Amazing Lyrics?

[totheendmcr04]

I'm on my high school speech team, and i'm doing poetry as one of my events.. but I didn't want to be boring and just find poems online, i've decided to look for songs with lyrics that fit well.
unfortunately, some songs just don't sound as good when theyr spoken.. ha so i'm having some problems

SOOOO, if anyone has any suggestions of songs that they think have outstanding lyrics that don't need music to back them up, anything would be apprectiative.


ideal but not necessary measures:
--the lyrics relate somehow to potential, goals, failure, or mistakes (or if you know the song "Handlebars" by Flobots, just have it relate to that in some way, that's what I'm going for because that's my first choice)
--the presentation has to be 5-10 minutes. and i have one piece that's about 2-3 minutes.. so diffintely nothing that would take longer than 5-6 minutes to read but nothing shorter than 2 minutes.
--i'd like to find a song that's either really inspirational or has an amazing message
--parallelism (like in the song "Vices" by Dead Poetic if that helps anyone) with progression (starting a chorus the same but making changes throughout the song) seems to be effective to me.
--make mulitple suggestions!
--all genres of music are good.


or, if by chance anyone knows any phenomenal (actual) poetry, i'd appreciate that too. it can't hurt too look. preferably "slam poetry" though (not cheesy rhyme-every-other-line poetry. hah)




THANK YOU sooo much to anyone who posts suggestions & i'll post my feedback too if i get some responses.

[Kid B]

"I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me" - Lennon

I didn't read anything you said, I just like that line

[CarryOn09]

'dont say im the one you want to lose' - saosin w/anthony green
'i want to think all unthinkable things and say what i shouldnt say, i need a change' - bayside a call to arms

[Kid B]

:zoom:

[checkered.stars]

'Art is Hard' by Cursive might sound nice recited.

[Troggy]

There are times that walk from you
Like some passing afternoon
Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon
And she chose a yard to burn
But the ground remembers her
Wooden spoons, her children stir her Bougainvillea blooms

There are things that drift away
Like our endless numbered days
Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made
And she's chosen to believe
In the hymns her mother sings
Sunday pulls its children from their piles of fallen leaves

There are sailing ships that pass
All our bodies in the grass
Springtime calls her children until she lets them go at last
And she's chosen where to be
Though she's lost her wedding ring
Somewhere near her misplaced jar of Bougainvillea seeds

There are things we can't recall
Blind as night that finds us all
Winter tucks her children in, her fragile china dolls
But my hands remember hers
Rolling around the shaded ferns
Naked arms, her secrets still like songs I'd never learned

There are names across the sea
Only now I do believe
Sometimes, with the window closed, she'll sit and think of me
But she'll mend his tattered clothes
And they'll kiss as if they know
A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone

[CarryOn09]

^ i love your avatar

[Troggy]

haha thanks, I love it too :D

[Neo Cassady]

Mountain ranges
Morning red bathed ridges
Stab up at the trembling blue horizon
Grey slides lazily off rooftops
Lands on the incandescent ground and dies
A flock of little men touch down on the thin surface of porchlight
Dawn's footsoldiers return to march the twilight across our faces
Skylights ignite and explode
Scattering shards of april around the room
No one even lives here
We're too busy crashing our cars every morning in the same house
Paving the same roads
Unwilling to walk them
And even when we extend ourselves, its only to be included
In a moment that stands still
And so often we don't struggle to improve conditions
We struggle for the right to say "We improved conditions"
And so often we form communities
Only to use them as exclusionary devices
And we forget that somewhere man is beside himself with grief
And somewhere people are calling for teachers
And no one's answering
Somewhere a man stands, walks across the room, and breaks his nose against the door
And somewhere these people are keeping records
And writing a book
For now we can call it "The Book About the Basic Flaw"
Or "The Book About the Letter A"
Or "Any Title That a Book About a Man That No One Cares About Might Have"
And as we turn the pages we call out the sounds of nothing
The sounds of a vanishing alphabet
Standing here waiting

[IWasaCamera]

There are times that walk from you
Like some passing afternoon
Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon
And she chose a yard to burn
But the ground remembers her
Wooden spoons, her children stir her Bougainvillea blooms

There are things that drift away
Like our endless numbered days
Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made
And she's chosen to believe
In the hymns her mother sings
Sunday pulls its children from their piles of fallen leaves

There are sailing ships that pass
All our bodies in the grass
Springtime calls her children until she lets them go at last
And she's chosen where to be
Though she's lost her wedding ring
Somewhere near her misplaced jar of Bougainvillea seeds

There are things we can't recall
Blind as night that finds us all
Winter tucks her children in, her fragile china dolls
But my hands remember hers
Rolling around the shaded ferns
Naked arms, her secrets still like songs I'd never learned

There are names across the sea
Only now I do believe
Sometimes, with the window closed, she'll sit and think of me
But she'll mend his tattered clothes
And they'll kiss as if they know
A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone
Yes.

[kemichels]

Thursday - Steps Ascending



Steps ascend to a loaded gun.
The scent of matches hangs in the air
(A lit one flickers out in a heartbeat).
We don't want to see this:
A flash of light that's letting go
Of an empty bullet case,
By the time it hits the ground,
He's out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach.

The wolves are closing in.
There's no room left to make amends but
Do you remember when we'd fly that kite so high?

All the time we've wasted,
Spent fighting
Will burn
In the fire our regrets
All the time we've wasted,
Spent fighting,
It's blood
And it's running down the stairs.

Freeze the frame
Between the gun shot and the hole it makes.
A spinning bullet hangs in the middle.
There's no way to stop it,
It will surely hit the mark.
You can try to understand
But I'm giving up,
Giving up,
Giving up.
The synapse fires,
It's right in time.
I'm giving up, (giving up)
Giving up, (giving up)
Giving up.
This should always stay out of reach,
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go)
Out of reach, (let go, let go).

The wolves are closing in.
There's no room left to make amends but
Do you remember when we'd fly that kite so high?

All the time we've wasted,
Spent fighting
Will burn
In the fire our regrets
All the time we've wasted,
Spent fighting,
It's blood,
It's running down the stairs.

I ran down the stairs and into the garden,
Put both my hands into the soil.
In the spring, you will bloom,
Like her heart, through the blouse, in the back of the ambulance,
As it turned and turned down the streets
(One more turn, won't you come back to me?)
As it turned its red lights,
You were turning into red roses,
Red roses,
Red roses,
Red roses,
I'm not giving up.

[IWasaCamera]

Thursday - Steps Ascending



Steps ascend to a loaded gun
The scent of matches hangs in the air
A lit one flickers out in a heart beat
We don't want to see this:
A flash of light that's letting go of an empty bullet case
By the time it hits the ground he's out of reach
(Let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go, let go)
out reach
(let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go, let go)
(Out of reach)
The wolves are closing in
There's no room left to make amends
Do you remember when we'd fly that kite so high?
All the time we've wasted
(Wasted)
Spent fighting
(Fighting)
It'll burn in the fire of our regret
All the time we've wasted
(Wasted)
Spent fighting
(Fighting)
It's blood and it's running down the stairs
Freeze the frame
Between the gunshot and the hole it makes
(A spinning bullet hangs in the middle
There's no way to stop it
It will surely hit the mark)
You can try to understand but i'm giving up
Giving up
Giving up
They synapse fires, it's right on time, but i'm giving up
Giving up
(Giving up)
Giving up
Giving up
Giving up
This should always stay out of reach
(Let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go, let go)
out reach
(let go, let go)
Out reach
(Let go let go)
The wolves are closing in
There's no room left to make amends
Do you remember when we'd fly that kite so high?
All the time we've wasted
(Wasted)
Spent fighting
(Fighting)
It'll burn in the fire of our regret
All the time we've wasted
(Wasted)
Spent fighting
(Fighting)
It's blood and it's running down the stairs
I ran down the stairs and into the garden
Put both my hands into the soil
In the spring you will bloom
Like her heart through the blouse in the back of the ambulance
As it turned and turned in the streets
(Out of reach, out of reach)
Just one more turn, won't you come back to me?
(Out of reach, out of reach)
As it turned on its red lights
(Out of reach, out of reach)
You were turning into red roses
Red roses
Red roses
Red roses
But I'm not giving up
No.

[TheHitcher66]

Shaking like a god shitting razor blades~
The openning of Radio by Alkaline Trio. Legendary.

and

Stab me directly in the heart / watch me bleed / lying at your feet / I'm dying / Living for just one last breath with you / with you.
Knife vs Face Round One by Drop Dead, Gorgeous.

[fadedmemories]

'dont say im the one you want to lose' - saosin w/anthony green

:thumbup:

[totheendmcr04]

There are times that walk from you
Like some passing afternoon
Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon
And she chose a yard to burn
But the ground remembers her
Wooden spoons, her children stir her Bougainvillea blooms

There are things that drift away
Like our endless numbered days
Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made
And she's chosen to believe
In the hymns her mother sings
Sunday pulls its children from their piles of fallen leaves

There are sailing ships that pass
All our bodies in the grass
Springtime calls her children until she lets them go at last
And she's chosen where to be
Though she's lost her wedding ring
Somewhere near her misplaced jar of Bougainvillea seeds

There are things we can't recall
Blind as night that finds us all
Winter tucks her children in, her fragile china dolls
But my hands remember hers
Rolling around the shaded ferns
Naked arms, her secrets still like songs I'd never learned

There are names across the sea
Only now I do believe
Sometimes, with the window closed, she'll sit and think of me
But she'll mend his tattered clothes
And they'll kiss as if they know
A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone



is that a published poem? or original.
because i can only used published ones but i really like that a lot.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

Darkness at the break of noon
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying.

Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn
That he not busy being born
Is busy dying.

Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover
That you'd just be
One more person crying.

So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.

As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While others say don't hate nothing at all
Except hatred.

Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Made everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
That not much
Is really sacred.

While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have
To stand naked.

An' though the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I can make it.

Advertising signs that con you
Into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on
All around you.

You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.

A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit to satisfy
Insure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not fergit
That it is not he or she or them or it
That you belong to.

Although the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to.

For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.

While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And then say God bless him.

While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.

But I mean no harm nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him.

Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony.

While them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely.

My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff
At pettiness which plays so rough
Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it off
Say okay, I have had enough
What else can you show me?

And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.



might be too long, but it's one of my favorites.

[FullPower]

Shaking like a god shitting razor blades~
The openning of Radio by Alkaline Trio. Legendary.

haha, i was just listening to that song when i read that. its "Shaking like a dog shitting razor blades" by the way.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

is that a published poem? or original.
because i can only used published ones but i really like that a lot.

that's "passing afternoon," by iron & wine.

[katekate]

it's too early for me to think of specific songs but i think mewithoutyou songs would fit

[Troggy]

is that a published poem? or original.
because i can only used published ones but i really like that a lot.

that's "passing afternoon," by iron & wine.

now I can't take credit for it, deuchebag!

[totheendmcr04]

Darkness at the break of noon
Shadows even the silver spoon
The handmade blade, the child's balloon
Eclipses both the sun and moon
To understand you know too soon
There is no sense in trying.

Pointed threats, they bluff with scorn
Suicide remarks are torn
From the fool's gold mouthpiece
The hollow horn plays wasted words
Proves to warn
That he not busy being born
Is busy dying.

Temptation's page flies out the door
You follow, find yourself at war
Watch waterfalls of pity roar
You feel to moan but unlike before
You discover
That you'd just be
One more person crying.

So don't fear if you hear
A foreign sound to your ear
It's alright, Ma, I'm only sighing.

As some warn victory, some downfall
Private reasons great or small
Can be seen in the eyes of those that call
To make all that should be killed to crawl
While others say don't hate nothing at all
Except hatred.

Disillusioned words like bullets bark
As human gods aim for their mark
Made everything from toy guns that spark
To flesh-colored Christs that glow in the dark
It's easy to see without looking too far
That not much
Is really sacred.

While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have
To stand naked.

An' though the rules of the road have been lodged
It's only people's games that you got to dodge
And it's alright, Ma, I can make it.

Advertising signs that con you
Into thinking you're the one
That can do what's never been done
That can win what's never been won
Meantime life outside goes on
All around you.

You lose yourself, you reappear
You suddenly find you got nothing to fear
Alone you stand with nobody near
When a trembling distant voice, unclear
Startles your sleeping ears to hear
That somebody thinks
They really found you.

A question in your nerves is lit
Yet you know there is no answer fit to satisfy
Insure you not to quit
To keep it in your mind and not fergit
That it is not he or she or them or it
That you belong to.

Although the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to.

For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
Cultivate their flowers to be
Nothing more than something
They invest in.

While some on principles baptized
To strict party platform ties
Social clubs in drag disguise
Outsiders they can freely criticize
Tell nothing except who to idolize
And then say God bless him.

While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in.

But I mean no harm nor put fault
On anyone that lives in a vault
But it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him.

Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While money doesn't talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony.

While them that defend what they cannot see
With a killer's pride, security
It blows the minds most bitterly
For them that think death's honesty
Won't fall upon them naturally
Life sometimes
Must get lonely.

My eyes collide head-on with stuffed graveyards
False gods, I scuff
At pettiness which plays so rough
Walk upside-down inside handcuffs
Kick my legs to crash it off
Say okay, I have had enough
What else can you show me?

And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.



might be too long, but it's one of my favorites.


ha i really like thaat one too.
what is it?

[PoisonInMyVeins]

ha i really like thaat one too.
what is it?

"it's alright, ma (i'm only bleeding)" by bob dylan

[funployee]

"I like the universe, but she messes with my words, I'm not takling planets or galaxies, and the distance just makes it worse, I know what you're thinking, this probably sounds reherased".

[Jumpoff]

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I read New republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

[TheHitcher66]

haha, i was just listening to that song when i read that. its "Shaking like a dog shitting razor blades" by the way.

Yeahh I know, typing error.. Sorry. :D

[SanePsychotic]

"I like the universe, but she messes with my words, I'm not takling planets or galaxies, and the distance just makes it worse, I know what you're thinking, this probably sounds reherased".

As much as I love MCS, their lyrics aren't really anything stellar on their own.

[TheHitcher66]

haha, i was just listening to that song when i read that. its "Shaking like a dog shitting razor blades" by the way.

Oh, oops. I know it's meant to be 'dog', just made a typing mistake. xD
Thank you for pointing it out though (Y)

[LGFUAD21]

Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

he screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now I'm no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's bustin' open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks

Oh oh come take my hand
Riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
Tonight we'll be free, all the promises will be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win

[LGFUAD21]

i'd also recommend looking into tom waits, much of his stuff is just poetry performed over music. if you look at his performances