I've always thought Don Henley's lyrics were pretty good, working musically but also making more sense than most:

Dirty Laundry

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

Definitely agree on Don Henley, this has been one of my favorites since I could remember lyrically and musically.

Last Resort - Don Henley/Glen Frey


Music thread without music?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjVsyMFDj4w

Each time I hear that line on the radio I hear:

"And little early birdy gave my anus curly wurly"

One of my favorite songwriters of all time is Al Stewart.



History

Youtube

I like the huge number of words in Pink Floyd's 'One of these days"

"One of these days,
I'm going to cut you into little pieces."

That's it.

This song can beat that!

"Blinded by the Light" was first released in 1973 and was the first single Bruce ever released, from his first album "Greetings from Asbury Park N.J.". It flopped

Manfred Mann covered it in 1976 and it hit #1 in the charts.

Øystein

Blinded By The Light was alleged to be about masturbation.
Adolescent pumps his way into his hat would be a tip-off.
One must understand that Springsteen was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan in his early days,and was probably trying to BE Bob Dylan.

Being an old fart,as I am,I was around and aware of Springsteen long before he achieved mainstream success.Not trying to toot my own horn,but I'd venture to say that I was "hip" to Springsteen nearly from the beginning,and definitely long before most folks had ever heard of him.
I can't say I was ever a rabid fan,but I did like his early albums.They had some quality songs on them,and they ran counter to the popular trends of the day.Bear in mind that there was lots of other "stuff" being pushed by the labels at the time,and what he was doing wasn't it.

I've always enjoyed Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,Mary,Queen of Arkansas,Blinded By The Light,and his anthem to the American teen,Born To Run.That's one great song,no matter what anyone says.
I'd say his sell-out started with Born In The U.S.A,which is a song with a message that is grossly misinterpreted by most listeners.Actually LISTEN to the lyrics.

He did a few other popular things that I liked,like Pink Cadillac and Hungry Heart,but in my humble opinion,he had nothing else to say after that.
His records like Nebraska aren't things I would even attempt to sit through.

In my opinion,he became passe long ago.
He isn't on my radar,of artists I care anything about,but if certain songs come on the radio,I'll definitely listen,because they are quality tunes,and I like them.

Walking past a TV display in a store several years ago,I saw him and the E boys doing a show,and wasn't impressed.Didn't hang around to watch.

Bear in mind that my musical likes and opinions are greatly shaped by the place I grew up in-Texas-and the era of my coming-of-age.Plus being a guitar player and singer,too.

To make a long story even longer,Id like to also mention George Thorogood and The Delaware Destroyers.
They also came along at a time when virtually NOBODY was listening to or pushing retro,throwback music.Then you have this brash kid picking slide guitar in a style like old dead bluesmen,with a growling voice,a rhythm section,and a take-no-prisoners attitude.
It was right up my alley.
Do you think any of his stuff got actual AIRPLAY,in the beginning?
Of course not-it wasn't what the studios were pushing in the teeny market.
But for old-school blues maniacs like me-which Texas grows in abundance-that stuff was right up my alley,and I devoured every release that came out.Music like this was from-the-heart,made by people that idolized their musical heroes,and wanted to follow in their footsteps,whether they got rich or starved to death trying.

I completely missed out on genres like punk and angst and people hating their parents.
Had no frame of reference for any of that-didn't understand it,didn't want to,and it just didn't apply to me.And I still don't get it,and hope I never do.

By the way,there is a new ZZ Top DVD out,called Double Down.
It is a double disc release.
Disc 1 is the one you want.
Someone finally came to their senses,and made a great copy of the legendary performance in Essen,Germany in 1980 for the Rockpalast program.
This is Billy,Frank,and Dusty at their finest,supporting their new album,Deguello.
Not to be missed!!

that's good info, I remember just seeing something on VH1 recently where he was on a small stage talking to the crowd complaining how MMB changed 2 or 3 words to his song and that made it so much better.

I've never been a fan of Bruce, but just thought it was funny to hear that.

I enjoy Bruces newer stuff as well. I think "Tunnel of Love" and the dual release after that are his weakest albums, but Bruce and the E-gang rocks hard. I've been to several of their concerts here in Oslo, and they always give 110%, and play long.