Top 10 Lyrics List

I had to take a Romantic literature class this semester, and I walked away feeling like I hate poetry. However, I remembered the beautiful song lyrics I've grown to love over the years and decided I like poetry... just not poetry from the Romantic Era. So here is my top 10 favorite lyrics list. I have a list of about 20, but I figured 10 is enough for readers.


1. The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1" by Neutral Milk Hotel:

And your mom would stick a fork right into daddy's shoulder

And dad would throw the garbage all across the floor

As we would lay and learn what each other's bodies were for.

2. "Murder in the City" by The Avett Brothers:

I wonder which brother is better

Which one our parents loved the most

I sure did get in lots of trouble

They seemed to let the other go

A tear fell from my father's eye

I wondered what my dad would say

He said, "I love you and I'm proud of you both,

In so many different ways"

3. "On the Radio" by Regina Spektor:

This is how it works

You're young until you're not

You love until you don't

You try until you can't

You laugh until you cry

You cry until you laugh

And everyone must breathe

Until their dying breath

4. "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar:

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod

If you were a seed, well I'd be a pod.

If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug

And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug 

...

If you were the wood, I'd be the fire.

If you were the love, I'd be the desire.

If you were a castle, I'd be your moat,

And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float. 

5. "Kick Drum Heart" by The Avett Brothers

I won't look back anymore

I left the people that do

Its not the chase that I love

Its me following you.

6. "40 Day Dream" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros:

She got jumper cable lips

She got sunset on her breath now

I inhaled just a little bit

Now I got no fear of death now

7. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" by Richard Thompson (but I prefer The Mammals cover):

He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys

He said I've got no further use for these

I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome

Swooping down from heaven to carry me home 

And he gave her one last kiss and died 

And he gave her his Vincent to ride 

(Listen to my favorite cover here)

8. "Quiet" from Matilda:

And suddenly everything, everything is...

Quiet

Like silence, but not really silent.

Just that still sort of quiet.

Like the sound of a page being turned in a book. 

Or a pause in a walk in the woods. 

9. "Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes:

I was raised up believing I was somehow unique

Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see

And now after some thinking, I'd say I'd rather be

A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me

But I don't, I don't know what that will be

I'll get back to you someday soon you will see

10. "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens:

And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,

Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if... I won't have to talk...