Ed_The_Dead wrote: Well, I've just heard SoaD's "Cigarro" and this topic came into my mind... Can You give examples of Strange and wacky lyrics (could be also songs - but what song isn't strange in prog)...

The Lyrics of "C.I.D. in Uruk" by Amon Düül 2 from their album "Carnival in Babylon." I'll first give the German ones and then will try a translation.

"Der Wurstplanet vertieft im Gebet mit Jesus
wirkt sehr verstört ohne TV.
Er glaubt, die Blindheit gibt es erst seit Krösus,
Und funkt gedankenlos sein Alibi.

Ede möchte gerne frisches Riechsalz vermessen
Und sein Werkzeug bleibt sein letztes Argument.
Leider hat er seine Ganglien in Uruk vergessen
Und er bemerkt, er trägt sein allerletztes Hemd.

Ein Senfgewehr zielt bedrohlich auf die Priesterreihe,
Maschinen im Labor bereiten ihre Priesterweihe.
Und Nachbarsekten essen
Thunfischflossen roh im Klo.

Bärtige Weise schweben im All,
Sie singen und tanzen,
Und gestern und morgen, vernebelt im Kral,
gehört nun den Wanzen.

Ohne Grund jubelnd geh'n sie nach oben
Auf dem Weg ohne Boden.
Weder Traum noch Idee beherrscht die Gedanken,
Und plötzlich sie schwanken."

Ok, and now for the translation:

"The sausage planet, deeply in prayer with Jesus,
seems very disturbed without tv.
It believes blindness exists since Croesus only
And thoughtlessly broadcasts its alibi.

Ede* would like to measure fresh smelling salts (*Ede is a common name for petty criminals)
And his tools remain his last argument*. (*argument" here means "proof")
Unfortunately he forgot his ganglions in Uruk* (Uruk - mythical city in the Gilgamesh epos)
And he realizes he is wearing his very last shirt ("wearing one's last shirt" is a German expression for "being bankrupt")

A mustard gun threatingly points at the row of priests,
Machines in the laboratory prepare their ordination to priesthood.
And neighbouring sects
Eat raw tuna fins in the loo.

Bearded sages hover in space,
They sing and dance,
And yesterday and tomorrow, obscured in the kraal,
Now belong to the bedbugs.

Jubilating without reason they walk upwards
On the path without ground.
Neither dream nor idea rule the thoughts,
And suddenly they waver."

Ok, now tell me what the f***ing hell this means????

And that's just one example of the very weird lyrics of the early Amon Düül 2.

Man Overboard wrote: The Flower Kings  - Psycedelic Postcard [sic] The World is all in the hands of the Juggler, he knows where ever the wind blows Girls collecting their shells on the sea shore, and soon the King's at the door Bicycle riders they're flying so high on the grind, the tournament sliders Smalltown Cowboys just surfin the stars of the Grill, another cheap thrill that night Send me a postcard from Land of the Lunies Send me your greetings, the Drop Outs will tune in......... Naked horses they scatter the shells to the wind, and dance on the graveyards Arabs sealed to the cave of the Golden Scharade, now slaves to the shiver Cigarrette ceilings, this curious feeling, the Joker was more than a smoke in the jar, Siluettos of Small Red Corvettos, the Prince and Priestess, the Speed fetschettos Makers, Brakers Rainmen they dance the mountains top twilights Shakers, Quakers Mother Earth sleep with one eye open wide Diggin' so deep but your senses are lost in sleep, you're out of contraol child You're so funny when Sandman went kissing you, every wizard need his dreamdust Slowly burning, your secret of journey, keep it clean in the dream machine Blue Marina, Kaleidoscopina, waterwell deeple dug, Sweet Amorphina Send me a post card from Land of the Lunies Send me your greetings, the Drop Outs will tune in.......... Send me your dream, one more to believe in Send me a dream, realities lost and unseeen.......... My Minds Eye still can see......, Can't take that away from me In my Minds Eye I'll be free......, Freedom believer, Freedom deliver

Thy lyrics seem to describe an LSD trip to me. A hint to this is the line "Bicycle riders they're flying so high on the grind". Albert Hoffmann, the chemist of the Sandoz corporation who developed LSD, describes a surreal trip home on his bicycle after his first self-experiment with LSD in his memoirs.

BaldJean wrote: Thy lyrics seem to describe an LSD trip to me. A hint to this is the line "Bicycle riders they're flying so high on the grind". Albert Hoffmann, the chemist of the Sandoz corporation who developed LSD, describes a surreal trip home on his bicycle after his first self-experiment with LSD in his memoirs.

A reference to this famous bicycle ride can be seen on the back cover of Genesis' "Foxtrot" with the wavering bicyclist on it.

Retrovertigo wrote: Grab a Beefheart tune and you have a good contender here.

Hahahahahahahaha Yea... Consider the lyrics to parts of Tarkus and you would get lost in it... 

BaldFriede wrote: Ed_The_Dead wrote: Well, I've just heard SoaD's "Cigarro" and this topic came into my mind... Can You give examples of Strange and wacky lyrics (could be also songs - but what song isn't strange in prog)... The Lyrics of "C.I.D. in Uruk" by Amon Düül 2 from their album "Carnival in Babylon." I'll first give the German ones and then will try a translation. "Der Wurstplanet vertieft im Gebet mit Jesus wirkt sehr verstört ohne TV. Er glaubt, die Blindheit gibt es erst seit Krösus, Und funkt gedankenlos sein Alibi. Ede möchte gerne frisches Riechsalz vermessen Und sein Werkzeug bleibt sein letztes Argument. Leider hat er seine Ganglien in Uruk vergessen Und er bemerkt, er trägt sein allerletztes Hemd. Ein Senfgewehr zielt bedrohlich auf die Priesterreihe, Maschinen im Labor bereiten ihre Priesterweihe. Und Nachbarsekten essen Thunfischflossen roh im Klo. Bärtige Weise schweben im All, Sie singen und tanzen, Und gestern und morgen, vernebelt im Kral, gehört nun den Wanzen. Ohne Grund jubelnd geh'n sie nach oben Auf dem Weg ohne Boden. Weder Traum noch Idee beherrscht die Gedanken, Und plötzlich sie schwanken." Ok, and now for the translation: "The sausage planet, deeply in prayer with Jesus, seems very disturbed without tv. It believes blindness exists since Croesus only And thoughtlessly broadcasts its alibi. Ede* would like to measure fresh smelling salts (*Ede is a common name for petty criminals) And his tools remain his last argument*. (*argument" here means "proof") Unfortunately he forgot his ganglions in Uruk* (Uruk - mythical city in the Gilgamesh epos) And he realizes he is wearing his very last shirt ("wearing one's last shirt" is a German expression for "being bankrupt") A mustard gun threatingly points at the row of priests, Machines in the laboratory prepare their ordination to priesthood. And neighbouring sects Eat raw tuna fins in the loo. Bearded sages hover in space, They sing and dance, And yesterday and tomorrow, obscured in the kraal, Now belong to the bedbugs. Jubilating without reason they walk upwards On the path without ground. Neither dream nor idea rule the thoughts, And suddenly they waver." Ok, now tell me what the f***ing hell this means???? And that's just one example of the very weird lyrics of the early Amon Düül 2.

heh don't worry I do understand German... Yeah... quite strange....

Here is a loud announcement, Silence in the stadium!

those are wierd to me

BaldFriede wrote: Ed_The_Dead wrote: Well, I've just heard SoaD's "Cigarro" and this topic came into my mind... Can You give examples of Strange and wacky lyrics (could be also songs - but what song isn't strange in prog)... The Lyrics of "C.I.D. in Uruk" by Amon Düül 2 from their album "Carnival in Babylon." I'll first give the German ones and then will try a translation. "Der Wurstplanet vertieft im Gebet mit Jesus wirkt sehr verstört ohne TV. Er glaubt, die Blindheit gibt es erst seit Krösus, Und funkt gedankenlos sein Alibi. Ede möchte gerne frisches Riechsalz vermessen Und sein Werkzeug bleibt sein letztes Argument. Leider hat er seine Ganglien in Uruk vergessen Und er bemerkt, er trägt sein allerletztes Hemd. Ein Senfgewehr zielt bedrohlich auf die Priesterreihe, Maschinen im Labor bereiten ihre Priesterweihe. Und Nachbarsekten essen Thunfischflossen roh im Klo. Bärtige Weise schweben im All, Sie singen und tanzen, Und gestern und morgen, vernebelt im Kral, gehört nun den Wanzen. Ohne Grund jubelnd geh'n sie nach oben Auf dem Weg ohne Boden. Weder Traum noch Idee beherrscht die Gedanken, Und plötzlich sie schwanken." Ok, and now for the translation: "The sausage planet, deeply in prayer with Jesus, seems very disturbed without tv. It believes blindness exists since Croesus only And thoughtlessly broadcasts its alibi. Ede* would like to measure fresh smelling salts (*Ede is a common name for petty criminals) And his tools remain his last argument*. (*argument" here means "proof") Unfortunately he forgot his ganglions in Uruk* (Uruk - mythical city in the Gilgamesh epos) And he realizes he is wearing his very last shirt ("wearing one's last shirt" is a German expression for "being bankrupt") A mustard gun threatingly points at the row of priests, Machines in the laboratory prepare their ordination to priesthood. And neighbouring sects Eat raw tuna fins in the loo. Bearded sages hover in space, They sing and dance, And yesterday and tomorrow, obscured in the kraal, Now belong to the bedbugs. Jubilating without reason they walk upwards On the path without ground. Neither dream nor idea rule the thoughts, And suddenly they waver." Ok, now tell me what the f***ing hell this means???? And that's just one example of the very weird lyrics of the early Amon Düül 2.

Damnit...i have nothing that can beat that.

God yeah- CID In Uruk- sounded like the craziest thing I'd ever heard in my life; sort of a demonic news broadcast theme opened it, then drifted even further out into mad rambling over their crazed heavy jazz rock.

I feel some of Yes' lyrics are plain bizarre- it's hard to pick one, as Chris Squire once said 'I was concerned whether Jon Anderson himself even understood them'!

Frances The Mute lyrics=

There is a Zeppelin lyric that goes like this...

" Two old ladies sitting in the sand, each of them wishing the other was a man."

ohhhhhhhhhhhh... it makes me wonder

1. Labels

blend
faces spawned by dust
salty taste of fame
bitter, sweet
lonely demented soul
where to go?

in my place a statue frozen numb
in your place a set of numbers
lonely tormented soul
where to go?

rage
urge to recall
saltier tastes of hate

take me back to the day
for my renewal
let the diversity of my blend
be seen

blend to choose again
to distort again
to label again
wear your brightest of reds
through the general inspection

tend to your faith
tend to your wealth
see through your greed

blend
faces spawned by dust

seize the moment to salute you
we'll seize the moment to salute you
we'll seize each moment to salute you


2. Stardust Inc.

Venus the first of three
to congratulate me
sincere apology
apples and candy for your wounds
sweets and sugar from the second
of three

Stardust incorporated
gentlemen
hold your grudge
seize the moment
to salute your saviours

Line up you merry ones
one at a time
in the name of monetary union
this is your dream
your orgy

Odin the last of three
to overwhelm me
sincere atrocity
a second go at the marketplace
the strongest to the highest bidder
look pale
show fright
deny
agree

Stardust incorporated
gentlemen
hold your grudge
seize the moment
to salute your saviours

Line up you merry ones
one at a time
in the name of monetary union
this is your dream
your orgy

blend to choose again
to distort again to label again
wear your brightest of reds
through the general inspection

Stardust incorporated
gentlemen
hold your grudge
seize the moment
to salute your saviours


3. Nerve

Posture son
delay faces twirl
show nerve
show bliss
a daring young mind
to me
that frightened son of yours
what does he do?

I've got the nerve you'll see

Skeletal excuse for a body
who do you scare?
delay bodies blend
much obliged
but there are too few
set adrift for the blissful memory

I've got the nerve you'll see

Blend faces spawned
I've got the nerve you'll see
a daring young is still a label

Posture son
delay faces twirl
show nerve
show bliss
a daring young mind to me
that frightened son of yours
what does he do?

I've got the nerve you'll see


4. Lavender

Lavender
returns to my consciousness by stealth
the smell that lured me astray
the paleness of my body
embraces that warmth
that new warmth, from a distant sun

Behind those gates there's no one to tell
my invisible trail
the cleansing sleep is yet to come

It's staring right back at me
the oceans in my eyes lie still

Innocence
silenced

Deceived
cannot grasp what has been poured into me
as they watch me on that screen
as they lure my lips to taste that kiss
I see love in you my sweet
I see love through you

silenced

Lavender
filters through me as I recall
alienation, indifference

This fate that has been laid upon me
I pray for stamina, for guidance
I pray for you my sweet
am I one of the beloved
the wanted, the rejected
the cynics, the pure:

The beggars are the threats
we'll suffer our demands
not yet will the slaves of passion and hunger be set free

As the sun awakes to meet its successor
this work of art, this portrait
of what cannot be imagined
will fade away
Lavender

...returns to my consciousness by stealth


5. Epitaph

Await my breath
the colours blend to extract
nutrition
from black and white

And off we go
into the colour saturated part of you
count me in
the fraud you're planning

Now the peasant lies still
for he knows the lot
knows why and when and whom to blame

Set the controls for pleasant dreams
speak the liars tongue
to wake the ancient gods

Set the controls for higher grounds
Trust me to fetter my thoughts
Count me in

That epitaph
met my eye through the wilderness
now the crescent lies still
for it covers the lot

sweet saturation
when colours leave no space to fill
I dare you, count me in
count me in the fraud you're planning

That epitaph
met my eye through the wilderness
as a monument of that fraud
colours leave the spaces in shades of grey
and those salty tastes
that labels the dissidents

Morning mist
one freezing night awaits your death
salty taste
lures that child to lick
that child lies still for it knows the lot

Final solution for the colourless
and I'm off
I'll count you all in

That epitaph
one freezing night awaits your death
colours spawned by dust
recall the saltier taste of hate


7. As A Reminder

Set this knob at eight as a reminder
patience and confidence my friend
courage and all of that
that rugged surface meets my cheek
again

Behind these gates there's no one to tell
no one followed my breath
the cleansing sleep is yet to come

Their candid hearts lie still
don't see an end to what will come
this rugged surface greets my cheek
again

Am I one of the beloved
the wanted, the rejected
the cynics, the pure
now who am I?

I recall that blessing scent
lavender
set the controls anew
as a reminder

Eat that pill as a reminder
patience and confidence my friend
courage and all of that
that rugged surface meets my cheek
again


8. Confront

We'll seize this moment to salute you

Raiders come to sign the last of my gifts
I give to thee with honour:
what was given yesterday
spirals down into oblivion

This will be no more you see
I give to thee with joy: and all of that
what was taken yesterday
not yet beyond remedy

My gift a capital offence
the eclipse of beasts and ghosts

Raiding beasts come to sign the last of my gifts
put us all at witness stand

Fear is gone
hope is gone
that rugged surface greets my cheek
again


9. Summer Sits Here Raining

Welcome to the fall my friend
sit down by the fire
a seething mass of men you are
united by a thought
a wish

Apart from me you saw it coming
as the first night repelled its dawn
smelled the roses that were painted for me

I let them lie, let them tell me what to see

You're so scarce so hard to find
summer shows no grudge against you
summer sits here raining through the day

You let them lie, let them tell us what to believe

Stares that label you
enables you to hum along
summer sits here raining
in your shed in my shed
we gather behind our labels
and summer sits there raining through the day

 

 

-------------

Pink Floyd - Bike:

I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings
And things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I've got a cloak it's a bit of a joke.
There's a tear up the front. It's red and black.
I've had it for months.
If you think it could look good, then I guess it should.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I know a mouse, and he hasn't got a house.
I don't know why I call him Gerald.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I've got a clan of gingerbread men.
Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men.
Take a couple if you wish. They're on the dish.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

I know a room full of musical tunes.
Some rhyme, some ching, most of them are clockwork.
Let's go into the other room and make them work.

Follow that up with sounds of geese...

Gotta love Syd Barrett

True, Jon Anderson can be pretty...obscure at times.  So can Pete Sinfield.

However, for my money, I find almost every single lyric by The Mars Volta to be virtually impenetrable.  Though I must admit I like how they fit the music...

Peace.