Your Favourite Lyrics?

[Mr Blue]

"I came across your maiden name...and I shook" Ouch!

[Soul16]

More of my favourite Northern Soul lyrics, this time the guy is trying to persuade his girl not to leave him by suggesting she may face financial problems...

Now girl, stop one morning

Before you go now girl

What you gonna do when your lights go out?

And your groceries run low

And then a rent man comes knockin' on your door...

Edited August 16, 2020 by Soul16
Grammar

[Guest miss nancy]

Love starved heart - Marvin

Honey honey now my love starving heart is killing me

Darling since I lost you

Anderson Bros

I can see him making love to you baby

And the thought of his body next to yours makes me crazy

Prince

Oh yeah

In France a skinny man

Died of a big disease with a little name

By chance his girlfriend came across a needle

And soon she did the same

At home there are seventeen-year-old boys

And their idea of fun

Is being in a gang called The Disciples

High on crack, totin' a machine gun

Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling of a church

And killed everyone inside

U turn on the telly and every other story

Is tellin' U somebody died

Sister killed her baby cuz she could afford 2 feed it

And we're sending people 2 the moon

In September my cousin tried reefer 4 the very first time

Now he's doing horse, it's June

[Sleeps45]

the ledgends-fool for you-red balloon has some deep lyrics

[NEV]

"I came across your maiden name...and I shook" Ouch!

yes Ouch !

But what about the Tnt band -that's life ..... "you're daddy had a daughter who's now your wife " ......thats life

[Guest WheelCity45]

Here`s My 3:

Brook Brenton-Where Does A Man Go To Cry

Phil Flowers-Got To Have Her For My Own

Ann Robinson-World Of Happiness

Edited February 10, 2012 by WheelCity45

[Guest in town Mikey]

One of the best opening lines of a song

You could offer me your love on a silver platter

But I wont take it.

And I know quite a few on here dont like Mr Hudson but I love

The way you hold your head to understand what I said

Ooh this gets to me.

[Guest brummiemick]

great topic that come around often...

Gil Scott Heron lyrics and song but also sung by Esther Phillips.. Love both versions... The line " home is where the needle marks, try to heal my broken heart", the day i heard these lyrics for the first time have stuck with me always, it just ripped my guts out... Full lyrics below from a true poet, enjoy...

Home Is Where The Hatred Is....

A junkie walking through the twilight

I'm on my way home

I left three days ago, but noone seems to know i'm gone

Home is where the hatred is

Home is filled with pain and it,

might not be such a bad idea if i never, never went home again

stand as far away from me as you can and ask me why

hang on to your rosary beads

close your eyes to watch me die

you keep saying, kick it, quit it, kick it, quit it

God, but did you ever try

to turn your sick soul inside out

so that the world, so that the world

can watch you die

home is where i live inside my white powder dreams

home was once an empty vacuum that's filled now with my silent screams

home is where the needle marks

try to heal my broken heart

and it might not be such a bad idea if i never, if i never went home again

I have to say when I listen to this It's hard not to cry, especially thinking about how 14 years after it's release she died because of her drug use at only 48 years old & after around 30 years of chronic addiction. These are soulful lyrics of the rawest kind - this song could have been the story of Esther's shit life :-(

Edited February 11, 2012 by brummiemick

[Guest east rob]

I'm your pimp. I wear my hat to the side, & I walk with a limp.

[Geoff]

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".

That is a beautiful record, only heard it last year for the first time, very touching.

[Guest]

"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

Bloody brilliant!!...

[Guest posstot]

color him farether o c smith

take a listen on you tube

Gets my chin going this track!!

[Guest brummiemick]

I have to say when I listen to this It's hard not to cry, especially thinking about how 14 years after it's release she died because of her drug use at only 48 years old & after around 30 years of chronic addiction. These are soulful lyrics of the rawest kind - this song could have been the story of Esther's shit life :-(

Whitney Houston tragically dying at 48 (also possibly drug related) is reminiscent of Esther Phillips who died at same age because of drugs - history repeats itself :-(

Edited February 12, 2012 by brummiemick

[Sleeps45]

deep lyrics here

[Guest manusf3a]

There many for me that are up there for the lyrics in my favouites schema as it stands and has done for some time now the words to Dean Parishs Detirmination are up there at the top,If a heart thats all hurt etc,the emotion the lyrics convey to me are something else over and above.Love it.There are others up there but as it stands for now for me Deans tops.

Edited September 10, 2012 by manusf3a

[Guest manusf3a]

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?

steve

Excellent if you like this youll love James Brown doing King Heroin.

[Guest manusf3a]

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 )

What a song ,I used to borrow my cousins lp from her back in the early seventies with this on it,once heard never forgot,the lp version is longer but along with sam dees and the incredible Cutis Mayfield bless him with all there earlier albums back to the world etc these artists didnt shirk when it came to political statement,Always loved Curtis,Underground,freddies dead,and much much more.I havent heard the Sam Dees as much as I know James Browns King heroin but miss heroin has a message that as some have commented should be heard far and wide for such songs and lyrics can cut through fear,pain,defences etc in an instant hotter than a hot knife through butter.I have never known any other artist come as close as these named to showing the depth of feeling and understanding as they do in expressing the power and hopelesness of heroin addiction.Its the ultimate leveler king or beggar no distinction made no respect given.The white horse will ride you to hell. Edited September 10, 2012 by manusf3a

[Mr Fred]

How about, The length of your hair is the stick of your love.The expression of your desire,the grass upon your fire. some Lyrics taken from the classic :- Autmn of tommorrow by, The Crow

Edited September 10, 2012 by Mr Fred

[Guest scottie]

MR.FLOODS PARTY-COMPARED TO WHAT

the presidents,he`s got his war

folks don`t know just what it`s for

nobody gives us rhyme or reason

have one doubt,they call it treason

SEEMS LIKE IT`S THE SAME TODAY AS IT WAS THEN

[Davenpete]

"You said he was your cousin, but I found out that he wasn't" - Robert Parker, coz it's so dodgy

"My mouth wrote a cheque that my heart couldn't cash" - The Parliaments, coz it's brilliant

"Your eyes don't look the same, as they did yesterday, I can't help from wondering if this will be the day you just walk away" - agreed with BigSoulMan - simply the greatest soul record ever recorded

Dx

Edited September 22, 2012 by DaveNPete

[1soulmojo]

Today you called, said you found someone new

I'm left with the problem of getting over you

Don't see no way out, don't see how I can

When the life I'm living girl is yours to command

You don't know what you mean to me

You've been more than a lover, you're the other half of me

If you leave me lover, you know I'll never recover

Don't leave me babe

The genius of Lamont Dozier, "Can't Get Off"Â. How brilliant is this. Its poetry of the highest order. This is definitely on my desert island disc list.

[Saxafone]

Smokey's lyrics are always a cut above, but how many of us when we first heard Tears of a Clown all those years ago knew who Pagliacci was ?

Certainly no one at my Youth Club in north Wales although we all sang along.

I used to think it was "Pal Archie".

Once I did find out about the characters in the opera Pagliacci it just seemed to convey more power to the song and made me appreciate the words even more. Hat off to Smokey So simple that everyone gets it at the first time of hearing but very clever too.

Just like Pagliacci did

I try to keep my sadness hid

Smiling in the public eye

But in my lonely room

I cry the tears of a clown

When there's no one around.

Stevie Wonder (who was discovered by Miracles member Ronnie White ), and his producer Hank Crosby wrote the music for the song, and Cosby produced the instrumental track recording. Wonder brought the instrumental track to the 1966 Motown Christmas party because he could not come up with a lyric to fit the instrumental. Wonder wanted to see what Robinson could come up with for the track. Robinson, who remarked that the song's distinctive calliope motif "sounded like a circus", provided lyrics that reflected his vision and sang lead vocal. In the song, his character, sad because he does not have a woman who loves him, compares himself to the characters in the opera Pagliacci, comedians/clowns who hide their hurt and anger behind empty smiles. He had used this comparison before: the line "just like Pagliacci did/I'll try to keep my sadness hid" appears in the song "My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down)", which he wrote in 1964 for Motown artist Carolyn Crawford.

Taff

[Guest woody no1]

" southside movement " girl your on fire as i see you dance my love for you will bust my pants brilliant!!!!! :D :D https://youtu.be/FD0Nsu0L_Cg

[Guest nubes]

All I Do...Tammi Terrill...hard to believe that 16 year old Stevie Wonder wrote such profound lyrics when all i can get out of my 16 year old is a grunt

Dance with my Father...Luther Vandross....Kleenex shares go thru the roof

Ghetto Child..Detroit Spinners...Life Aint So easy When Your A Ghetto Cild...Poetry in Soul

Patches...Clarence Carter..made me cry at 14 ...still makes me boo hoo now at middle delayed teens

Dark end Of The Street.....James Carr....forbidden love...raw soul

All these lyrics hit hard..the soul.... Delxxxx

[Guest rasfoz]

My arms acheing my hearts full of pain my liver starts to quiver everytime i hear your name Oh what a feeling ! Jimmy Ricks Oh what a feeling

[Guest]

i've held back the tears

i've hidden all my pride

i've kept all the hurt

locked up inside

but now i can see

i can hold it inside of me

and i'm gonna get down on my knees get down on my knees

and beg you please give me one more chance..

1m52secs of angst.. clyde mcphatter.

[Guest manusf3a]

Curtis Mayfield Back to the world Soldier boy aint got no job back in the world,hard times hard times,back in the world.

By the same genius If I were only a child again!

soul and then some more no one quite touches the spirit for me like Curtis did and does and always as Long as I draw breath will.I know there lots and lots of soulfull records about from the northern scene and elsewhere but I always come back to Curtis mayfield as Ive been mad about him him from early on ,remember going to the pictures to watch superfly when it first got released over here and getting the album at the same time,loved him with the impressions and on his own and in his various colaborations,no mistake whos singing when you hear his voice.Helped get me through some tough times!.

Edited September 25, 2012 by manusf3a

[Soulsaddler]

You've lost your faith in fairy tales,

Four-Leaf clovers, wishing wells,

and falling stars..........

Bobby Taylor - Don't be afraid.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Soulsaddler

[ricticman]

a lot of these and others have words that cut like a knife

and I'm on record and boring about it that the best soulful tune / lyrics ever ( for me ) are the Inticers ' I got to find me a baby '....

...but, also, and in addition, for me there's none so affecting as what you heard when you were 16 / 17 etc

eg ' ' I guess I'll always love you ........I love you now so much more, than I ever did before '

as well as

,

This old heart of mine

Just one last look [ tempts - with a lot of soul ]

etc etc

And, to go way way way back , does anyone else tremble a bit when they hear Smoke gets in your eyes [ platters ] ?

[Guest manusf3a]

late night at home The lyrics from this one never fail to stir me deep down inside,love the vocal,hits you where it hurts

Gary us Bonds Club soul city.

Pack up your bag

Dont look back

Theres a little place

Cross the railroad track

If your broken hearted,dont know what to do

They got a place just for you

Club soul!

Club soul city!yeh,eeyeh,ee,yeh

Club soul city!!!

Theres a waitress at the back door

Goes with the guy who runs the place

Shes got hair like a weeping willow

Tears running down her face every day

Shes seen a lot of guys like you coming around

Looking for something that theyve lost

Trying to lose something that theyve found

Down at

Club soul

Club soul city,yeah,yeah,yeh

Club soul

Club soul city

So if youre down on your spirit

And there aint no one who cares

If youre lost and your lonely

You wont be lonely down there

You cant miss,it just up the tralck

,On the front door ,theres a sign

Restricted to the losing kind!!!

Club soul,

Club soul city yeh ee yeh ee yeh

Club soul city

rectricted to the losing kind.

Club soul city

Edited September 28, 2012 by manusf3a

[Emily73]

"If you want my body and you think I'm sexy

Come on honey tell me so

If you really need me just reach out and touch me"

Bring a tear to a glass eye...

Edited September 28, 2012 by Emily73

[Guest MrC]

'count your blessings instead of sheep'

Chapter 5

Pure Class.

[Floyd]

Hi

one of mine is the martiniques on MEO

id be your knight in shining armour baby and slay a dragon or two

What a Tune

ATB

Floyd

[Guest Bluebell]

Mr James Carr so many of his songs just get me right there - Lovable girl , pouring water on a drowning man

and the same with Mavis Staples

Pam x

[Guest Marc]

Not obscure or rare but a great lyric from one of my favourites (also my parents' wedding song)

...and if you leave me a hundred times, a hundred times I'll take you back. - The Isley Brothers, This Old Heart of Mine

[Tank]

Not gut-wrenching.....but very clever IMO

Diane Jenkins - Towaway Zone

I parked my heart in a towaway zone

It was filled with my love for you, but now it's gone

The space you offered me, was so inviting

I parked my heart without realising

...and later

I'll always keep the receipt

To remind me of your deceit

Loved it back then and still love it now!

[Tiberius]

Almost impossible to choose as there are so many great lyrics but for me The Ethics - Think About Tomorrow would spring to mind. The lyrics are so simple. Easier to post the song rather than type them out.

[Guest Droylsdonian]

The 'going home' sound after the 3 before eight for me;

And so I beg you

Let it be me.

[Chas]

Esther Phillips"home is where the hatred is"autobiographically frank,chills you to the bone.

[Guest Soulatthedale]

What a brlliant thread this is, just reminds you why Soul is the greatest form of art. 3 songs from me, Denise Lasalle Married But Not To Each Other Impressions Choice Of Colours Linda Jones Thats When I'll Stop Loving You.................

[Guest ritchie]

Buddy Smith - When You Lose The One You Love

So many lips you've tasted

but none of these erases

the kiss on your lips...

the kiss that tore your world to bits...

[Tony A]

Sam Dees, After All,

says it all

[Tony A]

Found it.

https://youtu.be/WUAGLQBlCXo

[Guest Droylsdonian]

Duplicate, soz.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Droylsdonian

[Guest Droylsdonian]

'Dance with my father' must be the ultimate.

[Mister Fish]

Not gut-wrenching.....but very clever IMO

Diane Jenkins - Towaway Zone

I parked my heart in a towaway zone

It was filled with my love for you, but now it's gone

The space you offered me, was so inviting

I parked my heart without realising

...and later

I'll always keep the receipt

To remind me of your deceit

Loved it back then and still love it now!

This is one of my favourites too.

What about 'In the bottle'' got to be all-time great anti-booze lyrics!

Oscar Perry - Mother, can your child come home (Vietnam song)

Denice Chandler - Mama I wished i'd stayed at home.

And most versions of motherless child get me !

Edited October 2, 2012 by Mister Fish

[Tony dam]

Three  great record with amazing lyrics spring to mind .

 End of our love Nancy Wilson   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcbthRq9poA 

 I go to pieces Gerry Granger   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ygqbsS5SxQ   

 Ho Happy day Flame N King and the bold ones   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnSc7ZRwjk

[Robbk]

"She can be covered with a rash,

'Long as she's got some cash!" - The Contours - "First I Look At The Purse" Gordy Records 1964

 

"Without her love I couldn't exist.....

I'd e-end my life by cut my-y wrist!" - Gino Washington (backed by the uncredited Rochelles) - "Puppet On A String" Correc-Tone Records original version - 1962

 

"Well, my heart started beatin' fast as it could be-eat,

I stood there shakin' from my head to my feet,

I didn't know just what I wanted to do,

When a Monster said, 'Which way is Fifth Avenue?'

I hollered,  'Save me-e-e!'.... 'Save me!'  

I hollered,  'Save me-e-e!'.....  'Sa-ave me!'

I hollered,  'Save me!',  I hollered 'Save me!  From the people from another world!' "

The Jive Five "People From Another World" - Beltone Records 1962

 

I was standin', I was standin' on th' cor-ner, wit' my reefers in mah han'

up step' dee sar-gent.... took dee reefers out mah han'

"Champion" Jack DuPree - "Junker's Blues" - Okeh Records 1940

 

Edited August 16, 2020 by Robbk

[Ian Parker]

all the chains in the world, cant hold me, cant hold me

like a robot your love, controls me, controls me

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gimme the beat boys and free my soul, i wanna get lost in your rock n roll.......

Edited August 16, 2020 by Ian Parker

[Stephen Houghton]

ALONE ON A TABLE FOR TWO, class