Even without words, there's plenty of music that goes off the rails. In jazz, we have Miles Davis pushing boundaries, while in classical, composers like Stravinsky and Charles Ives have created works that defy conventional understanding. Music without words doesn’t always make sense, but perhaps that’s precisely the point.
I read that Mick Fleetwood would go into the studio and just ramble. They had a melody, but the words were whatever came out of his mouth. It made a lot of sense that other musos of the same era might do the same. Of course, it's often just the beat and the melody that makes a song popular, but I enjoy the absurdity of some lyrics. Great piece, Chris.
Thanks Ofifoto! I think I read somewhere a long time ago that Bono used to do that too, but I may be wrong. Is the Mick Fleetwood story from pre-Lindsey and Stevie days?
Apologies for my blasphemy. It was Jeff Lynne from ELO. In his own words (from the album sleeve of "The Very Best of..."): "Before each album I used to give myself a few weeks to come up with the chord sequences and melodies that would become these songs, but I never finished the words to my songs until just before I sang them, or as some critics said, 'until just after I sang them'. I especially enjoyed confounding those critics who would often spread doom and gloom over my newly finished efforts. The songs went on to sell millions, which taught me not to worry about them so much."
Haha, I had never heard Shaboozey before, but the song just played on a Spotify playlist. The lyrics may make some sense, but they're not necessarily decipherable!
Amazinggg piece. Thanks for the laughs, the memories, and realizing that this nonsensical approach to song writing never seemed so, well, nonsensical in many cases. It's also cool af ---- just think about It's The End of the World as We Know It??? Aside from the refrain, it's like, Hey, REM, what? "Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, Boom!"
Thanks, Beth! I can’t believe you said that: I originally had “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” in here too but I cut it for length. But since you mentioned it, I’ll take this opportunity to give you the joke:
Did Michael Stipe tack on “(And I Feel Fine)” to the title as a preemptive denial that he was having a psychotic break?
For me: Don McLean's, "On the Amazon." Especially if you are a doctor. "The prophylactics scrounge on the Amazon. The hypodermic sounds of the Amazon." Not to forget: "And, the menopause, with hungry jaws will snare you."
I am ON THE FLOOR laughing and choking on my morning coffee 😂😂 This caused way too many spontaneous outbursts.
You forgot one song though. Not quite as old as any of these but people have joked about its lyrics for decades: Informer by Snow. I'm sure you know it but if you don't, YouTube.
It's a particular genre of music not everyone is into (reggae). But the artist is a white Canadian dude. There's no way he should be so misunderstandable 😂
Hahahaa!!! Funny story about Snow. I met him on an airplane to Jamaica (my first trip) and he ended up on the same bus to the same hotel as us. He's a space case in real life 😁
My kids came to see what I was cackling (and maybe snort-laughing) about. Holy ¥#%! that was 1.) a trip down memory lane; and 2.) a fantastic callout on never looking up Scaramouche! (which I was belting thru the sunroof, driving home an hour ago...). Magnifico, Chris Stanton! And I second @Good Humor by CK Steefel -- genius verse.
“I’ve tried in vain to decipher this, complete with a Carrie Mathison wall full of photos, pushpins, and string” The answer is in the purple, Chris.
Also Iron Butterfly In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is worth a mention things that don’t make sense. This song is actually In The Garden of Eden… they were too strung out to enunciate.
I feel like this is too obvious to even add, but "Blinded by the Light" (Manfred Mann's Earth Band). was always the lyric that struck me as the ramblings of a mad man:
Madman, drummers, bummers
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin'
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground!
But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
I had NO idea! Fascinating. I love really getting into the stories behind songs. I've been getting sucked down a few rabbit holes while writing my "Monday Moxie" series!
It’s so easy to get sucked down rabbit holes in that area. If you’re into music, there’s a guy on YouTube you might like who breaks down the stories behind famous songs and bands. Professor of Rock: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorofRock
As someone who took the time to memorize every word of Loser as a teenager, I fully appreciate this. Though I gotta say, I’m sad to see that LFO’s “Summer Girls” did not make the list, but maybe you don’t wear Abercrombie & Fitch.
Sometimes you identify a vowel or a consonant that just fits and then you just form whatever word around that regardless of whether it makes sense or is an actual word. Like su su sudio!
I almost included Sussudio in this! You probably know this, but when Paul McCartney wrote “Yesterday,” before he landed on that word, his filler words for those notes were “scrambled eggs.”
Even without words, there's plenty of music that goes off the rails. In jazz, we have Miles Davis pushing boundaries, while in classical, composers like Stravinsky and Charles Ives have created works that defy conventional understanding. Music without words doesn’t always make sense, but perhaps that’s precisely the point.
Very true!
So true about jazz lol. I mean, it's physically impossible for jazz to be transferred to notes on a page 😂
The only thing with Jazz is………you never know when it’s going to end.🤣
Ha, true!
Can confirm: have belted out scaramouche countless times and have never once wondered about the meaning until now. 🤔
Said literally everyone 😂
I only looked it up when I was writing this. Had no idea!
I read that Mick Fleetwood would go into the studio and just ramble. They had a melody, but the words were whatever came out of his mouth. It made a lot of sense that other musos of the same era might do the same. Of course, it's often just the beat and the melody that makes a song popular, but I enjoy the absurdity of some lyrics. Great piece, Chris.
Thanks Ofifoto! I think I read somewhere a long time ago that Bono used to do that too, but I may be wrong. Is the Mick Fleetwood story from pre-Lindsey and Stevie days?
Apologies for my blasphemy. It was Jeff Lynne from ELO. In his own words (from the album sleeve of "The Very Best of..."): "Before each album I used to give myself a few weeks to come up with the chord sequences and melodies that would become these songs, but I never finished the words to my songs until just before I sang them, or as some critics said, 'until just after I sang them'. I especially enjoyed confounding those critics who would often spread doom and gloom over my newly finished efforts. The songs went on to sell millions, which taught me not to worry about them so much."
Lucky, or clever?
Hahaha, Bono!
Amazing! I love Jeff Lynne and never knew that. It really helps explain Mr. Blue Sky.
Haha, I had never heard Shaboozey before, but the song just played on a Spotify playlist. The lyrics may make some sense, but they're not necessarily decipherable!
100%!
Amazinggg piece. Thanks for the laughs, the memories, and realizing that this nonsensical approach to song writing never seemed so, well, nonsensical in many cases. It's also cool af ---- just think about It's The End of the World as We Know It??? Aside from the refrain, it's like, Hey, REM, what? "Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, Boom!"
Thanks, Beth! I can’t believe you said that: I originally had “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” in here too but I cut it for length. But since you mentioned it, I’ll take this opportunity to give you the joke:
Did Michael Stipe tack on “(And I Feel Fine)” to the title as a preemptive denial that he was having a psychotic break?
For me: Don McLean's, "On the Amazon." Especially if you are a doctor. "The prophylactics scrounge on the Amazon. The hypodermic sounds of the Amazon." Not to forget: "And, the menopause, with hungry jaws will snare you."
That sounds bonkers. I’m going to have to listen to that one.
I am ON THE FLOOR laughing and choking on my morning coffee 😂😂 This caused way too many spontaneous outbursts.
You forgot one song though. Not quite as old as any of these but people have joked about its lyrics for decades: Informer by Snow. I'm sure you know it but if you don't, YouTube.
I'm glad you liked it, Kristi! I love hearing that.
I'm not sure if I know Informer but I'm super curious. Off to YouTube!
It's a particular genre of music not everyone is into (reggae). But the artist is a white Canadian dude. There's no way he should be so misunderstandable 😂
Ha, just watched it. Holy crap!
Oh goodness. I think I had that song stuck in my head for a year
Hahahaa!!! Funny story about Snow. I met him on an airplane to Jamaica (my first trip) and he ended up on the same bus to the same hotel as us. He's a space case in real life 😁
I can’t say I’m shocked…
I think it’s stuck in my head now
My kids came to see what I was cackling (and maybe snort-laughing) about. Holy ¥#%! that was 1.) a trip down memory lane; and 2.) a fantastic callout on never looking up Scaramouche! (which I was belting thru the sunroof, driving home an hour ago...). Magnifico, Chris Stanton! And I second @Good Humor by CK Steefel -- genius verse.
Thanks so much, Unlikely! I’ll take as many cackles and snort-laughs as I can get! Seriously, I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
I love your verse. Genius.
The Beatles were definitely high when they wrote, I am the Walrus, and Sgt Pepper’s…
Check out my deciphering of Carly Simon’s Your So Vein and Alex Dobrenko’s piece about the Pina Colata song.
Thanks CK! I’m looking forward to reading your take on You’re So Vain. As soon as I get these weird clouds out of my coffee.
There was a time when the Beatles weren’t high?
Their early years.
I’ll take your word for it. But, c’mon…A Hard Days Night??? You sure?
Beck though...
Right?
“I’ve tried in vain to decipher this, complete with a Carrie Mathison wall full of photos, pushpins, and string” The answer is in the purple, Chris.
Also Iron Butterfly In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is worth a mention things that don’t make sense. This song is actually In The Garden of Eden… they were too strung out to enunciate.
The answer is always in the purple, Renee
Try deciphering Yes' "Close to the Edge"!
I forget how that one goes. I’ll have to look it up!
I feel like this is too obvious to even add, but "Blinded by the Light" (Manfred Mann's Earth Band). was always the lyric that struck me as the ramblings of a mad man:
Madman, drummers, bummers
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin'
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground!
But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
That's another great one. Like, WTF? You may be surprised to hear that we have Bruce Springsteen to thank for this poetry.
I had NO idea! Fascinating. I love really getting into the stories behind songs. I've been getting sucked down a few rabbit holes while writing my "Monday Moxie" series!
It’s so easy to get sucked down rabbit holes in that area. If you’re into music, there’s a guy on YouTube you might like who breaks down the stories behind famous songs and bands. Professor of Rock: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorofRock
Tks! Will check that out!
Great piece! I can’t believe these nonsensical selections in my own coverage. . .
https://ruleofthree.substack.com/p/one-less-egg-to-fry?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks, Bill! Your piece looks awesome. I saved it so I can read it later when I have time.
Thank you. Quite funny and satisfying to read.
Thanks for reading! I appreciate it.
As someone who took the time to memorize every word of Loser as a teenager, I fully appreciate this. Though I gotta say, I’m sad to see that LFO’s “Summer Girls” did not make the list, but maybe you don’t wear Abercrombie & Fitch.
This cracked me up. It's true that I don't wear A&F, but I'd consider wearing the great Larry Bird jersey 33.
Sometimes you identify a vowel or a consonant that just fits and then you just form whatever word around that regardless of whether it makes sense or is an actual word. Like su su sudio!
I almost included Sussudio in this! You probably know this, but when Paul McCartney wrote “Yesterday,” before he landed on that word, his filler words for those notes were “scrambled eggs.”
i had heard that but had forgotten until you just mentioned it! creativity is bizarre and beautiful!