I was originally going to write about my favourite songs but then I’d probably be responsible for taking up 87% of the entire internet ever. I decided instead to write about my favourite lyrics. This is completely different to my favourite songs, but still allowed me to spend an enjoyable few hours with my MP3 player on shuffle.
Squeeze- Up The Junction
I love Squeeze anyway, but how on earth did they get the entire song to rhyme? That’s so clever. From the opening line “I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham, out on the windy common, that night I ain’t forgotten” to the final line “and she won’t write a letter, although I always tell her, and so it’s my assumption, I’m really up the junction”. This song summarises a whole relationship from start to finish- it’s very clever and firm favourite.
Pulp- Lipgloss
I love, love this song anyway- it’s easily in my top 10 songs of all time, but Cocker pulls yet another cracker with the lyrics in this one “Well, you’re looking thin, when all that you live on is Lipgloss and cigarettes”. The chorus is so brilliant – “He changed his mind last Monday, so you’ve got to leave by Sunday” and “nothing you do can turn him on, there’s something wrong, you had it once, but now it’s gone”. I love Cocker’s way with lyrics and this one is another stunning example.
The Cure- Friday I’m In Love
The song that is guaranteed to pull you out of a bad mood- no matter how down you are, listen to this and you’ll start dancing like a teenager at a pop concert. I love every single lyric, but the bridge is probably my favourite (sorry for the huge quote) “Dressed up to the eyes, it’s a wonderful surprise, to see your shoes and your spirits rise. Throwing out your frown, and just smiling at the sound, and as sleek as a shriek, spinning round and round. Always take a big bite; it’s such a gorgeous sight, to see you eat in the middle of the night. You can never get enough, enough of this stuff, it’s Friday, I’m in love.” The imagery of this is totally unparalleled- the idea of seeing his girlfriend all dressed up for a night out and then coming home to raid the fridge. It’s perfect.
New Order- Regret
New Order are actually my favourite band of all time- this song was perfect during my miserable teenage years. The chorus spoke to me- “I would like a place I could call my own, have a conversation on the telephone. Wake up every day that would be a start. I would not complain of my wounded heart.” I hit repeat on this over and over again, particularly loving the line “Look at me, I’m not you.”
The Artic Monkeys- Baby I’m Yours
Contrary to most super-cool hipsters I know, I actually don’t like The Artic Monkeys- but I adore this song. It isn’t written by the band, but I love their cover. What a beautiful song. “I’m going to stay right here, by your side, do my best to keep you satisfied. Nothing in the world could drive me away, every day you’ll hear me say. Baby I’m Yours”. My friend wants this at the first dance at his wedding. How sweet.
The Verve- The Drugs Don’t Work
I can already feel my lower lip starting to wobble. What a beautiful song. This is particularly poignant for me, as it was in the charts when my brother was in hospital (he wasn’t a drug addict- he was very sick.) It’s a heartbreaking song- I wish I knew who it was written about. “Now the drugs don’t work, they just make you worse, but I know I’ll see your face again” and of course the tearjerker “If you leave my life, I’m better off dead.”
Godley and Crème- Cry
http://youtu.be/KxtPRF6NG7I
Perhaps not the coolest song in my collection- but I still think it’s a total masterpiece. “You don’t know how to ease my pain, you don’t know.” It’s a very honest song about a break-up “You don’t know how to play the game- you cheat and you lie. You make me want to cry.”
Leigh Nash- My Idea of Heaven
This song is as lovely and sweet as the title. The chorus is as perfect as they come. “Just the two of us, in the dark. This is my idea of heaven, lying here with you.” A beautiful song about not believing in love until you meet the perfect person.
The Style Council- You’re the Best Thing
Mine and C’s song, for devoted followers of my writing. It’s just such an adorable love song. “You’re the best thing that ever happened, to me in all the world. You’re the best thing that ever happened, so don’t go away.” Paul Weller looks pretty hot in this video too. Sorry.
Morrissey- Suedehead
You knew he’d be in here somewhere right? I love this song, and the bizarre video of Morrissey going to visit James Dean’s grave. A beautiful song, which Robbie Williams once played to the paparazzi when they sat outside his house. “Why do you come here, when you know it makes things hard for me?” Personally, my favourite line is “Just to read my diary, it was just to see, just to see, all the things you knew I’d written about you. Oh, so many illustrations.”
Kate Bush- Cloudbusting
Good old mad as a box of badgers Kate Bush. I completely love just one line in this song. “I just know that something good is going to happen. And I don’t know when. But just saying it could even make it happen.” This quote sits on the front page of David Nicholls- “Starter for Ten”- which is a brilliant book and a hopelessly bad film- put it this way- not even the fact that Benedict Cumberbatch and James McAvoy feature could save it.
Roxy Music- Love Is The Drug
Crush alert! I’ve always had a thing for Bryan Ferry. Anyway- this song is a masterpiece of the implied “I said go, she said yes, dim the lights, you can guess the rest.”
Morrissey- Every Day Is Like Sunday
You must have known Morrissey was going to be in this list more than once. The superb line “this is the seaside town, that they forgot to close down.” I’ve been to a few seaside towns like that- a crumbling mess of old candy colours and faded buildings. Beautiful.
Jack Penate- Tonight’s Today
I’m always a little bit shocked by how few people have heard of this man. He’s a genius- if you love indie rock you’ll love him. This is such a beautiful, haunting song- I love the lyric “the sun waves at the moon” to symbolise dusk. Jack is a wonder with lyrics- his song “Be The One” is worth a listen for the line “I lay and watch you sleep beneath the citrus sky, pretending not to see you through my wanting eyes.”
Pulp- Do You Remember the First Time?
I think it was probably obviously that Pulp would be in here more than once too. Genius- “I know you’re going to let him bore your pants off again” and my favourite Pulp lyric “For it makes good sense for you to live together, still you’ve bought a toy that can reach the places he never goes.”
General Public- Tenderness
http://youtu.be/nmoHQ2DC3zo
Not only is this my favourite song of all time, it also contains my favourite lyric of all time. “You’re squeezing the telephone like it was a hand”. What a beautiful image. I think we’ve all been there.
