To Care or Not to Care: Sting's Book o' Lyrics

michelle Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 06:35 PM EST

I've always thought that the Union of the Snake was a reference to Kundalini which is also related to Tantra and the creative force.

As for lyric anthologies I would like to see Peter Murphy, Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt, Train and many others who tend to write in metaphor

tvernon2003 Thu, Aug 9, 2007 at 11:22 PM EST

I have read were Union of the Snake was about Tantric sex. Which if you look up Tantric sex and read about kinda of makes since

furry_tom Wed, May 2, 2007 at 02:08 PM EST

Leonard Cohen (although I think they may already be in book form), Neutral Milk Hotel (it'd be a short book but worth it, especially if it came with commentary) and I agree they should have Tom Waits too.
Nix, I have a book of Bob Dylan lyrics (I think it has everything up until Self-Portrait), though I'm not sure if it's still in print or if they've collected everything of his in one handy tome.

Miles Wed, May 2, 2007 at 09:56 AM EST

I think the lyrics of the K-Rex Struts are immensely important and poetic but they are often too abstract so I'd love to see the singer explain himself on a bunch of their songs

Virginia Wed, May 2, 2007 at 06:39 AM EST

TORI AMOS of course, though I kinda doubt she would ever explain exactly what each song is supposed to mean. And Morrissy. His Smiths lyrics are some of the best in all of music.

Nix Wed, May 2, 2007 at 03:11 AM EST

Well, if you mean which artists' lyrics I want elucidated, throw in Led Zeppelin to the mix.

But if you mean, as I think the book's publishers mean, to collect the lyrics as poetry, to read for enjoyment -- Bob Dylan. Or hasn't he done that already?

Sandy Tue, May 1, 2007 at 06:12 PM EST

I'm with you, Martha. "Union of the Snake" is begging for some kind of explanation!! "Secret Oktober" is another one Simon needs to explain someday.... I remember a critic saying before that Duran's lyrics were like bad high school poetry, and I'm inclined to agree ( but they are set to catchy music).

Suzanne Tue, May 1, 2007 at 04:02 PM EST

Since I can't understand them when she sings them and still can't understand them when I read them, but still love 'em the Pretenders/Chrissie Hynde. And then Prince (although I suspect it would be wrapped in brown paper).

LMF Tue, May 1, 2007 at 03:36 PM EST

I agree with Stevie Nicks and Tori Amos; I would definitely buy those books. The one person whose writing I would be most interested in reading about are Leonard Cohen's. His songs are so heartfelt and personal. They are the most like poetry of any songwriter's I know and I would love to hear about the origin and influence behind them. Love, love, love him.

LMF Tue, May 1, 2007 at 03:35 PM EST

I agree with Stevie Nicks and Tori Amos; I would definitely buy those books. The one person whose writing I would be most interested in reading about are Leonard Cohen's. His songs are so heartfelt and personal. They are the most like poetry of any songwriter's I know and I would love to hear about the origin and influence behind them. Love, love, love him.

Bill Tue, May 1, 2007 at 02:21 PM EST

Annie Lennox/Eurhythmics
Aimee Mann
Joni Mitchell

Tue, May 1, 2007 at 01:57 PM EST

Richard Shindell

Coach's Mistress Tue, May 1, 2007 at 01:15 PM EST

I love Jimmy Buffet's lyrics. He really knows how to string imagery together.

Early REM Fan Tue, May 1, 2007 at 01:14 PM EST

R.E.M./Michael Stipe. I think even he flubbed the lines to his songs in concert, because they were so inscrutable. Later albums came with lyrics, but somehow, the magic had gone. Ahh, the weekends spent trying to figure out the lyrics to "Gardening at Night" ...

Nat X Tue, May 1, 2007 at 12:39 PM EST

I love Interpol. I want to know if there is actual meaning behind their songs, or if they're just a bunch of random words thrown together (sung with conviction, though). A Sting book will be awesome. As a kid, Sting's songs inspired me to learn about the Crusades, World War I, poppies, carbon-14, Scylla and Charybdis, and alabaster. I also learned the definition of corpulent and ebb. Thanks, Sting! Thanks Funk n Wagnalls! (It was pre-internet!)

zarvos Tue, May 1, 2007 at 11:46 AM EST

I've always liked Sting's lyrics and if there's anyone's lyrics I'm most curious about, it's definitely Sting. Aside from being one of the most literate (he was a teacher before fame) lyricists, I'm most curious about the hidden metaphors and subtle meanings in his songs.

Marci Tue, May 1, 2007 at 11:34 AM EST

Tori Amos
Aimee Mann
Natalie Merchant

Martha Tue, May 1, 2007 at 11:27 AM EST

I'd say Rufus Wainwright, but I enjoy making up my own interpretations too much. I'll go with your friend Sheila on the Duran Duran thing. I'd love to know what the "Union of the Snake" is.

blech Tue, May 1, 2007 at 11:10 AM EST

Tragically Hip. Weirdest. lyrics. ever.

Tue, May 1, 2007 at 11:09 AM EST

This is a great choice for a book because Sting actually uses proper grammar in his lyrics.

Matthew Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:59 AM EST

PHISH
I do not have clue what they are singing about

Kathryn Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:53 AM EST

Beck

Craig Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:46 AM EST

Tori Amos.

Karoline Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:33 AM EST

Bruce Springsteen

Jill Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:22 AM EST

I would love for Stevie Nicks to come out with a book like that!

Cat Tue, May 1, 2007 at 10:00 AM EST

Chris Martin

wildecat Tue, May 1, 2007 at 09:41 AM EST

Paul Simon. "American Tune" is truly poetic, so's a lot of his other stuff.

C B H Tue, May 1, 2007 at 09:27 AM EST

Tom Waits

Joe C Tue, May 1, 2007 at 07:59 AM EST

I've always wanted Carl Douglas to explain the true meaning of 'Kung Fu Fighting.' It's a mystery to me....