of Ramones (I don't want to walk around with you, Beat on the Brat,...)
- my absolute favorite: Hollow Inside - The Buzzcocks ('hollow inside, I was hollow inside, but I couldn't find out what the reason was why I was' in a continous non-stop loop)
- a song on Therapy?'s Semi-detached album, I think it's called Tramline: that's just one line ending with 'rock star bullshit' over and over.
- Dinosaur Jr: Don't (a distorted thrash song with the line "why don't you like me" for 5 minutes over and over)
- New Day Rising - Husker Du
- Walking away - Sugar
I'll come back when I think of more. Great thread btw
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Edited by - geertos on 04/29/2005 01:07:40 |
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jediroller
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1718 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 02:00:52
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The Magnetic Fields - "Punk Love", in 69 Love Songs. It's all in the title.
Can't think of any other right now.
Clara Bow had a Bronx honk |
Edited by - jediroller on 04/29/2005 02:02:03 |
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 02:07:51
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| ween - HIV song |
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7442 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 02:08:25
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Nice thread. I love these songs.
Jonny Polonsky's Here Comes The Night has 3 lines, don't know if it counts.
Les Wampas - Rising (the booklet includes the lyrics: "Rising! Rising! Ouh Ah ah ah ah ah ah Riising Riiiiiiiiisiiiiiiiiiing Ah ah ah ah ah Ouh Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah Ooouh! Riiiiiiisiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiisiiiiiing!")
Les Wampas - Jean-Luc Le Ténia
and many more by them
Denis
"His chops are too righteous. The helmets can't handle this level of rock 'n' roll. Karen, do something!" |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 02:23:49
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Most things by John Spencer Blues Explosion
 I'm like a lost snail in the night. |
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geertos
- FB Fan -
Belgium
158 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 02:50:49
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Sepultura - We who are not as others
Roky Erickson & the 13th floor elevaters - I walked with the zombie (Yeah, its actually the REM version I only know)
Love as Laughter - Singing sores make perfect swords (again, it's the Built to Spill version I only know)
Two songs one Julian Cope's Peggy Suicide: one's just 'hung up and hanging out to dry', antoher one 'it'll all wash down it'll wash down when it rains'. But I don't know if they count as great rock songs to fit your definition. |
Edited by - geertos on 04/29/2005 03:10:17 |
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mun chien andalusia
= Quote Accumulator =
Italy
2139 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 03:13:51
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short songs by the dead kennedys
 i bash newbies for a living |
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Sn@ke
- FB Fan -
Portugal
16 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 03:53:12
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| Sonic Youth - Rain On Tin... |
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n/a
deleted
4109 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 04:01:56
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Joey Ramone - Mr. Punchy
I’m Mr. Punchy
I’m Mr. Punchy
I’m Mr. Punchy
I’m Mr. Punchy
He must be screwed up What did he do?
He must be screwed up What did he say?
He must be screwed up Is he on glue?
He must be screwed up Hey hey hey!
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Everybody’s screwed up in their own special way!
If you could be anything that you want to be,
do you think that you would be who you see in the mirror?
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Edited by - n/a on 04/29/2005 04:02:35 |
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 04:39:20
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These are lyrics to a song (can you guess the title?) I wrote about 7 years ago. The actual music is far more complex.
verse:
too heavy, too heavy, too heavy for me
too heavy, too heavy, too heavy for me, me, me
too heavy, too heavy, too heavy for me
too heavy, too heavy, too heavy for me
chorus:
ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah uh oh, too heavy
ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah uh oh, too heavy for me
ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah uh oh, too heavy
(2nd chorus only) ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah uh oh, too heavy for me
Anyway, I think it's a good song. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 08:07:23
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quote:
Originally posted by geertos
Hold it, hold it... Can you tell me even one line of "Dirt" that's often repeated? "TV Eye" seems a better choice to me.
I've been hurt/dirt and I don't care |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:08:26
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Alot of Kyuss songs.
El Rodeo being my fave.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:12:28
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Paul Westerberg (under the pseudonym Grandpaboy) has a song called "Eyes Like Sparks" with very minimal lyrics. It's just this over and over:
"Just stay where you are, baby, stay away from me, with your eyes like sparks and my heart like gasoline."
Let 'em riot. We're Sonic-fuckin'-Death Monkey. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:38:31
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I know these have other lyrics but I love the repeated part in Karma Police where he just says Phew for a minute I lost myself over and over again.
Repeated lyrics can tend to really bring an emotion home sometimes like (you may think this is lame but I love this album) in marcy playground's self titled, the song called opium where he just keeps repeating mom over and over again, brings a tear to my eye.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:43:27
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How about that song by TarTar called Carolynanna. "Carolynanna, rhymes with banana. Carolynanna, rhymes with Santana." And then it changes to being pronounced Carolyn-ahn-a and it goes, "Carolynanna, rhymes with marijuana. Carolynanna, rhymes with, um, sauna." That's about it for the lyrics.
Let 'em riot. We're Sonic-fuckin'-Death Monkey. |
Edited by - TarTar on 04/29/2005 09:43:59 |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:55:02
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Hmmmm, that song sucks...;)
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 09:58:14
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You're just jealous of yourself cuz it's about you.
Let 'em riot. We're Sonic-fuckin'-Death Monkey. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2005 : 10:16:26
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Yeah, I'm about to kick my own ass here, heh.
__________
This is the war and not the warning. |
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Topic |
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Great rock songs with very minimal lyrics
