Nominations for Best Written Song of All Time

[_KimberlyAnn]

As if I didn't have enough things to worry over, I've spent the last couple of weeks trying to decide what song I feel to be the best-written of all time. What I discovered is that it's an impossible task. Still, I've narrowed it down to a few and thought it might be fun to take submissions here, as well. MDB posters have such varied taste in music, I can only imagine what might be nominated.

Also, I've found that the songs I believe to be the best written aren't necessarily my favorites. I've chosen three and I think that's a good number to submit and suggest that others do the same. It's not really a difficult or challenging task if one narrows their options down to a hundred or so. ;)

Please contribute not only a link to song choices, but also the lyrics, as well. That would be helpful, at least to me. I can't always decipher lyrics.

Here's my first submission, a song I've known for almost my whole life and to which I keep returning year after year whenever I feel the need:

Gentle On My Mind written by John Hartford. (Glen Campbell joins him on this version.)

Gentle on My Mind

It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk,
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch.
And it's knowing I'm not shackled by forgotten words and bonds and the ink stains
That have dried upon some line,
That keeps you in the backroads by the rivers of my mem'ry that keeps your ever
Gentle on my mind.

It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy planted on their colums now that binds me
Or something that somebody said because they thought we fit together walkin'.
It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving when I walk along
Some railroad track and find
That you're moving on the backroads by the rivers of my memory and for hours
You're just gentle on my mind.

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines and junkyards and the highways
Come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother 'cause she turned and I was gone.
I still run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face and summer sun might
Burn me 'til I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the backroads by the rivers flowing
Gentle on my mind.

I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin' cracklin' caldron in some train yard
My beard a roughning coal pile and a dirty hat pulled low across my face.
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can I pretend I hold you to my breast and find
That you're waving from the backroads by the rivers of my memory ever smilin'
Ever gentle on my mind.

Your turn.

KA

[_JohnStuartMill]

"Across the Universe" -The Beatles
"Hallelujah" -Leonard Cohen
"Send in the Clowns" - Stephen Sondheim
"Lucky" -Radiohead
"My Funny Valentine" -Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

[_Yoda]

Send in the Clowns" - Stephen Sondheim

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song!!!!

[_Dr. Shades]

Probably the most well-written song I've ever heard is the beautiful and tear-jerking ballad about a group of siblings' earnest desire to adopt a cat, called "We Want Some Pussy" by the 2 Live Crew. Click here for the official video, or click here for the lyrics.

[_cinepro]

What do you mean by "best written song"? Do you mean the best combination of lyrics, melody, harmony and performance? Or something else? A song that moves us? Inspires us?

The first song that came to mind was A Day in the Life by the Beatles, because it has the appearance of being simple (and in many ways it is), but it is also amazingly complex (and technically very advanced).

[_Gazelam]

I think your correct in saying that this is an impossible task. A favorite song can change depending on the weather, what food your eating, the current state of your relationship, how your jobs going, etc... etc..

I did have one that jumped out in my memory that I thought really impressed me.



Tool - Parabola

We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
We are choosing to be here right now. hold on, stay inside...
This holy reality, this holy experience. choosing to be here in...

This body. this body holding me. be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion.

Alive

This holy reality, in this holy experience. choosing to be here in...

This body. this body holding me. be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion...
Of what it means to be alive

Swirling round with this familiar parable.
Spinning, weaving round each new experience.
Recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this
Chance to be alive and breathing
Chance to be alive and breathing.

This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
Embrace this moment. remember. we are eternal.
All this pain is an illusion.

Video

[_Jersey Girl]

Okay, I'll go out on a limb and say that this is the very first song that came to mind.

"What becomes of the brokenhearted?" originally recorded and performed by Jimmy Ruffin.

Here's a version that remains true to the original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0GcXV2njY

Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Broken-hearted Lyrics

"As I walk this land with broken dreams
I have visions of many things
Love's happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion,
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe.
The fruits of love grow all around
But for me they come a tumblin' down.
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can't stand this pain much longer
I walk in shadows
Searching for light
Cold and alone
No comfort in sight,
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and goin to where
What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe.
I'm searching though I don't succeed,
But someone look, there's a growing need.
Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning,
All that's left is an unhappy ending.
Now what's become of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care.
I'll be looking everyday
I know I'm gonna find a way
Nothings gonna stop me now
I'll find a way somehow
I'll be searching everywhere"

[_KimberlyAnn]

What do you mean by "best written song"? Do you mean the best combination of lyrics, melody, harmony and performance? Or something else? A song that moves us? Inspires us?

The first song that came to mind was A Day in the Life by the Beatles, because it has the appearance of being simple (and in many ways it is), but it is also amazingly complex (and technically very advanced).

My title is grammatically incorrect. I knew it when I typed it, but was too lazy and woozy to think of a better way to word my subject line. It was quite late when I posted and I'd had two huge and very strong margaritas at my Sexi-Mexi's place. So yummy. The margaritas were good, too.

"Best written song" really means a combination of lyrics, melody, harmony and performance.

I love the song you chose, Cinepro. I'm a big Beatles fan.

KA

[_cinepro]

My title is grammatically incorrect. I knew it when I typed it, but was too lazy and woozy to think of a better way to word my subject line. It was quite late when I posted and I'd had two huge and very strong margaritas at my Sexi-Mexi's place. So yummy. The margaritas were good, too.

"Best written song" really means a combination of lyrics, melody, harmony and performance.

I love the song you chose, Cinepro. I'm a big Beatles fan.

KA

"Sexi-mexi's place" as in "the restaurant he works at", or "his one-bedroom apartment with lava lamps, beaded curtains, and shag carpet".

[_KimberlyAnn]

"Sexi-mexi's place" as in "the restaurant he works at", or "his one-bedroom apartment with lava lamps, beaded curtains, and shag carpet".

Silly Cinepro.

Sexi-Mexi doesn't live in the place with lava lamps, beaded curtains and shag carpet. He drives it!

KA