The best lyrics read like the finest poetry, and many would argue that the likes of Neil Young
and Bob Dylan are indeed poets as well as songwriters. To prove just how tricky and rare it is
to craft exquisite lyrics like theirs, it pays to look at the other end of the scale:
“I don’t want to see a ghost/It’s the sight that I fear most/I’d rather have a piece of toast…”
There are plenty more bad lyrical attempts out there than good – and that’s why we cherish
those great lyrics all the more. Here are some of the finest ever recorded, and a little
explanation about each one. We’d love to hear your favourites too, and what they mean to
you, and why.
The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up
“Columnated ruins domino…”
Quite simply one of the most beautiful lyrics ever written – and one of the strangest too.
Full of layers of surreal symbolism, it’s the product of the truly unique imagination of the
lyrical genius Van Dyke Parks (with the help of some very illegal substances).
Creating image upon image, the words flowing, perfectly fitting Brian Wilson’s incredible
ode to the sea. The song’s lyrics were so unusual that they actually caused friction within
the band, with Beach Boy Mike Love complaining that they were nonsensical, and would
alienate their fans. The song was shelved for a few years as a result, but thankfully couldn’t
be hidden away for too long!
Bob Dylan – Masters of War
“I think you will find/When your death takes its toll/All the money you made/Will never buy
back your soul…”
The protest song to end all protest songs, Dylan voiced the concerns of a generation when
he penned this anti-war lyric. With Vietnam raging, and conscription forcing young
Americans to fight in a war they didn’t understand, the lyrics captured all of their rage, fear
and disgust perfectly. Sung in the first person, from the point of view of a young man who
doesn’t want to be forced to join the army, makes the song all the more personal. The
melody here is so simple, and yet this song has been covered by more artists than you can
count – it’s all thanks to those incredibly powerful lyrics.
The Beatles – Hey Jude
“Take a sad song, and make it better…”
While John Lennon initially believed that this song was written for him, at the start of his
relationship with Yoko Ono, in fact Paul McCartney penned this Beatles classic for Lennon’s
son Julian. Originally titled ‘Hey Jules’, the song was written to comfort a young Julian as his
parents divorced – and its lyrics have since brought comfort to countless others.
Also written around the time of McCartney’s new relationship with Linda Eastman, it’s a
song that offers encouragement, advice, and a strong belief in love – yet another famous
lyric about love – it seems we can’t escape it! But Hey Jude is almost as well known for its
ending – over four minutes of those famous ‘na na na’s stretch the song out to over seven
minutes long, at the time making it the longest single ever to top the UK charts, giving the
Beatles their biggest hit in America too.
Johnny Cash – I Still Miss Someone
“There’s someone for me somewhere/And I still miss someone…”
Another simple melody that’s transformed by its painfully heartfelt lyrics, this is one of
Johnny Cash’s most famous songs, and one of his most-covered. There have surely been
more lyrics written about love than anything else, and the ones that stay with us are often
about lost love.
Here, the lyrics hit home because they are so honest and truthful – every one who’s ever
lost someone can relate. One of Bob Dylan’s own favourites, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris,
Dolly Parton, Gram Parson and Stevie Nicks are just some of the artists who have covered
this country classic.