Good Songs Spoiled By Just One Line

Litterick

Far away across the field, 
The tolling of the iron bell, 
Calls the faithful to their knees,
To hear the softly spoken magic spells. 

English church bells are made of bell metal, an alloy of bronze. Yes, I know it doesn't scan.

Philly_Q

Litterick said:

Far away across the field, 
The tolling of the iron bell, 
Calls the faithful to their knees,
To hear the softly spoken magic spells. 

English church bells are made of bell metal, an alloy of bronze. Yes, I know it doesn't scan.

Any harm done by that line is more than made up for by the brilliance of "To hear the softly spoken magic spells"!

thecolourbox

Litterick said:

Far away across the field, 
The tolling of the iron bell, 
Calls the faithful to their knees,
To hear the softly spoken magic spells. 

English church bells are made of bell metal, an alloy of bronze. Yes, I know it doesn't scan.

So in a lyric that talks about magic spells, it's the realism of the material used for bells that jumps out at you?

prowla

"Take me down to the paradise city"

It was all going good until the singer started.

JAYJO

That i've just stood in shit Noise before the Lead Break on Easy.

axisus

You lot are easily bothered! I can't particularly think of any but then I'm not big on lyrics

Cols

prowla said:

"Take me down to the paradise city"

It was all going good until the singer started.

Ah, Axl Rose.  Reminiscent of a cat being strangled while dragging its claws down a blackboard.

bertie

BillDL said:

Does anybody else have any particular songs that you really like, but one line in the lyric, the bridge section, or a vocal "motif" or similar, spoils the enjoyment?

I quite like Africa by Toto, but my hackles go up when it gets to the line:

"As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti".

this -

Litterick

thecolourbox said:

Litterick said:

Far away across the field, 
The tolling of the iron bell, 
Calls the faithful to their knees,
To hear the softly spoken magic spells. 

English church bells are made of bell metal, an alloy of bronze. Yes, I know it doesn't scan.

So in a lyric that talks about magic spells, it's the realism of the material used for bells that jumps out at you?

'Magic spells' is just a reference to the church service, not to be taken literally. But the bell is, as you say, material. This troubled my fourteen-year-old mind, back when DSOTM was still in the charts. I am over it now, almost.

thecolourbox

How do you know the "iron bell" is not a metaphor as well?

Litterick

I don't. I could be wrong.

gatheredinsong

Grumpyrocker said:

darius said:

I think the real point of this thread is to answer that universal question from throughout the eons of time:

Are we human? Or are we dancer?

Or whether we've got a soul not but are not a soldier. 

I used to DJ indie clubnights and I never understood how The Killers were so massive pumping out utter tripe like this  

boogieman

JAYJO said:

That i've just stood in shit Noise before the Lead Break on Easy.

The Faith No More version is even worse for that. “Eeeewwww!” I hate it every time I hear it. 

Not specifically one line, but I also hate the way Iggy sings “oooh baby I’m a wild one” He sounds so bloody camp when he sings it.

ICBM

Being played a lot around this time of year...

John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - "for the yellow and red ones"

The intention was not racist, but it's a bit uncomfortable to hear now, and it's a shit line anyway.

Still, probably better that it's been left in rather than digitally altered, like the horrible 'radio' version of Fairytale Of New York has been to remove certain controversial words.

viz

rlw said:

And in this ever changing world in which we're living

Too many ins.........

Change it to “And in this ever changing world in which we live in”, then change it back again. Should help. 

breakstuff

The Meteors Wreckin Crew.

Why don't you come and join us
If you think you've got the guts
We'll all go out and have a real good time

When all the shops are shut

We're gonna do just what we want to do
Get outta the way, we're the Wrecking Crew

The highlighted line always makes me cringe a little. 

EricTheWeary

Not really ruined by but there’s a line in Sharpshooter by Motörhead that always sticks out like a sore thumb. 

Like a sniper, I've got my sights on you
Windscreen wiper, there ain't no spoiling my view
Silver bandolier, my profession's clear
Sharpshooter, sharpshooter, sharpshooter, hey

In a song about a western killer for hire there’s a line about windscreen wipers. It’s a song on one of the first albums I ever bought and forty years later it’s still a bit odd. 

Jfingers

Space, who I rather liked with Female of the species.

'The Female of the species is more deadlier than the male'

That can get in the sea.

Have we had 'These boots are made for wanking' yet?

CoolCat

I have a topic going titled; Songs Which You Hate

This is the song lyric (Ring My Bell) - talk about repetition! - I will leave it at that.


[Verse 1]
I'm glad you're home
Now did you really miss me
I guess you did by the look in your eyes
(look in your eyes, look in your eyes)
Well lay back and relax while I put away the dishes
(put away the dishes)
Then you and me can rock-a-bye

[Hook]
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell

[Verse 2]
The night is young, and full of possibilities
Well come on, and let yourself be free
My love for you, so long I've been saving
Tonight was made for me and you

[Hook]
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell

[Bridge]
You can ring my bell, you can ring my bell
Ding dong, ding dong, ring it
You can ring my bell, anytime, anyway
Ring it, ring it ring it, owww
You can ring my bell, you can ring my bell
Ding dong, ding dong, ring it
You can ring my bell, anytime, anyway
Ring it, ring it ring it, owww

[Hook]
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell

Funkfingers

Department S - Is Vic There?