Lyric Tattoos

Ladjacket

Hi all,

Just wondering if any boardsies have lyrics as tattoos? It is something that is getting more and more interesting to me each day and something I would consider!

Anyone?

Romer

Can't say it would be high up on my list of things to get. I mean, imaging getting the hottest lyrics of the 90's tattoo'd across your back.

Now imagine a decade later, trying to explain to someone why you went with "Too Legit to Quit."

Ladjacket

good point!! obviously i'm not talking about getting "i'm a barbie girl" strapped across my torso but was just wondering what sort of tattoos, if any, people had!

rcaz

rcaz's rule of tattoos:

If something's important enough to you that you'd want to get it permanently written on your skin, the act of writing it on your skin will completely undermine its significance.

Needless to say, I don't have any tattoos :pac:

I don't think "We've got heads on sticks, you've got ventriloquists." would look great across my chest though.

Sinfonia

Ladjacket wrote: »

good point!! obviously i'm not talking about getting "i'm a barbie girl" strapped across my torso but was just wondering what sort of tattoos, if any, people had!

What line would you get..?

kunst nugget

Sinfonia wrote: »

What line would you get..?

My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo
I like to sink her with my pink torpedo

Stompbox

I got the lyric 'There, There' (a Radiohead tune) tattooed across my right bicep recently. People ask me what motivated me to get it done and I just say that I find the song quite affecting. It's achingly beautiful and it just felt like something I wanted to do. Isn't that motivation enough in itself?

celticcrash

Stompbox wrote: »

I got the lyric 'There, There' (a Radiohead tune) tattooed across my right bicep recently. People ask me what motivated me to get it done and I just say that I find the song quite affecting. It's achingly beautiful and it just felt like something I wanted to do. Isn't that motivation enough in itself?

Maybe "creep" on the other bicep.

D'Agger

Wouldn't imagine I'd get lyrics tattoo'd on me

I have no tattoos currently but have thought about them and would like one linked with music - I wouldn't necessarily agree with rcaz's input regarding

If something's important enough to you that you'd want to get it permanently written on your skin, the act of writing it on your skin will completely undermine its significance.

I think if something means something to you, and you want to constantly remind yourself about it - whether it's pain, happiness, lyrics that make you smile....whatever, then go for it.

For now there aren't any lyrics I'd say 'Yeah I'd like that tattoo'd on me' but I do have one or two lines from poems that mean quite a bit to me that I would consider in the future.

All that said - it's a good debate, nice thread

Temaz

Tempted for years to get either

'Living is easy with eyes closed'

'Forever Young'

'"La Tristesse Durera'

"Motorcycle Emptiness"

Could never decide which one to get.

kunst nugget

Get 'Forever Young' just over your heart and watch the funny shapes it makes as you grow saggy man boobs in middle age.

Rigsby

While I dont like tattoos and would never consider one, I'd imagine that some kind of picture or logo etc, would look far better than words. The latter to me, would make someone look like a permanent sandwich man, or a wall of graffiti. :P Besides, those words that mean so much now, might be an embarrassment in in thirty or forty ( or less) years time.

However, to each their own.

Rigsby

kunst nugget wrote: »

My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo
I like to sink her with my pink torpedo

Yeah, that would really look cool when you reach the age of say seventy five, and the torpedo is long past it's sinking days.

cloptrop

people with 2 pac lyrics on them should be put down Iv always felt.

kunst nugget

Rigsby wrote: »

Yeah, that would really look cool when you reach the age of say seventy five, and the torpedo is long past it's sinking days.

It'd look better than any other lyric I could think of. Better than having an empowering or pseudo-intellectual quote perched upon your delasticated skin as a constant reminder in your dotage of what a tool you were.

Da Shins Kelly

I wouldn't even consider it.

ricero

yup have live forever on my leg and the cover of kasabian's debut album on my other leg. its my favorite album and it is special to me thats why i got it done.

Rigsby

kunst nugget wrote: »

It'd look better than any other lyric I could think of. Better than having an empowering or pseudo-intellectual quote perched upon your delasticated skin as a constant reminder in your dotage of what a tool you were.

Better still would be....a "blank page" !!

D'Agger

I have to say some of the comments on tattoos here are fairly disrespectful imo

I don't have any tattoos, I know plenty of people who do, but the ignorance in calling somebody a tool for putting something on their body that means a lot to them is just downright ignorant.

I would always maintain that tattoos, like music is subjective - one persons cup of tea may not be anothers etc. etc. - that said, calling something that simply isn't in your taste shít is out of line imo.

kunst nugget

PaulieC wrote: »

I have to say some of the comments on tattoos here are fairly disrespectful imo

I don't have any tattoos, I know plenty of people who do, but the ignorance in calling somebody a tool for putting something on their body that means a lot to them is just downright ignorant.

I would always maintain that tattoos, like music is subjective - one persons cup of tea may not be anothers etc. etc. - that said, calling something that simply isn't in your taste shít is out of line imo.

Why can't I have an opinion and say I think something is idiotic if that's how I feel? Look, if you're mad in to your tats me saying I think they're sh¡t is not going to change your opinion, is it? There is nothing in this world that I would think is significant enough that I'd want to see it badly rendered on my body everyday for the rest of my life but that's my personal choice.

Band logos and lyrics would be extremely silly in my opinion and rank up there with chinese symbols and butterflies. Imagine seeing a person in their 50s with a Meatloaf tattoo, you'd think 'what a sad bastard' now think of yourself with your band tattoo in thirty years time and tell me it's not going to be the same thing.

D'Agger

kunst nugget wrote: »

Why can't I have an opinion and say I think something is idiotic if that's how I feel? Look, if you're mad in to your tats me saying I think they're sh¡t is not going to change your opinion, is it? There is nothing in this world that I would think is significant enough that I'd want to see it badly rendered on my body everyday for the rest of my life but that's my personal choice.

Band logos and lyrics would be extremely silly in my opinion and rank up there with chinese symbols and butterflies. Imagine seeing a person in their 50s with a Meatloaf tattoo, you'd think 'what a sad bastard' now think of yourself with your band tattoo in thirty years time and tell me it's not going to be the same thing.

My point is that you're discussing something that's very personal to people who might be reading this thread - tattoos like music can be seen as art - I'm sure if somebody put up some of their music on this thread you wouldn't post up that they were shít.

Say what you want, I'm simply venting that a little sensitivity wouldn't go astray in this instance. Like you said - it's your opinion and you can express it how you like but what I've read so far in the thread is lacking in consideration - you're not going to change peoples opinions on their tattoos - I'm sure they love them and will continue to, but it's never nice to hear people referring to you as a tool due to a life choice they've made.

kunst nugget

PaulieC wrote: »

My point is that you're discussing something that's very personal to people who might be reading this thread - tattoos like music can be seen as art - I'm sure if somebody put up some of their music on this thread you wouldn't post up that they were shít.

Say what you want, I'm simply venting that a little sensitivity wouldn't go astray in this instance. Like you said - it's your opinion and you can express it how you like but what I've read so far in the thread is lacking in consideration - you're not going to change peoples opinions on their tattoos - I'm sure they love them and will continue to, but it's never nice to hear people referring to you as a tool due to a life choice they've made.

What's lacking in consideration? Some people love the tattoos that they have and some deeply regret them. I'm in my mid thirties now and I know an awful lot of the later category these days. People that got tattoos that they thought were quite deep in their early twenties are a bit daft and a bit fecking permanent for their liking now and the people that regret getting them would say they were a tool for doing it. I was making a very generalized and jokey statement, I really don't get what your problem is with it.

lordgoat

kunst nugget wrote: »

What's lacking in consideration? Some people love the tattoos that they have and some deeply regret them. I'm in my mid thirties now and I know an awful lot of the later category these days. People that got tattoos that they thought were quite deep in their early twenties are a bit daft and a bit fecking permanent for their liking now and the people that regret getting them would say they were a tool for doing it. I was making a very generalized and jokey statement, I really don't get what your problem is with it.

No one is saying that one can't have a different opinion.

How you express that opinion can separate you from coming across like a well reasoned person or an 'orrible ****.

The choice is easy.

Not directing this at you, just explaining where people are coming form.

Sinfonia

Temaz wrote: »

Tempted for years to get either

'Living is easy with eyes closed'

I'm pretty sure Robbie Williams has that.. Dunno if that helps you decide at all :P

PaulieC wrote: »

My point is that you're discussing something that's very personal to people who might be reading this thread - tattoos like music can be seen as art - I'm sure if somebody put up some of their music on this thread you wouldn't post up that they were shít.

Say what you want, I'm simply venting that a little sensitivity wouldn't go astray in this instance. Like you said - it's your opinion and you can express it how you like but what I've read so far in the thread is lacking in consideration - you're not going to change peoples opinions on their tattoos - I'm sure they love them and will continue to, but it's never nice to hear people referring to you as a tool due to a life choice they've made.

Are you seriously suggesting that people will have their feelings hurt or become dreadfully offended by reading this thread? Because that would be some seriously over-the-top hypersensitivity on their part. I agree that it's better to have a reasoned discussion on the merits and downfalls of something, but if somebody comes along with the simple argument that "it's sh*t" (whatever the topic may be), anyone can feel free to disregard it; becoming seriously offended would be a major overreaction.
If someone calls me a tool because I like something, that's okay, I don't need to get upset about it.. As Reg D Hunter (or was it Louis CK?) once put it, "When did 'sticks and stones' stop being relevant?"

And if you don't think that people will unreasonably trash music and other art forms on this forum, the bulk of the threads here would presumably appall you.

D'Agger

lordgoat wrote: »

No one is saying that one can't have a different opinion.

How you express that opinion can separate you from coming across like a well reasoned person or an 'orrible ****.

The choice is easy.

Not directing this at you, just explaining where people are coming form.

This.

Never said i had a problem with people having opinions. Said something about how the thread read to me and it read as being flippant regarding tattoos and would appear disrespectful to me were i to have a tattoo of the nature being discussed.

Call me hypersensitive but i was just calling it how i read it

kunst nugget

PaulieC wrote: »

This.

Never said i had a problem with people having opinions. Said something about how the thread read to me and it read as being flippant regarding tattoos and would appear disrespectful to me were i to have a tattoo of the nature being discussed.

Call me hypersensitive but i was just calling it how i read it

So you're getting hypothetically offended?

Rigsby

People can and should be able to get their point(s) and opinions across without the need for name calling, and personal remarks. It could be a comparatively harmless taunt at the start, but if left to go unchecked, could develop into something unsavery.


@ PaulieC :

If you are offended by people merely being flippant regarding tattoos, then yes, I would call you hypersensitive, and would suggest that perhaps forums like this are not for you.

D'Agger

kunst nugget wrote: »

So you're getting hypothetically offended?

I'm pointing out a possible situation, don't assume I'm getting offended by all of this.

Rigsby wrote: »

People can and should be able to get their point(s) and opinions across without the need for name calling, and personal remarks. It could be a comparatively harmless taunt at the start, but if left to go unchecked, could develop into something unsavery.


@ PaulieC :

If you are offended by people merely being flippant regarding tattoos, then yes, I would call you hypersensitive, and would suggest that perhaps forums like this are not for you.

IF Indeed. This isn't the case as I've already mentioned

Also, I've derailed the thread somewhat so apologies for this.

Couldn't think of any lyrics I'd get done myself....maybe 'I still feel you and the taste of cigarettes'

Blue Light by Bloc Party is one of my favorite songs and the line has a somewhat special meaning to me

kunst nugget

lordgoat wrote: »

No one is saying that one can't have a different opinion.

How you express that opinion can separate you from coming across like a well reasoned person or an 'orrible ****.

The choice is easy.

Not directing this at you, just explaining where people are coming form.

Fair enough. I wouldn't have said I was overly aggressive in tone in this thread but I suppose there's no accounting for how people will react. I guess I'm at an age where tattoos would have long ago lost any appeal for me. I remember about 12 years ago going over to Ibiza to meet the future brother in law who was working out there and as you walked around the beaches with the beaches with the tanned beautiful people I'll admit the tats had a certain amount of appeal and one I gave a very passing consideration to. When I arrived back at my workplace one of the first people I was talking to about it was my colleague who proceeded to show me his arm and the little cross tattoo he'd given himself as a 13 year old. He'd had 5 pretty painful and expensive enough laser sessions to try and get rid it removed and it was still as clear as day. That put cold water on the idea straight away as there was nothing I could think of that I'd put on my skin that was worth going through that if I lived to regret it. About 4 years ago, me and my family went over to Spain again on holidays and this time the beautiful people, like ugly me, had gotten paunchy and a little less muscular and the tattoos seemed to sigh on their saggy skins and I just thought 'There, but for the grace of god…'

The major tat heads bizarrely though I'd have no problem with. You know the guys with their bodies emblazoned with tattoos so that they almost become a roadmap of their lives. I respect those guys because that's hardcore. Tramp stamps and the like are just fashion accessories that happen to be permanent but are most likely to be regretted later in life. By all means go ahead and get a tattoo if you want but I would get you to ask yourself if you think, let's say, the lyrics of Stronger by Britney Spears are going to have the same resonance for you when you're 68 as they are after your break up with your partner.

And I'll leave you with Life in Hell:


Now, I don't have any tattoos but I'm sure if I did I would be highly offended by that insensitive cartoon.

D'Agger

kunst nugget wrote: »

The major tat heads bizarrely though I'd have no problem with. You know the guys with their bodies emblazoned with tattoos so that they almost become a roadmap of their lives. I respect those guys because that's hardcore. Tramp stamps and the like are just fashion accessories that happen to be permanent but are most likely to be regretted later in life.

Agree with certain tattoos like trampstamps but I'd imagine lyrics wouldn't be as regrettable as something like that.

Now, I don't have any tattoos but I'm sure if I did I would be highly offended by that insensitive cartoon.

lol

kunst nugget

PaulieC wrote: »

I'm pointing out a possible situation, don't assume I'm getting offended by all of this.

Okay, so you're not offended, you're just highlighting the fact that I called nobody at all a tool but said that getting a tattoo might be a permanent reminder of when one was once a tool in a throwaway remark so that if you could possibly be offended, this is what you should be offended by. Right…

D'Agger

kunst nugget wrote: »

Okay, so you're not offended, you're just highlighting the fact that I called nobody at all a tool but said that getting a tattoo might be a permanent reminder of when one was once a tool in a throwaway remark so that if you could possibly be offended, this is what you should be offended by. Right…

Will you sleep better if I say yes?

You seem to be taking what I said about the thread as a direct insult which I can assure you was not intended. Never singled out one of your posts or anybody elses for that matter, yet you seem to be taking it as personal criticism.

Rigsby

Now that we are all one happy harmonious family again, perhaps we can get back on topic ?

D'Agger

Rigsby wrote: »

Now that we are all one happy harmonious family again, perhaps we can get back on topic ?

Apologized earlier for dragging the thread off topic - wasn't the intention

Rigsby, say you had a gun put to your head and told you must get some lyrics tattoo on your body - is there any particluar lyric you'd go for??

Rigsby

PaulieC wrote: »

Rigsby, say you had a gun put to your head and told you must get some lyrics tattoo on your body - is there any particluar lyric you'd go for??

I think I'd opt to be shot !!


Seriously though, I cant think of any lyrics that mean enough to me to have them tattooed on my body.

However, if I was to get a tattoo (and it would only be under the circumstances you describe above ), I might consider a bass clef symbol, as I love music in general and playing bass in particular. Also, it would be small, and in a discreet place. IMO whatever merit there is is tattoos is cancelled when you see people covered from head to toe in them. In these cases, nothing stands out and the whole thing looks like a smudge.

ClutchIt

Temaz wrote: »

Tempted for years to get either

'Living is easy with eyes closed'

'Forever Young'

'"La Tristesse Durera'

"Motorcycle Emptiness"

Could never decide which one to get.

What do the lyrics motorcycle emptiness mean? Always baffled me

ClutchIt

kunst nugget wrote: »

Imagine seeing a person in their 50s with a Meatloaf tattoo, you'd think 'what a sad bastard' now think of yourself with your band tattoo in thirty years time and tell me it's not going to be the same thing.

Oi, leave the Loaf out of this

Sinfonia

Sinfonia wrote: »

As Reg D Hunter (or was it Louis CK?) once put it, "When did 'sticks and stones' stop being relevant?"

This was Steve Hughes, as it turns out

TAlderson

I don't have a tattoo, but I do have the lyrics "east and west the highway rolls, lord have mercy on my poor soul" etched on my wallet. It's from an American fiddle tune, great song. The wallet's leather, so it is permanently on some cow's skin, but not on mine...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

It probably sounds obvious but it very much depends on what lyrics you want, where you want to get them and what style you get them done in, font, colour etc. etc.

For example....
There's a song by Straylight Run with the lyrics...

Sing like you think no one's listening, You would kill for this, Just a little bit,
Just a little bit, You would, you would..
Sing me something soft, Sad and delicate, Or loud and out of key,
Sing me anything.

That's 5 different variations of pretty much the same set of lyrics. All very different and not all good.
Also what I think that shows is that if you're getting song lyrics just because you're a big fan of a band chances are someone else out there has the same words as you tattooed on their body. Obviously if you're choosing words that mean something specific to you, and not just because you really like the band, this won't matte to you.

EyesClosed

Temaz wrote: »

Tempted for years to get either

'Living is easy with eyes closed'

'Forever Young'

'"La Tristesse Durera'

"Motorcycle Emptiness"

Could never decide which one to get.

I have Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed on the inside of my upper arm, it means something to me. Lyrics I think make great tattoos as you will always associate memories to a song, well I do

minidazzler

There are a LOT of quotes and song lyrics I'd get, but my body would end up like a book. A lot of Frank Turner comes to mind for me, or something from Girl from the North Country, but it's something I wouldn't ever do because I'd never stop and would end up having lots by the same 7-8 artists.

snausages

No, I would never do it. If I did do it though I'd make a point of staying away from currently fashionable lyrics. Not because I'm a total hipster or anything but knowing me I'd pick some pseudo-intellectual ****e that sounds deep and profound to me today but 20 years later it would be total kitsch.

Kold

Someone on /mu/ posted a tattoo of "God is a place you will wait for the rest of your life" Thought it was nice. Wouldn't have God written on my body though.

I'd consider getting a lyric written on me though.

NegativeCreep

If I were to get words tattooed onto myself it would probably be the line from Kurt Cobain's suicide note "it's better to burn out that to fade away."
Don't really feel the need to get it written on my skin though I want a scarab beetle as a tattoo :cool:

giddybootz

There are a few lyrics I would consider as tattoos except that I'm not a big fan of script tattoos in general. certain lyrics mean enough to me that having them incorporated into a tattoo (maybe in pictures?) seems a good idea.

The whole 'you will look stupid when you're old' argument always baffles me!!
1) we aren't all gonna make it to old age
2) If I hate it in 10 or 20 years time I can get it removed!
3) You can't live life worrying what others will think of you...including your future self!!!

Sulla Felix

NegativeCreep wrote: »

If I were to get words tattooed onto myself it would probably be the line from Kurt Cobain's suicide note "it's better to burn out that to fade away."
Don't really feel the need to get it written on my skin though I want a scarab beetle as a tattoo :cool:

I always thought a scarab "rolling" one of my nipples across my chest would be neat in Egyptian style graphic.

minidazzler

NegativeCreep wrote: »

If I were to get words tattooed onto myself it would probably be the line from Kurt Cobain's suicide note "it's better to burn out that to fade away."

Not sure if you already know, but he borrowed that line from Neil Youngs Hey Hey My My.

NegativeCreep

minidazzler wrote: »

Not sure if you already know, but he borrowed that line from Neil Youngs Hey Hey My My.

Yeah I know but I think its best use was in the suicide note

kunst nugget

NegativeCreep wrote: »

Yeah I know but I think its best use was in the suicide note

Yes, a self loathing smackhead's excuse for blowing his brains out really was a much better fit for that lyric than Neil Young's mediation on his relevance in a rapidly changing music industry.

NegativeCreep

kunst nugget wrote: »

Yes, a self loathing smackhead's excuse for blowing his brains out really was a much better fit for that lyric than Neil Young's mediation on his relevance in a rapidly changing music industry.

I don't like Neil Diamond so, yes.