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OMG The Cure's Pictures of You... I can't even THINK of that song without immediately needing a Kleenex...or two...or fifty...
Some of the Cure's songs are way too emotional to me...

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me with the following. I am trying to find out the words to the following songs. These are all the first lines of the song - but I only have the initials for each word, of the first line. Any help would be great...

JAPDDSITP

GCSSBFCF

YITYWIWWIRRW

OSCYSBTDEL

DWHALTTDWWTB

NRDRNJNRR

I love song lyrics that aren't absolutely straightforward, that leave something up to the imagination. So "Us" by Regina Spektor had me pretty much entranced the first time I heard it, especially since I soon found out a few things about Regina: such as she was born in Russia by Jewish parents, emigrated to the US where she grew up in the Bronx and hung out with various punks and odd artists at the same time that she learned to play classical piano. So "Us" takes the concept of a "we" but never really explains who the "we" is... are... whatever. She uses images that remind me of travelling in Eastern Europe (statues on mountain tops, american tourists) but at the same time it could just be about a relationship... or the "us" could be any of the various groups of people she could be said to belong to. It could be all of us. And I'm still not sure if I can disregard the fact that it can be read as "U.S.". And I've obviously thought way too much about this. But it's a fantastic song.

Us (R. Spektor)

They made a statue of us
and put it on a mountain top
now tourists come and stare at us
blow bubbles with their gum
take photographs have fun
have fun...

They'll name a city after us
and later say it's all our fault
then they'll give us a talking to
then they'll give us a talking to
cause they've got years of experience

we're living in a den of thieves
rummaging for answers in the pages
we're living in a den of thieves
and it's contagious, and it's contagious
and it's contagious, and it's contagious

we wear our scarves just like a noose
but not 'cause we want eternal sleep
and though our parts are slightly used
new ones are slave labor you can keep

we're living in a den of thieves...

they made a statue of us
they made a statue of us
the tourists come and stare at us
the sculptors mama sends regards
they made a statue of us
they made a statue of us
our noses have begun to rust

we're living in a den of thieves
rummaging for answers in the pages
we're living in a den of thieves
and it's contagious, and it's contagious
and it's contagious, and it's contagious

Skid Row's In A Darkened Room about child abuse is one of the most poetic songs I can think of, and a beautiful song.

In a darkened room, beyond the reach of God's faith
Lies the wounded, the shattered remains of love betrayed.
And the innocence of a child is bought and sold
In the name of the damned, the rage of the angels left silent and cold.
Forgive me please, for I know not what I do.
How can I keep inside the hurt I know is true?
Tell me when the kiss of love becomes a lie
That bears the scar of sin too deep to hide behind this fear of running unto you
Please let there be light in a darkened room.
All the precious times have been put to rest again
And the smile of the dawn brings tainted lust singing my requiem.
Can I face the day when I'm tortured in my trust?
And watch it crystallise, while my salvation it crumbles to dust.
Why can't I steer the ship before it hits the storm?
I've fallen to the sea but still I swim for shore.
Tell me when the kiss of love becomes a lie
That bears the scar of sin too deep to hide behind this fear of running unto you.
Please let there be light in a darkened room.

Nobody seems to have posted anything by Polly Jean Harvey. She's one of those fabled singers who could sing the telephone directory and make it sound good, but I think she's a great lyricist as well. Not sure how well "Water" works on paper if you haven't heard it - the way it rises from a whisper to a howl - but still... it scares all sorts of things out of me.

Water (P J Harvey)

Water...
Walking
Walking on water...
Walking
Walking on for years and years and years
Taking it into my head
Living by the right lines
Been reading what the very man said

Water
I'm walking
Walking on water
Walking
Walking on -
Lying on eleven years
Taking it into my head
Mary, Mary drop me softly
Been reading what your very man said
Lying on eleven years
Taking it into my head
Leave my clothes on the beach
I'm walking down into the sea

Prove it to me
Prove it to me
Prove it to me

Now the water to my ankles
Now the water to my knees
Think of him all waxy wings
Melted down into the sea
Mary, Mary what your man said
Washing it all over my head
Mary, Mary hold on tightly
Over water under the sea
Water
Water
I'm walking
Walking on water
I'm walking
Walking on water

Nice one Beer, I was thinking of posting pocket knife but my favourite line would have been ****ed!

Yeah, that's a problem with quite a few of her lyrics... Especially "Who The ****", obviously. That one would look positively silly. Glad to see another PJ fan, though!

And on the subject of the divine Ms Harvey, might as well post a song about her too.

West Country Girl (Nick Cave)

With a crooked smile and a heart-shaped face
Comes from the West country where the birds sing bass
She's got a house-big heart where we all live
And plead and council and forgive
Her widow's peak, her lips I've kissed
Her glove of bones at her wrist
That I have held in my hand
Her Spanish fly and her monkey gland
Her Godly body and its fourteen stations
That I have embraced, her palpitations
Her unborn baby crying, "Mummy"
Amongst the rubble of her body
Her lovely lidded eyes I've sipped
Her fingernails, all pink and chipped
Her accent which I'm told is "broad"
That I have heard and has been poured
Into my human heart and filled me
With love, up to the brim, and killed me
And rebuilt me back anew
With something to look forward to
Well, who could ask much more than that?
A West country girl with a big fat cat
That looks into her eyes of green
And meows, "He loves you", then meows again

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by beer good

Yeah, that's a problem with quite a few of her lyrics... Especially "Who The ****", obviously. That one would look positively silly. Glad to see another PJ fan, though!

And on the subject of the divine Ms Harvey, might as well post a song about her too.

---

Again, I would post Nick's song about Tori Amos, "Green Eyes", but that would get very ****ed as well! :lol: :lol:

By the way, West Country Girl works incredibly well as a poem.

And while we're talking Tori - This could almost be Plath - Plus it's still filthy without the **** word!

Icicle - Tori Amos

Icicle where are you going
I have a hiding place when spring marches in
will you keep watch for me
I hear them calling
gonna lay down
gonna lay down

greeting the monster in our Easter dresses
Father says bow your head like the Good Book says
well I think the Good Book is missing some pages
gonna lay down
gonna lay down

and when my hand touches myself
I can finally rest my head
and when they say take from his body
I think I'll take from mine instead

Getting Off Getting Off while they're all downstairs
singing prayers sing away he's in my pumpkin p.j's
lay your book on my chest
feel the word
feel the word
feel the word
feel it

I could have
I should have
I could have flown
you know I could have
I should have
I didn't so

I occasionally go through periods when I listen to nothing but Tom Waits. I think one of those is coming on. This is hardly one of his best-known songs, but anyone who remains unconvinced should do their best to seek out the version he did in Sydney in 1979, which is one of the most moving pieces of music I've ever heard...

Burma Shave (Tom Waits)
Licorice tattoo turned a gun metal blue scrawled across the shoulders
Of a dying town the one eyed jacks across the railroad tracks
And the scar on its belly pulled a stranger passing through
He was a juvenile delinquent never learned how to behave
But the cops would never think to look in Burma Shave

And the road was like a ribbon and the moon was like a bone
He didn't seem to be like any guy she'd ever known
He kinda looked like Farley Granger with his hair slicked back
She says "i'm a sucker for a fella in a cowboy hat
How far are you going?" he said "depends on what you mean"
He says "i'm going thataway just as long as it's paved
I guess you'd say i'm on my way to Burma Shave"

And her knees up on the glove compartment
Took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
And she popped her gum and arched her back
Hell, Marysville ain't nothing but a wide spot in the road
Some night my heart pounds just like thunder, I don't know why it don't explode
Cause everyone in this stinking town has got one foot in the grave
And i'd rather take my chances out in Burma Shave

"Presley's what i go by why don't you change the station"
Count the grain elevators in the rearview mirror
"Mister anywhere you point this thing
Has got to beat the hell out of the sting
Of going to bed with every dream that dies here every mornin
And so drill me a hole with a barber pole
I'm jumping my parole just like a fugitive tonight
Why don't you have another swig and pass that car if you're so brave
I wanna get there before the sun comes up in Burma Shave"

And the spider web crack and the Mustang screamed
Smoke from the tires and the twisted machine
Just a nickel's worth of dreams and every wishbone that they saved
Lie swindled from them on the way to Burma Shave
And the sun hit the derrick and cast a bat wing shadow
Up against the car door on the shot gun side
And when they pulled her from the wreck you know she still had on her shades
They say that dreams are growing wild just this side of Burma Shave

Burma Shave.
I know. Tom at his most Dylanesque. But tinged with Dashiel Hammett. Excellent stuff. One of his best.

Dark Star

Dark star crashes
pouring its light
into ashes

Reason tatters
the forces tear loose
from the axis

Searchlight casting
for faults in the
clouds of delusion

Shall we go,
you and I
while we can?
Through
the transitive nightfall
of diamonds

Mirror shatters
in formless reflections
of matter

Glass hand dissolving
to ice-petal flowers
revolving

Lady in velvet
recedes
in the nights of good-bye

Shall we go,
you and I
while we can?
Through
the transitive nightfall
of diamonds

spinning a set the stars through which the tattered tales
of axis roll
about the waxen wind of never set to motion in the
unbecoming
round about the reason hardly matters nor the wise
through which
the stars were set in spin

~Robert Hunter
lyricist for The Grateful Dead

Ripple

If my words did glow
with the gold of sunshine
and my tunes were played
on the harp unstrung
would you hear my voice
come through the music
would you hold it near
as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down
The thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better
left unsung
I don't know
Don't really care
Let there be songs
to fill the air

Ripple in still water
when there is no pebble tossed
nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand
if your cup be empty
If your cup is full
may it be again
Let it be known
there is a fountain
that was not made
by the hands of men

There is a road
no simple highway
between the dawn
and the dark of night

And if you go no one may follow
That path is for
your steps alone

Ripple in still water
when there is no pebble tossed
nor wind to blow

You who choose
to lead must follow
but if you fall
you fall alone
If you should stand
then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way
I would take you home

~Robert Hunter
lyricist for The Grateful Dead

Those Skid Row lyrics are brutal. Saw the band in London last year, can recommend them live

My favourite Pj Harvey:

"You Said Something"

On a rooftop in Brooklyn
One in the morning
Watching the lights flash
In Manhattan
I see five bridges
The empire state building
And you said something
That I've never forgotten

We lean against railings
Describing the colours
And the smells of our homelands
Acting like lovers
How did we get here?
To this point of living?
I held my breath
And you said something

And I am doing nothing wrong
Riding in your car
Your radio playing
We sing up to the eighth floor
A rooftop, in Manhattan
One in the morning
When you said something
That I've never forgotten
When you said something
That was really important

I love the song lyrics from the band H.I.M They rock. The lyrics are very poetic. Check out Wings of a butterfly! U'LL LOVE IT. That and their other songs!

Lyrics that made me glad I bought the album;

H.I.M, Heartache Every Moment;

There's no smile of an angel
Without the wrath of god

Queens of the Stone Age, Go With The Flow;

But I want something good to die for
To make it beautiful to live

Pj Harvey, Elise;

God is the sweat running down his back
The water soaked her blonde hair black

I was going through my older records and realized I'd forgotten how utterly magnificent Lloyd Cole's first couple of albums are. Barrages of words worthy of a young Dylan sometimes.

Perfect Skin (L. Cole)

I choose my friends only far too well
I'm up on the pavement, they're all down in the cellar
With their government grants and my IQ
They brought me down to size, academia blues

Louise is a girl, I know her well
She's up on the pavement, yes she's a weather girl
And I'm staying up here so I may be undone
She's inappropriate, but then she's much more fun and
When she smiles my way
My eyes go out in vain
She's got perfect skin

Shame on you, you've got no sense of grace
Shame on me, aah, just in case I might
Come to a conclusion other than that which is
Absolutely necessary
And that's perfect skin

Louise is the girl with the perfect skin
She says turn on the light, otherwise it can't be seen
She's got cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin
And she's sexually enlightened by Cosmopolitan and
When she smiles my way...

She takes me down to the basement to look at her slides
Of her family life, pretty weird at times
At the age of ten she looked like Greta Garbo
And I loved her then, but how was she to know that
When she smiles my way...

Up eight flights of stairs to her basement flat
Pretty confused, huh? Being shipped around like that
Seems we climbed so high now we're down so low
Strikes me the moral of this song must be...
There never has been one.