Sonic Youth Lyrics
 

Well, I like them but what about you? Do you consider them literature or just part of rock n' roll? Intellectually satisfying or a bunch of word kaleidoscopes?

I like most of sonic lyrics, some of they are hit some of they are miss. but I'm loving the thurston parts, which are often just a bunch of words, but you need to imagine something or something if you know what I mean.

she likes 'em!

Literature fr sure! That is what draws me in. I'm sure some of it is just BS but for the most part not so. I hear some wonderfull line and it sticks with me cause i find meaning in it at the time. THen I have to listen over and over and i get all excited waiting for that line that i wanna hear. I like Lee and Thurston's the most.

I NEED THREE YEARS TO CLEAR THESE THOUGHTS
I'D LIKE TO SAY I KNEW ONE TRUE THING
IT FEELS LIKE YEARS AND ALL I'VE DONE IS FOUGHT
AND NOT TURNED UP ANYTHING
LET THE BLACK DAY GLOW AND ROLL OVER THE BED
I'M WAITING HERE FOR SOME REALITY CREASE
THERE'S ONE BIG DEAD END IN MY HEAD
AND NOT A MINUTE OF PEACE



HEY I KNOW IT’S KINDA HARD
AND MAYBE THIS TIME IT WILL NEVER END
HIT AND RUN LOVER BACK IN YR HEART
ANSWERED PRAYERS YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE SENT



HURRY UP THE STAGE AWAITS YOU
DON’T FORGET MEMORIZE YR LINES
MISSED YR MARK NOW WE MEDICATE YOU
OUT OF STEP JUST CANT FIND THE TIME



A DOOR SAGS OPEN AND A MAN COVERED IN HIS OWN BLOOD
DROPS THE THREE FEET OR SO THO THE PAVEMENT.
THE CAR STILL RATTLING AND SHAKING AS IF WITH A LIFE ALL ITS OWN,
UNWILLING TO DIE. THE MAN -- 40ISH, ALSO AFTER A TIME,
AN AGONIZINGLY PAINFUL UNFATHOMABLE PERIOD OF TIME,
TIME OF BEYOND TERROR TO THE DREAM OF REALITY --
IS ALSO UNWILLING TO DIE. HE REALIZES THIS AT LAST.
SUDDENLY ALL IS QUITE QUIET THERE IN THE SUNLIGHT, ON THE HIGHWAY.
BUT WHAT? WHAT CAN I DO? I CANNOT MOVE. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT BROKEN.
BLOOD EVERYWHERE MISING WITH THE OIL AND GAS (THAT OTHER BLOOD).
WHAT'S MOVING? MUST TURN MY HEAD. PAIN. UNBELIEVABLE BROKEN PAIN.
WHITE LIGHT. BLINDED. HUH SOME GUY THERE KNEELING IN THE
BLINDING MIRAGE OF WHITE LIGHT, ALL MY STRENGTH TO


AND IT'S OUT
AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT
BUT A LIFE, THAT YOU KNOW
WILL KEEP YOU BOUND IN

As a whole, no. I hate Thurston and Kim's styles. Kim especially has written way too many cringe-worthy lyrics.

Lee is neither good nor bad, he's written great lyrics and some pretty "huh" lyrics.

Thurston has written some great lyrics though too, like The Diamond Sea, Sunday, Catholic Block, etc. Mainly though, kinda eh.

Kim has had her moments but that was all early on. The last song she wrote decent lyrics for was I Love You Golden Blue I think.

~Jeremy~

wow. I agree with this entire post.

sometimes they're great, but sometimes they're dire

Nice responses. Lyrics are the music, for me. I like their earlier stuff (e.g. Bad Moon Rising, EVOL) There is a playfulness that is lacking as they mature and get too serious. Though, they are entitled to be serious wordsmiths, too. It's all in Ineffable Me. That song to me was the last great lyric. Probably a controversial favorite. Too wordy?

That song makes me want xanax

Way too many easy rhymes that they play off as being "cool" when they are actually lazy. Sometimes they do some really interesting stuff though.

I love words.

GOlden blue has beautiful lyrics.


When she says "I don't glitter like the stars above" I just don't know what to do with myself. IT's a bit corny but man is it right.

I think they write pretty decent lyrics most of the time, Lee being my favourite lyricist.

My favourite SY lyrics come from Incinerate:
"You douse my soul in gasoline, you flicked a match into my brain"

I just love that line!

my favorite lyricist gotta be lee ranaldo. but my fave lyrics are from Unmade Bed, Thurston did a great job.

I take it as Kim and Thurston doesn't take the lyrics as seriously as Lee, that they care more for how it's sounding than what they actually sing. Not that they don't have their moments, sometimes they write incredible lyrics, but it's very up and down.

Lee's the poet, I love his lyrics.