Parzival | 05 Feb 2021 10:27 a.m. PST |
To be clear, not nonsense non-words, but actual words that are in a dictionary and have actual meanings, combined in the lyrics with more or less reasonable grammar, which wind up saying absolutely nothing at all. In other words, it seems to be saying something, maybe even something profound, but in the end you're scratching your head thinking "What the heck have I been singing along with???" Nominees: "I've Seen All Good People" by Yes "Roundabout" by Yes "A Horse With No Name" by America "Tin Man" by America "Hydra" by Toto "Africa" by Toto "Band on the Run/Uncle Albert" by Paul McCartney and Wings "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings. "MacArthur Park" by Jimmy Webb (performed separately by Richard Harris, Waylon Jennings (!!!), and Donna Summer) "Moon River" by Henry Mancini, performed by lots of artists; pick a fave. "The Weight" by The Band "Blinded By the Light" by Bruce Springsteen, performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (who outdid the Boss on his own song) "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac "Gypsy" by Fleetwood Mac "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac Please add your own— but remember, no nonsense words— only nonsensical, inexplicable meanings! |
USAFpilot | 05 Feb 2021 11:05 a.m. PST |
In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey Butane in my veins and I'm out to cut the junkie With the plastic eyeballs, spray-paint the vegetables Dog food stalls with the beefcake pantyhose Kill the headlights and put it in neutral Stock car flamin' with a loser and the cruise control Baby's in Reno with the vitamin D Got a couple of couches, sleep on the love-seat Someone came in sayin' I'm insane to complain About a shotgun wedding and a stain on my shirt Don't believe everything that you breathe You get a parking violation and a maggot on your sleeve So shave your face with some mace in the dark Savin' all your food stamps and burnin' down the trailer park Yo, cut it Soy un perdedor I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me? (Double-barrel buckshot) Soy… Beck – Loser |
DalyDR | 05 Feb 2021 11:39 a.m. PST |
Another vote for Beck's "Loser". |
mjkerner | 05 Feb 2021 11:39 a.m. PST |
Every single Rap and Hip-Hop "song" ever written, recorded, played, or even thought about! |
javelin98 | 05 Feb 2021 11:44 a.m. PST |
"Mony, Mony", by Billy Idol "American Pie", by Don McLean (sp?) Completely nonsensical. |
javelin98 | 05 Feb 2021 11:47 a.m. PST |
Wait, Waylon Jennings did a cover of "MacArthur Park"?? Why am I just now hearing about this?? |
DisasterWargamer | 05 Feb 2021 12:05 p.m. PST |
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Chimpy | 05 Feb 2021 12:26 p.m. PST |
Do oxymoron titles count? If so how about "Killed by Death" by Motorhead. Actually the lyrics are meaningless too: "If you squeeze my lizard I'll put my snake on you I'm a romantic adventure And I'm a reptile too But it don't make no difference 'Cause I ain't gonna be, easy, easy The only time I'm gonna be easy's when I'm Killed by death Killed by death Killed by death, someone I'm a lone wolf ligger But I ain't no pretty boy I'm a backbone shiver And I'm a bundle of joy But it don't make no difference 'Cause I ain't gonna be, easy, easy The only time I'm easy's when I'm Killed by death Killed by death Killed by death Someone" etc etc etc |
Parzival | 05 Feb 2021 12:53 p.m. PST |
"The Weight"??? How dare you, Sir? My friend shall call upon your friend to arrange a Meeting. Hey, I love the song. It's the lyrics that wind up going nowhere. And when I asked my wife for her suggestion, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was her first response. Weird, inexplicable song, weird, inexplicable (and kinda creepy, not-in-a-good-way) video. |
Thresher01 | 05 Feb 2021 1:11 p.m. PST |
I suspect there are many, Many of these. Don't want to subject myself to her screechings, but surely Yoko Ono has some and ranks right up there with the best, since she is such a superb singer (heavy sarcasm intended). |
javelin98 | 05 Feb 2021 1:34 p.m. PST |
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Murphy | 05 Feb 2021 3:14 p.m. PST |
"Holoscene" by Bon Iver….Everyone seems to hear something different… |
Uesugi Kenshin | 05 Feb 2021 3:19 p.m. PST |
Louie Louie, by the Kingsmen. Louie Louie, oh no Me gotta go Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said Louie Louie, oh baby Me gotta go Fine little girl waits for me Catch a ship across the sea Sail that ship about, all alone Never know if I make it home Louie Louie, oh no Me gotta go Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said Louie Louie, oh baby Me gotta go Three nights and days I sail the sea Think of girl, constantly On that ship, I dream she's there I smell the rose in her hair. Louie Louie, oh no Me gotta go Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said Louie Louie, oh baby Me gotta go Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now! See Jamaica, the moon above It won't be long, me see me love Take her in my arms again Tell her I'll never leave again Louie Louie, oh no Me gotta go Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said Louie Louie, oh baby Me gotta go Let's take it on outta here now Let's go! |
Uesugi Kenshin | 05 Feb 2021 3:22 p.m. PST |
End of the World as we know it, REM That's great, it starts with an earthquake Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes And Lenny Bruce is not afraid Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn World serves its own needs Don't mis-serve your own needs Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength The ladder starts to clatter With a fear of height, down, height Wire in a fire, represent the seven games And a government for hire and a combat site Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry With the Furies breathing down your neck Team by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped Look at that low plane, fine, then Uh oh, overflow, population, common group But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed Tell me with the Rapture and the reverent in the right, right You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light Feeling pretty psyched It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine Six o'clock, T.V. hour, don't get caught in foreign tower Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn Lock him in uniform, book burning, bloodletting Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate Light a candle, light a motive, step down, step down Watch your heel crush, crush, uh oh This means no fear, cavalier, renegade and steering clear A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline It's the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) I feel fine (I feel fine) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) The other night I drifted nice continental drift divide Mountains sit in a line, Leonard Bernstein Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs Birthday party, cheesecake, jellybean, boom You symbiotic, patriotic, slam but neck, right, right It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone) |
Uesugi Kenshin | 05 Feb 2021 3:23 p.m. PST |
Loser by Beck was also a good call. |
0ldYeller | 05 Feb 2021 3:34 p.m. PST |
I love the song – but the lyrics as a whole to Do It Again by Steely Dan do not make sense – it is like they are telling several stories in one song. |
ZULUPAUL | 05 Feb 2021 3:36 p.m. PST |
Anything by Bob Dylan for me. |
enfant perdus | 05 Feb 2021 3:49 p.m. PST |
I guess if you reject metaphor, simile, imagery, and symbolism then a lot of these don't make sense. But "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is pretty damn straightforward, and an excellent song to boot. |
KSmyth | 05 Feb 2021 4:01 p.m. PST |
My immediate response to seeing the question was "MacArthur Park." It's just weirdly strange. Not a bad song, and I had the Richard Harris album once upon a time. I with enfant perdus on "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Tyler was great and a careful listen leads you straight to Jim Steinman's production, which sounds not too different from his work on Meatloaf's records. Think "Paradise By the Dashboard Lights." |
ccmatty | 05 Feb 2021 4:14 p.m. PST |
I am so in the right spot here with all of this music. We may think the lyrics suck or are meaningless, but thankfully, we all know this music as it is OUR music from OUR generation. |
ChrisBrantley | 05 Feb 2021 4:14 p.m. PST |
Couple of short ones: "Are we humans? Or are we dancer?" The Killers "Young, black, and famous, with money hangin' out the anus" PDiddy/Puff Daddy and a long-time favorite by the Beatles I am he as you are he as you are me And we are all together See how they run like pigs from a gun See how they fly I'm crying Sitting on a corn flake Waiting for the van to come Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday Man you've been a naughty boy You let your face grow long I am the egg man They are the egg men I am the walrus Goo goo g'joob |
LaserGrenadier | 05 Feb 2021 4:18 p.m. PST |
We can't leave out Stairway to Heaven. |
von Schwartz ver 2 | 05 Feb 2021 4:35 p.m. PST |
What about Innagaddadvida? |
von Schwartz ver 2 | 05 Feb 2021 4:37 p.m. PST |
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Tacitus | 05 Feb 2021 5:53 p.m. PST |
Parzival simply isn't ingesting the correct mind-altering chemicals that ensure complete, clear understanding and conceptualization of the songs in his list. |
Bronco Betty | 05 Feb 2021 6:26 p.m. PST |
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genew492 | 05 Feb 2021 7:31 p.m. PST |
As said above Louie Louie |
Raynman | 05 Feb 2021 8:51 p.m. PST |
Have you all listened to anything by Rob Zombie! Nothing makes sense! |
KSmyth | 05 Feb 2021 8:54 p.m. PST |
Louie Louie has great lyrics. It's a song about a sailor in a bar talking about his girl. The problem with Louie Louie isn't the lyrics, it was with the way it was sung that made the lyrics seem indecipherable. The FBI began an investigation to determine if the song was obscene. I believe the file on Louie Louie which is about 100 pages long can be viewed here. link Your tax dollars at work. The song was written by Richard Berry who sang it a little differently. Berry got little money for the song which was covered by EVERYBODY in the Northwest for years. He nearly died in poverty in LA until someone learned he was alive in the late 80's. He eventually was able to get some of his back royalties and was able to by a house. Love that story. A few years ago I collected copies of Louie Louie by Berry, the Kingsmen, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Fabulous Wailers. My wife had 'em framed and it hangs in my painting room. Sorry, knew you wanted to know . . . It's good to be passionate about stuff. |
rmaker | 05 Feb 2021 9:01 p.m. PST |
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Oberlindes Sol LIC | 05 Feb 2021 9:06 p.m. PST |
Total Eclipse of the Heart is an interesting choice. The music video is interesting and somewhat disturbing: link Wikipedia indicates that the lyricist was thinking about vampires in love. It makes a lot more sense now. |
Zephyr1 | 05 Feb 2021 9:46 p.m. PST |
Some say the WKRP closing lyrics are gibberish, but you have to listen closely to catch them: Said to the bartender "Best night I ever had" Singin' to the bar Had a microphone (in)to her heart I said - Goodbye madam I'd had a bird in hand I said - I'm doing good And put love in her heart (meow) mrtim1k.blogspot.com There is also a second set of lyrics, too… |
Son of Liberty | 06 Feb 2021 1:05 a.m. PST |
How about "The Israelite" by Desmond Dekker and the Aces? Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor, poor me, Israelites, aah Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me, the Israelite My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me Darling, she said, "I was yours to be seen" Poor me, the Israelite Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone I don't want to end up like Bonnie and- Poor me, the Israelite (Bonnie and Clyde) After a storm there must be a calm They catch me in the farm You sound your alarm Poor, poor me, Israelites I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me, Israelite, aah My wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen Poor me, Israelites, aah Show them my tear up trousers are gone I don't want to end up like Bonnie and- A-poor a-poor me, Israelites (like Bonnie and Clyde) After a storm, there must be a calm They catch me in the farm You sound your alarm Poor me, Israelite Poor, poor me, Israelites Poor me, Israelite Poor me, Israelite Poor me, Israelite Poor me, Israelite Poor me, Israelite Poor me, Israelite I love the song, though. YouTube link |
Dn Jackson | 06 Feb 2021 3:04 a.m. PST |
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Major Mike | 06 Feb 2021 7:53 a.m. PST |
Revolution Number 9 by the Beatles. |
von Schwartz ver 2 | 06 Feb 2021 9:13 a.m. PST |
Mairzy Doats, anyone? Actually from an old English children's rhyme "Mares eat oats; and does eat oats; and little lambs eat ivy; kids eat ivy too, wouldn't you?" I know there is a Google entry from some group called The Merry Macs with the alternate version. |
Perris0707 | 06 Feb 2021 11:03 a.m. PST |
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KSmyth | 06 Feb 2021 11:20 a.m. PST |
The Israelites is another great song written in Jamaica, by a poor Jamaican performer about the lousy conditions in that island nation. Dekker became a huge local star, scored a number of big hits in the UK and the only Jamaican to have a big hit in the US before Bob Marley. "Israelites" is a super song and was featured in an episode of "Watchmen" on HBO. |
Ryan T | 06 Feb 2021 12:36 p.m. PST |
Laurie Anderson, "O Superman". YouTube link O judge O Mom and Dad Mom and Dad O judge O Mom and Dad Mom and Dad Hi. I'm not home right now. But if you want to leave a Message, just start talking at the sound of the tone. Hello? This is your Mother Are you there? Are you coming home? Hello? Is anybody home? Well, you don't know me, but I know you And I've got a message to give to you Here come the planes So you better get ready Ready to go You can come as you are, but pay as you go Pay as you go And I said: OK. Who is this really? And the voice said: This is the hand, the hand that takes This is the hand, the hand that takes This is the hand, the hand that takes Here come the planes. They're American planes Made in America Smoking or non-smoking? And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom Of night shall stay these couriers from the swift Completion of their appointed rounds. 'Cause when love is gone There's always justice And when justice is gone There's always force And when force is gone, There's always Mom. Hi Mom! So hold me, Mom, in your long arms So hold me, Mom, in your long arms In your automatic arms. Your electronic arms. In your arms. So hold me, Mom, in your long arms Your petrochemical arms Your military arms In your electronic arms |
Parzival | 06 Feb 2021 2:33 p.m. PST |
Bernie Taupin produced some interesting ones for Elton John. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Rocket Man Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me Border Town All seem to be saying something about something, with a story in the mix, but what they're saying isn't clear. (Border Town at least ends with a direct statement against racism, but the rest? WTH?) |
USAFpilot | 06 Feb 2021 2:39 p.m. PST |
I think there are many songs which may not make perfect logical sense but create an allusion. I've always liked the song "Africa" by Toto. Don't know what the lyrics mean, but for a kid growing up in the boring suburbs the lyrics summoned the far off exotic locales of Africa in my imagination. Songs which actually make sense and tell a story are ballads and tend to be long. Most songs are just poetry set to music. |
Parzival | 06 Feb 2021 2:41 p.m. PST |
To be fair, we shouldn't leave our ancestors out: Yankee Doodle Greensleeves Ring-a-Round-the-Rosy (yeah, I know, but even if…) And the classic: The Hokey Pokey. "I swear to you, it does not mean a THING!"— Ambassador Londo Mollari, Babylon 5 |
Dye4minis | 06 Feb 2021 5:29 p.m. PST |
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14Bore | 07 Feb 2021 4:25 a.m. PST |
Imagine And after that it's not even close |
Dn Jackson | 07 Feb 2021 2:02 p.m. PST |
'We didn't start the fire' by Billy Joel. Pseudo-intellectual drivel. Just a list of events followed by a chorus that says 'what our ancestors did was bad.' |
rmaker | 07 Feb 2021 9:46 p.m. PST |
Actually from an old English children's rhyme "Mares eat oats; and does eat oats; and little lambs eat ivy; kids eat ivy too, wouldn't you?" Which is my point – absolutely nonsensical. Even when 'degibberished". "Elmer's Tune" is another one. |
Dagwood | 08 Feb 2021 12:04 p.m. PST |
One problem with "Africa" is that Kilimanjaro isn't visible from the Serengeti ! Many of the words of these songs are perfectly understandable with a bit of thought. "Total Eclipse" is about an affair with a married man; "Imagine" a perfect world (perhaps a bit anti-war for us lot). |
javelin98 | 08 Feb 2021 1:11 p.m. PST |
Mairzy Doats, anyone? To be fair, it's actually "Mares Eat Oats": Mares eat oats And does eat oats And little lambs eat ivy, A kid'll eat ivy, too, Wouldn't you? Which… now that I put it in writing, still doesn't make much sense… |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 08 Feb 2021 3:59 p.m. PST |
Do song lyrics have to make sense? A song is not, necessarily, a story or an essay or some other narrative, that is, a communication for the transmission of verbally encoded information. Rather, a song is a musical construct for the purpose of evoking emotions. Similarly, a poem is a verbal construct for the purpose of evoking emotions, not necessarily a communication transmitting verbally encoded information. A song or poem can be, of course, a narrative, of which the ballad is one example. In olden times in Europe, before reading and writing became commonplace, stories were transmitted orally, and the structure of songs and poems helped the singers, poets, and the audience remember the words. Literacy can be seen to have freed music from the need to transmit verbal information, and allowed the rise of wordless musical forms like the symphony and the concerto. More recent music, from about the middle of the last century, has developed widely in many different directions, many of which do not try to tell stories, but rather try to put the listener into a particular mood. Visual art, especially painting, followed a similar trajectory. After the development of photography, painting was no longer required to transmit historical or allegorical information through representational images, and painters went in all directions of abstraction. |
rmaker | 08 Feb 2021 8:38 p.m. PST |
To be fair, it's actually "Mares Eat Oats": The nursery rhyme, yes. The Glenn Miller hit was "Marizy Doats". |