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What musical lyrics (redundant, I know) are as poignant and profound as the best poetry?

'Twas in another lifetime,
one of toil and blood.

These words make me cry every time I read them.



"Shelter From The Storm"

'Twas in another lifetime one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

And if I pass this way again you can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death and men who are fighting to be warm
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I was burned out from exhaustion buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes and blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile ravaged in the corn
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Suddenly I turned around and she was standing there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Now there's a wall between us something there's been lost
I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed
Just to think that it all began on an uneventful morn
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much it's doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love
Do I understand your question man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

In a little hilltop village they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation and she gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence, I got repaid with scorn
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Well I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor's edge someday I'll make it mine
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born
"Come in," she said,
"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Posted - January 8, 2018

Responses


  • 6477
    Shelter from the storm is my favourite Dylan and it was the first one ever that made me realise that Dylan actually isn't overrated. 

    I am a lyrics nut... my love of, and affinity with, lyrics is part of my very core. 

    Off the top of my head this one comes to mind...

    We've all been sorry, we've all been hurt, but how we survive, that's what makes us who we are. 

    Rise Against... 

    It seems to me a very profound thing that really resonates 
      January 8, 2018 3:14 PM MST
    2

  • 46117
    That is a damned fine song.  Thanks.
      January 10, 2018 6:57 AM MST
    0

  • 22891
    not sure
      January 8, 2018 3:46 PM MST
    2

  • 13071
      January 8, 2018 4:18 PM MST
    5

  • 16732
    Almost everything of Dylan's (with the notable exception of Rainy Day Women). He's Poet Laureate for a reason. Average composer and lousy performer, but without a doubt the greatest lyricist of all time, and greatest poet since Poe.

    How many roads must a man walk down
    Before you can call him a man?
    Yes, and how many miles must the white dove sail
    Before she sleeps in the sand?
    Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
    Before they are forever banned?

    The answer, my friend
    Is blowin' in the wind
    The answer is blowin' in the wind

    How many years can a mountain exist
    Before it is washed to the sea?
    Yes, and how many years can some people exist
    Before they're allowed to be free?
    Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
    And pretend that he just doesn't see?

    The answer, my friend 
    Is blowin'in the wind
    The answer is blowin' in the wind 

    How many times must a man look up
    Before he can see the sky?
    Yes, and how many ears must one man have
    Before he can hear people cry?
    Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows
    That too many people have died?

    The answer, my friend 
    Is blowin'in the wind 
    The answer is blowin' in the wind 

    Still relevant today, more than fifty years on. This post was edited by Slartibartfast at January 10, 2018 6:57 AM MST
      January 8, 2018 5:05 PM MST
    3

  • 2327
    I'm a huge rock fan. I love the music very much. But although I do find most lyrics entertaining, most of the lyrics are pretty meaningless, some speak in riddles which are hard to translate, and some just don't make any sense at all. Bob Dylan, however, is one of the very few that are straight-forward, and an absolute masterclass. 
      January 8, 2018 9:04 PM MST
    3

  • 46117
    What do you know?  We agree!
      January 10, 2018 6:58 AM MST
    1

  • 53490
    A line from the 1991 hip-hot hit "O.P.P." sung by the group Naughty by Nature:

    There's no room for relationships, there's just room to hit it!


      January 9, 2018 5:59 AM MST
    2

  • 23543
    Brad Roberts' (of Crash Test Dummies) "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm"

    (though I'm the only person I know who likes the song, let alone the lyrics - - I love what the song leaves out and we, the listeners, must figure it out)




    Once there was this kid who
    Got into an accident and couldn't come to school
    But when he finally came back
    His hair had turned from black into bright white
    He said that it was from when
    The cars had smashed him so hard

    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

    Once there was this girl who
    Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room
    But when they finally made her
    They saw birthmarks all over her body
    She couldn't quite explain it
    They'd always just been there

    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

    But both the girl and boy were glad
    'Cause one kid had it worse than that

    'Cause then there was this boy whose
    Parents made him come directly home right after school
    And when they went to their church
    They shook and lurched all over the church floor
    He couldn't quite explain it
    They'd always just gone there

    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
    Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

    Oh oh
    Oh oh


    ~~~~~~~~~
    and the music video is a favorite of mine, too - - the band lets the song visually and literally be the focus, not the band itself



    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at January 10, 2018 6:58 AM MST
      January 9, 2018 11:33 PM MST
    1

  • 16732
    Once there was this kid who
    Took a trip to Singapore and brought along his spray paint 
    And when he finally came back
    He had cane marks all over his bottom
    He said that it was from when
    The Warden whacked it so hard 

    Mmm mmm mmm mmm
    Mmm mmm mmm mmm

    Then there was this girl who
    Swore that one day she would be a figure skating champion
    And when she finally made it
    She saw some other girl who was better
    And so she hired some guy
    To club her in the knee cap

    Mmm mmm mmm mmm
    Mmm mmm mmm mmm

    They got paid for their sound bites 
    And sold their TV movie rights

    And then there was this guy who
    Made his wife so mad one night that she cut off his wiener
    And when he finally woke up
    He found that Mr Happy was missing
    He couldn't quite explain it
    It'd always just been there 

    Mmm mmm mmm mmm
    Mmm mmm mmm mmm

    There were, there is (× 6)

    This post was edited by Slartibartfast at January 10, 2018 9:09 AM MST
      January 10, 2018 3:42 AM MST
    2

  • 23543
    :)
    :)
      January 10, 2018 9:10 AM MST
    0

  • 34180
    I Can Only Imagine
    LYRICS
    I can only imagine what it will be like
    When I walk, by your side
    I can only imagine what my eyes will see
    When you face is before me
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine
    Surrounded by You glory
    What will my heart feel
    Will I dance for you Jesus
    Or in awe of You be still
    Will I stand in your presence
    Or to my knees will I fall
    Will I sing hallelujah
    Will I be able to speak at all
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine when that day comes
    When I find myself standing in the Son
    I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
    Forever worship You
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine
    Surrounded by Your glory
    What will my heart feel
    Will I dance for You, Jesus
    Or in awe of you be still
    Will I stand in your presence
    Or to my knees will I fall
    Will I sing hallelujah
    Will I be able to speak at all
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine hey ya ah
    Surrounded by Your glory
    What will my heart feel
    Will I dance for You, Jesus
    Or in awe of you be still
    Will I stand in Your presence
    Or to my knees will I fall
    Will I sing hallelujah
    Will I be able to speak at all
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine hey ya ah
    I can only imagine yeah yeah
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine ey ey ey
    I can only imagine
    I can only imagine when all I will do
    Is forever, forever worship You
    I can only imagine
      January 10, 2018 5:11 AM MST
    1