Quality of lyrics on NEW
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NEW sounds terrific, and is growing on me steadily. I wasn't wowed quite first listen though, and my main niggle was several examples of lazy lyric writing, cliches. This bothers me less a few listens in, but for instance, ALLIGATOR has some fascinating and cool lyrics: "I need somebody who's a sweet communicator I can give my alligator to". But then the chorus sounds like it was written by a 7-year old rather than a 71 year old: Could you be that person for me Would you feel right setting me free Could you dare to find my key It's a bit of a cringer to me. Rubbish rhyming and just laziness from someone who can do so much better. It's like '"While I was searching for a rhyme, you came along" and I forgot to search and never bothered'. Seems like he's had so much help on the musical side bu no one's looked at his lyrics. A few examples peppered around including that first rhyme on the album (hard to please/ do with ease). I know this is a perrenial problem with Paul, but it did bother me more when I first heard NEW, possibly because it was so good otherwise in terms of sound. Lyrical highlight is possibly that: "On my way to work I bought a magazine; Inside a pretty girl Who liked to water-ski. She came from Chichester,To study history. She had removed her clothes For the likes of me" Thoughts on lyrics on the album?
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If people are gonna pick apart every lyric and every note on NEW, you might as well just give it up! Listen to it as a whole though. It's a marvelous album. One of his best. I wasn't bowled over when I heard the song New on its own, but in the context of the whole album it fits very nicely. My first impression was "it's the lost cousin of Revolver." Lots going on, on NEW. Give it a chance!
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Queenie Eye is a wordsmiths delight.....
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beatlesfanrandy:
If people are gonna pick apart every lyric and every note on NEW, you might as well just give it up! Listen to it as a whole though. It's a marvelous album. One of his best. I wasn't bowled over when I heard the song New on its own, but in the context of the whole album it fits very nicely. My first impression was "it's the lost cousin of Revolver." Lots going on, on NEW. Give it a chance!
AMEN!! I mean God must every Paul album be criticized all the time?. just enjoy the damn album for what it is good music. I really want to get this cd and seeing the constant criticism and nit picking is really counterproductive not to mention annoying. and its not like Paul is forcing anyone to listen to his music. I don't understand why do people waste their precious time listening to music that they believe is lyrically poor? and then later bitch and moan about it. they just ought to save their money or listen to something else. THE MAN IS 71 YEARS OLD OKAY? GIVE HIM A FREAKING BREAK. WILL YA. HE ISNT A SPRING CHICKEN. GOD
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and that's all I got to say as a matter of fact am getting off this thread because this is about to get on my last nerve.
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maclover2013:
and that's all I got to say as a matter of fact am getting off this thread because this is about to get on my last nerve.
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maclover2013:
beatlesfanrandy:
If people are gonna pick apart every lyric and every note on NEW, you might as well just give it up! Listen to it as a whole though. It's a marvelous album. One of his best. I wasn't bowled over when I heard the song New on its own, but in the context of the whole album it fits very nicely. My first impression was "it's the lost cousin of Revolver." Lots going on, on NEW. Give it a chance!
AMEN!! I mean God must every Paul album be criticized all the time?. just enjoy the damn album for what it is good music. I really want to get this cd and seeing the constant criticism and nit picking is really counterproductive not to mention annoying. and its not like Paul is forcing anyone to listen to his music. I don't understand why do people waste their precious time listening to music that they believe is lyrically poor? and then later bitch and moan about it. they just ought to save their money or listen to something else. THE MAN IS 71 YEARS OLD OKAY? GIVE HIM A ****ing BREAK. WILL YA. HE ISNT A SPRING CHICKEN. GOD
: :But I agree. I LOVE the album, and I think overall the lyrics are good, but then in a few places he just doesn't bother. I'd have thought the fact he's no sring chicken would mean he would have STOPPED letting lyrics slip in that a 7-year old might have written, but several of those do slip in. They bother me less after a few listens for what it's worth.
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Well he's no Joni Michell that's for sure....and when the cupboard's bare I'll still find someting there with My Love. Sounds awful when you write it down, but somehow My Love is a Fantastic Song. So after decades of being a Paul fan I just accept it Most of the time he can't be bothered! She's good She's fine She's sweet like wine...Sweet wine ??? I Hope not Paul!
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Steve:
Queenie Eye is a wordsmiths delight.....
Yeah, that's a crazy lyric alright. And a real earworm, that one!
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beatlesfanrandy:
maclover2013:
and that's all I got to say as a matter of fact am getting off this thread because this is about to get on my last nerve.
Guys, this is a forum for discussion.. we are all fans and some of us like putting a lot of thought into music, and analyzing (APPRECIATING) all that goes into the creation of it. we question things, doesn't mean we don't think Paul's an amazing artist, we just question things. there's no need to get all hot and bothered by it. although you're free to if you like. That said, I've been really digging the lyrics on the New album. I think he uses good vocabulary, has some cool thoughts overall, and the words facilitate some great meters/rhythms of the melodies in the songs, very tight. and there's some good abstract images in most of the songs, a combo and meshing of the abstract with the simple and straight forward. 'if you ask her how its done, she won't know.. its like tryin to catch the sun on the water' I freaking love that!! you named a couple good examples of low points, but the average strength of lyrics on New is really high I'd say. And the song New is an interesting example.. the lyrics seem simple, but they're not! its a really cool and succinct way of telling his creative story, and the words just roll. I think Paul was really on point on this one. Another thought I had about Paul which definitely I think impacts how he writes lyrics, or what he considers passable lyrically.. Although he's a rock guy, he's also really fond of standards, and the Gershwin/Rogers&Hammerstein style of old school 40s and 50s type songs. And I think very early on in the formative years of his music life those were the guys who made up his writing background, and who he tried to emulate. Some of his earliest tunes like When I'm 64, or some pre/early Beatles stuff was sort of like that, and he holds that type of writing in high regard. those are the types of songs where it's totally fine to write about 'sunny days', 'bluebirds singing lovely' or singing my baby's request etc. it's a very MOR, sort of universal vocabulary, that honestly is slightly dated at this point. But he's so freakishly good musically it's all passable. But I think that's a big part of Paul's lyrical make-up. When he's at his best though is when his vocab gets more edgy and abstract, for me at least. When he does it right it's virtually unmatched. Which is why his songs with John were such a cut above, John had a more original and colorful vocabulary lyrically. That's a very blanket statement but for the most part I think it's true. Like had Paul left his original line of 'she was just 17, never been beauty queen..' Or whatever, would have been worse. When Paul doesn't even make sense it works great! The movement u need is on your shoulder, or Monkberry etc. But on the whole I like Paul's lyrics, he's imaginative and skilled (complete understatement!), and I like stuff that throws back to other stuff sometimes. I adore Baby's Request. But on New I feel like Paul really got creative in areas lyrically.
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I love all the lyrics. I can fit the meaning of the songs extremely well into my own life, even though I may put a different meaning than how Paul relates to them himself. I don't see any weak lyrics. No one criticized 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' and that only has 2 lines and they aren't so-called creative lines and it's still a great song. John's song I Want You (She's So Heavy) has 3 lines and they aren't so-called creative lines but they work great. I'm so happy about Paul's new album. I love all the sound effects on his voice and the instruments. VERY exceptional album. I love it.
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illwobble:
But then the chorus sounds like it was written by a 7-year old rather than a 71 year old: Could you be that person for me Would you feel right setting me free Could you dare to find my key Lyrical highlight is possibly that: "On my way to work I bought a magazine; Inside a pretty girl Who liked to water-ski. She came from Chichester,To study history. She had removed her clothes For the likes of me" Thoughts on lyrics on the album?
Sorry Jon, IMHO you are really dissecting these too much! I really love the lyrics that you referred to as written by a 7 year old?!? Please!!!
: Love the lyrics especially Early Days... it made me cry 
I think Paul has put himself out there more than ever on this album and shown a vulnerability that I really appreciate, especially lyrically. I really enjoy that aspect of the lyrics on this album. Brilliant songs, each listen makes the album more special and oh so enjoyable 
Just throwing this in, love the 12 string!! -
Generally, McCartney's lyrics have always been a bit wonky, his lyrics are not his strength. So, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, giving someone your alligator, ok!
Is alligator code for... oh, never mind! -
RMartinez:
Generally, McCartney's lyrics have always been a bit wonky, his lyrics are not his strength. So, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, giving someone your alligator, ok!
Is alligator code for... oh, never mind!This is just my take, but I think the 'alligator' is abstract symbolism for Paul's dark feelings, or his anger/sadness/bitchiness/any bs he may need to get off his chest. It's very cool, and everyone has these things in them and we all need someone to be there for us when we need to talk stuff out. Jon, I'm with you on the simplicity of the lyrics you quoted, but in context they actually work just fine. I think you'd agree.
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illwobble:
NEW sounds terrific, and is growing on me steadily. I wasn't wowed quite first listen though, and my main niggle was several examples of lazy lyric writing, cliches. This bothers me less a few listens in, but for instance, ALLIGATOR has some fascinating and cool lyrics: "I need somebody who's a sweet communicator I can give my alligator to". But then the chorus sounds like it was written by a 7-year old rather than a 71 year old: Could you be that person for me Would you feel right setting me free Could you dare to find my key It's a bit of a cringer to me. Rubbish rhyming and just laziness from someone who can do so much better. It's like '"While I was searching for a rhyme, you came along" and I forgot to search and never bothered'. Seems like he's had so much help on the musical side bu no one's looked at his lyrics. A few examples peppered around including that first rhyme on the album (hard to please/ do with ease). I know this is a perrenial problem with Paul, but it did bother me more when I first heard NEW, possibly because it was so good otherwise in terms of sound. Lyrical highlight is possibly that: "On my way to work I bought a magazine; Inside a pretty girl Who liked to water-ski. She came from Chichester,To study history. She had removed her clothes For the likes of me" Thoughts on lyrics on the album?
she removed her clothes for the money the magazine paid her. sorry to dash your fantasy, Paul.
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RMartinez:
Generally, McCartney's lyrics have always been a bit wonky, his lyrics are not his strength. So, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, giving someone your alligator, ok!
Is alligator code for... oh, never mind!I think it's his side that bites
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Kathryn O:
RMartinez:
Generally, McCartney's lyrics have always been a bit wonky, his lyrics are not his strength. So, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, giving someone your alligator, ok!
Is alligator code for... oh, never mind!I think it's his side that bites
that's what i think too. and i will leave it as that as this thread is pg 13
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kapoo:
RMartinez:
Generally, McCartney's lyrics have always been a bit wonky, his lyrics are not his strength. So, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, giving someone your alligator, ok!
Is alligator code for... oh, never mind!This is just my take, but I think the 'alligator' is abstract symbolism for Paul's dark feelings, or his anger/sadness/bitchiness/any bs he may need to get off his chest. It's very cool, and everyone has these things in them and we all need someone to be there for us when we need to talk stuff out. Jon, I'm with you on the simplicity of the lyrics you quoted, but in context they actually work just fine. I think you'd agree.
I think you're right kapoo, but when I first heard it I thought he was talking about his "body gun" er I mean "polygon!"
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delete
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maclover2013:
I am going to just say this for the record that am very disappointed that the song Scared isn't going to be on the special edition version of the CD. that really sucks big time. i really was looking forward to hearing that song. nevertheless it doesn't deter me from buying the CD. Scared should of been included it the special edition CD just saying.
Thats ridiculous! Its not a hidden track on the Special Edition?? why wouldn't it be?
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