Songs you wish you wrote...

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:57 am

I have been writing songs for 22 years to varying degrees of success. I mean some have been really good and some have been REALLY bad. I make no apologies because at least I tried.

Name songs you think are so perfect you wish you had wrote them. I will start:

U2 - One

whuppinboy · Post by **whuppinboy** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:06 am

Someone Else? - Queensryche

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:10 am

I Will--The Beatles

Excellent topic. I too have been writing for donkeys years' it's such a buzz writing a new one, but i just don't get the time nowadays, apart from when i pack the wife and kids off to the mother in laws for the weekend.

There are quite a few i'd wish i'd written, "One" would be on my list too, such a simple song to play. If i had to pick a U2 song though it would be "Bad" from "Unforgettable fire".

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:43 am

Water or Gasoline - Down to the Well - Kevin Gordon

On a pencil-lead grey afternoon rain makes the stray dog shine
I got a feeling stinging like a new tattoo black across my mind
You said something while my mind was drifting a thousand miles away
And if I donâ??t hear it the first time you just turn and walk away

Oh baby I canâ??t see you through the steam
Oh baby do you bring me water or gasoline?

I could drive right down to the Church of Christ hold hands with the preacher and pray
Or hunker down with a hundred dollar whore dolled up in orange lingerie
But they donâ??t know me baby they donâ??t know what Iâ??m looking for
All my sins and my salvation lead me back to your trap door

Oh baby I canâ??t see you through the steam
Oh baby do you bring me water or gasoline?

She looks good in a cheap straw hat with her long hair hanging down
And she used to smile a lot more at me before I drug her down to this town
I ainâ??t looking for no strength
No faith-healerâ??s fainting bliss
Iâ??m just looking for a gap in the traffic baby something simple as a kiss

Oh baby I canâ??t see you through the steam
Oh baby do you bring me water or gasoline?

Dedman · Post by **Dedman** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:11 am

The National Anthem

Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Admiral Thrawn** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:41 am

Baby Got Back - I think the white people love this one even more than we do.

Bon Joni - Blaze of Glory

Any of Luther's songs.

And more importantly, I wish I owned the rights to those songs.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:29 pm

Somewhere over the rainbow
Dukes of Hazzard Theme
Gilligans Island theme

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:10 pm

Icehouse - Don't believe any more.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:30 pm

Fools Overture - Supertramp

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:17 pm

In-a-Gadda-da-Vida?

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:21 pm

Floyd's Money lead, Satriani's Extremist, Skynyrd's That Smell, or a few Boney James. (I'm not a fan of lyrics)

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:52 am

Any of the earlier Simon & Garfunkle but "Sounds of Silence" is one I enjoy more:

Hello, darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision
That was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
Beneath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed
By the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share...
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools," said I, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows."
"Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed in the wells of silence.

Beats the heck out of Rap eh?

CUDA · Post by **CUDA** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:10 am

if I could just get a dime for everytime it was sung, I wish I had written Happy Birthday

Pun · Post by **Pun** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:29 am

Elliot Smith - Needle in the Hay

Blues Traveller - Hook

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:11 am

I guess it doesn't matter either way but I didn't mean "name a song you wish you collected the royalties on". I meant songs you wish you wrote because you find them perfect.

The Rolling Stones "Gimmie Shelter"

Herculosis · Post by **Herculosis** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:49 am

CDN_Merlin wrote:Fools Overture - Supertramp

X2

Hostile · Post by **Hostile** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:50 am

Shedding Skin - Pantera

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:07 am

Barclay James Harvest-Hymn
Tab Amazing build up to the climax of this song, great one for novice guitarists. Just goes to show what you can do when you keep it simple.

David Bowie-Quicksand
Tab Bowie---My Hero. Early stuff from the thin white duke. A very beutiful song.

Sarah McLachlan-Angel
TabI challange anyone to not be moved by this one. I'd love to sing this live.

Buef · Post by **Buef** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:59 am

To me there is no better lyric writer than The Vandals. Thier list of awesome lyrics are plentiful. The use of humor and play on words is nothing less than devine. Here are some greats:
Urban Struggle
Shi'ite Punk
Gator Hide
Long Hair Queer

But the BEST is definately Susanville. To fully appreciate the lyrics it helps if you know the Northen California geography. Best 'trucker' song of all time.

With 800 pounds on 18 wheels
After 800 miles you know how it feels
To have your rear so numb you gotta poke it
To see if it's still there
Well it's one more load to one more town
Only problem is they're all starting to sound a bit similar
Lord knows they all look the same
So I got some hot coffee in Furnace Creek
Abut the trouble is I was never neat and I spilled it
And my map and phonebook were a blur
But I had a girl and a job to do
Or was that job and a girl to do?
I don't know - I had to go and my velvet interior was a soggy mess
I think I got a girl named Mary down in Susanville
Waitin' for me to come home and make her my wife
I know I got a load of somethin' goin' to somewhereville
But I can't remember which to save to save my life
With a load to Mr. Johnson in Watsoville
Or is that a load to Mr. Watson in Johnsonville?
Well, anyway, after several days I don't know what or if it mattered
Just a load of placer to Cedarville, or a load of cedar to Placerville
Or a container full of things up to Diamond Springs for an indoor swapmeet
Is that a cargo of hay south to Northfork, Some plastic forks north to Hayfork,
Or a bunch of men's nugget watches straight through to Pixley,
Or Apple Jacks down to Fall River Mills or honor snacks up to Downieville?
Well, the white girls are cute that I've met in Blackbute,
But I'll stick to the road and finish my beer and coffee
Now I am marrying Jan from Susanville
Or am I suing Jane from Mary'sville?
Cause if I am I better call Ernie my attorney from Burney Falls
Well, all I know is if I recall-
She had the longest legs and she was kinda tall
And prettier than a catfish
With its nose up against the dam
Without a girl and some time to kill I ran some baby food to Gerberville
And took some airplane parts to Wilbur in Oreville
Now that can't be Wright
Well it's one more load one more town
Only problem is they're all startin' to sound a bit similar
Lord knows they all look the same

SilverFJ · Post by **SilverFJ** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:02 am

[drool]maynard[/drool]

roid · Post by **roid** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:50 pm

TheCope wrote:I have been writing songs for 22 years to varying degrees of success. I mean some have been really good and some have been REALLY bad. I make no apologies because at least I tried.

Name songs you think are so perfect you wish you had wrote them. I will start:

U2 - One

The Cope wrote:I guess it doesn't matter either way but I didn't mean "name a song you wish you collected the royalties on". I meant songs you wish you wrote because you find them perfect.

The Rolling Stones "Gimmie Shelter"

we have different ideas on music. i don't think i've ever heard a perfect song. but i hear songs all the time that sound great, and songs all the time that don't sound great. whereas other times those songs that didn't sound great now DO sound great - it all gets switched around depending on where you are.

every song has it's element. if you are in that element then that song is playing to you, and it's perfect.

i know of so many songs that have that quality i couldn't begin. i don't wish i wrote those particular songs, just as i don't wish i was someone else. someone else's song is someone else speaking, in their very nature they are different to me - and that difference is precious to me.

it's like if you wrote all the good books in the world. sure it'd be great for your ego coz ppl will love your books, and it'd be nice to be the cause of making ppl happy. but you wouldn't be able to enjoy them, coz you wrote them. you could learn nothing from them and they can't surprise you.

i'm happy that other people wrote great songs. maybe i can repay the favour by writing other great songs (that THEY can enjoy). is that what you are talking about?

-roid (questioning your motive)

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:31 pm

roid wrote:-roid (questioning your motive)

I think I understand why you are reading into this. But you are way over-reading into it. I am very judgmental when it comes to music, but that doesn't mean Iâ??m close minded.

I was asking people what they consider 'perfect' for whatever reason they can come up with. Specifically, the writing, (and that is not limited to lyrics). I meant the piece.

Obviously, the Rolling Stones technical performance isnâ??t high on anyone's list. But it doesn't make me think less of the tune. ;-0

My motives are not sinister. It was a simple question. Now name a song you think is perfect, roid, or shadup.

Typing [drool] insert-a-many[/drool] is useless, every writer has ★■◆● tunes.

roid · Post by **roid** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:18 pm

damn, coz the simplest writing often makes great tunes.

*rummages through mp3s*

ok here's one:
Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa. that's a fine riff, beat, voice & texture. i wish i had a better grasp of texture.

edit: lol, i just realised that the lyrics to this song kindof align with what i was saying in my last post.

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:18 am

Not to be contrary but i don't think the simplest writing always makes the best songs. I'm talking about many of the Tin Pan Alley tunesmiths that penned incredibly complicated melodies and lyrics. I'm thinking of Hoagy Carmichael, Gershwin, Berlin, Cole Porter and the like. Though upon first listening they sound simple, they're really not at all.

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:21 am

"When I turn off the living room lights" - The Kinks

roid · Post by **roid** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:04 am

i'm not too sure howto catagorise "complicated" music.
doesn't the brain generally get a kick outof music by simply subconsciously recognising the patterns within? i mean, it's all patterns.
trying to make a point that with complex music our brain simply reduces it to patterns of patterns of patterns, until it's simple.
complex is simple, simple is complex. hehe, ok i guess the point is too confusing to bother with at midnight. (zzzz)

Pun · Post by **Pun** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:14 am

For those of you who dont know Elliot Smith, I'd like to introduce him to you. He was an amazing singer songwriter. Some of you may remember his song Miss Misery that won an Academy Award nomination for the movie Good Will Hunting. A few of his songs are also featured in the soundtrack for the movie The Royal Tenenbaums (one of my all time favorites). There's a scene in the movie where Richie Tenenbaum attempts suicide. The backdrop is Elliot singing Needle in the Hay. I dont ever remember a song setting the mood for a scene better than that one. If you've never watched The Royal Tenenbaums, I suggest you do. If you've never listened to any Elliot Smith, I suggest you do.

Unfortunately, there wont be any new Elliot Smith songs. He died in 2003 at the age of 34 of a self inflicted stab wound to the chest.

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:25 am

"Desolation Row" - Bob Dylan

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:43 am

The Crystal Ship-----The Doors

Tricord · Post by **Tricord** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:48 am

Somehow I prefer instrumental music over music with lyrics.. I'll admit I'm into a very narrow genre, but it's still broad enough to discover new stuff every day. I'm the kind of person that can listen to the same song over and over again for a whole afternoon, each time taking in some more of it until I finally understand everything about it.. Then I move on to another song that has a seductive vibe to it.

Testiculese · Post by **Testiculese** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:36 pm

You just described me! But we're musicians, we're geared that way already.

Zuruck · Post by **Zuruck** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:20 pm

Any song that Pink Floyd wrote...specifically Comfortably Numb.

TigerRaptor · Post by **TigerRaptor** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:22 pm

Paradise City - Guns N Roses

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:00 am

"Redemption Song" - Bob Marley

Enjoy my 1 mic 1 take 7:34am coffee and cigarette shaky voice version of a cute Kinks tune.
;-0

www.8team.org/LivingRoomLights.mp3 <--- thanx vince. love, from the only member of the clique that will be beat to death because of the ascii text he types on the internet.

When I turn off the living room light

Who cares if you're Jewish,
And your breath smells of garlic,
And your nose is a shiny red light.
To me you are gorgeous,
And everything's right,
When I turn off the living room light.

Your clothes are old-fashioned,
Your knuckles are bony,
Your hair looks a terrible sight.
But I don't have to see you,
The way that you are,
When I turn off the living room light.
When I turn off the living room light.
I don't have to see you,
The way that you are,
When I turn off the living room light.

Well it's not that you are ugly,
And I'm not being cruel,
It helps me to relax, dear,
It helps to keep me cool.
Now I am not intending,
To make you feel ashamed,
What's wrong in me pretending?
'Cause you can't help being plain.

Your nose may be bulbous,
Your face may be spotty,
Your skin may be wrinkled and tight.
But I don't want to see you,
The way that you are,
So I turn off the living room light.

We don't feel so ugly,
We don't feel so draggy,
We don't feel so twisted up tight.
And we don't feel as ugly as we really are,
When we turn off the living room light.
When we turn off the living room light.
We don't feel as ugly as we really are,
When we turn off the living room light.

Written by: R. D. Davies

Flabby Chick · Post by **Flabby Chick** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:56 am

Oh i forgot one.

Alison-Elvis Costello

Sang by yours truly with a texan girl outside the Blue Mosque in Instanbul to a crowd of drunken backpackers. I'd loved to have written that one, but it's sort of begging the question "how do i top that?"

SilverFJ · Post by **SilverFJ** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:58 pm

say hello to the rug's topography it holds quite a lot of interest with your face down on it

say hello to the shrinking in your head you can't see it but you know it's there so don't neglect it

i'm taking her home with me all dressed in white she acts just like a nurse for all the other guys

TheCope · Post by **TheCope** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:28 pm

"Love's in Need of Love Today" - Stevie Wonder

Muffalicious · Post by **Muffalicious** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:37 pm

One of my favorites is
Meissa Etheridge- Come to My Window
I love singing that song

Sara Mclachlan- Possession
One of her best songs that I really wish I wrote.
So much emotion I have felt.

And also The Monkeys Theme song
That was a great show, and I had that album.

Beowulf · Post by **Beowulf** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:07 am

Basically any Prince song,
The Beatles - Happiness is a Warm Gun
Bob Dylan - Hurricane
Grateful Dead - Althea
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head, Speed of Sound, Yellow
Nine Inch Nails - Closer, The Only Time
Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna' Leave You
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:43 pm

Nirvana: Smells like teen spirit
Green Day: Basket Case, Geek Stink Breath, Jaded, Brain Stew, Desensitized............

Offspring: Original Prankster, Hit That, (Cant get my head) around you, The Kids arent alright.........

Butthole Surfers: Pepper

man i could make a 2 page long list of the things i wish were mine

Songs you wish you wrote...

Songs you wish you wrote...

Re: Songs you wish you wrote...

Re: Songs you wish you wrote...