Exploring the Poetry and Lyrics of Rock

Poetry of Rocks

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Welcome to this new blog. Not quite sure how this will work out yet, but hopefully it will provide an opportunity to discuss the poetry and lyrics of rock etc. possibly from various angles - structure, content, issues, techniques, music - maybe even as a stimulus to write your own lyrics on a similar issue. I will probably include lyrics that have influenced my own writing or I think are particularly good or portray an issue but suggestions are welcome. I will probably try and cover lyrics from different decades and musical styles as it goes on. I ran a Poetry of Rock Course for Leeds University Adult Education and it was interesting to hear different perceptions or questions that came up. Sometimes this was quite different to the authors perception. We all bring our own meanings to creative work depending on our experience and personality. It's often interesting to share those perceptions. Someone might throw light on a certain line that someone else didn't understand or sometimes there are mutliple meanings to lines. I will throw in my thoughts on the lyric and any information I have and put a link to where it can be found on Amazon or a performance on You Tube. It could be argued that rock poetry (in the widest sense) is more reflective of modern culture than mainstream poetry. Obviously some of their power acruses to the music and performance but poetry started in this way as an oral tradition often linked with music. The word Lyric meant a poem accompanied by the lyre and many of the poetic forms Rondo, Ballad reflect its roots in music and dance and ritual. Students have often been amazed when they've looked at the lyric without the music - a common comment was 'I've been listening to htis track for 15 years and I didn't realise there was so much in it". Some lyrics are just fillers for a musical riff or make a simple statement - they all have their place. In the main lyrics that do a bit more than the basics will be looked at here. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts etc.

Song and Dance Man III: The Art of Bob Dylan

Michael Gray

Nightporter - Japan
Ramona - Bob Dylan
Nathan La Franeer (Joni Mitchell)
It's Alright Ma (Dylan)
Islands - (Pete Sinfield) King Crimson
Golden Brown - The Stranglers
Julia Dreams (Syd Barrett) Pink Floyd
Love Minus Zero / No Limit- Bob Dylan
London Calling (Joe Stummer) Clash
Waterloo Sunset (Ray Davies) Kinks
White Room - Creame (Pete Brown)
I Hate the White Man - Roy Harper
Heartbreak Hotel
Granchester Medows - Pink Floyd / Rupert Brooke
Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas
Dangling Conversation  -  Simon and Garfunkle
Louisiana Blues
Building Blocks and Structure of a Song + Only a Northern Song
Mr Businessman - Ray Stevens