Prog's Most Controversial Lyricist

A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous, got me?

Who here agrees that "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" and "Magdelena", although Comedy songs, Crossed the line?

Well, Frank Zappa wrote controversial songs like "Magdalena" and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It".

I'm with the majority; Jon Anderson & Neil Peart

M27Barney wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: AlexDOM wrote: M27Barney wrote: Four pages and not one person has Mentioned..... Neil Morse.............another example of how main-stream religion has made everybody (including all those who've contributed to this thread)....imune to to the total bullsh*t that is fed to children every-day.....(and gullible adults of course)...... When everybody laughs (until the hoots of derision can be heard in every corner of the globe!) at the pathetic thought-control books of the monotheistic religions, THAT is the day that mankind has truly arrived at the gates of true enlightenment...... ...or the Gates of Delirium There are Neal Morse lyrics that are legitimately controversial; there was a discussion about Sola Scriptura not long ago, and I heard the opinion expressed that the album was offensive because it attacked the Catholic church.  While I have nothing in particular against the album (although I don't agree with all of the theology and don't particularly like Neal's portrayal of Luther) I can see where it might offend Catholic Christians. Doesn't take a lot to offend any religious people.... but thats what happens if you base your life on the ramblings of some bronze age misogynistic old farts.....I still find society's attitude to sex and violence quite unbelievable. How can a (graphic portrayal) of a penis penetrating a vagina cause such horror when a knife being inserted into a womans throat is far more acceptible........

For me, it's simple: if I watch a graphic portrayal of sexual intercourse, I know I will be tempted to sin with impure thoughts.  If I watch a violent scene, I'm not prone to sin by having violent thoughts because of that, or to act on violent impulses.  That may be different for others; I can only witness to my own experience.  That's why I have no problem with violence in movies, whereas I shy away from watching movies with sex scenes.

There's also the point to consider that, whereas violence is an integral part of man's (and God's, from a Christian perspective) struggle against evil, and has a vital part in a story of good vs. evil, which, in a way, every good movie is.  Sex, however, was meant to be private, from a Christian point of view; whereas a war scene in a movie is a portrayal of something public, in a sense, in that it's a battle of good vs. evil which all humanity is ultimately a participant in, a sex scene makes a spectacle of the most intimate act that two human beings can participate in, meant, from a Christian perspective, for a married man and woman.

Also, you have to take into account the context and worldview of the portrayal of sex and violence; almost all movie sex scenes, from the Christian perspective, are depictions of sin (I'm under the impression that most sex scenes are between unmarried couples) but are usually not portrayed as such by the movie makers.  On the other hand, much of the violence portrayed in movies is justified (in self-defense, in a just war, in defense of others...) and unjust violence is often portrayed as evil, as it ought to be.  Obviously, this isn't always the case; in the movie Marley and Me, for example, there are scenes of intimacy and sex but they are between a married couple.  I saw that movie and had no problem with it (it was very boring though, I'd never want to watch it again).  You still have to consider, though, that to film a sex scene, you still have to foster intimacy between two people who (most likely) aren't married.

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: AlexDOM wrote: M27Barney wrote: Four pages and not one person has Mentioned..... Neil Morse.............another example of how main-stream religion has made everybody (including all those who've contributed to this thread)....imune to to the total bullsh*t that is fed to children every-day.....(and gullible adults of course)...... When everybody laughs (until the hoots of derision can be heard in every corner of the globe!) at the pathetic thought-control books of the monotheistic religions, THAT is the day that mankind has truly arrived at the gates of true enlightenment...... ...or the Gates of Delirium There are Neal Morse lyrics that are legitimately controversial; there was a discussion about Sola Scriptura not long ago, and I heard the opinion expressed that the album was offensive because it attacked the Catholic church.  While I have nothing in particular against the album (although I don't agree with all of the theology and don't particularly like Neal's portrayal of Luther) I can see where it might offend Catholic Christians.

Doesn't take a lot to offend any religious people.... but thats what happens if you base your life on the ramblings of some bronze age misogynistic old farts.....I still find society's attitude to sex and violence quite unbelievable. How can a (graphic portrayal) of a penis penetrating a vagina cause such horror when a knife being inserted into a womans throat is far more acceptible........

M27Barney wrote: Four pages and not one person has Mentioned..... Neil Morse.............another example of how main-stream religion has made everybody (including all those who've contributed to this thread)....imune to to the total bullsh*t that is fed to children every-day.....(and gullible adults of course)...... When everybody laughs (until the hoots of derision can be heard in every corner of the globe!) at the pathetic thought-control books of the monotheistic religions, THAT is the day that mankind has truly arrived at the gates of true enlightenment......

BassoonAng wrote: Just sit back and listen to Killer (especially in live versions).  Jackson is squealing out something fierce on alto when Hammill's talking about living alone and craving companionship.  It's just an unnatural choice.

Part of the charm. And Man-Erg remedies this issue perfectly.

CordofLifeA11 wrote: Peter Hammill. I understand from a philosophical perspective, that a lyricist can only write 'poetry' from his own experience, but I swear this is all that Peter does! He talks all the time, and never about in anything in particular. In this respect, I have to say he's so unrelatable in what he says, other than by intangible emotions, and such.

I was starting to wonder if I'd have to throw Hammill into the ring myself.  I entirely get what you mean and if you really pay attention, the lyrics rarely match the emotion of the music he sets.  Just sit back and listen to Killer (especially in live versions).  Jackson is squealing out something fierce on alto when Hammill's talking about living alone and craving companionship.  It's just an unnatural choice.

Anthony wrote: Textbook wrote: I thought the controversy with Waters was over him alledgedly being a dickhead, not the quality of his lyrics. And that's exactly what makes Waters' lyrics controversial. A 'dickhead' like him criticising poiticians while treating his fellow bandmembers like dirt is mere hypocrisy.

Anthony are you still in love with the gorgeous Heather? Havent been on the Dutch Prog for years and am seldom on here but good to see your'e still flaunting yourself with your picture.