Best/Worst Lyrics In Pop/Rock music

I've always liked the lyrics to Castles Made of Sand by Jimi Hendrix.

Overall, I've got to agree that Dylan is great. I like Grohl too. I've never thought of really "competing" them against each other like some of you do. I appreciate 'em both.

Take any of 100's of 70's pop tunes to get the worst lyrics. Afternoon Delight has got to be one of the worst (lyrically and musically) as is Muscrat Love.

"Too late to apologize" by One Republic or whatever it is... absolutely f***ing awful.

Isn't Yellow Submarine a Ringo Starr creation?

Sorry, the lyric website did not provide the name of the song writer. Dylan writes the songs he sings, others sing his songs out of respect. Foo Fighters sing Prince songs?

What about the other song - the Marigold thing, who wrote that?

Once at an awards event Eddie Veder, after accepting an award, stated that he thought it was impossible to tell who was the best singer or band unless everyone performed the same song. I thought that was pretty cool. Like someone else said, most of these musicians would think this discussion is pretty dumb.

That said, I just like a good debate.

While Grohl may be good, he is no Dylan (not even a Jakob Dylan). My original post was a response to the person that compared the two - which I found idiotic.

really? ever heard this one?I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis,She tried to take me upstairs for a ride.She had to heave me right across her shoulder'Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind.It's the honky tonk womenGimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.I played a divorcee in New York City,I had to put up some kind of a fight.The lady then she covered me with roses,She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.It's the honky tonk womenGimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.(Yeah!) It's the honky tonk women.Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.(Yeah!) It's the honky tonk women.Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues.

Still Running wrote:

That's why I never mentioned Rap. They have bad lyrics as the rule rather than the exeption. The same goes for country. Any song with the words "Honkey Tonk" or some derivation are automically a 10/10 in the bad lyric category in my opinion.

okay...bob dylan tries too hard to rhyme sometime, but, Blowing in the Wind? Love Minus Zero/No Limit? Not examples of that. those are good songs my friend.

Yes I have. That's why I already corrected myself (twice). I guess you missed that. As I mentioned previously, I should have said that any COUNTRY song with "Honky Tonk" in it is bad in my opinion.

Squid wrote:

I'm surprised to see three pages go by and no mention of Paul Anka's "Having My Baby" as the worst lyrics of all time. It's cringe-inducingly bad. Lots of lousy songs get remade, but not "Having My Baby". Worst hit song ever.

I agree.

"Muskrat Love" comes in a close second, but it's so absurd I truly believe it was meant as a joke.

For best lyrics ever, I submit this, written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon and Garfunkel.

------------------------------------

"let us be lovers we’ll marry our fortunes together"

"i’ve got some real estate here in my bag"

So we bought a pack of cigarettes and mrs. wagner pies

And we walked off to look for america

"kathy," I said as we boarded a greyhound in pittsburgh

"michigan seems like a dream to me now"

It took me four days to hitchhike from saginaw

I’ve gone to look for america

Laughing on the bus

Playing games with the faces

She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy

I said "be careful his bowtie is really a camera"

"toss me a cigarette, I think there’s one in my raincoat"

"we smoked the last one an hour ago"

So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine

And the moon rose over an open field

"kathy, I’m lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping

I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why

Counting the cars on the new jersey turnpike

They’ve all gone to look for america

All gone to look for america

All gone to look for america

Grohl may not have the cultural significance of Dylan, but his music is much easier on the ears. And you pasted to the lyrics to one song, "Marigold," which, despite the simple lyrics, is a very good song to listen to. Hell, they pasted the lyrics to Everlong earlier. When those lyrics are combined with his music, it is one of the most touching/eery songs of the past 20 years. Overall, I agree with many posters that Grohl is the best of this generation at least. To someone that said Radiohead and their lead singer are the best out there, I think that is just fashionable for people to say who want to seem "with it." Most of their music is barely listenable.

Oh by the way, I really like Jakob Dylan too. The Wallflowers are awesome... but, musically and in lyrical consistency, he is nowhere close to Grohl. His dad may top Grohl, mainly due to the impact he had on culture back in the day, but Jakob is not in the same league... a few really good songs, but overall, he is a tier lower than Grohl.

Under my umbrella ella ella ella eh eh eh!!! Man, that song sucks!

Dylan sang a cover of Everlong at a concert. So looks like he enjoys himself some Dave Grohl too.

Seger: "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then".

Neil Young: "I would give thousand pelts

To sleep with Pocahontas

And find out how she felt"

In terms of first verses that are just so vivid and evocative that the imagery is something we can so easily visualize, two of the best are Springsteen's "Thunder Road":

"The screen door slams

Mary's dress sways

Like a vision she dances across the porch

As the radio plays"

And even better, Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue":

"Early one morning the sun was shining,

I was laying in bed

Wondering if she'd changed at all

If her hair was still red."

for dumbest lyrics. A masterpiece of meaningless words filling space.

Load up on guns

Bring your friends

It's fun to lose and to pretend

She's overborne and self-assured

Oh no, I know a dirty word

Chorus-

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello ,hello

With the Lights out it's less dangerous

Here we are now entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now entertain us

A mullato an albino

A mosquito my libido

yay

I'm worse at what I do best

And for this gift I feel blessed

Our little group has always been

And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello

With the Lights out it's less dangerous

Here we are now entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now entertain us

A mullato an albino

A mosquito my libido

yay

And I forget just why I taste

Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile

I found it hard it's hard to find

Oh well whatever nevermind

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello, hello

With the Lights out it's less dangerous

Here we are now entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now entertain us

A mullato an albino

A mosquito my libido

A denial

Um... Dave wrote "Marigold" when he was 18. What were you doing at that age? I think he has advanced a bit with his song writing ability in the last 20 years. With that said, listen to this... the song still sounds pretty damn good to me. Again, it is not just about the lyrics, it is about combining the lyrics with the right music and vocals. The song sounds pretty touching. Also, for the record, Dave's favorite song is "Aurora" off their third album. Might want to check that out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_kRVecCrQ

Warren Zevon --Werewolves of London. Great lyrics.

watitattata wrote:

Grohl may not have the cultural significance of Dylan, but his music is much easier on the ears.

To someone that said Radiohead and their lead singer are the best out there, I think that is just fashionable for people to say who want to seem "with it." Most of their music is barely listenable.

By "easier on the ears," and "barely listenable," you mean to say that you like to listen to Grohl's music and you don't like to listen to Radiohead's music. Those are YOUR ears that you are talking about. To take it to the extreme, I'm sure you would say that most of Steve Reich's music is "barely listenable," but he is an infinitely better musician than anyone yet mentioned on this thread. You too easily let your own musical subjectivity get in the way of your critiques.

I would venture to say that the vast majority of musicians, music critics and the population in general disagree with your comparison of Grohl and Dylan.

Neil Young - Powder Finger

The Nuge - Old Fred Bear

Worst - you guys have covered the worst ones very well so far.