Lyrical Content......

[D-Dayman1]

In light of the recent threads I got to thinking.

What do you want to hear people write about?

Every musician has their inspiration for writing lyrics. Some write about politics, and some write about partying. There's songs about violence, and then there's songs about love. The sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll thing seems to be in every rap tune on the radio today.

Me personally, I like the musicians that tend to draw from politics and violence for their inspiration, because that is stuff that interests me. I'm not saying that I like all songs about violence. It just depends on the message in the music.

So what does everyone look for in the lyrics of a song? What do you songwriters pull from for inspiration?

[bassist_25]

I think I'm more into the quality of songwriting than any particular lyrical topic. Whether it's about politics, love, religion, or elves and dragons, if it's good stuff, I'm all ears.

[tornandfrayed]

I really agree with Paul on this one. I love good songwriting. I really like a lot of Rob Thomas's songs, I think he is a great writer. I also like the Mastodon "Crack the Skye" album. I also like Crack the Sky, the 70's band.

I get burnt on stuff that is repetitive.

I really though that the Brittany Spears song "If You Seek Amy" was a clever lyric.

There are two many to name.

[Dragan Kalasa]

I'm not too concerned on what they say, but I want to feel it. I want them to sell it to me. But at the same time, if you swear alot it's a big turn off for me, because it shows me your immaturity and careless writing style. I understand that swear words are meant to accent your feelings but people can go overboard with it and too much just isn't creative.

[banderson]

An oft over looked band Blue Oyster Cult. My personal fav probably....Their early stuff (pre "more cowbell") has unique lyrical content.

Song titles like "Seven Screaming Diz-Busters", "She's as Beautiful as a Foot", "Workshop of the Telescopes", and "OD'd on Life Itself" to name a few.

The song titles alone let you know there is some interesting stuff going on.

[gibson980]

Anything that tells a great story! There the best.... My fav "story" song is Hurricane by Bob Dylan. Get lyrics

[banderson]

Anything that tells a great story! There the best.... My fav "story" song is Hurricane by Bob Dylan. Get lyrics

Sweet Tune!!! He has many great songs

[thebattle]

I love hatebreeds lyrics jasta is a god at work!

[joltinjeff]

In light of the recent threads I got to thinking.

What do you want to hear people write about?

Every musician has their inspiration for writing lyrics. Some write about politics, and some write about partying. There's songs about violence, and then there's songs about love. The sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll thing seems to be in every rap tune on the radio today.

Me personally, I like the musicians that tend to draw from politics and violence for their inspiration, because that is stuff that interests me. I'm not saying that I like all songs about violence. It just depends on the message in the music.

So what does everyone look for in the lyrics of a song? What do you songwriters pull from for inspiration?

As I read this, I got to thinking about concept albums such as Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime. I have always thought that album was well written and told a great story.
Sure there have been other concept album the worst is Kiss "The Elder" but thats a different story. But I think all lyrics have a meaning to the person who wrote it in the beginning. While it is up to us to interupt what the songwriter was feeling and trying to express.

[DirtySanchez]

Brett Gurewietz/Greg Graffin/Fat Mike/Glenn Danzig

I'll tell you what I hate:

Someone who goes out of their way to seem intelligent. Don't get me wrong, I love witty lyrics, but It's one thing if you're really smart. It's another if you're writing songs with a dictionary and thesaurus beside you. Most of these indie fags and metalcore kids are trying to be deep and I fucking lose it laughing.

[UNEARTHA7XMatt]

Most of my lyrics are based on past experiences. The hardships ive had to go thru and the poor choices that I have made that have somehow made me a better person. Some are angry, some are sad, and some are love driven. Im not that political of a person so there really isnt a whole lot of politics in my lyrics!

[slackin@dabass]

I'm not too concerned on what they say, but I want to feel it. I want them to sell it to me. But at the same time, if you swear alot it's a big turn off for me, because it shows me your immaturity and careless writing style. I understand that swear words are meant to accent your feelings but people can go overboard with it and too much just isn't creative.

talk of maturity... your avatar says cock puncher

[DirtySanchez]

I'm not too concerned on what they say, but I want to feel it. I want them to sell it to me. But at the same time, if you swear alot it's a big turn off for me, because it shows me your immaturity and careless writing style. I understand that swear words are meant to accent your feelings but people can go overboard with it and too much just isn't creative.

talk of maturity... your avatar says cock puncher

I was gonna say that too. haha!

[DrumAndDestroy]

Brett Gurewietz/Greg Graffin/Fat Mike/Glenn Danzig

I'll tell you what I hate:

Someone who goes out of their way to seem intelligent. Don't get me wrong, I love witty lyrics, but It's one thing if you're really smart. It's another if you're writing songs with a dictionary and thesaurus beside you. Most of these indie fags and metalcore kids are trying to be deep and I fucking lose it laughing.

yeah look at the kids on vocal youth. half of them don't even know the meaning of the name of their band.

[slackin@dabass]

I'm not too concerned on what they say, but I want to feel it. I want them to sell it to me. But at the same time, if you swear alot it's a big turn off for me, because it shows me your immaturity and careless writing style. I understand that swear words are meant to accent your feelings but people can go overboard with it and too much just isn't creative.

talk of maturity... your avatar says cock puncher

I was gonna say that too. haha!

aren't you supposed to be working???

[DirtySanchez]

I am.

[Bloodsong]

i tend to be a bit abstract sometimes but i like to make words fit together in certain ways and phrases- i see words as "angular" and "peaks" if that makes sense. (and no, i don't do lots of acid lol.) all my lyrics mean alot to me and its always seems like our audience has their own interpretation (which they may or may not share with my intentions) which is cool by me. Dirty Sanchez gave me the ultimate compliment about being a "passionate" vocalist and that's what i strive for. its "have a look at the world thru my eyes; this is how i interpret and react to what i see/hear/feel." everyone won't always agree but i never find myself feeling less than authentic.

[Dark Soul]

I think it doesn't matter what a musician writes about as long as the subject is something they truly care about.

~Max

[Colton]

I think it doesn't matter what a musician writes about as long as the subject is something they truly care about.

~Max

I agree. Like 99% of blues.

However I like the oddball stuff too, like the old "Chapel Hill"

"Goin to Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill is a ball. You go to chapel hill and get to drink alcohol. Do the Chapel Hill Boogie, boogie woogie all night long.

Momma killed a chicken, she thought it was a duck, put it on the table with its legs stickin up"

lol

[metalchurch]

An oft over looked band Blue Oyster Cult. My personal fav probably....Their early stuff (pre "more cowbell") has unique lyrical content.....

That made me laugh.

[D-Dayman1]

All good points. But what about the repetitive nature of some of the music out there today. It seems that if you want your music heard and appreciated all you have to do is write about having sex with someone. Then you could follow that up with a smash hit about how drunk and stoned you and all you friends are.

Don’t get me wrong. I like sex, naked women, and getting my drink on, but COME ON…. I drive truck everyday, and I get tired of the same crap on the radio. 99% of the time I listen to talk radio if I can get it, and when there is a song that comes on that I like it’s immediately followed by Crazybitch. Then that is followed by that I wanna ride your disco stick song, followed by Something in your Mouth, Bad Girlfriend, and then some RAP… Oh Yippee…

Where is that music that has meaning anymore. You know. That stuff that comes from the heart. I understand that music is accepted by different groups of people, i.e. the lovers, the haters, the angry pissed at the government type. But is this how far our society has fallen. No wonder the country is in the shitter. All people want is sex and drugs.

I really like that music that comes from the heart, but you can’t tell me that all that shit comes from the heart. The radio only plays what sells, and people only buy what they like.

I’m sure I read into things to much, but that is just how I see it.

[banderson]

An oft over looked band Blue Oyster Cult. My personal fav probably....Their early stuff (pre "more cowbell") has unique lyrical content.....

That made me laugh.

Im always aiming to please

[bassist_25]

All good points. But what about the repetitive nature of some of the music out there today. It seems that if you want your music heard and appreciated all you have to do is write about having sex with someone. Then you could follow that up with a smash hit about how drunk and stoned you and all you friends are.

Don’t get me wrong. I like sex, naked women, and getting my drink on, but COME ON…. I drive truck everyday, and I get tired of the same crap on the radio. 99% of the time I listen to talk radio if I can get it, and when there is a song that comes on that I like it’s immediately followed by Crazybitch. Then that is followed by that I wanna ride your disco stick song, followed by Something in your Mouth, Bad Girlfriend, and then some RAP… Oh Yippee…

Where is that music that has meaning anymore. You know. That stuff that comes from the heart. I understand that music is accepted by different groups of people, i.e. the lovers, the haters, the angry pissed at the government type. But is this how far our society has fallen. No wonder the country is in the shitter. All people want is sex and drugs.

I don't know. Those lyrical topics have been being covered for years. It's nothing really new. Musicians just relied more on literally devices to convey what they were talking about. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane wasn't really about bunnies, and ZZ Top really wasn't singing about fine jewelery in Pearl Necklace. Too Drunk to Fuck has a cool groove, but I can't picture Buckcherry making a social commentary about apartheid over top the music.

[Dragan Kalasa]

talk of maturity... your avatar says cock puncher

I was gonna say that too. haha!

aren't you supposed to be working???

Ummm...

Well.... Isn't this thread supposed to be about lyrics? Keep the focus on that...lol I'm totally mature!

[Plastered Bastards]

We tell funny stories and make fun of people.
Pretty deep,huh