Waiting for the Sirens' Call

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OK, so i'm beginning to recognise that there are actually are some strong songs on the new NO album. Every NO fan knows not to expect much from Fat Barney lyrically, but I think he's outdone himself this time. So to pull that thorn, to relieve the pain always involved in the anxious wait for new material from NO, I'd like to suggest that ppl nominate their worst forehead-slapping/jaw-gnashing lines.

There are so many banal little phrases, but for some reason "I feel your presence everywhere, in the corner over there" (from the otherwise great Turn) smacks me over the head at the mo.

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 10:36 (twenty years ago)

Get onboard, don't Be late
Our destination cannot wait

― wtin, Tuesday, 1 March 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

As I sort of started saying on the other thread, I don't mind/notice a lyric that looks bad on the page if it's sung well and with a good melody.

It's when Barney does his rapping thing with a bad lyric, or is in his 'sage words' mode (as on much of 'Guilt Is A Useless Emotion') that it bothers me.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 11:05 (twenty years ago)

i can eventually look through them, but i don't remember being quite so bugged by this as on Republic. Get Ready maybe

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 11:08 (twenty years ago)

The worst is: Love, it can't be bought, can't be sold / It is a color other than gold.

Which is obviously an echo of: Love, it's like honey / You can't buy it with money.

So, so, so bad.

Best lyric is the one that's like: You had such a bright future / Writing songs on your computer....

― mrjosh (mrjosh), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

Oh I dunno, Republic had it's moments. In a manger like Christ I lay/Yellow fever, yellow hay.

They've never bothered me though, they're just endearing and often downright funny, to the extent that it frequently feels like barney's doing it on purpose. I mean, could anyone have written lyrics like "Your country is a wonderful place/it pales my England into disgrace/To buy a drink there is so much more reasonable/I think I'll go there when it gets seasonable" without knowing they were hilariously awful? I'm sure he's just having a laugh.

There's nothing anywhere near as bad as these on the new one though.

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Love, it can't be bought, can't be sold / It is a color other than gold.

Haha, this is so much worse than that honey/money line! I think Barney found out how much people were mocking that one so he wrote something worse.

― mike h. (mike h.), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

The honey/money line is fine, the "other than gold" one made me "wtf."

The "yellow hay" line is off-the-rails good.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 17:56 (twenty years ago)

You know, I just listened to the newest album again, and the "gold" like is actually even more awkard than the version posted here. It's "Real love can't be sold, it's another colour than gold"

"another colour than"?? What's wrong with "a colour other than"? Same number of syllables, it scans better, AND it makes sense!

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 18:40 (twenty years ago)

Best lyric is the one that's like: You had such a bright future / Writing songs on your computer....

Yes, I agree this one is great. Maybe not by someone else's standards, but certainly by his. A little part of me cheers every time I hear it. You are SO OTM too about the "a colour other than"! I hadn't even thought of that. Surely he could have made it better just that little bit?

The only other one on the new album that seems a little awkward is the one where he mentions a "shoulder holster"...you know the one I mean?

Also about the Lowlife lyric - I always thought he was saying "I think I'll go there when it gets feasible"! I actually think seasonable would be better in this case!

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 06:24 (twenty years ago)

I'm particularly amused by I feel your presence everywhere/In the corner, over there

To me, it's all part of the charm, though.

― coco, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 07:14 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, actually I like that one.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 07:16 (twenty years ago)

in fairness, i think "krafty" could be barney's greatest lyric yet. "they've got violence, wars and killing too/all shrunk down in a two-foot tube" is a gem.

i'm particularly intrigued by the chorus ... like i said on the other thread, i'm convinced it's from the point of view of some kind of contrite deity. either way: best song on the album, and i'll fight anyone who says different ;)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

*mock frustration* Oh but fiendish, you're too much fun to fight with!

I couldn't understand the second half of that Krafty lyric until now. Maybe that is what he is saying! Thanks for pointing me to that.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Thursday, 3 March 2005 05:27 (twenty years ago)

i'm really coming round to this album. a lot. more on the other thread soon.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Thursday, 3 March 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

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Waiting for the Sirens' Call - Lyric Watch