Best Line or Chorus in Rock Song

[Montanalo]

I spent a couple of days winterizing our vehicles this past week... just me and my playlists for all occasions.

While I mindlessly went about my chores, I starting thing about the best line or lines in a rock song. And, then, Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything for Love".

Maybe it's a particular time or event in your life, but I swear this song has some of the best lines and lyrics of any rock song:

Some days it don't come easy
Some days it don't come hard
Some days it don't come at all
And these are the days that never end

And,

That I would do anything for love!
And I'll be there till the final act
And I would do anything for love!
And I'll take the vow and seal a pact

What are some of your favorite lines?

 

[pete026]

So many, but this was one of my favorites as music "evolved" from my younger years???

Rush - Spirit of Radio

One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah.

 

[Roadtrip635]

There's a lot of great lines throughout rock music, but Tom Waits is a master of painting a picture with lyrics.......

He bought a second-hand Nova from a Cuban Chinese
And dyed his hair in the bathroom of a Texaco
With a pawnshop radio, quarter past four
He left for Waukegan at the slamming of the door
(Gun Street Girl)

There's always free cheddar in a mousetrap, baby
It's a deal, it's a deal
(God's Away On Business)

Now the dogs are barking and the taxi cab's parking
A lot they can do for me
I begged you to stab me, you tore my shirt open
And I'm down on my knees tonight
Old Bushmill's I staggered, you buried the dagger
Your silhouette window light
(Tom Traubert's Blues)

You got it buddy
The large print giveth
And the small print taketh away
(Step Right Up)

 

[cowboyec]

Lord Almighty
I feel my temperature risnin'
Higher,higher
It's burnin' thru to my soul
Girl,girl,girl,girl
You gonna set me on fire
My brain is flamin'
I don't know which way to go

Your kisses lift me higher
Like the sweet song from a choir
You light my morning sky with
Burning Love

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

So many, but this was one of my favorites as music "evolved" from my younger years???

Rush - Spirit of Radio

One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah.

Could post a ton of Peart lyrics, this is from the Garden/Clockwork Angels.
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect; so hard to earn, so easily burned

 

[Rockport]

I really do appreciate the fact you're sittin' here
Your voice sounds so wonderful
But your face don't look too clear
So, Barmaid, bring a pitcher, another round of brew
Honey, why don't we get drunk and screw.

 

[Vtwin]

"Little old lady got mutilated late last night."

Likeable for the alliteration alone.

 

[pete026]

The Doors (Jim Morrison) - People Are Strange

People are strange when you're a stranger,
Faces look ugly when you're alone,
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted,
Streets are uneven when you're down.

 

[triplets_93]

So many, but this was one of my favorites as music "evolved" from my younger years???

Rush - Spirit of Radio

One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah.

Speaking of Rush,

I'd have to go with this line:

"You can't get something for nothing...
You can't get Freedom for Free..."

 

[pete026]

Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

I was supposed to meet a couple friends to go to 5 cent beer night at the Pumpernickle Pub back in 1979. Was running late and missed them by 5 minutes. They hit a tree on their way home and both passed away. This was one of their favorite songs. As a drummer, I love the percussion section.

Please allow me to introduce myself,
I'm a man of wealth and taste,
I've been around for a long, long year,
Stole many man's soul and faith,
I was 'round when Jesus Christ,
Had his moment of doubt and pain,
Made damn sure that Pilate,
Washed his hands and sealed his fate.

Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guess my name,
But what's puzzling you,
Is the nature of my game.

 

[pete026]

Thought about the last line frequently while raising my kids. Smother them with love???

Pink Floyd - Mother (maybe Smother be more appropriate )

Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry,
Mama's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you,
Mama won't let anyone dirty get through,
Mama's gonna wait up until you get in,
Mama will always find out where you've been,
Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean,
Ooh baby, ooh baby, ooh baby,
You'll always be baby to me.

Mother, did it need to be so high?

 

[cowboyec]

i got a wish bone in my pocket
i got a rabbit's foot 'round my wrist
you know i'd have every thing
these lucky charms could bring
if you gimmie just one sweet kiss
oh no no no no no no baby
i ain't askin' much of you
just a big a hunk a hunk a hunk a love
will do
that's right

 

[pete026]

U2 Joshua Tree - Running To Stand Still

Written about the1980s heroin epidemic in Dublin's Ballymun flats apartment complex. Love the Edge's short but emotion-filled guitar intro.

Sweet the sin, bitter the taste in my mouth,
I see seven towers, but I only see one way out,
You gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking,
Scream without raising your voice,
You know I took the poison, from the poison stream,
Then I floated out of here,
Singing
Ah la la la de day,
Ah la la la de day,
Ah la la la de day.

 

[catiii]

The skies were pure and the fields were green,
And the sun was brighter than it's ever been
When I grew up with my best friend, Kenny,
We were close as any brothers that you ever knew

It was always summer and the future called
We were ready for adventures and we wanted them all
And there was so much left to dream,
And so much time to make it real

But I can still recall the sting of all the tears when he was gone
They said he crashed and burned, I know I'll never learn
Why any boy should die so young

-- Songwriter Jim Steinman, performed by Meat Loaf, Marvin Aday, he was a Texas boy born in Dallas, graduated from Thomas Jefferson HS where he played DT. Success/popularity in the UK preceded US success.
Video directed by Michael Bay (!) - which explains the awesome cinematography. Filming took place in and around Denton, Texas - including the airport (Hartlee Field) and hangar. Several parts were shot in Slidell, Texas on a large ranch. The scene with the "beauty at the edge of town" washing her car was filmed in Valley View, Texas, near to the Oklahoma border. You'll recognise actor Robert Patrick from the TV show "The Unit." Lots of artistic brilliance from the song, performance, and the vid.

 

[pete026]

It was always summer and the future called
We were ready for adventures and we wanted them all
And there was so much left to dream,
And so much time to make it real

-- Songwriter Jim Steinman, performed by Meat Loaf

To stay with the Summer/Meatloaf theme. This is quite possibly my favorite off the Ted Nugent Free-for-All album. Ted and Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent's primary vocalist) had broken ties so Meatloaf finished the vocals on this album.
My thoughts on some of my teenage "summer relationships" at the time LOL. Can I say Ted Nugent and "Love Ballad" in the same sentence. I've heard he wasn't really big on this song but rumors as far as I know. Anyway.....

Summertime,
Summer days and different ways of loving you,
Starry skies,
Starry nights and northern nights are shinin',
The crystal ball showed me all there was to see,
Your time, and mine belong together.
Together........

Thinkin' back,
Bout the time we had along the ways,
Oh! summertime,
You've gone to cloudy skies and rainy days,
The crystal ball is on and I,
The vision seems less clear tonight,
Your time and mine belong together....

 

[dreghorn2]

Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

I was supposed to meet a couple friends to go to 5 cent beer night at the Pumpernickle Pub back in 1979. Was running late and missed them by 5 minutes. They hit a tree on their way home and both passed away. This was one of their favorite songs. As a drummer, I love the percussion section.

Please allow me to introduce myself,
I'm a man of wealth and taste,
I've been around for a long, long year,
Stole many man's soul and faith,
I was 'round when Jesus Christ,
Had his moment of doubt and pain,
Made damn sure that Pilate,
Washed his hands and sealed his fate.

Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guess my name,
But what's puzzling you,
Is the nature of my game.

Damn that's thats the first song i thought of.

I rode a tank,
held a general's rank,
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank

 

[JD_KaPow]

Best single line (okay, technically two). Uncle Tupelo -- Whisky Bottle

I can't forget the sound, cause it's here to stay/The sound of people chasing money and money getting away

Favorite full song lyrics

Dan Bern -- God Said No

I met God
On the edge of town
Where the wind meets the stillness
Where the darkness meets the light
Where the ocean meets the sky
Where the desert meets the rain
Where the earth meets the heavens
Out on the edge of town
I met God

I asked God
Do one thing for me
Send me back in time
Send me to Seattle
Let me go
Find Kurt Cobain
Take away his gun
Take away his bullets
Talk to him
Make him want to live
Tell him how we love him
Help him see his glory

God said no
If I sent you back
If you really found him
You would only ask him
If he could
Help you get a deal
If he knows a lawyer
If he can help you
God said no

I asked God
Do one thing for me
Send me back in time
Send me to Berlin
Let me find
The one they call Hitler
I will stalk him
I will bring him down
I will bring along
A powerful gun
Loaded with bullets
Obliterate his memory

God said no
If I sent you back
You would get caught up
In theory and discussion
You would let your fears
Delay and distract you
You would make friends
You would take a lover
God said no

I asked God
Do one thing for me
Send me back in time
Send me to Jerusalem
Let me go
Let me go find Jesus
Let me save his life
As they try to kill him
Let me take him down
Down from the cross
Take the iron from his body
Try to heal his wounds

God said no
If I let you go
If you really found him
Walking with the cross
You would stare
Your tongue no longer working
Eyes no longer seeing
Ears no longer hearing
God said time
Time belongs to me
Time’s my secret weapon
My final advantage
God turned away
From the edge of town
I knew I was beaten
And that Now was all I had
God said no

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

I'm gonna be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Where true love could have been a contender

Are you there? Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong only to surrender.

 

[Montanalo]

I'm gonna be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Where true love could have been a contender

Are you there? Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong only to surrender.

Good one

 

[Roadtrip635]

The story of your life
written page by page
careful what you write
you gotta read it all someday

Jon Dee Graham - Faithless