round one

...here is a blog about two things I am fond of: words and pop music.

Even though it’s mostly the melodies that grab my attention when I’m listening to music, and the words rather stay in the background, every so often the lyrics outshine the music and start to live independently in my mind, like a beautiful poem. In still other cases, it is not the lyrics as a whole, but merely part of it - a well-turned phrase or an interesting notion - that I come to associate with a song. Here you will find a collection of these latter creatures, which I am calling aphorisms, in a loose understanding of the term.

Some of the items listed here make me smile, some make me ponder, some make me confused - but I have found all of them worth thinking about more than once.

I hope that you will enjoy reading this. I will add new items as I hear and remember them. Please contribute your favourites, too!

Johannes

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You can steal what you love, but you can't love what you steal.
(Idlewild, “Future Works”)

I'd steal a car to drive you home.
(Teenage Fanclub, "Don't Look Back")

You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth.
(The Smashing Pumpkins, “Tonight, Tonight”)

You don’t get lost in the dark when you shine.
(Embrace, “I Hope You’re Happy Now”)

I don’t wanna learn more – I’m already tired by things I’ll never do.
(The Wonder Stuff, “Storm Drain”)

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m talking to myself.
(Woodface, “White light to you”)

Don’t always look for comfort in a song.
(Teenage Fanclub, “Fear Of Flying”)

I’m looking forward to looking back on days like today.
(Soul Asylum, “Crawl”)

The devil is not in the details, the devil is in my pants.
(Dog’s Eye View, “Everything Falls Apart”)

I’m sick of myself when I look at you.
(Matthew Sweet, “Sick Of Myself”)

Nostalgia isn’t what it was.
(Stephen Duffy, "So Far Away")

I ain’t an abacus, but you can count on me.
(Jamie T, "Operation")

I never said I was deep - but I am profoundly shallow.
(Jarvis Cocker, "Never Said I Was Deep")

I'm like a firecracker - I make it hot.
(Britney Spears, "Circus")

When you like music more than life, something’s wrong.
(K’s Choice, "Something’s Wrong")

Victory is sweet even deep in the cheap seats.
(Conor Oberst, “Cape Canaveral”)

I've had a pretty hard life for such an easy heart.
(Whiskeytown, “Easy Hearts”)

There ain't no cloud that a bottle can't chase away.
(Del Amitri, “Some Other Sucker's Parade”)

On a clear day I can read your mind.
(Rilo Kiley, “Give A Little Love”)