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songs that are almost poetry


kyliehot1

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  • 2 months later...

Someone mentioned "White Room" by Cream, and it is an excellent poem in the style of Wallace Stevens.

"I Am, I Said" by Neil Diamond makes a decent poem.

RUSH: "Limelight" and "The Spirit of Radio"

Simon and Garfunkel's little song "Bookends" is wonderful:

A time it was, and what a time it was, it was

A time of innocence, a time of confidences.

Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph.

Preserve your memories; they're all that's left you.

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So, so you think you can tell

Heaven from Hell?

Blue skys from pain?

Can you tell a green field

From a cold steel rail?

A smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade

Your heros for ghosts?

Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?

And did you exchange

A walk on part in the war

For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.

We're just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl,

Year after year,

Running over the same old ground.

What have we found?

The same old fears.

Wish you were here.

I don't really know if this is right here, because it isn't almost, it IS poetry :)

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How about Stevie Wonder's

All in Love Is Fair off the Innervisions album

All is fair in love

Love's a crazy game

Two people vow to stay

In love as one they say

But all is changed with time

The future none can see

The road you leave behind

Ahead lies mystery

But all is fair in love

I had to go away

A writer takes his pen

To write the words again

That all in love is fair

All of fate's a chance

It's either good or bad

I tossed my coin to say

In love with me you'd stay

But all in war is so cold

You either win or lose

When all is put away

The losing side I'll play

But all is fair in love

I should have never left your side

A writer takes his pen

To write the words again

That all in love is fair

A writer takes his pen

To write the words again

That all in love is fair

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  • 4 weeks later...

I don't know why, but Hyperballad by Björk was the first song to come into my mind.

We live on a mountain

Right at the top

There's a beautiful view

From the top of the mountain

Every morning I walk towards the edge

And throw little things off

Like:

Car parts, bottles and cutlery

Or whatever I find lying around

It's become a habit

A way

To start the day

I go through all this

Before you wake up

So I can feel happier

To be safe up here with you

It's early morning

No one is awake

I'm back at my cliff

Still throwing things off

I listen to the sounds they make

On their way down

I follow with my eyes 'til they crash

Imagine what my body would sound like

Slamming against those rocks

When it lands

Will my eyes

Be closed or open?

I go through all this

Before you wake up

So I can feel happier

To be safe up here with you

:bow: :bow: :bow:

PS Welcome to SF, JonesGirl! :)

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I tried my best to translate. I made some adjustments here and there to what would sound right in English without altering the meaning of the statement. When I read the original post, this is the song that came to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rehpGxyjo

"Corazón De Poeta" by Jeanette

"Heart Of A Poet"

Tiene la expresión de una flor

Having a flower's expression

la voz de un pájaro y

the voice of a bird and

el alma como luna llena

the soul like a full moon

de un mes de abril

in April

Tienen sus palabras

His words have

calor y frío de invierno

the warmth and cold of winter

Su piel es dura como el

His skin is tough like that of a

árbol que azota el viento

tree that blows against the wind

Y tiene el corazón de poeta,

And he has the heart of a poet,

de niño grande, de hombre-niño

Of a grown boy, of a boy who's grown-up

capaz de amar con delirio

Capable of loving deliriously

capaz de hundirse en la tristeza

capable of sinking in sorrow

Pues tiene el corazón de poeta,

Because he has the heart of a poet,

de vagabundo, de mendigo

of a drifter, of a beggar

y así lo he conocido

and that is how I've known him

y así me gusta a mí que sea,

and that is how I like him to be,

que tenga el corazón de poeta.

having the heart of a poet.

Tiene la arrogancia del sol,

He possesses the sun's arrogance,

mirada cándida.

a candid gaze.

Su piel de nieve se hace fuego

His skin of snow turns to fire

cerca de mí.

near me.

Es amigo y amante fiel

He is a friend and faithful lover

de las estrellas

of the stars

Camina junto a mí

Walks beside me

soñando con cosas bellas.

dreaming of beautiful things.

Y tiene el corazón de poeta

de niño grande y de hombre-niño.

Capaz de amar con delirio,

capaz de hundirse en la tristeza,

pues tiene el corazón de poeta,

de vagabundo, de mendigo

y así lo he conocido

y así me gusta a mí que sea,

que tenga el corazón de poeta.

Pues tiene el corazón de poeta

de vagabundo, de mendigo

y así lo he conocido

y así me gusta a mí que sea,

que tenga el corazón de poeta

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  • 7 months later...

So, so you think you can tell

Heaven from Hell?

Blue skys from pain?

Can you tell a green field

From a cold steel rail?

A smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade

Your heros for ghosts?

Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?

And did you exchange

A walk on part in the war

For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.

We're just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl,

Year after year,

Running over the same old ground.

What have we found?

The same old fears.

Wish you were here.

I don't really know if this is right here, because it isn't almost, it IS poetry :)

:bow: :bow: :bow: :headphones: :headphones: :bow: :bow: :bow:

If there was a happy crying smily I'd SOOOOOOOOOOO use it.

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Not this one:

She said you hurt her so,

she almost lost her mind,

but now she says she knows,

you´re not the hurting kind,

she said she loves you and you know that can´t be bad

yes she loves you and you know you should be glad...

She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah, etc. :laughing:

Yet I love love love this song! :bow:

Any Leonard Cohen song is a poem.

Edna, what song is this? I love the lyrics and want to hear more!

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Here's another song that needs to be translated, but has been recorded/sung for many years. The author always maintained that this was a love song, with the sky father's "rain" seeking the earth mother.

Aloha 'Oe

Ha'aheo ka ua i na pali

(Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs)

Ke nihi a'ela i ka nahele

(As on it glided through the trees)

E hahai ana paha i ka liko

(Still following ever the liko)

Pua 'ahiahi lehua o uka

(The 'ahiahi lehua of the vale)

Chorus:

Aloha 'oe, aloha 'oe

(Farewell to thee, farewell to thee)

E ke onaona noho i ka lipo

(Thou charming one who dwells in shaded bowers)

A fond embrace a ho'i a'e au

(A fond embrace 'ere I depart)

Until we meet again

'O ka hali'a aloha i hiki mai

(Thus sweet memories come back to me)

Ke hone a'e nei i ku'u manawa

(Bringing fresh remembrance of the past)

'O 'oe no ka'u ipo aloha

(Dearest one, yes, thou are mine now

A loko e hana nei

(From thee, true love shall ne'er depart)

Maopopo ku'u 'ike ka nani

(I have seen and watched thy loveliness)

Na pua hia'ai na manu

(And 'tis there the birds oft love to dwell)

Miki'ala i ka nani o ka liko

(And sip the honey from they lips)

This is the complete version, written by Queen Lili'uokalani in 1884. It has been a song of farewell from the outset, but the lyrics say something quite different. :afro:

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Cat Stevens is a wonderful storyteller as evidenced by The Boy With The Moon And Star On His Head. Poetry? Of course!

A gardener's daughter stopped me on my way, on the day I was

to wed.

"It is you who I wish to share my body with", she said.

"We'll find a dry place under the sky with a flower for a bed.

And for my joy, I will give you a boy with a moon and

star on his head."

Her silver hair flowed in the air, laying waves across the sun.

Her hands were like the white sands, and her eyes had

diamonds on.

We left the road and headed up to the top of the

Whisper Wood.

And we walked 'till we came to where the holy magnolia stood.

And there we laid cool in the shade singing songs and

making love...

With the naked earth beneath us and the universe above.

The time was late, my wedding wouldn't wait; I was sad but

I had to go.

So while she was asleep, I kissed her cheek for cheerio.

The wedding took place and people came from many

miles around.

There was plenty merriment, cider and wine did abound.

But out of all that I recall, I remembered the girl I met.

'Cause she had given me something that my heart could not

forget.

A year had passed and everything was just as it was a year

before...

As if it were a year before...

Until the gift that someone left, a basket by my door.

And in there lay the fairest little baby crying to be fed;

I got down on my knees and kissed the moon and star on

his head.

As years went by the boy grew high and the village looked

on in awe.

They'd never seen anything like the boy with the moon and

star before.

And people would ride from far and wide just to seek the

word he spread.

I'll tell you everything I've learned, and Love is all...he said.

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BTW... I'm guessing AC/DC didn't write poems

Living easy, living free

Season ticket on a one-way ride

Asking nothing, leave me be

Taking everything in my stride

Don't need reason, don't need rhyme

Ain't nothing I would rather do

Going down, party time

My friends are gonna be there too

I'm on the Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell

No stop signs, speed limit

Nobody's gonna slow me down

Like a wheel, gonna spin it

Nobody's gonna mess me round

Hey Satan, paid my dues

Playing in a rocking band

Hey Momma, look at me

I'm on my way to the promised land

I'm on the Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell

(Don't stop me )

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Worlds Apart ~ Bruce Springsteen

I hold you in my arms, yeah that's when it starts

I seek faith in your kiss and comfort in your heart

I taste the seed upon your lips, lay my tongue upon your scars

But when I look into your eyes we stand worlds apart

Where the distant oceans sing and rise to the plain

In this dry and troubled country your beauty remains

Down from the mountain road where the highway rolls to dark

'Neath Allah's blessed rain we remain worlds apart

Sometimes the truth just ain't enough

Or is it too much in times like this

Let's throw the truth away we'll find it in this kiss

In your skin upon my skin in the beating of our hearts

May the living let us in before the dead tear us apart

We'll let blood build a bridge over mountains draped in stars

I'll meet you on the ridge between these worlds apart

We've got this moment now to live then it's all just dust and dark

Let's let love give what it gives

Let's let love give what it gives

Bruce always tells a good story, I love this song and it does have that poetry feel to it, to me it does.

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Find The River ~ R.E.M.

Hey now, little speedyhead,

The read on the speedmeter says

You have to go to task in the city

Where people drown and people serve

Don't be shy. Your just deserve

Is only just light years to go

Me, my thoughts are flower strewn

Ocean storm, bayberry moon

I have got to leave to find my way

Watch the road and memorize

This life that pass before my eyes

Nothing is going my way

The ocean is the river's goal,

A need to leave the water knows

We're closer now than light years to go

I have got to find the river,

Bergamot and vetiver

Run through my head and fall away

Leave the road and memorize

This life that pass before my eyes

Nothing is going my way

There's no one left to take the lead,

But I tell you and you can see

We're closer now than light years to go

Pick up here and chase the ride

The river empties to the tide

Fall into the ocean

The river to the ocean goes,

A fortune for the undertow

None of this is going my way

There is nothing left to throw

Of ginger, lemon, indigo,

Coriander stem and rows of hay

Strength and courage overrides

The privileged and weary eyes

Of river poet search naivete

Pick up here and chase the ride

The river empties to the tide

All of this is coming your way...

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I interviewed Shel Silverstein's nephew who runs his estate today. While Silverstein's poems translated extraordinarily well to songs (especially The Unicorn Song), a big reason his songs were so popular is the hooks. The difference between a great poet and a great songwriter are the hooks.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Sour Times ~ Portishead (Audio)

To pretend no one can find

The fallacies of morning rose

Forbidden fruit, hidden eyes

Curtises that I despise in me

Take a ride, take a shot now

Cos nobody loves me

Its true

Not like you do

Covered by the blind belief

That fantasies of sinful screens

Bear the facts, assume the dye

End the vows no need to lie, enjoy

Take a ride, take a shot now

Cos nobody loves me

Its true

Not like you do

Who oo am I, what and why

Cos all I have left is my memories of yesterday

Ohh these sour times

Cos nobody loves me

Its true

Not like you do

After time the bitter taste

Of innocence decent or race

Scattered seeds, buried lives

Mysteries of our disguise revolve

Circumstance will decide ....

Cos nobody loves me

Its true

Not like you do

Cos nobody loves me

Its true

Not like you

Nobody loves.. me

Its true

Not, like, you.. do

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