Favorite "random" lyrics

[Rush-2112]

Have you ever been listening to a song, and all of a sudden you realize some of the lyrics came out of nowhere? I have on a few occasions So post your favorite random lyrics.

I'll get it started:

"The sun's not yellow, it's chicken." Tombstone Blues by Bob Dylan

"If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower." (Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads

[rtslinger]

Strangest for me was Peter Paul and Mary
If I had a hammer

If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land
I'd hammer out danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

[viper4000]

Anything by Beck.....

[etoncrow]

"Upset? Why yes, the footprints on your ceiling they're almost gone..." Trouble by Little Feat

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by Rush-2112

"If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower." (Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads

It took me a long time to "figure out" (sic) David Byrne's lyrics, but once I got a handle on how he sees things and how he uses words, it all sort of fell into place. If you'd posted that Paradise/Lawnmower lyric and not said it was from a Talking Heads tune I might've agreed that it was somewhat "random" or arbitrary...but knowing that it's from a David Byrne song, that line makes perfect sense to me, doesn't seem "random" at all! He wants to stay; he wants to buy a house, move in, settle down, and become a normal resident of paradise.

[Boot Soul]

I don't think any lyrics by Dylan are random, but they have strange images in impossible juxtaposition that paint a picture or convey a feeling.

Here are just part of the lyrics of Desolation Row. Google for the rest. Many more verses worth a read in this piece.

"Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do

Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene

Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that no one is escaping
To desolation row"

[colcifer]

A Wind Held By The Collar
A Cloud Held By The Breeze
You Can Walk On Coals Of Fire
But Sometimes You Must Freeze

There Are Times That You Offend Me
And I Do The Same To You
But If We Can't Or Won't Forget It
Then I Guess We Could Be Through

Robert Hunter FTW. The choruses of that song are six kinds of awesome as well.

[cjmodulus]

Stump's 'buffalo' comes to mind.

'big, bottom, swing big bottom, swing-a-ling-a'
And then the bridge:
'how much is the fish how much is the fish? How much is the fish, does the fish have chips?'

And of course the last line:
'how do I get off the bus?'

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by cjmodulus

Stump's 'buffalo' comes to mind.

'big, bottom, swing big bottom, swing-a-ling-a'
And then the bridge:
'how much is the fish how much is the fish? How much is the fish, does the fish have chips?'

And of course the last line:
'how do I get off the bus?'

Immaculate molars, baby...immaculate molars baby!

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by Boot Soul

I don't think any lyrics by Dylan are random, but they have strange images in impossible juxtaposition that paint a picture or convey a feeling.

Here are just part of the lyrics of Desolation Row. Google for the rest. Many more verses worth a read in this piece.

"Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do

Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene

Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that no one is escaping
To desolation row"

+a squillion.

Dylan's lyrics are far from random.

I would post some Clutch lyrics, but if you know Neil Fallon, you'll know what I mean

[ksandvik]

Automatic Song Generator - Lyrics


How much do I love red? - An Original Song by Muffin Kitchen

I get on with life as a DJ,
I'm a sexy kinda person.
I like soccer on Sundays,
I like fishing in the week.
I like to contemplate beer.
But when I start to daydream,
My mind turns straight to red.

Oh oh oh!

Do I love red more than beer?
Do I love red more than beer?

I like to use words like 'bazinga,'
I like to use words like 'hello.'
I like to use words about beer.
But when I stop my talking,
My mind turns straight to red.

Oh oh oh!

Do I love red more than beer?
Do I love red more than beer?

I like to hang out with women,
I like to kick back with girl,
But when left alone,
My mind turns straight to red.

Oh oh oh!

Do I love red more than beer?
Do I love red more than beer?

I'm not too fond of bugs,
I really hate windows,
But I just think back to red,
And I'm happy once again.

Oh oh oh!

[Leadfoot]

"All I wanted was a Pepsi; and she wouldn't give it to me!" Suicidal Tendencies
"Hit me with your rhythm stick, two fat persons, click click click, hit meeee!" Ian Dury and the Blockheads

[Boot Soul]

If you really want interesting lyrics that slyly border on randomness (but are not random) check out anything by the Butthole Surfers or The Residents.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by rtslinger

Strangest for me was Peter Paul and Mary
If I had a hammer

If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land
I'd hammer out danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Typical 60's idealism. A nice thought but not real grounded in reality. Ironically, some really goofy lyrics popped into my head this morning out of nowhere that in my opinion are somewhat topical. A tounge-in-cheek flying f. u. to the world.

FEAR - "Let's Have a War" (Live - 1999) - FEAR Records - YouTube

[foq1978]

"Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannon ball" - oasis

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by foq1978

"Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannon ball" - oasis

Ooh, reminded me, so I gotta.

"The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall

And he came to a door
And he looked inside

Father? Yes son. I want to kill you.
Mother? I want to, WWUUAAAAHGGHUUHHUUAAGHUHAGH

[ffutterman]

"I don't believe in pinochle and I don't believe I'll try." - Primus

[Rush-2112]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

It took me a long time to "figure out" (sic) David Byrne's lyrics, but once I got a handle on how he sees things and how he uses words, it all sort of fell into place. If you'd posted that Paradise/Lawnmower lyric and not said it was from a Talking Heads tune I might've agreed that it was somewhat "random" or arbitrary...but knowing that it's from a David Byrne song, that line makes perfect sense to me, doesn't seem "random" at all! He wants to stay; he wants to buy a house, move in, settle down, and become a normal resident of paradise.

Originally Posted by Boot Soul

I don't think any lyrics by Dylan are random, but they have strange images in impossible juxtaposition that paint a picture or convey a feeling.

Here are just part of the lyrics of Desolation Row. Google for the rest. Many more verses worth a read in this piece.

"Now at midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do

Then they bring them to the factory
Where the heart attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene

Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that no one is escaping
To desolation row"

Ah, I see what you guys mean. I mean maybe I didn't think the topic through...but what I meant was lyrics which seem random when taken out of context, I guess

But I do get those lyrics now! I guess when you delve into it there's pretty much meaning behind any/all lyrics

[Rush-2112]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

I would post some Clutch lyrics, but if you know Neil Fallon, you'll know what I mean

Robot Lords of Tokyo...smile, taste kittens!

[jbybj]

Lot's of Eno's lyrics are based solely on the phonetics, and the meanings of the words are not considered at all when he writes. That's about as random as it gets.

One of my favorites is "Miss Shapiro". We covered this in my college band in 1980.


All the Peasants in the Squares
At Their Tables and Their Chairs
Set to Salvage Certain Numbers
From the Wonder of the Tundra
And the Muses in the Gloom
Counting Needles in Their Rooms
On the Carpet in the Corner
In a Kind of Secret Slumber
While the in Formation Rain
Slashed the Dirty Window Pane to the Square.


Smoky Broads and Smoky Windows in the Square
Come Come Charmer Come On Over For the Day
Disappearing Cocoa Forests Flash and Die
Fortunes Crumble All Demolished in the Bay.


Over Forty Pointed People
In the Perfect Pointed Steeple
Looked to See the Lucky Number
Yes the Wonder of the Tundra
Had Come Up to Fame and Fortune
Singing His Tune, My Tune, Your Tune
Wooing Daughters of the Gifted
On the Carpets of the Courtrooms
While the Tickets Were Expensive
The Show Was Quite Relentless in the Square.


Smoky Broads and Smoky Windows in the Square
Come Come Charmer Come On Over For the Day
Disappearing Cocoa Forests Flash and Die
Fortunes Crumble All Demolished in the Bay


Dalai Llama Lama Puss Puss
Stella Marls Missa Nobis
Miss a Dinner Miss Shapiro
Shampoos Pot-pot Pinkies Pampered
Movement Hampered Like At Christmas
Ha-ha Isn't Life a Circus
Round in Circles Like the Archers
Always Stiff Or Always Starchy
Yes It's Happening and It's Fattening
And It's All That We Can Get Into the Show.