This is a collection of the lyrics I like, simply for the purposes of posterity and legacy, memory-jogging, and the hope that someone will recommend a song or band I hadn't heard before. And because I want to.

If anyone hasn't heard any of these songs, I recommend you track them down and hear them sometime. Soon.

Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade out)

Rows of houses / all bearing down on me

I can feel their / blue hands touching me

All these things into position

All these things we'll one day swallow whole

And fade out again and fade out

This machine will / will not communicate

These thoughts and the strain I am under

Be a world child / form a circle

Before we all go under

And fade out again and fade out again

Cracked eggs / dead birds

Scream as they fight for life

I can feel death / can see its beady eyes

All these things into position

All these things we'll one day swallow whole

And fade out again and fade out again

Immerse your soul in love

Immerse your soul in love

the Cure - Where the birds always sing

The world is neither fair nor unfair

The idea is just a way for us to understand

But the world is neither fair nor unfair

So one survives

The others die

And you always want

A reason why

But the world is neither just nor unjust

Its just us trying to feel that there's some sense in it

No the world is neither just nor unjust

And no going young

So much undone

Is a tragedy

For everyone

It doesn't speak a plan or any secret thing

No wanting sign of untold truth in anything

But living on in others in memories

and dreams is not enough

We want everything

Another world

Where the sun always shines

And the birds always sing

Always sing

The world is neither fair nor unfair

The idea is just a way for us to understand

No the world is neither fair nor unfair

So some survive

And others die

And you always want

The reason why

Though the world is neither just nor unjust

It's just us trying to feel that there's some sense in it

No the world is neither just nor unjust

And no going young

So much undone

Is a tragedy

For everyone

It doesn't mean there has to be a way of things

No special sense that hidden hands are pulling strings

But living on in others in memories and dreams

Is not enough

And it never is

We always want

So much more than this

An endless sense of soul and an eternity of love

Sweet mother down below and

I'm just farther above

Living on in others in memories and dreams

Is not enough

You want everything

Another world

Where the birds always sing

Another world

Where the sun always shines

Another world

Where nothing ever dies.

Just - Mad world

All around me are familiar faces

Worn out places

Worn out faces

Bright and early for the daily races

Going nowhere

Going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses

No expression

No expression

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow

No tomorrow

No tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you

I find it hard to take

When people run in circles its a very very

Mad world

Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good

Happy birthday

Happy birthday

And I feel the way that every child should

Sit and listen

Sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous

No one knew me

No one knew me

Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson

Look right through me

Look right through me

And I find I kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you

I find it hard to take

When people run in circles its a very very

Mad world

Mad world

Enlarging your world

Mad world

Disturbed - Down with the Sickness

Drowning deep in my sea of loathing

Broken your servant I kneel

(Will you give in to me?)

It seems what's left of my human side

Is slowly changing / in me

(Will you give in to me?)

Looking at my own reflection

When suddenly it changes

Violently it changes

There is no turning back now

You've woken up the demon / in me

(Chorus:)

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Open up your hate / and let it flow into me

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

You mother get up

Come on get down with the sickness

You f*cker get up

Come on get down with the sickness

Madness is the gift / that has been given to me

I can see inside you / the sickness is rising

Don't try to deny what you feel

(Will you give in to me?)

It seems that all that was good has died

And is decaying in me

(Will you give in to me?)

It seems you're having some trouble

In dealing with these changes

Living with these changes

The world is a scary place

Now that you've woken up the demon / in me

(Chorus)

...

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Open up your hate / and let it flow into me

Get up, come on get down with the sickness

You mother get up

Come on get down with the sickness

You f*cker get up

Come on get down with the sickness

Madness has now come over me!

Velvet Acid Christ - Slut

Well it may sound absurd

I want to be a wreck for you

Smash out my honor on your floor

Fill up your bathtub with my moods

Well it may sound a little frightening

I want to swallow all of your skin

Chew your soft tissue into ash

Beat your ego black and blue

(Sung as rounds:)

I will be your doll

I will be your hole

I will crush your bones

I will abrade your soul

I will be your toy

I will be your thing

I will tear you down with the twist I bring

I will be your doll

I will be your toll at the gates of hell

That is what i'm for

I will be your flesh

I will be your end

Then on to the next

I will start again

I will be your doll

I will be your girl

I will remove your heart

I will burn your world

I will be your object

Tease and tear

I will be your "hell, I don't have anything to wear"

I will be your slut

I will be your bitch

I will be your never ending, unbefriending

Self-expending, moral-bending thorn

White Zombie - Blood, Milk and Sky

The siren sings a

lonely song of all the

wants and hungers

The lust of love a brute

desire - the ledge of life

goes under - Divide the

dream into the flesh

Kaleidoscope and -

Candle eyes - Empty

winds scrape on the

soul - but never stop

to realize

Animal whisperings

intoxicate the night

Hypnotize the deperate

slow motion light - Wash

away into the rain

Blood, milk and sky

Hollow moons illuminate

and beauty never dies

Running wild running blind

I breathe the body deep

1,000 years beside myself

I do not sleep - Seduce

the world it never

screams Dead water lies

Ride the only one who

knows - Beauty never dies

Fur Patrol - Man in a box

I keep a man inside a box under my bed

My mother says I dream too much

I take the man out and listen close to what he says

He says I do not dream enough

I hear my mother in the hall outside my doorway

She’s come to say I talk too much

I put the man back in the box under my bed

I’m not the only one who argues with the woman in me

(Just no-one hears the other voices)

And I’m not the only one who disagrees with everything

I keep a man inside a box under my bed

My father says I laugh too hard

I take the man out and let him oscillate my head

He does not think my love is good

I watch my father walking silent past my doorway

I hide the man behind my back

And all the while he’s blowing kisses down my spine

I’m not the only one who loves to feel the woman in me

(Just no-one sees the other fingers)

And I’m not the only one who disagrees with everything

Go on and take it come and take these tiny thoughts away

(I never used them they were never mine were they)

Go on and take it come and wash these dirty thoughts away

(I never used them they were never mine)

I’d like this man I keep inside this box under my bed to climb out

Come lie down here beside me

And I'd like to feel his fingers warm upon my neck

Go on and take it come and take these tiny thoughts away

(I never used them they were never mine were they)

Go on and take it come and wash these dirty thoughts away

(I never used them they were never mine)

Go on and take them

Wash these away

(I never used them they were never mine)

Go on and take them

Wash these away

(I never used them they were never mine)

Splashdown - Karma Slave

Today I'll be spinning on a wheel

I'm a slave to a wheel

And there isn't any stopping

What mistake could I have made?

I'm a slave serving time for a life that I've forgotten.

I'm a slave of karma

Spin the wheel and I'm a king reborn

Yeah I'm a slave to karma

I'm coming back, yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

Today I'm a king on the wheel

Still a slave to the wheel

But this time around I'm smiling

Keep me cautious, keep me safe, just in case there's a chance

I can leave this wheel behind me.

Stand in the middle and you won't get dizzy

Stand in the middle and you won't fall down

If you stand in the middle you can keep your balance

Stand in the middle and the wheel spins round and round...

I'm a slave of karma

Spin the wheel and I'm a king reborn

Yeah I'm a slave to karma

I'm coming back, yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

I'm a slave of karma

Spin the wheel and I'm a king reborn

Yeah I'm a slave to Karma

I'm coming back, yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

How do all the wheels inside the wheels revolving,

Go on, and on, and on, and on, and on...

Spinning on the wheel the souls of one evolving,

Live on, live on, live on, live on, live on...

Anyone who claims that they know the answer's coming back again...

Who's at the center of the wheel

The inventor of the wheel

or another spinning servant?

I'm the master of my wheel of my very own wheel

Universal and recurrent

I'm a slave of karma

Spin the wheel and I'm a king reborn

Yeah I'm a slave to karma

I'm coming back, yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

I'm a slave of karma

Spin the wheel and I'm a king reborn

Yeah I'm a slave to karma

I'm coming back, yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

For the last time.

For the last time.

For the last time.

Yeah, I'll be coming back

But for the last time.

Dope - Take your best shot

Go on and take your best shot

Blow them away

I dont know why

And lately I dont understand

Why the world's so blind

And no one seems to give a damn

Don't let them say

That you can't be the things that you want

Don't believe them

You gotta take your best shot

Blow them away

I don't know why

Everything's not okay

Try before you die

'Cause that just might be today

Don't let them say

That you can't be the things that you want

Just believe in yourself

And take your best shot

Blow them away

This is your life

What are you gonna do?

Garbage - #1 Crush

I would die for you

I would die for you

I've been dying just to feel you by my side

To know that you're mine

I will cry for you

I will cry for you

I will wash away your pain with all my tears

And drown your fear

I will pray for you

I will pray for you

I will sell my soul for something pure and true

Someone like you

See your face every place that I walk in

Hear your voice every time that I'm talking

You will believe in me

And I will never be ignored

I will burn for you

Feel pain for you

I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart

And tear it apart

I will lie for you

Beg and steal for you

I will crawl on hands and knees until you see

You're just like me

Violate all the love that I'm missing

Throw away all the pain that I'm living

You will believe in me

And I can never be ignored

I would die for you

I would kill for you

I will steal for you

I'd do time for you

I will wait for you

I'd make room for you

I'd sink ships for you

To be close to you

To be part of you

Cause I believe in you

I believe in you

I would die for you

Headless Chickens - George

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

Want the truth and nothing but the whole truth.

Say I’m nervous but I’m looking for the real proof.

Found the photo and the little piece of paper;

Got a name but that'll come later.

It would seem that you're no good at deceit.

It would appear that you lie and you cheat.

Wanna shriek to the beings in the corner.

Wanna howl 'coz it feels like torture.

Spare me your weak apologies;

I don't care for the way they make me bleed.

Can’t find a reason and you won’t explain.

You’ll be sorry if it happens again.

Lets make a deal, or I’ll hurt you you know.

Beat a path to my door. why? why? why?

Say all the things you said before. why? why?

Tell me the gospel according to you.

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

Lets make a deal, or I'll hurt you you know.

You haven’t a notion and you haven’t a clue.

You have to know that I can not trust you,

Now I know too well your ways.

Now I know I’ll always pay.

So I’ll sit in my room not daring to move,

Never raising my voice and thinking of you.

And I’ll try to imagine that we never met,

Try to pretend and I’ll try to forget.

Lets make a deal, or I’ll hurt you you know.

Beat a path to my door. why? why? why?

Say all the things you said before. why? why?

Tell me the gospel according to you.

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

You know you don’t love me but you still want to touch me.

Feel my body well it makes me feel ugly.

Want to use me, emotionally abuse me.

Show the rope and dangle it above me.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Song of Joy

Have mercy on me, sir

Allow me to impose on you

I have no place to stay

And my bones are cold right through

I will tell you a story

Of a man and his family

And I swear that it is true

Ten years ago I met a girl named Joy

She was a sweet and happy thing

Her eyes were bright blue jewels

And we were married in the spring

I had no idea what happiness and little love could bring

Or what life had in store

But all things move toward their end

All things move toward their their end

On that you can be sure

La la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la

Then one morning I awoke to find her weeping

And for many days to follow

She grew so sad and lonely

Became Joy in name only

Within her breast there launched an unnamed sorrow

And a dark and grim force set sail

Farewell happy fields

Where joy forever dwells

Hail horrors hail

Was it an act of contrition or some awful premonition

As if she saw into the heart of her final blood-soaked night

Those lunatic eyes, that hungry kitchen knife

Ah, I see sir, that I have your attention!

Well, could it be?

How often I've asked that question

Well, then in quick succession

We had babies, one, two, three

We called them Hilda, Hattie and Holly

They were their mother's children

Their eyes were bright blue jewels

And they were quiet as a mouse

There was no laughter in the house

No, not from Hilda, Hattie or Holly

"No wonder", people said, "poor mother Joy's so melancholy"

Well, one night there came a visitor to our little home

I was visiting a sick friend

I was a doctor then

Joy and the girls were on their own

La la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la

Joy had been bound with electrical tape

In her mouth a gag

She'd been stabbed repeatedly

And stuffed into a sleeping bag

In their very cots my girls were robbed of their lives

Method of murder much the same as my wife's

Method of murder much the same as my wife's

It was midnight when I arrived home

Said to the police on the telephone

Someone's taken four innocent lives

They never caught the man

He's still on the loose

It seems he has done many many more

Quotes John Milton on the walls in the victim's blood

The police are investigating at tremendous cost

In my house he wrote: "his red right hand"

That, I'm told, is from Paradise Lost

The wind round here gets wicked cold

But my story is nearly told

I fear the morning will bring quite a frost

And so I've left my home

I drift from land to land

I am upon your step and you are a family man

Outside the vultures wheel

The wolves howl, the serpents hiss

And to extend this small favour, friend

Would be the sum of earthly bliss

Do you reckon me a friend?

The sun to me is dark

And silent as the moon

Do you, sir, have a room?

Are you beckoning me in?

La la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la

Faithless - Bring my family back

Beg you listen me, don't be kissin' me 'til I'm done.

Unsung champion, a reason like seasoning ah

pepper your thoughts with spice,

and entice you to a space where I dwell with bass players and layers are loops,

think what I think with my prayers its nice.

My world is everything I've become

contained in the hum between voice and drum

I'm coming from the same place I'm a still running from

but even sitting in the garden one can still get stung...

I'm on lonely street age nearly three

recently Mama's crying all the time

is it because of me? Or my younger sister,

even Dad was weeping when he kissed her.

Face all puffy like a blister,

crying like he missed her.

Since we moved away from the house,

where we used to play.

They say I'll understand one day but I doubt it,

Mama never say nothing about it.

How'd it get to be so crowded?

I found it a strain, everywhere I look I see pain.

And I can't escape the feeling,

maybe I'm to blame. So I strain to listen,

praying for a decision, wishing they were kissing.

This feels like extradition or exile,

Mama finds it hard to smile

So I make pretend cups of coffee in her favorite style.

She says child I'm working so there's nothing you lack.

But she know; I want my Dad, I want my family back.

I'm on Lonely Street, age forty three.

Couldn't gauge when to quit so my wife quit me.

Took offense, took the kids,

I wish that was the end.

But before she took her leave

she took care of my best friend.

Working all the hours

God sends was not the tactic

you see, because after ten years I'm

left with jack sh*t. Wanted to make the cash

quick so I had to work real late.

Bad sex, my woman's vexed, even if I stay awake.

And if I'm honest, I had a little cake at the office.

I was eating. We'd do our cheating over coffees,

making tea for the bosses.

Making free with me,

and I agree I got sleazy too easily.

But I'm forty three,

this doesn't usually happen to me.

Now I'm lonely,

I wonder what my son's doing today.

Suddenly I'm blinking like the screen

on my computer display.

And I'm drinking.

Concerned about what's down the track

if I don't get my family back.

I want my family back.

I'm on Lonely Street, number fifty three.

Boarded up property,

I'll probably get pulled down.

Litter all around inside there's

no sound and no light.

But yo it gets busy at night, people creeping.

Derelicts sneaking to fix. Speaking.

On the way my timbers creaking,

roof leaking. And bricks coming loose,

knee high in refuse.

But even though I'm a slum,

I'm still of some use.

There was a time when my walls were decorated.

And under my roof children were educated.

But now paint's faded, windows are all smashed,

a crash in the economy robbed me of my family.

And no strategy, combats negative equity,

so that's it. Like violence it's drastic.

I'm freaking, and seeking to be

more than just a house for crack.

Somebody bring my family back.

Mr. Bungle - the Girls of Porn

Hmm... even censored this song is too dodgy to reproduce the lyrics here without it getting Yikes'd. For anyone else reading this, I strongly recommend you find the song and a copy of the lyrics, and read the lyrics for the first time while listening to the song for the first time too. I promise you'll laugh your @ss off. But shoo small children, in-laws, mormons, and other easily-offended peoples out of the area first.