There are many great examples of allusion, clever wordplay and poetical whimsy in the history of popular music. There is, however, a place for lyrics that are incredibly direct – and all the better for it.
I was listening to God, Please Let Me Go Back by Josh Rouse, where young Josh declares:
‘I never was a jealous type,
but I saw the way he looked at you
– He always was a son of a bitch.’
Can’t argue with that. What are your favourite ‘direct’ lyrics?
Bamber says
Is “She’s Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To.” by Lyle Lovett the kind of thing you’re thinking about?
Gary says
I very much like Miami by Baxter Dury.
I’m the turgid fucked up lil’ goat pissing on your fucking hill
And you can’t ship me out
‘Cause you can’t catch me
‘Cause you’re so fat
So fuck ya
SteveT says
@Gary was in my desert island discs post.
Brilliant song.
Costello’s sarcastic put down of Bruce Thomas ‘funniest fucker in the World’
Gary says
Totally agree. Stupendous song. (It was cos of your desert island disc post that I thought of it. Got me playing it, too.)
Edit: And now I’ve just seen he had a new album out this year. Must give it a listen. The last one, Night Chancers, was excellent.
Simpering wreck says
The lyrics to Rubber Soul’s closing track, Run For Your Life, are as direct and unambiguous as they come – basically, if I find you with another man, I’ll kill you. I would imagine that Carnival of Light is the only Beatles track that gets less airplay than this showcase for Lennon at his misogynistic worst.
hubert rawlinson says
Though the line “I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man” was taken from E Presley’s Baby Let’s Play House written by Arthur Gunter. Lennon ‘borrowing’ once again.
Lennon in a 73 interview said it was his least favourite Beatle song.
I’ve just been reading the Mojo about Lennon that I got from @Twang (thanks)
Bingo Little says
This Nick Drake lyric always springs to mind when this topic comes up.
Now when I came out, I told you it was just about Biggie.
Then everybody had to open their mouth with a mother fucking opinion
Well this is how we gonna’ do this:
fuck Mobb Deep,
fuck Biggie,
fuck Bad Boy as a staff, record label, and as a mother fucking crew.
And if you want to be down with Bad Boy,
Then fuck you too.
Chino XL, fuck you too.
All you mother fuckers,
fuck you too.
(take money, take money)
All of y’all mother fuckers,
fuck you, die slow motherfucker.
My four four make sure all your kids don’t grow.
Gary says
I can’t be 100% sure without thinking about it, but I’m guessing Nick Drake didn’t really write that.
(I’m guessing his mum did.)
Bingo Little says
You know that Drakey – always beefing.
Captain Darling says
Everybody knows that the “fey, acoustic-guitar-carrying troubadour with tumbling locks” look was all a front. Inside he was a bubbling cauldron of rage who could pop a cap in any fool who said some of the strings on his albums were “a bit loud, don’t you think, Nick?”
Gatz says
‘If You Don’t to Fuck Me, Baby Fuck Off’ by Wayne County and Electric Chairs makes its point with unbeatable candour.
Twang says
Yes, a masterpiece. “if you ain’t got time to take a walk with me on my meatrack, then you can get the hell off of my breadline”. Charming.
Twang says
Oh “Fuck this town”, Robbie Fulks’ magnificent tribute to Nashville. I reproduce it here for full disclosure.
Spoiler: he’s not impressed.
Well, I came down to Nashville in 1993
‘Cause my friend Jim said Nashville had money growin’ right on the trees
So I thought I’d go pick some, and I don’t mean musically.
Now it’s 4 years later, and I’m wonderin’ where I went wrong
Shook a lotta hands, ate a lotta lunch, wrote a lotta dumbass songs
But I couldn’t get a break in Nashville, if I tried my whole life long
So, fuck this town… fuck this town
Fuck it end-to-end, fuck it up and down
Can’t get noticed — can’t get found — can’t get a cut, so
Fuck this town.
Hey, this ain’t country-western!
It’s just soft-rock feminist crap!
And I thought they’d struck bottom back back in the days of Ronnie Milsap
Now they can’t stop the flood of assholes: there ain’t a big enough ASCAP.
Sure, I like old Tim Carroll, and BR5-49
But Nashville don’t need that noise, no,
Nashville’ll do just fine
As long as there’s a moron market
And a faggot in a hat to sign.
Fuck this town! Fuck this town!
Fuck… this… town.
daff says
The Bobster in Positively 4th Street
“……..I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is to see you.
Mousey says
Yes that was my first thought
Feedback_File says
Thirded
Pajp says
Another one from Bob: Idiot Wind
“Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth
You’re an idiot babe
It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe”
Diddley Farquar says
Mother, you had me
But I never had you
I, I wanted you
You didn’t want me
So, I
I just got to tell you
Goodbye
Goodbye
Well, the whole album really.
hubert rawlinson says
But that one especially really resonates with me.
dai says
God is a concept by which we measure our pain ….
Gary says
I don’t think I’ve ever quoted Queen before.
You suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you breach
Screw my brain ’til it hurts
You’ve taken all my money
And you want more
Misguided old mule with your pigheaded rules
With your narrow minded cronies
Who are fools of the first division
Killjoy, bad guy, big talking small fry
You’re just an old barrow boy
Have you found a new toy to replace me?
Can you face me?
But now you can kiss my ass goodbye
Insane, should be put inside
You’re a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Then make yourself null and void
slotbadger says
But Freddie, stop being coy. What do you really think?
Rigid Digit says
Anti-Nowhere League – So What?
So What, So What
So What , So What, you boring little cunt, who cares, who care’s what you do?
Who care’s, who cares about you?
Charming!
Stiff Little Fingers – I Don’t Like You
If I thought you could find a way, I’d tell you to go get lost
But why ask you to pay attention when your brain can’t stand the cost?
Look at you
And the state you’re in, next to you
Even a brick is thin
You oughta scratch from the human race
You are a waste of a name
A waste of time and a waste of space
You’ve only one claim to fame
I don’t like you
If a thought came into your head, it would die of loneliness
You rate absolute zero, no more and not even less
Look at you
Oh, what a state, next to you
Short planks are underweight
You oughta scratch from the human race
You are a waste of a name
A waste of time and a waste of space
You’ve only one claim to fame
I don’t like you
You don’t entertain ideas, you just simply bore them
You couldn’t find your feet if you were looking for them
Looking at you
It’s hard for me, next to you
Is nowhere to be
Billy Joel – Just The Way You Are
I don’t want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mmm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
GCU Grey Area says
XTC’s Your Dictionary is extremely direct. Written by Andy Partridge about his ex-wife. Usually skip that track.
dkhbrit says
I was going to mention this. It’s so out of place on that album.
Diddley Farquar says
PJ Harvey
Who the fuck
Do you think you are
Get out
Of my hair
Who the fuck
Do you think you are
Comin’ round
Here
Who the fuck?
Who the fuck?
Who the fuck
Do you think you are
Get your comb
Out of there
Coming out
My hair
I’m not like other girls
You can’t straighten my curls
I’m not like other girls
You can’t straighten my curls
Black Celebration says
“I never really liked you when I met you
And now I like you even less”
Wonder Stuff
“Pack up your dirty looks
Your songs that have no hooks
Your stacks of Modern Screen
Your portrait of the Queen
Your mangy cat away
Your baby fat away
You’re headed that-a-way
You’re moving out today”
Carole Bayer-Sager
Gary says
The grocer told me what you do with bread.
SteveT says
Carole Bayer-Sager = Genius
Uncle Wheaty says
New Model Army probably claim this prize with Vengeance
‘I believe in justice, I believe in vengeance, I believe in getting the bastard, killing the bastard’
Captain Darling says
German synth band De/Vision make their feelings plain on ‘The End’:
“I’m unimpressed
By everything you do
You make me sick
I never wanna be like you.”
Also, let’s not forget ver Floyd’s Pigs (Three Different Ones), in which cuddly Uncle Rog makes his feelings about Mrs Whitehouse very plain indeed.
Jaygee says
Why don’t you kill yourself
The Only Ones
None more direct
Beezer says
Mike Campbell gets straight to the point here
Fuck That Guy
carabara says
Amy Rigby: Will We Ever Have Sex Again
Life’s become a great big list
Of things to do and buy and fix
At night we pass out before ten
Are we ever gonna have sex again?
I looked for your id today
Seemed that id had gone away
Ain’t been used since who knows when
Are we ever gonna have sex again?
We used to be triple x rated
Look at us now, so domesticated
What happened to babe and stud?
Too much KFC and Bud
I shout it out into the wind
Are we ever gonna have sex again?
Come here baby, scratch my itch
Or I’ll show you one mean ass bitch
I’m so tired of acting Zen
Are we ever gonna have sex again?
Screw making love
It’s way too ambitious
Let’s get down on the rug
After you finish the dishes
Not now hon, the eggs are frying
But you get extra points for trying
Maybe I can squeeze you in
Between the PTA and CNN
Are we ever gonna have sex again?
It was either this or I Want You (Costello) that sprung to mind.
fitterstoke says
Superb – Amy Rigby is undervalued imho…
carabara says
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwigwbfRrvj-AhVPTsAKHXpdCWsQuAJ6BAgJEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4PajMjsXL0E&usg=AOvVaw2f6WbH7u2BSDq9DMZyyEHd
salwarpe says
Can’t hear you ’cause your mouth’s full of shit
You think you’re god’s gift
You’re a liar
I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire
~ Chumbawamba ~
Jim Cain says
“Arseholes, bastards, fucking cunts & pricks.”
– Ian Dury
fitterstoke says
Well, quite…
fitterstoke says
e to the power of i times pi plus one is zero
e to the power of i times pi plus one is zero
e to the power of i times pi is minus one
e to the power of i times pi is minus one
But seriously, folks…
I don’t give a damn anymore – I’ve only wound up betrayed.
It’s all been absolutely worthless –
All the efforts I’ve made to be gentle and kind
Are repaid with contempt,
Degraded by sympathy, and worthless kindness
And love that isn’t meant.
I’m through with joy and company, I’ve done with pretty words,
Betrayed… there’s no hiding place
Anywhere in the world.
I’ve nothing left to fight for except making my passion heard –
I don’t believe in anything
Anywhere in the world
noisecandy says
“You fill me with inertia”.
Lemonhope says
“If you even think about coming round here
I’ll shoot you in the fucking face”
White Elephant
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
chiz says
She saw the barkeep, said, “O God, he can’t be dead!”
Stag said, “Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker’s head”
Feedback_File says
Another Nick Drake lyric (real this time). Black Eyed Dog – so real in fact that its almost unlistenable. We all know the story but this is as close to knowing the anguish he was going through as we’ll ever get.
Black eyed dog he called at my door
The black eyed dog he called for more
A black eyed dog he knew my name
A black eyed dog he knew my name
A black eyed dog
A black eyed dog
I’m growing old and I wanna go home, I’m growing old and I dont wanna know
I’m growing old and I wanna go home
Black eyed dog he called at my door
The black eyed dog he called for more
Mike_H says
Willie Dixon got straight to the point.
I don’t want you to be no slave
I don’t want you to work all day
I don’t want you to be true
I just want to make love to you
Bingo Little says
Nine Inch Nails conveyed a similar sentiment in a manner which makes the above look positively meandering.
Henry Haddock says
This, from Sometimes Salvation by the Black Crowes:
To lessen my troubles
I stopped hanging out with vultures
And empty saviours like you
Mr H says
The Bard of Salford:
Like a nightclub in the morning, you’re the bitter end
Like a recently disinfected shithouse, you’re clean round the bend
You give me the horrors
Too bad to be true
All of my tomorrows
Are lousy ’cause of you
You put the Shat in Shatter
Put the Pain in Spain
Your germs are splattered about
Your face is just a stain
You’re certainly no raver, commonly known as a drag
Do us all a favor, here, wear this polythene bag
You’re like a dose of scabies
I’ve got you under my skin
You make life a fairytale
Grimm!
People mention murder, the moment you arrive
I’d consider killing you if I thought you were alive
You’ve got this slippery quality
It makes me think of phlegm
And a dual personality
I hate both of them
You’re bad breath, vamps disease, destruction, and decay
Please, please, please, please, take yourself away
Like a death a birthday party
You ruin all the fun
Like a sucked and spat-our Smartie
You’re no use to anyone
Like the shadow of the guillotine
On a dead consumptive’s face
Speaking as an outsider
What do you think of the human race?
You went to a progressive psychiatrist
He recommended suicide
Before scratching your bad name off his list
And pointing the way outside
You hear laughter breaking through, it makes you want to fart
You’re heading for a breakdown
Better pull yourself apart
Your dirty name gets passed about when something goes amiss
Your attitudes are platitudes
Just make me wanna piss
What kind of creature bore you
Was it some kind of bat?
They can’t find a good word for you
But I can
Twat!
Jim Cain says
That’s nitpicking isn’t it?
Locust says
“There’s so much shit in Texas
you’re bound to step in some”
are just a few of many direct lyrics in the Johnny Winter track “Dallas”…
Lando Cakes says
I rather like Kinky Friedman’s:
“They ain’t makin’ Jews like Jesus anymore.
We don’t turn the other cheek, like we did before.”
slotbadger says
I’ve come to wish you an unhappy birthday
Because you’re evil and you lie
And if you should die, I may feel slightly sad
But I won’t cry.
myoldman says
Made me shudder when I first heard this. About 2:20
Autumn will come and I know what I’ll do
I’ll kill your baby and then I’ll kill you
Mike_H says
Warren Zevon:
Well, I went to the doctor
I said, “I’m feeling kind of rough”
He said, “I’ll break it to you, son”
“Let me break it to you, son”
Your shit’s fucked up.”
I said, “my shit’s fucked up?”
Well, I don’t see how-”
He said, “The shit that used to work-
It won’t work now.”
… I had a dream
Ah, shucks, oh, well
Now it’s all fucked up
It’s shot to hell
… Yeah, yeah, my shit’s fucked up
It has to happen to the best of us
The rich folks suffer like the rest of us
It’ll happen to you
… That amazing grace
Sort of passed you by
You wake up every day
And you start to cry
Yeah, you want to die
But you just can’t quit
Let me break it on down:
It’s the fucked up shit
KDH says
New Order’s Your Silent Face spends 3 1/2 verses being, well, lyrical before finally giving up at the end:
The sign that leads the way
The path we can not take
You’ve caught me at a bad time
So, why don’t you piss off?
Mike_H says
Incredibly direct putdowns?
Here’s one.
He’s a tortured artist
Used to be in the Eagles
Now he whines
Like a wounded beagle
Poet of despair!
Pumped up with hot air!
He’s serious, pretentious
And I just don’t care
Don Henley must die!
Don’t let him get back together
With Glenn Frey!
Don Henley must die!