Great Song Lyrics

Of course any hub of this type will be somewhat narrow, reflecting the taste of the author. Even when I stipulate that great must equal meaningful when it comes to song lyrics, what I interpret as meaningful can be quite different from what someone else interprets as meaningful. And a song lyric does not have to be meaningful in order to be a great song lyric. I tend to gravitate to the deeper, more introspective words from artists who either look inside themselves, inside social relations, or create social commentary when they write. The first three artists I will highlight should come as no surprise to most music observers. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Elliott Smith are widely known as some of the greatest singer/songwriters of our time. The fourth, though, might elicit a chuckle from some a first. The Goo Goo Dolls, head-manned by Johnny Rzeznik, are a Buffalo, New York band who I think do not receive enough credit for their great song lyrics.

Bruce Springsteen

Looking inside the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen has been the content of several books, blogs, and other lengthy commentaries. Springsteen's latest effort, Working on a Dream , is a grave disappointment when compared to his lyrical musings of the not-so-distant past. It pains me that such a great writer could drop off so quickly... that he could go from writing deep and critical lyrics, serving as the social conscience of a nation, to expressing a naive view of the world due to his increasing age and perceived success in the White House.

That said, you do not even have to leave the present decade to witness the greatness of Springsteen's songwriting abilities.

Long Time Comin'

Well my daddy he was just a stranger
Lived in a hotel downtown
When I was a kid he was just somebody
Somebody I'd see around
Somebody I'd see around

Well if I had one wish in this god forsaken world, kids
It'd be that your mistakes would be your own
Yea your sins would be your own

From Springsteen's solo Devils and Dust record Long TIme Comin' is an excellent example of Bruce's strength - putting into words people's feelings about the human experience and relationships; in this case, parent-child relationships.  How many parents have a concern, usually one they keep themselves, that their children will inherit their issues and baggage.  The last thing you want to do is pass down to your kid a bad gene or provide an environment that crafts some sort of social dysfunction later in life.

Bob Dylan

I'll be honest. I have trouble coming up with an interpretation of most of Dylan's stuff. After reading a lot about Dylan and his lack of political activism during the 1960s despite the pressure on him to take a stand, I have come to the conclusion that he is genuinely intellectually superior to the rest of us. When I look at Dylan's lyrics on paper, it is really more of an exercise of being in awe of his greatness than attempting to make sense of what he was saying.  The storytelling is out of this world.

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez
And it's Eastertime too
And your gravity fails
And negativity don't pull you through
Don't put on any airs
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry women there
And they really make a mess outa you

Now if you see Saint Annie
Please tell her thanks a lot
I cannot move
My fingers are all in a knot
I don't have the strength
To get up and take another shot
And my best friend, my doctor
Won't even say what it is I've got

Elliott Smith

Elliott belongs in a class with Springsteen and Dylan. He is clearly one of, if not the most underrated singer/songwriter the world has ever seen.  He is also widely considered to have committed suicide after leading little more than the depressed life of a drug addict.  No doubt, at least part of that is true.  Elliott certainly dealt with a drug issue at some point(s) in his life and he was melancholy and/or depressed at times.  But anyone who has studied closely his life and spent real time with his music knows that this is just part of who Elliott was... the other parts we don't hear publicized involve a kind and gentle person who cared for others and was lots of fun to be around.  This song, left off of his post-humous record by his family, is, I think, a slap in the face to those who sold the false stereotype of Elliott Smith.

Suicide Machine

baby got a place in the sun selling people shade
renting out a room in a remote little corner..
a profits promenade
talking on the phone
waiting for a ring
well everybody's trying to turn me into a suicide machine..

I'll be riding forth on my pony
you'll want to see me tonight
dressed in black up at the line of attack
by my counterpoint in white
can't look every way
gonna move the street
everybody's trying to turn me into a suicide machine..

everything's alright
except for how it seems
and everybody wants to turn me into a suicide machine..

baby got a place in the sun
i had to shade my eyes
i don't think I'll ever know anyone besides you
but it's no surprise
i know what you want
i got what you need
everybody's trying to turn me into a suicide machine
everybody's trying to turn me into a suicide machine
everybody's trying to turn me into a suicide machine..

The Goo Goo Dolls

I am originally from the Buffalo, New York area therefore I have different perspective on the Goo Goo Dolls than the rest of the world. Sure, they probably sold out, but most people do not know this band prior to smash hits such as Iris, Name, and Slide. Each of those and most of their other pop hits are good songs, but the best Goo Goo Dolls stuff sits in the deep cuts that radio listeners and casual fans have probably never heard. Plus I remember when this band rocked hard in the bars and clubs of the Allentown section of Buffalo.

One of the 'Goos' better songs is one that only Western New York locals get right off of the bat.  Most people, including countless DJs who have played the song, think it's about the famous stretch in Manhattan, but Broadway is actually about the section of Buffalo, NY where Johnny Rzeznik (the Goo Goo Dolls lead singer) grew up.  It's worth reading the whole song like the poem that it is, but the chorus says a lot....

Broadway

Broadway is dark tonight
A little bit weaker than you used to be
Broadway is dark tonight
See the young man sitting
In the old man's bar
Waiting for his turn to die

They may have turned their music into something sort of pop-sounding, but there is no pop shallowness in the lyrics.  It would be pretty difficult to do a better job of illustrating the situation of aging and bitter working class people in the type of rust belt neighborhood Rzeznik is referring to.