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Guest brummiemick
Posted

For me the greatest soul songs stir something deep inside because of the lyrics backed by great music. At the moment (as a recent returnee) the lyrics that really stir me are from the Steinways "My Hearts Not In it Anymore" I don't know why, but they just hit a nerve!

"Babe, babe, babe,  my hearts not in it anymore, oooooo the feeling that was there, no it nots the same anymore it's nothing like before......"

What are yours and why?

Posted (edited)

Sam Dees "Signed Miss Heroin" :thumbsup:

steve

AWESOME !!

It's one of those songs where the music is secondary, as the whole lyrics are so powerful!

Edited by Alison H
  • Helpful 2
Posted

"I'm a carpenter of love.. and I'll fix you!" (The Bandwagon - Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache - Epic).

Not the usual heart wrenching, soul stirring, harmony induced masterpiece, oh no. It's a fast dancer. Just a simple (cheesy) line in the chorus. The lead vocalist literally belts it out! from start to finish. :thumbsup:

Posted

happy to be - jimmy ellis

what at first listen seemed to be a story about counting elephants in his sleep

on further listening turned into a mans tribute to his woman and how she will help him forget the horrors of combat

  • Helpful 2
Guest brummiemick
Posted (edited)

color him farether o c smith

take a listen on you tube

Thank you! That is simply brilliant and proves how fantastic great lyrics can be:

"....never a frown, always a smile

When he says to me how is my child"

I absolutely love that record, is it a single? Would it be hard to find? Has anybody got it for sale?

Edited by brummiemick
Guest ritchie
Posted

"The girl in your heart, the girl who tore your world apart"

"The kiss on your lips, the kiss that tore your world to bits"

These get right in under the my armour ,, ouch!! :(:)

Posted

Thank you! That is simply brilliant and proves how fantastic great lyrics can be:

"....never a frown, always a smile

When he says to me how is my child"

I absolutely love that record, is it a single? Would it be hard to find? Has anybody got it for sale?

o.c .smith is lp only

the winstons version is 45

Posted

AWESOME !!

It's one of those songs where the music is secondary, as the whole lyrics are so powerful!

Such powerful lyrics, best anti drug song I heard! Sam Dees excells again. here's the full lyrics for anyone interested, also the link to Sam's rendition.

Well, now little man, you've grown tired of grass,

L.S.D., Acid, cocaine, and hash.

Somebody that's supposed to be your so called friend,

said, "I'll introduce you to Miss Heroin."

Well, honey, before you start fooling with me,

Just let me inform you of how it will be.

For I will seduce ya and make you my slave.

I've sent men much stronger than you to their grave.

You think you could not become a disgrace,

and end up addicted to poppy seed waste.

So, you'll start inhaling me one afternoon.

You'll take me into your arm and very soon.

And once I have entered deep down in your vein,

The craving will nearly drive you insane.

You'll need lots of money (as you have been told).

For, darling, I'm much more expensive than gold.

Signed Miss Heroin

You'll swindle your Mama; and, just for a buck,

you'll turn into something vile and corrupt.

You'll mug, you'll steal for my narcotic charm.

and feel contentment when I'm in you arms.

The day you realize the monster you've grown,

you'll solemnly promise to leave me alone.

If you think that you've got the mystical knack.

Then sweetie, just try getting me off you back.

Signed Miss Heroin

The vomit, the cramps, your gut tied in a knot.

The jangling nerves screaming for just one more shot.

The hot chills,cold sweat, the withdrawal pains,

can only be saved by my little white grains.

There's no other way, and there's no need to look.

For deep down inside you, you will know that you're hooked.

You'll desperately run to the pusher, and then

You'll welcome me back to your arms once again.

And when you return, just as I foretold!

I know that you'll give me your body and soul.

You'll give up your morals, your conscience, your heart,

and you will be mine until Death Do Us Part.

Signed Miss Heroin

Say! you're holding the losing hand,

and you just can't win.

Smoking dope aint nothing but a sin.

The faith in you, that they had in you brother!

What will you do now?

https://youtu.be/MYvQ6Wfsqzk

steve

  • Helpful 2
Posted (edited)

Sam Dees "Signed Miss Heroin" :thumbsup:

steve

Try also Sam Stone Swamp Dog (Aka Jerry Williams)

Kegsy

Sam Stone came home,

To his wife and family

After serving in the conflict overseas.

And in the time that he had served,

It had shattered all his nerves,

And it left a little shrapnel in his knee.

Oh, but the morphine eased the pain,

And the grass grew round his brain,

And it gave him all the confidence he lacked,

With a purple heart and a monkey on his back.

Chorus:

There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes,

Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose.

Little pitchers have big ears,

But don't you stop to count the years,

Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.

Mmm....

Sam Stone's welcome home

Didn't last too long.

No he went to work after he spent his last dime

And Sammy took to stealing

When he get' that empty feeling

For a hundred dollar habit without overtime.

And the cold rolled through his veins

Like a thousand railroad trains,

And it eased his mind in the hours that he chose

While his kids ran around wearin' other peoples' clothes...

Repeat chorus:

Sam Stone was alone

When he broke his last balloon

Climbing walls while sitting in a chair

Well, he played his last request

While the room stunk just like death

With an overdose just hoverin' in the air

But life had lost it's fun

And there was nothing to be done

But to trade his house that he bought on the GI-bill

For what, a flag draped casket on a local heroes' hill

Repeat chorus

Edited by Kegsy
Posted

the facinating witch,s

who put the sinterlating stitchs

in the britches of the boys

who put the powder on the noses

of the faces of the ladies

of the harem of the court

of king caracticus

where just passing by !!

Posted

I always thought the brothers of soul were some of the greatest lyricists of all time. Obviously there's people like Smokey, Curtis, etc. who were fantastic songwriters. But the brothers of soul lyrics were somehow more sophisticated, like poetry.

  • Helpful 1
Posted

color him farether o c smith

take a listen on you tube

One of my favourites this;

As well as O C Smith and the Winstons there are versions by Bobby Womack, the Naturals and the Jades as well as lots of versions in other genres ie Reggae, Country etc


Posted

I think really good songwriting also goes beyond just being a love song to telling a specific story / specific situation. For example, people in Chicago such as Eddie Sullivan who helped write tracks like "how can I tell my mom and dad".

Posted

Always loved the Lyrics to

A L'il Lovin Sometimes - Alexander Patton

Somebody Somewhere Needs You - Darrell Banks

may well be top oldies, but still great lyrics.

Posted

I think really good songwriting also goes beyond just being a love song to telling a specific story / specific situation. For example, people in Chicago such as Eddie Sullivan who helped write tracks like "how can I tell my mom and dad".

was there any other versions other than the lovelites? all time jam!

Posted

Moving away from the sad stuff totally................I like:-

THE POWER OF YOUR LOVE PUTS A SONG IN MY HEART.......... THAT MAKES ME SING LA-DEE-DA THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH............WILLIE HUTCH

This particular line always makes makes me smile!!! :) :) :)

Posted

Lou Ragland - Since You said you'd be mine.....

"I'm three times happier than the law allows me to be" .... great line, and very apt for more than a few when they've been out and heard it played!

Posted

''when my arms reach out for something

And I don't know what it is

I just close, close my eyes

And the first thing I visualise

oh it's my sweet baby''

Marvin Gaye,

Don't know exactly what it is about this song, but right from the intro through to the end I get goosepimples, even writing the lyrics has produced them, fabulous record IMO

Posted

Melvin Davis I'm The One Who Loves You.

OMG what a soulful record.

You think your smart, cos your using me.

But if your so smart baby, why can't you see........I'm the one.....

Posted a link to Darrell Banks version cos can't find a link to MD, but imo the Melvin Davis song is one of the best soul records I've ever heard in my life. But listen to it a 55 seconds, that's the bit that gets me every time.

Cheers ears

Aid.

Posted

There you were, beautiful

The promise of love was written on your face

You led me on with untrue kisses

Oh, you held me captive in your false embrace

Quicker than I could bat an eye

Seems you were telling me goodbye

Oh, just a minute ago your love was here

All of a sudden it seem to disappear

Sweetness was only heartaches camouflage

The love I saw in you was just a mirage

We use to meet in romantic places

Oh, you gave the illusion that your love was real

Now, all that's left are lipstick traces

From the kisses you only pretended to feel

And now our meetings you avoid

And so my world you have destroyed

Mr William "Smokey" Robertson, doing what he did best

A thing of absolute beauty to match any Rabbi Burns nonsense!

  • Helpful 3
Posted

Fantastic Four. Live up to what she thinks.

Posted (edited)

'How much more can a man take, as sure as this day's gonna end, his heart's gonna break...' Sheer Soul Poetry...

WILLIE HUTCH 'love runs out'...

Edited by rich chorley
Posted

"Never in my life have I seen a woman as square as a pool table, and twice as green"..... immortal lyrics from George Davis and Lee Diamond for Aaron Neville's "A Hard Nut To Crack" on Parlo....

... they just don't write 'em like that anymore....brilliant.

Guest mrs norman maine
Posted

I think really good songwriting also goes beyond just being a love song to telling a specific story / specific situation. For example, people in Chicago such as Eddie Sullivan who helped write tracks like "how can I tell my mom and dad".

yes, or that can be interpreted in different ways, depending on who's listening, why, when, etc.

My favourite for this reason is Bud Harper "Wherever you were"

Great big F**CK-YOU lyrics, which because of the repeated "Lord" work on a (sort of!) gospel or secular level. Who IS he singing to? It could be a lover, friend, or the Man Upstairs that he feels abandoned by. I like to imagine it's the latter- yeah, you can go there now, GOD.

Exits "Another Sundown in Watts" for a bit of pathos/social reality.

Fantastic Four "Live Up To What She Thinks" for a little romance.

I also like any lyric that includes the words "wig-hat".


Posted

I also like any lyric that includes the words "wig-hat".

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Posted

was there any other versions other than the lovelites? all time jam!

yeah, there was a version from like 1980 by Coffee on Delite. it's not as good and they change the ending to be a happy ending where their mom and dad are all accepting which is sort of funny.

Posted

I can think of younger days when living for my life was everything that a man would wanna do but i could never see tomorrow i was never told about the sorrow and How can you mend a broken heart, how can you stop rain from falling down, tell me how can you stop the sun from shining, what makes the world go round, how can you mend a broken man how can a loser ever win, tell me how the sun from shining, what makes the world go round ........................... WOW !

AL Greens deliverance of these lyrics is just so potent, they take me somewhere else everytime i hear them, Just a fantastic song IMHO

Guest mickeyb
Posted (edited)

The taste of madness that your lips placed on mine, have turned to sadness in such a little time and now I wanna know how.

Edited by mickeyb
Guest allnightandy
Posted

"You can go on and find you somebody else

i can live cheaper by myself

don't need no woman to help me starve to death "

"Can You Dig It "?

  • Helpful 2
Posted (edited)

"We used to walk,laugh and talk,solve the problems of the world, people would say perfect pair that guy & girl"

Gerri Grainger

Brings a tear to my eye everytime :(

What a crock of S**t

Edited by Julie Moore
  • Helpful 3
Posted

Sam Dees-"what's it gonna be" The Show Must Go On( well the whole lp really)every soul collection should have one

Curtis Mayfield-"No Thing On Me" (cocaine song)the ultimate anti coke song to me anyway another lp only track of Superfly

dave L

Posted (edited)

How can I do the things I wanna do, when 90% of me is you

My heart no longer does what I want it to, because 90% of me is you

Gonna be the kind of woman that no man can move,

I want to have the kind of mind that no man can fool

I want to look you in the eyes, without getting weak at the knees

I want to be able to do without you, in spite of my needs

How can I do the things I want do, when 90% of me is you

My heart no longer does what I want it to, because 90% of me is you

You control my eyes, I can see no-one but you, baby

You control my mind, I can think of no-one but you

You control my lips, I just long for your tender kiss

I never thought it possible that I could be controlled like this

What can I do

What can I do

How can I do the things I want to do, when 90% of me babe is you

and my heart no longer does what I want it to, you know why, because 90% of me is you

Gwen McCrae - 90% of me is you

The whole song, hits me, but the red parts a little more, and the underlined babe & you know why, and the way she delivers it, crying out in need, almost bursts my heart :thumbsup:

Edited by Alison H
  • Helpful 1
Guest allnightandy
Posted

"You know your bite is poisonus and now i'm gonna die

Ah shut up silly woman said the reptile with a grin

You knew darn well i was a snake before you took me in " !

Posted

Classic Soul - end of.

Been thinking about this.

But just so many that make me weak at the knees, tingles, shivers, hair stand up. etc.

What a great thread. :yes:

How can I do the things I wanna do, when 90% of me is you

My heart no longer does what I want it to, because 90% of me is you

Gonna be the kind of woman that no man can move,

I want to have the kind of mind that no man can fool

I want to look you in the eyes, without getting weak at the knees

I want to be able to do without you, in spite of my needs

How can I do the things I want do, when 90% of me is you

My heart no longer does what I want it to, because 90% of me is you

You control my eyes, I can see no-one but you, baby

You control my mind, I can think of no-one but you

You control my lips, I just long for your tender kiss

I never thought it possible that I could be controlled like this

What can I do

What can I do

How can I do the things I want to do, when 90% of me babe is you

and my heart no longer does what I want it to, you know why, because 90% of me is you

Gwen McCrae - 90% of me is you

The whole song, hits me, but the red parts a little more, and the underlined babe & you know why, and the way she delivers it, crying out in need, almost bursts my heart :thumbsup:

  • Helpful 1
Posted

BRILLIANT LYRICS :)

If someone has treated you like dirt

You can be my witness cause you know how it hurts.

As I have been hurt deep down inside,

I'm all out of tears coz that's how much I've cried.

I've been left alone and treated so cruel

It's no good feeling to know You've been somebody's fool

It's no good feeling at all ..... It's too much!

I've been let down hard with nowhere to turn

From the pot into the fire either way I burn

It's so easy to go in the wrong direction

As I'm badly in need of some love and affection

I've been taught a lesson you can't learn in school

It's no good feeling to know you've been somebody's fool

What started out to be such a good thing

Has taken my pride and replaced it with shame!

I can't face my friends coz I know what they're thinking

Now I understand how some men start drinking!

I'm like a drowning man in a sea of misery

I never thought this could happen to me

I'm smoking more, but enjoying it less!

I get a whole lotta sleep, but I don't get enough rest.

I'm wound up in sorrow like thread on a spool

It's no good feeling to know you've been somebody's fool!

Guest Dave Turner
Posted

Sam Dees "Signed Miss Heroin" :thumbsup:

steve

Fantastic Steve, should be compulsory listening at all school assemblies. In the same vein (no pun intended) there's James Brown's "King Heroin"

Ladies and Gentlemen

Fellow Americans

Lady Americans

This is James Brown

I wanna talk to you about one of our

Most deadly

Killers in the country today

I had a dream the other night, and I

Was sittin' in my living room

Dozed off to sleep

So I start to dreamin'

I dreamed I walked in a place and

I saw a real strange, weird object

Standin' up talkin' to the people

And I found out it was Heroin

That deadly drug that go in your veins

He says:

I came to this country without a passport

Ever since then I've been hunted and sought

My little white grains are nothin' but waste

Soft and deadly and bitter to taste

I'm a world of power and all know it's true

Use me once and you'll know it, too

I can make a mere schoolboy forget his books

I can make a world-famous beauty neglect her looks

I can make a good man forsake his wife

Send a greedy man to prison for the rest of his life

I can make a man forsake his country and flag

Make a girl sell her body for a five-dollar bag

Some think my adventure's a joy and a thrill

But I'll put a gun in your hand and make you kill

In cellophane bags I've found my way

To heads of state and children at play

I'm financed in China, ran in Japan

I'm respected in Turkey and I'm legal in Siam

I take my addicts and make 'em steal, borrow, beg

Then they search for a vein in their arm or their leg

So, be you Italian, Jewish, Black or Mex

I can make the most virile of men forget their sex

So now, no, my man, you must (you know) do your best

To keep up your habit until your arrest

Now the police have taken you from under my wing

Do you think they dare defy me, I who am king?

Now, you must lie in that county jail

Where I can't get to you by visit or mail

So squirm - with discomfort - wiggle and cough (hack!)

Six days of madness, hah! You might throw me off

Curse me in name! Defy me in speech!

But you'd pick me up right no if I were in your reach

All through your sentence you've become resolved to your fate

Hear now! younng man and woman, I'll be waitin' at the gate

Don't be afraid, don't run! I'm not chased

Sure my name is Heroin! You'll be back for a taste

Behold, you're hooked!

Your foot is in the stirrup

And make -- haste!

Mount the steed!

And ride him well

For the white horse of heroin

Will ride you to Hell!

To Hell!

Will ride you to Hell!

Until you are dead!

Dead, brother! Dead!

This is a revolution of the mind

Get your mind together

And get away from drugs!

That's the man!

Back! Back

JB's "Public Enemy" is well worth a listen as well (erm, this last line isn't in the lyric :D )

Guest Dave Turner
Posted

BRILLIANT LYRICS :)

If someone has treated you like dirt

You can be my witness cause you know how it hurts.

As I have been hurt deep down inside,

I'm all out of tears coz that's how much I've cried.

I've been left alone and treated so cruel

It's no good feeling to know You've been somebody's fool

It's no good feeling at all ..... It's too much!

I've been let down hard with nowhere to turn

From the pot into the fire either way I burn

It's so easy to go in the wrong direction

As I'm badly in need of some love and affection

I've been taught a lesson you can't learn in school

It's no good feeling to know you've been somebody's fool

What started out to be such a good thing

Has taken my pride and replaced it with shame!

I can't face my friends coz I know what they're thinking

Now I understand how some men start drinking!

I'm like a drowning man in a sea of misery

I never thought this could happen to me

I'm smoking more, but enjoying it less!

I get a whole lotta sleep, but I don't get enough rest.

I'm wound up in sorrow like thread on a spool

It's no good feeling to know you've been somebody's fool!

Ahh, Jimmy Conwell - sheer poetry :thumbsup:

Posted (edited)

I've never had a single lesson,

All this time I've been guessin'

and

I'm gonna find me someone, who's gonna love me and no' no' nobody else

And when I find that someone, I'm gonna love her better than I do myself

Eyebrow raising lyrics and a powerhouse of a record that I never tire of hearing - Northern Soul perfection

Sam Williams - Love Slipped Through My Fingers

Edited by Soul16

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