Best and Worst prog lyrics

Frets N Worries wrote: Here's a REALLY hot take, I like it more than Watcher of the Skies. (as of now, but that'll probably change) An underrated gem for sure! On an unrelated note, Cstack joined prog archives the same day my brother was born! Day, Month, and Year!!

Frets N Worries wrote: I'm surprised no one has mentioned 'Time Table' it's pretty fantasy

Spacegod87 wrote: cstack3 wrote: However, the lyrics of Yes, King Crimson and Genesis, although fanciful, do not go down the rabbit hole of fantasy in the form of Dungeons & Dragons etc.   Beats the hell out of me how that started!!  I reckon a lot of prog SOUNDS nerdy to people who aren't into prog. I remember my younger brother walking into the room while I was playing 'Karn Evil 9' and his exact words were: "What the hell is this nerd sh*t?"  lol. And what do people associate nerds with? High fantasy, D&D, etc.

such a cynic when there are so many great options

cstack3 wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: The best and the worst lyrics all in one song.... ELP - Still You Turn Me On Every day a little sadder A little madder Someone get me a ladder  “Somebody get me a ladder” refers to hitting rock bottom and wanting help to climb out.

Edited by Hugh Manatee - September 18 2023 at 22:58

- not a terrible lyric, its more the ''even though your flesh has crystallized'' bit I don't like personally and in general its just very heavy handed. For me most of Lake's best lyrics are on Trilogy including the excellent From The Beginning especially showed that he could write a great lyric as well as the pseudo hymn The Endless Enigma. I also enjoy the romanticism of Trilogy a lot. However as good as they tracks were on the album, ELP though struggled to get these songs across live and so I think a more theatric approach beckoned. Context is important here.

Being a tiger means your mate when overfed
will defecate in places least expected.
Jethro Tull-Tiger Tune

Not sure whether to say it’s best or worst. To each his own I guess. Nothing like some warped potty humor from Jethro Tull.

IMO, any lyrics Dave Cousins (Strawbs) writes are a cut above most anything else out there.

There are so many awful Prog Rock lyrics that I don’t know where to start.

Hugh Manatee wrote: Personally I cringe when I hear: "How did he lose Six Million Jews."

I prophesy disaster wrote: Logan wrote: cstack3 wrote: Why do so many prog-critics complain about lyrics regarding "Fairies," "Elves" etc.?? I'm hard-pressed to think of any prog music with those lyrics!  Because nothing screams Prog as much as Blind Guardian. Prog, and I think Prog fans, have often been very associated with the fantasy genre generally by people. So you have things like Uriah Heep's Demons and Wizards, Hawkwind music, numerous references to Lord of The Rings (Camel with Nimrodel..., Rush with Rivendell...). I heard someone once ask something like, "As you like Prog, does that men you are also into Dungeons & Dragons?" I think it's broad fantasy stereotype associated with Prog, and with kinds of heavy rock and power metal.... And I think the cape and costumes add to that fantasy image.   Even Van der Graaf Generator had "Necromancer". Actually, I find the association of prog with fantasy somewhat off-putting, though I'm ok with science fiction in prog.