Cleverly put, or just plain good lyrics

I think marilyn manson and madonna are both incredible writers.. I mean, who thinks of "hold the S because I am an ain't" and " I am not an artist I'm a fucking work of art" those are both from the same manson song.. he just twists words... I cant think of other examples... but what are your favorite tricky/clever/smart lyrics?

 

The corpses all hang headless and limp
bodies with no surprises
and the blood drains down like devil's rain
We'll dance tonight

From Skulls by Misfits. It just works so well because the song's actually pretty poppy. And the imagery is so vivid.

You're sittin there yackin' right,
in my face.
I guess I'm gonna have to put you,
in your place.
You know if, silence was golden,
you couldn't raise a dime.
Because your mind is on vacation and your
mouth is workin overtime.

From Your Mind Is on Vacation by Mose Allison. He is such an amazing lyricist and his smooth, jazz-blues delivery just blows me away every time. I am in awe of his talent.

Clock strikes twelve and moondrops burst
out at you from their hiding place.
Like acid and oil on a madman's face
his reason tends to fly away.

From Astronomy by Blue …yster Cult. They paint some crazy pictures in their music. I love Joan Crawford, but the lyrics aren't quite the same.

I'll leave it at that.

 

EVERYTHING from Maynard James Keenan.

What's coming through is alive
What's holding up a mirror
But what's singing songs is a snake looking to turn this piss to wine
They're both totally void of hate, but killing me just the same
The snake behind me hisses what my damage could have been
My blood before me makes me open up my heart again
And I feel this coming over like a storm again
consideratley
Venomous voice, tempts me, drains me, bleeds me, leaves me cracked and empty.

........................................................................................................

I cant say what I want to
even if Im not serious
Things like....fuck yourself, kill yourself you piece of shit
People tell me what to say, what to think, and what to play
I say....go fuck yourself you piece of shit, Why dont you go kill yourself
Just kidding

 

My top writer is micheal stipe from r.e.m HE CAN WRITE ....

peace
chickens

 

Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno write the most clever lyrics, I think. At least, of the lyrics I've heard. Who knows what else could be out there?

 

I agree with both of those.

 

my favorites are bob dylan, robert hunter, and joe mcdonald.

man, i almost forgot van morrison.

 

I need a woman 'bout twice my height

 

I swear Freddy Durst writes the most clever lyrics, and hell, might as well say he is the best rhymer out there. who else is clever enough to rhyme "here" with "here"??

 

ah....Van Morrison. Yep. Also one of my favorites.
And I would like to add Bjork to the list.

 

"There will come a time when everybody who is lonely will be free to sing and dance and love,
There will come a time when every evil that we know will be an evil that we can rise above.
Who cares if hair is long or short or sprayed or partly grayed, we know that hair ain't where it's at,
There will come a time when you won't even be ashamed if you are fat."

-Frank Zappa

Now those are some high-quality lyrics.