“The game of life is hard to play/I’m going to lose it anyway…” Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman – Suicide is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H) 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. Here, the lyrics hit home because they are so honest and truthful – every one who’s ever lost someone can relate. There have surely been more lyrics written about love than anything else, and the ones that stay with us are often about lost love. “There’s someone for me somewhere/And I still miss someone…”Īnother 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. 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.Īlso 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The protest song to end all protest songs, Dylan voiced the concerns of a generation when he penned this anti-war lyric. “I think you will find/When your death takes its toll/All the money you made/Will never buy back your soul…” 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 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. 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).Ĭreating image upon image, the words flowing, perfectly fitting Brian Wilson’s incredible ode to the sea. Quite simply one of the most beautiful lyrics ever written – and one of the strangest too. We’d love to hear your favourites too, and what they mean to you, and why. Here are some of the finest ever recorded, and a little explanation about each one. There are plenty more bad lyrical attempts out there than good – and that’s why we cherish those great lyrics all the more. “I don’t want to see a ghost/It’s the sight that I fear most/I’d rather have a piece of toast…” 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: 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. Below are 10 tunes by today's most popular Jamaican artists, all performing at this week's Reggae Sumfest - the annual gold standard of Jamaican music festivals, held in Montego Bay.Take our short English test to find out. Roots, or conscious, reggae is more perceptibly in line with the Bob Marley school of sound: it typically features a slower beat, live instrumentation and melodic lyrics about love, Rastafarianism and otherworldly matters.īut the line in the sand is not hard-and-fast plenty of artists navigate between the two genres, and plenty of reggae tunes employ elements of both styles. Dancehall reggae is defined by studio-produced beats (called riddims) over which artists (called toasters or DJs) chat or chant, usually in thick patois, about subjects ranging from girls and guns to politics and poverty. The music is generally divided into two genres. That's because Jamaican music is a study in contrasts: Songs veer from sacred to profane, sexy to spiritual, blisteringly aggressive to decidedly dulcet. Whatever mood you're in, contemporary reggae has a tune for you. Vybz Kartel is just one of the artists performing at Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay this week.
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