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Lyrics

  • 10-05-2002 4:08pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭


    do lyrics matter in metal? i think they do. and i find that the most intelligent and meaningful lyrics are in the heavier types of metal(death and doom) my personal favourites are Martyr's and Quo Vadis's. i could never identify with metallica's lyrics.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭Dr. Loon


    I think Metallica's lyrics are sort of fantasy really. Not real life.
    Lyrocs definitely matter - Guns N Roses, there's a band with some great lyrics.


  • Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 12,739 Mod ✭✭✭✭cournioni


    I like Fear Factory's lyrics, In Flames' lyrics freak me out. All metal lyrics are good, some of the best in music as a whole. Even though other non metallers might think differently.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,655 ✭✭✭Ph3n0m


    Well that is true for some bands, I have a feeling there is an equal amount whose lyrics dont mean a damn thing - like pop music

    The fact that some bands put a lot of thought into their music and lyrics (which in my mind are two seperate things), and again there are other bands that dont give a toss - like pop music


    Whats the lesson here - unfortunately there are those who perform "rock/metal" and do it for pop reasons - gratutios amounts of money (which is good, however they arent doing because its fun anymore)



    Why do bands perform - is it to generate cash or because they are actually having fun on stage?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    I'd say Cradle of Filth have done some of my favorite lyrics.

    I mean, how many bands have done an entire concept album based around The Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory?
    Anything up until the last album had fantastic lyrics.
    Check out the song "Lord Abortion" for a truly brilliant lyrical concept.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,975 ✭✭✭Oeneus


    Originally posted by Dr. Loon
    IGuns N Roses, there's a band with some great lyrics.

    I think Civil War was their only song that ever had serious, meaningful lyrics. Here's proof from the other songs

    "Bring it to your Shananananananakneeees!"
    "Well Well Well My Michelle...Look Out!!"
    "I used to Love Her, but I had to kill her!"


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 651 ✭✭✭Okie


    Originally posted by Dr. Loon
    I think Metallica's lyrics are sort of fantasy really. Not real life.

    That's a fair enough point...to an extent, but in fairness some of Metallica's lyrics are pretty true to life (well I think so anyway) For example "Fade To Black" from their "Ride The Lightning" album, it deals with suicide and all the reasons why the person in question has no other options left and well.....here's the lyrics, make up your own mind. The song is one of my absolute favourites.

    Fade to Black

    Life it seems will fade away
    Drifting farther everyday
    Getting lost within myself
    Nothing matters no one else
    I have lost the will to live
    Simply nothing more to give
    There is nothing more for me
    Need the end to set me free

    Things not what they used to be
    Missing one inside of me
    Deathly lost this can't be real
    Cannot stand this hell I feel
    Emptiness is filling me
    To the point of agony
    Growing darkness taking dawn
    I was me but now he is gone

    No one but me can save myself but it's too late
    Now I can't think think why I should even try

    Yesterday seems as though it never existed
    Death greets me warm now I will just say goodbye


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭Ruaidhri


    yeah all metallica's lyrics have stories behind them and they are pretty good,but they i cant identify with them.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,572 Mod ✭✭✭✭Robbo


    Running the risk of being shot here, but the only metal (albeit given a somewhat narrow exposure to metal) band that I ever felt had a reasonable level of lyrical coherence is Tool.

    Some bands have this really tenuous grip on the English language. I spent a good bit of time listening to Fear Factory when I was 13 and I look back now at the lyrics sheet on "Demanufacture" and cringe. "New Breed", "Flashpoint" and "Replica" all read like the ramblings of a drugged horse. Some of the times it seems as if they just used a thesaurus to find a synonym for whatever word they wanted to use and just repeat that 14 times in the song.

    I await the metal band that opens a song with "My parents really discombobulated my liiiiiiiiiife". :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭Ruaidhri


    yes tool have a really amazing lyrics, and i think most metal bands like fear factory/megadeth/slayer/cnaaibal corpse have CRAP lyrics


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭DrunkLeprachaun


    Most of the time they do, but I can think of quite a few good metal bands/songs with crap lyrics.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    Anathema have some fantastic lyrics.
    As do Emperor.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,695 ✭✭✭b20uvkft6m5xwg


    Well IMO Lyrics do matter but a great riff may compensate.

    As for Metallica,
    "Puppets" had some meaningful songs, like Leper Messiah is about a Billy Graham type evangelist who is just interested in collecting money from his followers as oppossed to offering them salvation. Although as said, some of them are just fantasy, like "phantom lord" and "the thing that should not be".


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,130 ✭✭✭✭Karl Hungus


    Here's a little idea of what I like about Cradle Of Filth's lyrics.
    Now, this is probably going to be the same size as the entire thread henceforth!
    You don't have to read it if you don't want to.

    This was when Cradle actualy done some good music.
    Nothing like that woefull MTV-Rock "Born in a Burial Gown". *Shudder*

    Pretty sad, in my opinion, that a band who had some of the best lyrics around goes and plops out some crap ripe for MTV.

    Anyway, this is basically as song about love, murder and revenge:


    "The Moon, she hangs like a cruel portrait
    soft winds whisper the bidding of trees
    as this tragedy starts with a shattered glass heart
    and the Midnightmare trampling of dreams
    But on, no tears please
    Fear and pain may accompany Death
    But it is desire that shepherds it's certainty
    as We shall see..."

    She was divinity's creature
    That kissed in cold mirrors
    A Queen of Snow
    Far beyond compare
    Lips attuned to symmetry
    Sought Her everywhere
    Dark liqoured eyes
    An Arabian nightmare...

    She shone on watercolours
    Of my pondlife as pearl
    Until those who couldn't have Her
    Cut Her free of this World

    That fateful Eve when..
    The trees stank of sunset and camphor
    Their lanterns chased phantoms and threw
    An inquisitive glance, like the shadows they cast
    On my love picking rue by the light of the moon

    Putting reason to flight
    Or to death as their way
    They crept through woods mesmerized
    By the taffeta Ley
    Of Her hips that held sway
    Over all they surveyed
    Save a mist on the rise
    (A deadly blessing to hide)
    Her ghost in the fog

    They raped left...
    (Five men of God)
    ...Her ghost in the fog

    Dawn discovered Her there
    Beneath the Cedar's stare
    Silk dress torn, Her raven hair
    Flown to gown Her beauty bared
    Was starred with frost, I knew Her lost
    I wept 'til tears crept back to prayer

    She'd sworn Me vows in fragrant blood
    "Never to part
    Lest jealous Heaven stole our hearts"

    Then this I screamed:
    "Come back to Me
    I was born in love with thee
    So why should fate stand in between?"

    And as I drowned Her gentle curves
    With dreams unsaid and final words
    I espied a gleam trodden to earth
    The Church bell tower key...

    The village mourned her by the by
    For She'd been a witch
    their Men had longed to try
    And I broke under Christ seeking guilty signs
    My tortured soul on ice

    A Queen of snow
    Far beyond compare
    Lips attuned to symmetry
    Sought Her everywhere
    Trappistine eyes
    An Arabian nightmare...

    She was Ersulie possessed
    Of a milky white skin
    My porcelain Yin
    A graceful Angel of Sin

    And so for Her...
    The breeze stank of sunset and camphor
    My lantern chased Her phantom and blew
    Their Chapel ablaze and all locked in to a pain
    Best reserved for judgement that their bible construed...

    Putting reason to flight
    Or to flame unashamed
    I swept form cries
    Mesmerized
    By the taffeta Ley
    Or Her hips that held sway
    Over all those at bay
    Save a mist on the rise
    A final blessing to hide
    Her ghost in the fog

    And I embraced
    Where lovers rot...
    Her ghost in the fog

    Her ghost in the fog


    Really fantastically written.
    Some of the wordplay involved is just brilliant!
    Example:
    Lips attuned to symmetry
    Sought Her everywhere

    It's said that the most beautiful people have perfectly symmetrical faces.
    This part is basically saying how she was desired by others.
    They crept through woods mesmerized
    By the taffeta Ley
    Of Her hips that held sway

    Taffeta being a fabric mainly used in womens garments, the men were 'Mesmerized' by how her clothes hung on her body.


    It's a pretty dense lyrical content.
    Most of Cradle's songs take a time to understand.

    A lot of their lyrics are based on myth, and other such things.
    Themes in the old testament, and you can also draw comparisons between authors like Clive Barker, and Edgar Allen Poe. A lot of the lyrics on Dusk and Her Embrace were very Poe infuenced. I'm not going to quote any lyrics from that, they're a bit too much.


  • Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 12,739 Mod ✭✭✭✭cournioni


    Originally posted by Ruaidhri
    yes tool have a really amazing lyrics, and i think most metal bands like fear factory/megadeth/slayer/cnaaibal corpse have CRAP lyrics
    I agree with the Cannibal Corpse bit there... but how can you say the others have **** lyrics?

    Fear Factory's lyrics are good. I agree what Robbo say's about repitition but you have to agree that the lyrics to "Replica" are quite good. They deal with rape and abortion.

    How dare you say Megadeth's lyrics are crap?! They have wrote some of the most meaningful lyrics in music today, (eg. "In My Darkest Hour", "Holy Wars" etc. etc.)

    Alright, Slayer's lyrics ain't that good at times but have you listened to "Manditory Suicide"?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,719 ✭✭✭Ruaidhri


    Originally posted by PORNAPSTER

    I agree with the Cannibal Corpse bit there... but how can you say the others have **** lyrics?
    Well it was my opinion(I did say I think..Didn’t mean to step heavily on anyone’s toes..ya see lyrics mean different things to different ppl(like poetry)i never liked Megadeth's lyrics, and Dave mustane's delivery of them is extremely cheesy. now if we look at Symphony Of Destruction by Megadeth.
    Symphony Of Destruction

    You take a mortal man,
    And put him in control
    Watch him become a god
    Watch peoples heads a'roll
    A'roll...

    [chorus:]
    Just like the Pied Piper
    Led rats through the streets
    We dance like marionettes
    Swaying to the Symphony ...
    Of Destruction

    Acting like a robot
    Its metal brain corrodes
    You try to take its pulse
    Before the head explodes
    Explodes...

    [Chorus]

    The earth starts to rumble
    World powers fall
    A'warring for the heavens
    A peaceful man stands tall
    Tall...

    [Chorus]

    ya see it is cheesy. now if we take some of my favorites, Martyr
    Speechless - Martyr

    "How low can you go in order to elevate yourself?
    Judge and you will be judged."

    Who are you to judge me ?
    You’re worse than I could ever be
    Who are you to condemn me ?
    - Farther than your eyes, you can’t see

    Behold the hammer of corruption
    Mischief and treachery
    Behold the unfair struggle
    - Wealth always saves the loser

    How far will you go to crush all the ants?
    How far will you go to reach the giants?
    - I won’t cross this line you once fled
    - I won’t cross this line you’ve just stamped

    You let your flaws dictate your laws
    Sentencing is your role corrupted is your soul
    No one to blame, you played the game
    Don’t come to claim the souls you stained

    Judge me not, as you don’t understand my way
    - Law equals justice, for those who conspired it
    Judge me not, every word is a shade of grey
    - Law equals justice and freedom is but a lie

    Crying over my faith I will not hate
    Only in the realms of reverie
    - Lies the ever seeked verity

    Is life a quest for glory where I proclaimed you the king ?
    "Life must be nice for the usurper..."
    - Last thoughts of the innocent


    i pick up and understand what he is on about here and I really like intelligent lyrics, well thought out and not the I WANT TO KILL YOU type. Françoise Mongrain wrote these, and he has a degree in philosophy. It’s really a pleasure to read them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21 Saboteur


    Metallica and Guns n' Roses are not Metal bands. Metallica might have been originally, but definitly not since the third CD. And most of the other bands that are mentioned on this page are total crap and not metal. Stop buying Kerrang! and start buying some decent Metal mags, that promote real Metal.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,572 Mod ✭✭✭✭Robbo


    Fear Factory's lyrics are good. I agree what Robbo say's about repitition but you have to agree that the lyrics to "Replica" are quite good. They deal with rape and abortion.

    ...and not the same cod-dystopia cyborg theme running through the rest of the album?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,840 ✭✭✭Trev M


    I reckon GNR have some very good lyrics.

    I think a lot of the Illusion lyrics are great.

    Pantera have super lyrics in my opinion. Hollow/ This love / Walk etc.

    Machine head lyrics for the most part are dire.

    Sepultura area mixed bag I think.

    Cant think of anyone else just right now.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,780 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hellrazer


    Have to agree with Pornapster there-I actually like Megadeth,Slayer and Fear Factory`s lyrics.Im not into that Death,Doom metal stuff although their lyrics are usually poetic works of art-Shame about the music.:D
    One of the albums whose lyrics are excellent is WASP-Crimson Idol-The story of Blackie (Ball-less-remember the point)Lawless`life in one album-Excellent.
    Never found Metallicas lyrics meaning ful I did always like Sepultura though.
    As for this new metal sh!t-I cant stand any of it.It just seems too happy for me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭Dr. Loon


    Originally posted by Oeneus


    I think Civil War was their only song that ever had serious, meaningful lyrics. Here's proof from the other songs

    "Bring it to your Shananananananakneeees!"
    "Well Well Well My Michelle...Look Out!!"
    "I used to Love Her, but I had to kill her!"

    I used to love her - Axl has said in many live shows and interviews, that this is their only song that is a píss take. All their other tunes are based on an element of truth.
    What's wrong with the lyric "Bring you to your knees"? It means just that - the jungle will nring you to your knees!!!?

    Well, well, well, You just can't tell, well, well, well My Michelle!!!? Nothing wrong with that either - it's a phrase, Michelle is apparently some bitch they knew!!!
    Makes sense to me... No??? :confused: :rolleyes:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,230 ✭✭✭OLDYELLAR


    system of a down -know , theres quite a lot of meaning to all there songs , however for my own reasons , the lyrics to this one are very good and insightful.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 427 ✭✭pyure


    lyrics are, for me, the most important aspect to any song

    a song becomes infinitely better if i can to relate to the lyrics

    although they're not metal, if've always been partial to nirvana lyrics, especially songs like SMTS and dumb


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 70 ✭✭papashiv0


    Sabbath are by far the best.

    "I'm living in a room without any view, I'm living livin' free because the rent's not right due" -Hole in the sky.
    gren.gif


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    Well I quite like Metallica's Master album lyrics but I quite like Napalm Death's lyrics...

    http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/2453/slyrics.html


  • Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 12,739 Mod ✭✭✭✭cournioni


    I have to say that my favorite lyrics have to be Pantera (post-glam AngelWhore! :p ). Which is the reason why I use them in my signature :)

    Check them out... there should be some on pantera.com


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