Your positive experiences with lyrics?

Cristi wrote: Starjet wrote: On the other hand I get irritated by obscure and arty-farty words from the likes of Fish ("Fugazi", the song, for example) or Jon Anderson. "arty-farty"? That's harsh TBH, especially applied to Fish's lyrics. I disagree.  Jon Anderson's lyrics? In Yes, maybe, but it's never bothered me. I don't like his solo work, so I don't care there TBH.

Some lyrics, can work well in the song, like working with the groove and setting tonal sound while looking silly or nonsensical on paper. I like Magma's lyrics often when though I have quite limited Kobaian. It's about the sound and rhythm, how it helps with the textures. And I listen to a lot of songs in languages that I don't understand or don't speak well (Japanese and French). In English, the folk music writers often create a kind of musical poetry that resonates with me. Robert Wyatt's "Sea Song" is one of my favourites for lyrics. It is whimsical and plaintive and touches me. David Bowie is a favourite of mine, from the delicious absurdity of "Life on Mars" to the heartfelt lyrics on Blackstar (Blackstar is my favourite of his). Most of my favourite lyrics are not in prog per se, maybe related, but in kinds of folk, and art rock/art pop. There is plenty of Canterbury Scene music where I like the lyrics. Those lyrics that I can somehow identify with, and I an introvert, so often like more introverted, sensitive and subdued lyrics, often appeal to me, whereas ones that come from a very different mindset/ personality type are less likely to appeal (such as party party and yahoo insensitive lyrics unless for humour). That said, there is much less subdued lyrics and form of vocal expression that I do enjoy, but I have to feel some sense of shared identity with the singer usually to enjoy the lyrics. It's hard to explain well and not consistent. My appreciation commonly comes from a place of empathy and perceived identity... to connect with me and become personal to me.

Edited by Logan - April 14 2023 at 09:27

David_D wrote: Quite amazing life-changing experience with lyrics which can happen in some extraordinary circumstances.

^ The line "Innocents raped with napalm fire" in "21st Century Schizoid Man" is a direct reference to the Vietnam War, a conflict that was very current, almost omnipresent, during the era when the song was composed in 1969. Idi Amin did not come to power in Uganda until a coup in 1971, so there would be absolutely no reference to him in the song. 

The Dark Elf wrote: ^ The line "Innocents raped with napalm fire" in "21st Century Schizoid Man" is a direct reference to the Vietnam War, a conflict that was very current, almost omnipresent, during the era when the song was composed in 1969. Idi Amin did not come to power in Uganda until a coup in 1971, so there would be absolutely no reference to him in the song.

cstack3 wrote: The Dark Elf wrote: ^ The line "Innocents raped with napalm fire" in "21st Century Schizoid Man" is a direct reference to the Vietnam War, a conflict that was very current, almost omnipresent, during the era when the song was composed in 1969. Idi Amin did not come to power in Uganda until a coup in 1971, so there would be absolutely no reference to him in the song.  Thank you, great contribution!  From "Epitaph" -  The wall on which the prophets wrote Is cracking at the seams Upon the instruments of death The sunlight brightly gleams I suppose Robert & Co. could have been singing about the cold war with the Soviet Union, or any other of a number of conflicts.  I never considered the "Irish Troubles" to involve instruments of death with sunlight gleaming on them, they were more into clandestine bombs.   This is a bit of insight:  https://www.songfacts.com/facts/king-crimson/epitaph In any event, I took on THEIR British anxieties as a young American lad, who had his OWN anxieties!  The result was life-changing inspiration.   Ray Bennett (bassist for Flash) once told me that musicians never heard from their fans how their music impacted them, and he was very happy to learn that I took such a positive message from Flash!

I prophesy disaster wrote: Usually, I ignore lyrics unless they're too prominent to be ignored. An exception is Peter Hammill whose lyrics in VdGG and solo I enjoy for a variety of reasons.

The Dark Elf wrote: Which conjures war, bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky, generals gathered in their masses, etc., rather than street violence and petrol bombs indicative of the Irish Troubles.

I personally don't really care that much about the lyrics, unless they're really well written. Peter Nicholls and Cyrus (Citizen Cain) are my favorite lyricists in prog. What I really love about their lyrics is the complexity and well thought-out rhymes.

Edited by David_D - April 17 2023 at 13:24