What song lyrics define wordless emotions?
July 17, 2008 7:35 PM Subscribe
Where the streets have no name. A horse with no name. What I really want to say, I can't define. What other songs try to evoke the wordless and undefinable?
Best answer: Something's Coming - from West Side Story
posted by Alabaster at 7:52 PM on July 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Alabaster at 7:52 PM on July 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Something in the Way She Moves" (George Harrison) and "She's Got a Way" (Billy Joel) may of fit the bill, but they may be a bit more specific than you're looking for.
posted by Alabaster at 7:55 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by Alabaster at 7:55 PM on July 17, 2008
Best answer: De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da, by The Police.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 8:01 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 8:01 PM on July 17, 2008
Best answer: This is not what you're looking for probably, but you can make of it what you want. (Oh yes, and it's completely AWESOME.)
The Thing - Phil Harris.
posted by phunniemee at 8:06 PM on July 17, 2008
The Thing - Phil Harris.
posted by phunniemee at 8:06 PM on July 17, 2008
Best answer: Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash
In the Crowd - The Jam
posted by scody at 8:10 PM on July 17, 2008
In the Crowd - The Jam
posted by scody at 8:10 PM on July 17, 2008
Best answer: Kotoba ni naranai kimochi - Utada Hikaru.
posted by birdsquared at 8:24 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by birdsquared at 8:24 PM on July 17, 2008
Many of the songs of Jim Croce, including I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:35 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 8:35 PM on July 17, 2008
Lost for Words - Pink Floyd
Meaningless - the Magnetic Fields
I must belong somewhere - Bright Eyes
Some Strange Reaction - Firewater
No words no more - Love and Rockets
From Blown Speakers - New Pornographers
Nothing - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Language - Suzanne Vega
Something in the way - Nirvana
You said something - PJ Harvey
posted by iamkimiam at 8:51 PM on July 17, 2008
Meaningless - the Magnetic Fields
I must belong somewhere - Bright Eyes
Some Strange Reaction - Firewater
No words no more - Love and Rockets
From Blown Speakers - New Pornographers
Nothing - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Language - Suzanne Vega
Something in the way - Nirvana
You said something - PJ Harvey
posted by iamkimiam at 8:51 PM on July 17, 2008
Response by poster: Hm. I seem to be marking every answer; in lieu of that, just consider the rest marked :P
posted by Tlogmer at 8:56 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by Tlogmer at 8:56 PM on July 17, 2008
"Words Cannot Describe" by Mirah, pretty much in title only.
Other songs whose titles might sort of qualify but which don't really support it in the lyrics: "Hard To Explain" by the Strokes, "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You" by the Lemonheads,
"I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do" by Clarence Frogman Henry, "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones.
"Eyes Without A Face" by Billy Idol (sorta like a horse with no name)
Songs with similies might qualify since the thing requires likening to another thing in order explain it. So like for example there's "Missing" by Everything But The Girl ("And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain").
I suppose Epic by Faith No More is trying to describe something, because it's always referred to indirectly and the song ends with the question, "WHAT... IS... IT?!"
And this one pretty much nails it!
posted by Askr at 9:26 PM on July 17, 2008
Other songs whose titles might sort of qualify but which don't really support it in the lyrics: "Hard To Explain" by the Strokes, "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You" by the Lemonheads,
"I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do" by Clarence Frogman Henry, "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones.
"Eyes Without A Face" by Billy Idol (sorta like a horse with no name)
Songs with similies might qualify since the thing requires likening to another thing in order explain it. So like for example there's "Missing" by Everything But The Girl ("And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain").
I suppose Epic by Faith No More is trying to describe something, because it's always referred to indirectly and the song ends with the question, "WHAT... IS... IT?!"
And this one pretty much nails it!
posted by Askr at 9:26 PM on July 17, 2008
Nina Nastasia This Is What It Is (this is just her and the guitar.. the album version is more complex and really great..)
Luna Double Feature (someone playing guitar.. but the real song is playing in the background, so.. check it out)
posted by citron at 11:19 PM on July 17, 2008
Luna Double Feature (someone playing guitar.. but the real song is playing in the background, so.. check it out)
posted by citron at 11:19 PM on July 17, 2008
Tribute- Tenacious D
posted by thebrokenmuse at 11:56 PM on July 17, 2008
posted by thebrokenmuse at 11:56 PM on July 17, 2008
"Communication Breakdown" by Led Zeppelin: "I don't know what it is that I like about you, but I like it a lot."
posted by kirkaracha at 6:44 AM on July 18, 2008
posted by kirkaracha at 6:44 AM on July 18, 2008
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but I think it's in the ballpark.
posted by owtytrof at 6:58 AM on July 18, 2008
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but I think it's in the ballpark.
posted by owtytrof at 6:58 AM on July 18, 2008
The 15th, by Wire, might be appropriate.
And rather than simply try to evoke the undefinable, Word Song, by Syd Barrett, seems to completely undermine even the possibility of definition.
posted by newmoistness at 7:44 AM on July 18, 2008
And rather than simply try to evoke the undefinable, Word Song, by Syd Barrett, seems to completely undermine even the possibility of definition.
posted by newmoistness at 7:44 AM on July 18, 2008
Strawberry Fields Forever -
"No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't. you know, tune in but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.
"...Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.
I think I know, I mean 'Yes,' but it's all wrong.
That is, I think I disagree."
Well put, John.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:17 AM on July 18, 2008
"No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't. you know, tune in but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.
"...Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.
I think I know, I mean 'Yes,' but it's all wrong.
That is, I think I disagree."
Well put, John.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:17 AM on July 18, 2008
Oscar Peterson Trio, with guest Clark Terry "singing:" Incoherent Blues
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:23 AM on July 18, 2008
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:23 AM on July 18, 2008
Maybe this? Laurie Anderson, Let X = X. Hey, at least it's funny.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:28 AM on July 18, 2008
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:28 AM on July 18, 2008
"Redundant" — Green Day
I cannot speak, I've lost my voice
I'm speechless and redundant 'cause
I love you's not enough
I'm lost for words.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:42 AM on July 18, 2008
I cannot speak, I've lost my voice
I'm speechless and redundant 'cause
I love you's not enough
I'm lost for words.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:42 AM on July 18, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:44 PM on July 17, 2008