I just listened to Jackson Browne's "The Load Out"...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

...and I will apologize to any Jackson Browne fans here, but good Mormon bachlorette party, those are some poorly written lyrics.

People you've got the power over what we do
You can sit there and wait
Or you can pull us through
Come along, sing the song
You know you can't go wrong

I mean, seriously. I hate criticizing artists work and claiming I could do better, but....I could have done better....in eighth grade.

[nomorenomore08]

1. John Lennon closed the book on that type of song with "Power to the People" and "Instant Karma."

The "rousing populist anthem" is almost impossible to pull off successfully, or even without smothering amounts of cheese.

[jobycom]

2. Yeah, but it fit the melody line.

You write a twenty minute song, you've got room for a few bad lines. Or a drum solo.

I always thought James Taylor was the king of bad lyrics (not counting country music).

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Problem was the whole song sucked.

I mean, I never knew if he was talking about the roadies or the band or its fans or anyone. It just meandered aimlessly until they got to the "Stay" cover.

Now roll them cases out and lift them amps
Haul them trusses down and getem up them ramps
cause when it comes to moving me
You guys are the champs

[jobycom]

4. I didn't think so.

It was pretty clear what and who he was singing about. Art is about honesty and insight, not cleverly crafted lyrics that meet some objective criteria. "Starry Night" is a painting of a night sky. The David is just this guy, you know? The purpose of sophisticated lyrics or earth-shaking technical advances is simply to better convey the message the artist is conveying. If he can do that with simplistic lyrics, so much the better.