10 MOST FAMOUS ENGLISH SONG LYRICS EVER –

AND THEIR MEANING

 WIL
Lyric writing is a tricky business. Finding words that convey exactly what the songwriter
feels, while fitting into a certain melody and tempo, the sound of the words has to be
pleasing to the ear too.

Lyrics can be the starting block of a song – the words coming first, suggesting a certain
feel or mood, and inspiring a melody. This is the power of words. Great song lyrics have
the power to move you – whether it’s a tear of happiness or sadness, this is the
songwriter’s gift.

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Others are simply catchy – sing-a-long lyrics they stick in your head, even if they’re
completely meaningless – naaa na na na-na-na-naaaaaa aren’t exactly the most
inspiring lyrics ever, but thanks to The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ they’re among some of the
most-sung in the world!

The best lyrics read like the finest poetry, and many would argue that the likes of Neil
Young and Bob Dylan are indeed poets as well as songwriters. To prove just how tricky
and rare it is to craft exquisite lyrics like theirs, it pays to look at the other end of the
scale:

“I don’t want to see a ghost/It’s the sight that I fear most/I’d rather have a piece
of toast…”
There are plenty more bad lyrical attempts out there than good – and that’s why we
cherish those great lyrics all the more. Here are some of the finest ever recorded, and a
little explanation about each one. We’d love to hear your favourites too, and what they
mean to you, and why.

The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

“Columnated ruins domino…”
Quite simply one of the most beautiful lyrics ever written – and one of the strangest too.
Full of layers of surreal symbolism, it’s the product of the truly unique imagination of the
lyrical genius Van Dyke Parks (with the help of some very illegal substances).

Creating image upon image, the words flowing, perfectly fitting Brian Wilson’s incredible
ode to the sea. The song’s lyrics were so unusual that they actually caused friction
within the band, with Beach Boy Mike Love complaining that they were nonsensical, and
would alienate their fans. The song was shelved for a few years as a result, but
thankfully couldn’t be hidden away for too long!
Bob Dylan – Masters of War
“I think you will find/When your death takes its toll/All the money you made/Will
never buy back your soul…”
The protest song to end all protest songs, Dylan voiced the concerns of a generation
when he penned this anti-war lyric. With Vietnam raging, and conscription forcing young
Americans to fight in a war they didn’t understand, the lyrics captured all of their rage,
fear and disgust perfectly. Sung in the first person, from the point of view of a young
man who doesn’t want to be forced to join the army, makes the song all the more
personal. The melody here is so simple, and yet this song has been covered by more
artists than you can count – it’s all thanks to those incredibly powerful lyrics.

The Beatles – Hey Jude

“Take a sad song, and make it better…”
While John Lennon initially believed that this song was written for him, at the start of his
relationship with Yoko Ono, in fact Paul McCartney penned this Beatles classic for
Lennon’s son Julian. Originally titled ‘Hey Jules’, the song was written to comfort a
young Julian as his parents divorced – and its lyrics have since brought comfort to
countless others.

Also written around the time of McCartney’s new relationship with Linda Eastman, it’s a
song that offers encouragement, advice, and a strong belief in love – yet another
famous lyric about love – it seems we can’t escape it! But Hey Jude is almost as well
known for its ending – over four minutes of those famous ‘na na na’s stretch the song
out to over seven minutes long, at the time making it the longest single ever to top the
UK charts, giving the Beatles their biggest hit in America too.

Johnny Cash – I Still Miss Someone

“There’s someone for me somewhere/And I still miss someone…”
Another simple melody that’s transformed by its painfully heartfelt lyrics, this is one of
Johnny Cash’s most famous songs, and one of his most-covered. There have surely
been more lyrics written about love than anything else, and the ones that stay with us
are often about lost love.
Here, the lyrics hit home because they are so honest and truthful – every one who’s ever
lost someone can relate. One of Bob Dylan’s own favourites, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou
Harris, Dolly Parton, Gram Parson and Stevie Nicks are just some of the artists who
have covered this country classic.