Lyric Imagery

[jimk]

On another thread we touched upon the writing of Gene Clark. And it got me to thinking of one of my favorite lines in a Clark song. This one comes from "She Don't Care About Time."

Hallways and staircases ev'ry day to climb
To go up to my white walled room out on the end of time


His room isn't merely upstairs, but out on the end of time. It's an easy rhyme, sure. But the image it creates is piece of brilliant writing. And what a provocative way to begin a song.

What are some other images that strke you in any of the Byrds' songs, or any song written by an alumnus of the Byrds?

JimK

[12_strings]

The last verse in "Eight Miles High" is a dark vision of a band or a person just passing through:

Round the squares huddled in storms
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living some standing alone

All the lyrics for that matter give the same impression. An elegant way of describing the isolation and distance between the performer and the audience. Add the thunderous sophisticated music and you have one of the classic rock songs.

[mark_telfer]

From King Apathy III:

"Freaks collecting stained glass rubies,
Diligently on a string,
Varying looks of frenzied madness,
Slowing down their B.B. King."

Line by line, we jump from one extreme to the next: freaks - diligently - madness - B.B. King.

Equally, Byrds' lyrics that also appeal to me are the less reflective ones telling the male listener that it's time to get off his backside and do something.

"Watch out what you say,
Don't get in my way."

"So you want to be a rock'n'roll star,
Then listen now to what I say."

"If you're looking to get a good thing going for yourself,
House, a pool, a new Rolls-Royce and some degree of wealth."

[admin]

Jim: She Don't Care About Time is one of my favourite Byrds' tunes. I really appreciated your comments. Thanks for jogging these memories.