markv@dartvax.UUCP (Mark Vita) (10/11/84)
<..>
Someone mentioned Jim Morrison's "Touch Me" as a candidate for the
"worst lyrics" prize (you know-- "I'm gonna love, till the heavens stop
the rain/I'm gonna love you, till the stars fall from the sky/For you and I")
That's the funny thing about Morrison. More than any other
songwriter I know of, including the Jagger/Richards team, his lyrics
range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Some of his songs are almost
poetic in quality, while others are meaningless drivel interspersed with
good examples of poor English grammar. Though I enjoy the Doors' music very
much, I too find some of his lyrics annoyingly stupid. The worst offender is,
ironically, probably their most popular song, "Light My Fire":
(Actually, maybe it's no so ironic, since what the public likes is
usually a pretty accurate indicator of crap.)
You know that it would be untrue \
You know that I would be a liar |
If I was to say to you > generally pretty bad
Girl, we couldn't get much higher |
Come on baby, light my fire... /
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire <== this is the worst!
Try now we could only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre <== this is a close second
Come on baby, light my fire...
Another pet peeve, from "L.A. Woman":
I see you hair is burnin'
Hills are filled with fire
If they say I never loved you
You know they are a liar <== ARRGH!
I think that overall, however, Morrision wrote enough good lyrics to
balance out the really bad ones he created.
--
Mark Vita
Dartmouth College
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CSNET: markv@dartmouth6912ar04@sjuvax.UUCP (rowley) (10/25/84)
[bug avoidance]
Well, those previously cited Morrisonian lyrics might be considered bad
in grammar and structure, but I know many more that are much worse. Has
anyone out there ever listened to the "An American Prayer" album?
Here goes...
Taxis from Africa,
the Grand Hotel
There was a party last night
He was drunk
Back,going back in all directions
Sleeping these insane hours...
I'll never wake up in a good mood again!
I'm sick of these stinky boots....
or for a change of pace,
This other kingdom seems by far the best
Until its ugly jaw reveals incest and
Loose obedience to a vegetable law.
I will not go.
I prefer a feast of friends to the giant family.
or even worse, the entire "Lament", which I would be embarassed to
quote from...
Even though these are shining examples of bad lyrics, I am still heavily
into Jim Morrison and the Doors, as I have been for many years. Just because
it's bad doesn't mean it's not enjoyable...
Anthony J. Rowley
This is the end...