LiveMusic Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Can anyone name any songs that do not have any repeating lines? I guess a chorus or repeating lines are used because people like something familiar but I was wondering if any songs can work that just tell a story from beginning to end with no repeats. (Complete with rhyming lines but no repeats.) > > > [ Live! ] < < < Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitsgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot Take care, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougP Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Originally posted by LiveMusic: Can anyone name any songs that do not have any repeating lines? I guess a chorus or repeating lines are used because people like something familiar but I was wondering if any songs can work that just tell a story from beginning to end with no repeats. (Complete with rhyming lines but no repeats.) Bob Dylan wrote lots where the only line that's repeated is the title (if that's close enough for you). "Desolation Row" and "Tangled Up In Blue" would be two of my favorites. They don't really follow a verse/chorus structure, but just keep going and going and going, while telling some sort of narrative. You could probably put songs as diverse as "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (Gordon Lightfoot) or "Sister Ray" (Velvet Underground) in that category, although the latter definitely repeats lines (and I really don't know what the story is about except that it involves transvestite junkies shooting a sailor ... hmmm, if you were a sailor, would you rather die by drowning in the icy waters of lake Erie or by being shot by a transvestite junkie? Not particularly appealing, either way ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Any sailor would take the death at sea. At least that is the opinion of this former member of Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. Take care, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Harry Chapin-The Shortest StorySimon & Garfunkel - For Emily (Wherever I May Find Her)The Beatles - Mean Mr. MustardKenny Loggins - My Father's House It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timrocker Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Okay gsmith, can I ask you a question only slightly related to this thread? Why did REM name that wonderful song after your town? Doesn't mention Texarkana once in the song, but that's the title they chose. Been curious for about 10 years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fingerstyle_Jim Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Bo-Diddley wrote lots of songs based on one chord, though some of them may have had a verse/chorus defined by words alone. "Who Do You Love" is a good example, George Thorouhgood had a big hit with this one, and the namesake song "Bo-Diddley" with what could be defined as a chorus in "hey Bo-Diddley" even though it's a one-chord song. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the best progressive rock songs have no verse/chorus structure, "Thick as a Brick", several songs by Yes and Genesis (1970's era especially) This is one of the things I like most about music, anything goes, simple, complex, if it sounds right it is right. Jim in Canada My SoundClick Page My New Music Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 timrocker, That has been a point of speculation around these parts for a while as well. The only guesses have been this was the location where the inspiration for the song struck or that they were actually making fun of the area. Most lean towards the first idea because while we locals will admit things are pretty slow around here, it's not quite as bad as the since of isolation presented in the song's lyrics. Take care, Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 7, 2001 Share Posted November 7, 2001 Yeah I like the idea of no rules, long as its a great feel, and a great groove. I always think of Nashville when I hear somebody insisting on the verse chorus verse chorus bridge mindset....cause EVERY song outa there has the basic formula, same licks..everything! I like when somebody hangs onto a super cool riff and works around that....everybody from Lou Reed to Steve Earle has just KILLED on that. But having said that I have heard songs where a bridge or something or another was definitely needed. Personal preference.....no rights or wrongs. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrix Posted November 8, 2001 Share Posted November 8, 2001 A Christmas Song - written by Mel Torme & usually sung by Nat King Cole ( you know - Chestnuts roasting...) Many Dylan songs e.g. Positively 4th Street, John Wesley Harding,... Manic Depression - Hendrix Most of these do repeat musical themes but not words - so there is some song structure for our brains to latch onto.. Based on these examples, without a lyrical chorus or bridge, it seems to take some combination of a great melody, vocal performance, attitude galore, great musicianship and/or an outstanding set of lyrics to make this work. But, then again, I suppose any good song requires these things doesn't it. Interesting challenge to try and write one of these without it falling flat - Hmmm. Check out some tunes here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudyba Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 How about the Star Spangled Banner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott from MA Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 Originally posted by LiveMusic: Can anyone name any songs that do not have any repeating lines? Yes... countless Bob Mould songs. It's one of the things I like about his writing style. Scott (just another cantankerous bastard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedmeister Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 Actually, the Fitz sank in Lake Superior...just for the record... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveMusic Posted November 9, 2001 Author Share Posted November 9, 2001 Originally posted by Scott from MA: Yes... countless Bob Mould songs. It's one of the things I like about his writing style. Is Bob Mould a performer or just a writer? Never heard of him. > > > [ Live! ] < < < Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 There are several Jobim tunes written in this manner. "Waters of March" is one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougP Posted November 10, 2001 Share Posted November 10, 2001 Originally posted by LiveMusic: Is Bob Mould a performer or just a writer? Never heard of him. He (gtr) and Grant Hart (drums) were the singer/songwriters of the great 80's band from Minneapolis, Husker Du. Since that band broke up, Mould has recorded/toured both solo and with his more recent band, Sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted November 10, 2001 Share Posted November 10, 2001 Originally posted by Tedmeister: Actually, the Fitz sank in Lake Superior...just for the record... That's correct! I actually met Edmond Fitzgerald in 1996. (It was actually the son of the ship's namesake.) He was 50 or 60-something years old, and was speaking at a convention. He took the time to give some interesting background on the ship and the wreck because the mention of his name gets rooms buzzing! Neat stuff. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saucyjack Posted November 10, 2001 Share Posted November 10, 2001 That's correct! I actually met Edmond Fitzgerald in 1996. (It was actually the son of the ship's namesake.) He was 50 or 60-something years old, and was speaking at a convention. He took the time to give some interesting background on the ship and the wreck because the mention of his name gets rooms buzzing! Neat stuff. Wow that musta have been one slow convention Rivers Smell the Magic www.Katp.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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