I’ve been totally swamped working on my group’s machine learning project the last couple of weeks, so, today, I wanted to write about something completely different, relaxing, and fun.
There will be no math or science involved, I assure you! Instead, I’ll just take a moment to climb out of the IDE swamp and list some of the lines of lyrics I really enjoy. Without further ado, here they are in what turns out is (mostly) alphabetical order since I sourced them trolling through some playlists.
Berlin Blues Song – Alice Phoebe Lou
It Ruffled up my feathers and it barked right up my tree
When suddenly it seemed all the fingers were pointing on up at me
And the footsteps in the sand
Were all getting washed up by the sea
To leave me in stitches, bursting at the seams
Bursting at the seams
When the sun came out to greet me
I only saw the wolves from my dreams
This is my Berlin blues song
Sometimes life can get a little wrong
But it won't be long
Cuz it just makes me strong
Lovely. I’ve italicized my favorite line.
Nude as the News – Cat Power
I still have a flame gun For the cute ones To burn out all your tricks And I saw your hand With a loose grip On a very tight ship
I stiilll, have a flame gun!
Avant Gardener – Courtney Barnett
Reminds me of the time When I was really sick and I Had too much Pseudoephedrine and I Couldn't sleep at night Halfway down high street, Andy looks ambivalent He's probably wondering what I'm doing getting in an ambulance The paramedic thinks I'm clever cuz I play guitar I think she's clever cuz she stops people dying Anaphylactic and super hypocondriactic Should've stayed in bed today I much prefer the mundane
It was very difficult to not just paste the whole song in there. Courtney Barnett has a lot of great songs, but the first I ever heard is still by far my favorite.
Dog Years – Daddy Issues
If you could be anything You would be the worst thing A dry patch when you’re sledding And waking up with my lip bleeding Here we are in the driveway Deciding I have more to lose But you should go home to Chicago And take a long walk off the Navy Pier Oh no, you scratched until I bled I hope you choke on your own spit in your own bed 'Cause I know, I know where it ends We’re not gonna be friends In dog years you’re dead
Another great song, what more is there to say?
The Lion’s Roar – First Aid Kit
Now the pale morning sings of forgotten things She plays a tune for those who wish to overlook The fact that they've been blindly deceived By those who preach and pray and teach But she falls short and the night explodes in laughter
I have slightly mixed feeling about this song. The first part is amazing, but the rest is just good, so it sadly falls short of being one of my all-time favorites. But damn if I don’t love that first verse.
No Duh – K Flay
Hear your shit, I treat it like my bitch, onto the next jam Just kidding, I treat my bitches with respect Talking politics to boys while they're kissing on my neck ... ... More popular than gefilte fish at a seder My calculators TI-89, you're stuck on 83 While you all wait in line, I'm on that VIP ... ... The dopest animal from here to Senegal Flow so menstrual I need a tampon on the track Got a couple bars to kill it and some monkeys on my back
I had a pick a few top lines spread throughout this one, as the song is pretty much a relentless barrage of cutting and hilarious lines. I especially enjoy the cock-eyed wink towards the misogyny that features in far too many popular songs.
Angelene (Demo) – PJ Harvey
My first name Angelene Prettiest mess you've ever seen Love for money is my sin Any man calls, I'll let him in Rose is my color, and white Pretty mouth and green my eyes I see men come and go But there'll be one who will collect my soul and come to me Two-thousand miles away He walks upon the coast Two-thousand miles away
There’s so much in PJ Harvey’s performance here. The Demo version of the song is just incredible. It’s dark and gorgeously grungy. Talk about a rock and a hard place — I always imagine this lovely 2k-mile-away gent ominously emerging from the sea.
Belispeak – Purity Ring
Grandma, my hands have wandered And my legs, my little legs are getting weak Bid lend me your wispy frame And guard my powers Guard my precious powers in its cage Grandma, I’ve been unruly In my dreams and with my speech Drill little holes into my eyelids That I might see you That I might see you when I... Sleep
Well, to be fair, having holes in your eyelids would make you an absolute boss at staring contests.
If Children Were Wishes – Wye Oak
If children were wishes, My mother spent hers on impossible things My brother was money, My sister was love, and I was world peace ... ... ... ... And so I suppose this is Just how it goes no matter how I try, I just have to watch you get Weaker and weaker till you finally die But I have to remember The wish of my mother and all that I'm worth, Which will only come true When there are no more of us left on this earth
I enjoy this song a lot. It’s also nice to have in my pocket in case I ever find myself in a ‘who can name the most depressing song ever’ contest.
Tibetan Pop Stars – Hop Along
How content are the ones, with simple demands? They meet their fiancés, cherry picking out in Canada While cursing the river, a seven fingered man His three sleepless wives, all equally sick of him
Just a taste of this brilliant gem. Truly one of my favorite songs ever. It’s funny, insightful, different, and filled with powerful imagery all over the damn place.
Well, that’s all I’ve got time for, so I guess that will have to do. Definitely not an exhaustive list of my favorites, but a very nice set of lyrics and/or songs nonetheless.
Songs of the week:
Berlin Blues Song - Alice Phoebe Lou Nude as the News – Cat Power Avant Gardener – Courtney Barnett Dog Years – Daddy Issues The Lion’s Roar – First Aid Kit No Duh – K Flay Angelene (Demo) – PJ Harvey Belispeak – Purity Ring If Children Were Wishes – Wye Oak Tibetan Pop Stars – Hop Along
