Difficult to understand, as all of his were, but our own Nobel Prize winner's lyrics still strike me:

Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God said, "No" Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
 

I do like this one a lot.

The Trees
Rush
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas
The trouble with the maples
And they're quite convinced they're right
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade?
There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'oppression!'
And the oaks, just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Axe,
And saw

Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd
But you can be happy if you've a mind to


Ya can't take a shower in a parakeet cage
But you can be happy if you've a mind to

All ya gotta do is put your mind to it
Knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it

My cut

Lord have mercy on me for all the things I've done
I've lost my mind, my eyes were blinded by the sun
Don't forsake me Lord I'm not the only one
I've lost my mind, my eyes were blinded by the sun

"Saying someday, you'll understand.

Well I'm here to tell you now,
each and every mother's son,
you better learn it fast,
you better learn it young,
that someday, never comes".

From Robert Earl Keen

I've read a thousand books, I've been behind the wheel,
I've known you all my life but still I can't feel how you feel.
It's only you for me, just like that whooping crane,
who has one wife for all his life and if she dies, he'll do the same.

Promises - Lyle Lovett:

Promises given
And promises broken
Words stain my lips
Just like blood on my hands

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

I offer no reason
I ask for no pity
I make no excuse
For the way that I am

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

I God is my witness
Then God is my savior
But if you are my judge
Then I'm already damned

And words are like poison
That sinks down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

And would if my fingers
To cut off and give you
Could gain my redemption
I'd cut off my hands

But words are like poison
That bends you and blinds you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

So this is my story
And I hope that it finds you
For your sweet attention
I cannot demand

And words are like poison
That lives down inside you
And some things you do
You just don't understand

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" Bob Dylan

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

With the utmost respect and acknowledgment to Mr. Simon and Mr. Garfunkel for the lyrics that no one else in world could have written. True wordsmiths to be certain.

Lots of great stuff here in this thread Every year on the day my Dad died I manage to play Living Years. When it happened my siblings and I were in my Dads house when it came on the radio. Only me and one of my brothers picked up on it. I could see the look on his face. Ten days later my brother died as well.

On another note. Being a former downriver guy Like a Rock by Bob Seager always makes me think as well(getting old)

Jim

Another Dylan tune so true

I once held her in my arms
She said she would always stay
But I was cruel
I treated her like a fool
I threw it all away

Once I had mountains in the palm of my hand
And rivers that ran through every day
I must have been mad
I never knew what I had
Until I threw it all away

Love is all there is, it makes the world go 'round
Love and only love, it can't be denied
No matter what you think about it
You just won't be able to do without it
Take a tip from one who's tried

So if you find someone that gives you all of her love
Take it to your heart, don't let it stray
For one thing that's certain
You will surely be a-hurtin'
If you throw it all away
If you throw it all away

Songwriters: Bob Dylan / Dylan Bob

I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.

A good month of Sundays and guitar ago
I had long drink of yesterdays wine
Left a long string of friends some sheets
in the wind and some satisfied women behind

Billy Joe Shaver

Sunrise, sunset
Since the beginning, it hasn't changed yet
People fly high, begin to loose sight
But you can't see very clearly, when you're in flight

Well it's high time (backing vocals)
That you find
The same people that you must use on your way up
You might meet up (pause) on your way down

Vintage wines from the year sixty two
Is your thing, is your thing
(Backing vocals) is your thing, is your thing
What pleases you
Not to be found for you cross town
The thing is for other girls just to have you around

Well it's high time
That you find
The same dudes that you must use on your way up
You might meet up (pause) on your way down

(Yeah) You feel the sunrise, set for you
But the same sunrise is step and shine, for the old folks due
I don't mind, your turn around
I myself would even like for a little higher ground

It's high time (backing vocals)
That you find Mr G
The same people you work hard on your way up
You might meet up (pause) on your way down

Little Feat

quote:

Originally posted by heathtx:
An excerpt from Knopfler's Romeo and Juliet

I can't do the talk like they talk on TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in love with you

And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat and bad company
All I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Julie I'd do the stars with you any time

More powerful lyrics are rare........

I think lots of folks agree; I certainly do.

I've seen Dire Straits once, and Knopfler twice. He played Romeo and Juliet each time.

Lots of good stuff here. Let me add John Hiatt, who, in my opinion, has written some great songs with classic lyrics.

Icy Blue Heart
She came onto him like a slow movin' cold front
His beer was warmer than the look in her eyes
She sat on a stool, he said, "What do you want?"
She said, "Give me a love that don't freeze up inside."

Feels Like Rain
So batten down the hatches, baby
Leave your heart out on your sleeve
It looks like were in for stormy weather
That ain't no cause for us to leave
Just lie here in my arms
And let it wash away the pain

Feels like rain
And it feels like rain

Buffalo River Home
I've been circling the wagons
Down at Times Square
Trying to fill up this hole in my soul
But nothing fits there

Just when you think you can let it rip
You're pounding the pavement in your daddy's wingtips
As if you had some place else to go or a better way to get there

Slow Turning
When I was a boy
I thought it just came to you
But I never could tell what's mine
So it didn't matter anyway

My only pride and joy
Was this racket down here
Bangin' on an old guitar
Singin' what I had to say

I always thought our house was haunted
'Cuz nobody said boo to me
I never did get what I wanted
But now I get what I need

A sad one,

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Huffman:
The opening lines of I'll Be Here In The Morning - Townes Van Zant

There's no stronger wind than the one that blows
Down a lonesome railroad line
No prettier sight than looking back
On a town you left behind

Just heard this. Don't know how to embed but damn, it's hauntingly beautiful

Baby, when I think about you
I think about love
Darlin', don't live without you
And your love
If I had those golden dreams
Of my yesterday (yesterday)
I would wrap you in the heaven
'Til I'm dyin' (dyin', dyin')
On the way
Feel like makin'
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you
Baby, if I think about you
I think about love
Darlin', if I live without you
I live without love
And if I had the sun and moon
And they were shinin' (shinin')
I would give you both night and day
Love satisfyin'
Feel like makin'
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you
If I had those golden dreams
Of my yesterday (yesterday)
I would wrap you in the heaven
'Til I'm dyin' (dyin', dyin')
On the way
Feel like makin'
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you
Well, I feel like makin' love
Well, I feel like makin' love
Well, I feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you
Well, I feel like makin' love (yeah)
Well, I feel like makin' love
Well, I feel like makin' love
Feel like makin' love to you
Well, I feel like makin' love (whoo)
Well, I feel like makin' love (yeah)
Well, I feel like makin' love (yeah)
Feel like makin' love to you

And yesterday I saw you standing by the river
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying
Had they got you hypnotized?
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters
And all you do is stand and cry