Lyrics Then and Now (1 Viewer)

[alphamale]

Now:
In My Hood
50 cent

(Note: ***** = a vulgar reference to negroes)

*****s screw they face up at me
On some real sh_t son, they don't want beef
I **** that, aim that sh_t out the window
Spray, there ain't a shell left in my heat
Ya'll *****s better lay down, yeah I mean stay down
Get hit with a K round, ya *** ain't gon' make it
You *****s gon' get layed out in blood and ya brains out
Have you on the concrete, shiverin' and shakin'
I'm from Southside mothaf__ka, where the gats explode
If you feel like you on fire, boy drop and roll
*****s'll heat ya *** up cause they heart turns cold
Now you can be a victim or you can lock and load
The party jump, with shorty bouncin' that ***
I won't ****, gimme a second, I'ma holla, I'ma see whats up
I got my razor in my hand, got my pistol in my trunk
Carve ya *** up nice, you play me like a punk

Then:
Year of the Cat
Al Stewart

On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime

She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolour in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat

She doesn't give you time for questions
As she locks up your arm in hers
And you follow 'till your sense of which direction
Completely disappears

By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
There's a hidden door she leads you to
These days, she says, I feel my life
Just like a river running through
The year of the cat

Well, she looks at you so cooly
And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea
She comes in incense and patchouli
So you take her, to find what's waiting inside
The year of the cat

Well, morning comes and you're still with her
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you've thrown away the choice and lost your ticket
So you have to stay on

But the drum-beat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the new-born day
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
But for now you're going to stay
In the year of the cat

 

[Medussa]

Young man... I have to give it to you, you are very successful in confusing me.. This makes absolutely no sense. What year do you live in? The year of confusion?

 

[Captain America]

I think he is trying to display how song lyrics have mutated from a refined, elequent art form to vile, crotch rubbing, profane spew.

But I'm just guseeing here.

 

[Calm2Chaos]

I think its a matter of showing talent vs. ............... well nothing. Not being much of an al Stewart fan I still know it takes a certain amount of talent to write a ong that has depth, meaning and or a story. ]

On the otherhand writing a paragraph about shooting fu king and stabing with little or no vocal or real musical back up is well .... less.. shall we say

 

[Captain America]

On the otherhand writing a paragraph about shooting fu king and stabing with little or no vocal or real musical back up is well .... less.. shall we say

Yes. I think "less" will do.:roll:

 

[shuamort]

First off, "negroes" is a vulgar reference.

As for violence, look back into old folk songs and you'll see plenty. Here's one:

Little Musgrave
As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

And some came down in red velvet
And some came down in Pall
And the last to come down was the Lady Barnard
The fairest of them all

She's cast a look on the Little Musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
And then bethought this Little Musgrave
This lady's love I've won

Good day good day you handsome youth
God make you safe and free
What would you give this day Musgrave
To lie one night with me

I dare not for my lands, lady
I dare not for my life
For the ring on your white finger shows
You are Lord Barnard's wife

Lord Barnard's to the hunting gone
And I hope he'll never return
And you shall slip into his bed
And keep his lady warm

There's nothing for to fear Musgrave
You nothing have to fear
I'll set a page outside the gate
To watch til morning clear

And woe be to the little footpage
And an ill death may he die
For he's away to the green wood
As fast as he could fly

And when he came to the wide water
He fell on his belly and swam
And when he came to the other side
He took to his heels and ran

And when he came to the green wood
'Twas dark as dark can be
And he found Lord Barnard and his men
Asleep beneath the trees

Rise up Rise up Master he said
Rise up and speak to me
Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave
Rise up right speedily

If this be truth you tell to me
Then gold shall be your fee
And if it be false you tell to me
Then hanged you shall be

Go saddle me the black he said
Go saddle me the grey
And sound you not the horn said he
Lest our coming it would betray

Now there was a man in Lord Barnard's train
Who loved the Little Musgrave
And he blew his horn both loud and shrill
Away Musgrave Away

I think I hear the morning ****
I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn
Away Musgrave Away

Lie still, lie still, you little Musgrave
And keep me from the cold
It's nothing but a shepherd boy
Driving his flock to the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch
Your steed is eating hay
And you a gay lady in your arms
And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about
And he fell fast asleep
And when he woke Lord Barnard's men
Were standing at his feet

And how do you like my bed Musgrave
And how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my fair lady
That lies in your arms asleep

It's well I like your bed he said
And well I like your sheets
But better I like your fair lady
That lies in my arms asleep

Get up, get up young man he said
Get up as swift as you can
For it never will be said in my country
I slew an unarmed man

I have two swords in one scabbard
Full dear they cost my purse
And you shall have the best of them
I shall have the worst

So slowly, so slowly he rose up
And slowly he put on
And slowly down the stairs he goes
Thinking to be slain

And the first stroke Little Musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at Barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

And how do you like his cheeks, lady
And how do you like his chin
And how do you like his fair body
Now there's no life within

It's well I like his cheeks she said
And well I like his chin
And better I like his fair body
Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword
To strike a mortal blow
And through and through the Lady's heart
The cold steel it did go

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

 

[Medussa]

The differences are quite obvious, but just posting it and not give an opinion on it, makes no sense. Does he like it? Should we suggest some country to make up for it? Should we do a yodle instead??

 

[Calm2Chaos]

First off, "negroes" is a vulgar reference.

As for violence, look back into old folk songs and you'll see plenty. Here's one:

Little Musgrave
As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

And some came down in red velvet
And some came down in Pall
And the last to come down was the Lady Barnard
The fairest of them all

She's cast a look on the Little Musgrave
As bright as the summer sun
And then bethought this Little Musgrave
This lady's love I've won

Good day good day you handsome youth
God make you safe and free
What would you give this day Musgrave
To lie one night with me

I dare not for my lands, lady
I dare not for my life
For the ring on your white finger shows
You are Lord Barnard's wife

Lord Barnard's to the hunting gone
And I hope he'll never return
And you shall slip into his bed
And keep his lady warm

There's nothing for to fear Musgrave
You nothing have to fear
I'll set a page outside the gate
To watch til morning clear

And woe be to the little footpage
And an ill death may he die
For he's away to the green wood
As fast as he could fly

And when he came to the wide water
He fell on his belly and swam
And when he came to the other side
He took to his heels and ran

And when he came to the green wood
'Twas dark as dark can be
And he found Lord Barnard and his men
Asleep beneath the trees

Rise up Rise up Master he said
Rise up and speak to me
Your wife's in bed with Little Musgrave
Rise up right speedily

If this be truth you tell to me
Then gold shall be your fee
And if it be false you tell to me
Then hanged you shall be

Go saddle me the black he said
Go saddle me the grey
And sound you not the horn said he
Lest our coming it would betray

Now there was a man in Lord Barnard's train
Who loved the Little Musgrave
And he blew his horn both loud and shrill
Away Musgrave Away

I think I hear the morning ****
I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnard's horn
Away Musgrave Away

Lie still, lie still, you little Musgrave
And keep me from the cold
It's nothing but a shepherd boy
Driving his flock to the fold

Is not your hawk upon its perch
Your steed is eating hay
And you a gay lady in your arms
And yet you would away

So he's turned him right and round about
And he fell fast asleep
And when he woke Lord Barnard's men
Were standing at his feet

And how do you like my bed Musgrave
And how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my fair lady
That lies in your arms asleep

It's well I like your bed he said
And well I like your sheets
But better I like your fair lady
That lies in my arms asleep

Get up, get up young man he said
Get up as swift as you can
For it never will be said in my country
I slew an unarmed man

I have two swords in one scabbard
Full dear they cost my purse
And you shall have the best of them
I shall have the worst

So slowly, so slowly he rose up
And slowly he put on
And slowly down the stairs he goes
Thinking to be slain

And the first stroke Little Musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at Barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

And how do you like his cheeks, lady
And how do you like his chin
And how do you like his fair body
Now there's no life within

It's well I like his cheeks she said
And well I like his chin
And better I like his fair body
Than all your kith and kin

And he's taken up his long long sword
To strike a mortal blow
And through and through the Lady's heart
The cold steel it did go

As it fell out upon a day
As many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go
To see fair ladies there

And the first stroke Little Musgrave took
It was both deep and sore
And down he fell at Barnard's feet
And word he never spoke more

gimme a second, I'ma holla, I'ma see whats up
I got my razor in my hand, got my pistol in my trunk
Carve ya *** up nice, you play me like a punk


As tough as it was to actually read that folk song I can see the difference. Although if I had to listen to someone sing it i think I might want 50 to whip his razor out...lool

 

[Captain America]

First off, "negroes" is a vulgar reference.

Perhaps someone should inform these people! :shock:

http://www.uncf.org/

 

[shuamort]

Perhaps someone should inform these people! :shock:

http://www.uncf.org/

Negro:

sometimes offensive : a member of a race of humankind native to Africa and classified according to physical features (as dark skin pigmentation)
- Negro adjective, sometimes offensive- ne·groid /'nE-"groid/ adjective or noun, often capitalized, sometimes offensive
- Ne·gro·ness /-grO-n&s/ noun, sometimes offensive

Here's a fun test for ya. Go up to any person who would fit that description and ask if they mind being called a "negro". Report back with results.

 

[Calm2Chaos]

It's not that music has changed all that much as far as content, just as far as quality. There are no artists today who make tunes as well as Johnny Cash or Elvis or Creedence.

You know what I think the problem is? The rise of the singer/songwriter. In this day and age if you're making music, it's expected that you wrote it (outside of R and B). Now we have to face facts that most people who can write a great song aren't gonna be the same ones who can perform it the best way. It's relatively rare that we have such characters who not only write great songs, but also do their own songs justice (Johnny Cash, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, of that mold). Back in the day, if you wrote a good song, you'd have it performed by someone else who can do it justice (for example, I don't think Elvis wrote anything that he performed). Now a days, if you can write a good song, all of a sudden you assume that you should be a famous musician, and if you're a good musician you all of a sudden assume you can write good songs, so we end up with a lot of mediocre musicians playing good songs and good musicians playing mediocre songs, and in the end we end up with a whole bunch of musical taint sweat.

But the refrences made weren't good and can barey be called a song. Writing a few lines about shooting and killing people doesn't really make up a sond does it. Specially if its basically the same templatefor every song

 

[Thorgasm]

Music is an artform. It usually reflects the environment the author is familiar with. The question is why middle class kids identify with the urban struggle. I think that the answer lies in what girls find attractive. They love the bad boy. 50 cent certainly qualifies as a bad boy. Young boys/men will do anything, however illogical, to get a girl's attention.

The Eagles were great storytellers. We don't have great storytellers anymore in the mainstream. There are some, such as Jason Mraz. Even the rappers who were decent at telling a story have all become producers and actors.

On a side note, I believe Elvis wrote a couple of songs, one for his mother. He also said he loved it when girls screamed so loud that they couldn't hear his pathetic guitar playing. Elvis was the king of sex appeal and mediocre musicianship.

 

[alphamale]

I think he is trying to display how song lyrics have mutated from a refined, elequent art form to vile, crotch rubbing, profane spew.

But I'm just guseeing here.

Good guess!

 

[mixedmedia]

It's not that music has changed all that much as far as content, just as far as quality. There are no artists today who make tunes as well as Johnny Cash or Elvis or Creedence.

You know what I think the problem is? The rise of the singer/songwriter. In this day and age if you're making music, it's expected that you wrote it (outside of R and B). Now we have to face facts that most people who can write a great song aren't gonna be the same ones who can perform it the best way. It's relatively rare that we have such characters who not only write great songs, but also do their own songs justice (Johnny Cash, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, of that mold). Back in the day, if you wrote a good song, you'd have it performed by someone else who can do it justice (for example, I don't think Elvis wrote anything that he performed). Now a days, if you can write a good song, all of a sudden you assume that you should be a famous musician, and if you're a good musician you all of a sudden assume you can write good songs, so we end up with a lot of mediocre musicians playing good songs and good musicians playing mediocre songs, and in the end we end up with a whole bunch of musical taint sweat.

I think it is the audience that has declined not the artists. There are still many great singers and songwriters out there, but the public is not interested in that. They want hooks and skin.

 

[cnredd]

I think it is the audience that has declined not the artists. There are still many great singers and songwriters out there, but the public is not interested in that. They want hooks and skin.

Yup...

In today's music...style trumps substance...

Petty example...Name 5 women in music today that the public would consider "less than desirable"...

These people belong on calendars; not CDs...

 

[Thorgasm]

I have to disagree, I think there aren't as many good ones. I think after the 80's, kids today have been raised increasingly on shitty music, and people raised on shitty music make shitty music, and thus we have bands like Trapt.

Trapt, never heard of them, lol. All you have to do is watch American Idol to see how far the bar has been lowered. I have yet to see the best singer win yet. Clarkson was good, but the African-American girl from Chicago was the best singer, hands down. Thanks, Simon, for lowering the bar.

Another thing that gets my goat is when they call groups "boy bands". They are not bands. They don't write their own songs. They don't even play instruments (at least in their live performances).

 

[mixedmedia]

I have to disagree, I think there aren't as many good ones. I think after the 80's, kids today have been raised increasingly on shitty music, and people raised on shitty music make shitty music, and thus we have bands like Trapt.

Well, there is not shortage of music being made that I like. But most of it is not popular. There is still a lot of good music out there but you have to look for it, you're not going to hear it on the radio like you did in the 60s and 70s.

 

[cnredd]

Trapt, never heard of them, lol. All you have to do is watch American Idol to see how far the bar has been lowered. I have yet to see the best singer win yet. Clarkson was good, but the African-American girl from Chicago was the best singer, hands down. Thanks, Simon, for lowering the bar.

That's the problem you're not catching...

Music=the best singer is a fallacy...

It's what's being sung that's the problem...not who's singing it...

Have you ever heard the phrase "book-smarts versus street-smarts"?...Street-smarts blows away book-smarts anyday...getting an "A" in every subject doesn't mean you know how to apply it...

Same thing in music...

If you had one spot left open in the Curtis Institute of Music for singing, and the last two applicants are Christina Aguiliheegahaga and Tom Petty, who do they choose?...Christina; hands down...she's got the cords...Tommy boy doesn't...

But who's music would you rather listen to?...If you don't say "Tom Petty", you're criminally insane...

That's the diff...I'd rather hear a crappy voice sing good music than a good singer sing crappy music...

MTV disagrees...:roll:

 

[Thorgasm]

That's the problem you're not catching...

Music=the best singer is a fallacy...

It's what's being sung that's the problem...not who's singing it...

Have you ever heard the phrase "book-smarts versus street-smarts"?...Street-smarts blows away book-smarts anyday...getting an "A" in every subject doesn't mean you know how to apply it...

Same thing in music...

If you had one spot left open in the Curtis Institute of Music for singing, and the last two applicants are Christina Aguiliheegahaga and Tom Petty, who do they choose?...Christina; hands down...she's got the cords...Tommy boy doesn't...

But who's music would you rather listen to?...If you don't say "Tom Petty", you're criminally insane...

That's the diff...I'd rather hear a crappy voice sing good music than a good singer sing crappy music...

MTV disagrees...:roll:

Well, when it comes to American Idol, songwriting isn't the issue. Yes Tom Petty is a great storyteller. He is not a great vocalist. American Idol is about the best singer. You can't tell me that Ruben Studdard was sexy or had great stage presence. He was a good singer.

Now outside of American Idol, yes it is about what is being sung. Bob Dylan wouldn't stand a chance in today's environment in the eyes of record execs. I would put any of his songs up against anyone on the billboard charts. And yes, I would rather hear Tom Petty over any of the divas out today.

 

[cnredd]

Well, when it comes to American Idol, songwriting isn't the issue. Yes Tom Petty is a great storyteller. He is not a great vocalist. American Idol is about the best singer. You can't tell me that Ruben Studdard was sexy or had great stage presence. He was a good singer.

I think we're missing each other through the intersections...

My point is that EXACTLY that...We only have good voices today...

Nothing of substance coming out of them though...

Now outside of American Idol, yes it is about what is being sung. Bob Dylan wouldn't stand a chance in today's environment in the eyes of record execs. I would put any of his songs up against anyone on the billboard charts.

Once again, you're agreeing with me here...

And yes, I would rather hear Tom Petty over any of the divas out today.

Congrats!...According to my previous post in this thread, I'll mark you down as "not criminally insane"...:2wave:

 

[Thorgasm]

I think we're missing each other through the intersections...

My point is that EXACTLY that...We only have good voices today...

Nothing of substance coming out of them though...

Once again, you're agreeing with me here...

Congrats!...According to my previous post in this thread, I'll mark you down as "not criminally insane"...:2wave:

Yes we agree. Mark this down on the calender. It's a red letter day!

Thanks for marking me down as "not criminally insane". Does that mean I might still be insane, just not criminally?

 

[cnredd]

Yes we agree. Mark this down on the calender. It's a red letter day!

No...It's a "redd" letter day...

Thanks for marking me down as "not criminally insane". Does that mean I might still be insane, just not criminally?

Jury's still out...

 

[Captain America]

I can think of several crooners through the years that were vocally challenged that I would rather listen to than 80% of the stuff I gotta listen to on mainstream radio today. (But...I gotta pass a kudo's to the country markets, I am really liking what I am hearing from that genre. (The bar gets higher and higher on that front.)

Neil Young, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Getty Lee (I absolutely hate listening to Rush vocals:3oops: ) to name a few. I am of the opinion that magic and emotion trumps training and refinement.

Either you can move an audience or you can't.

 

[Hoot]

Gimmeabreak! You're all just getting old. LOL!

Our parents thought the same thing...Guy Lombardo, the Dorsey brothers, Fats Waller etc.....our parents thought they kicked the Beatles Asses! LOL!

Now, ahem, I believe I'm justified in saying the Beatles kick *** on pretty much any new music you'd care to mention these days.

Here's a few lyrics from one of my songs...

"I've Got Sh#@*ty Taste in Music"

Get into the groove and try to relax
Everyone needs a little mental ex-lax
Well they rant and rave and get so damn serious
If I think too much I'm gonna be delirious
Cause I don't wanna hear too many notes
If I hear something good I think I'm gonna choke
I'm mesmorized, hypnotized
Listen to the beat and listen to the jive

Cause I've got sh#@*ty taste in music
I dont like it unless it sucks
and I won't buy it unless it's junk
cause I've got sh#@*ty taste in music.

Lyrics and music on file Library of Congress
Registrar of Copyrights

 

[Gardener]

It is a rather well known fact that lyricism in modern music reached its zenith with the 1910 Fruitgum Company's release of the haunting and poignant "Yummy yummy Yummy, I've Got Love in My Tummy". With intricately rendered verse such as "The lovin that you're givin is what keeps me livin", and "love, you're such a sweet thing, good enough to eat thing", Yummy Yummy Yummy certainly set the standard by which all other rock lyrics will be forever compared.

Today's rock music cannot hold a candle to such poetic vision. The Decemberists' clumsy use of alliteration or The Shins' contrived romantic metaphors stand in stark contrast to the emotive and dare I say erudite poetry as captured so clearly by luminaries such as 1910.

May we never forget.