Best line from any Rats song

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Best line from any Rats song

Mark L · Loudmouth

So many, but to name but a few:

Justice isn't blind, it just looks the other way

Heroes going cheap these days, price...a bullet in the head

And now I always wander through fields that never stood

You know most killing is committed at 90 degrees, when it's too hot to breathe and it's too hot to think

Oh everybody tries, it's Dale Carnegie gone wild

The girl in the cake jumped out too soon by mistake, somebody said the whole thing's half-baked

Every line of Rat Trap!

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Agree, As you sat so much to pick form Some very good one liner's

She's only 17 but she know how to make boys fight,

I need to scream every now and again Try to understand it's only me,

Fly's everywhere buzzing in the air filling my body with filth and disease

He said I'll let you into my big secret Ray The final truth is there is no truth

When I was a boy I was told that heaven was hot and hell was cold If I told lies I would freezes my soul but it didn't seen to matter

The band was good and it was a Saturday night That's all that really matters

Your born in tears and you die in pain That's your limit

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Always like the lines form Dave: The golden moment/the blinding gleam/ it's all over/ that's too cheap. Sums up addiction in a few lines and it's even more true when you've been there. smile

From When The Night Comes : Frankie you're no different from any of the rest/they tie you to your table, and the chain you to you desk (the tyranny of work)

Real Different: a new day but it's no different/ stop and turn away for more of the same / oh oh oh oh etc!

Overall there are just too many great lyrics and most of the songs resonate so well with me that choosing any one or two lines is an impossible task. I think we covered this topic a while back.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Agree. Didn't think this one through. Great wording to 99% of his rat song's

suss · In the Long Grass

noelindublin wrote:
Overall there are just too many great lyrics and most of the songs resonate so well with me that choosing any one or two lines is an impossible task.

^^^^^ This! ^^^^^

Although I have to say that as a callow 13 year old I did like 'you're a true blue sui - side by side they walked....' I thought that was very clever smile

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Probably nearly every line in every sone, as you say. Just utter brilliance.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Agree with you all Just out of this world Well ahead of there time I'm for thinking between the ears

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

When I get old, older than today, I'll never need anybody's help in anyway.

Though they owe the Beatles for that one

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Every line of Rat Trap!

I can't think of a better Rats song lyrically. Every word matters.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

I notice a lot from reading songlyrics that singers seem to be obsessed with things like explaining their love lives, and the problems contained theirin. This can be very self indulgent, seeing that most fans do not know the artist personally. The Rats lyrics were for the most part pretty outward looking, and Bob never got into the habit of telling us about his love life. In general that is true of most of the punk era bands.

daggerrat · Never In A Million Years

did you ever see me touch a scrap of meat

oh my god

junkyard_smile · The Elephant's Graveyard

An obvious one, but don't think an opening line gets any better than "the silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload"

Would agree with Mark and Argee on the overall brilliance of the lyrics for Rat Trap. Really love those longer story telling songs like Joey, Rat Trap etc, the type of song that became more infrequent the longer the Rats career went on as the lyric sheets became shorter.

Mark L · Loudmouth

It is one of the best opening lines of any song ever.

Another of my favourite lines is: I was standing in the rain for 15 minutes, that's a quarter of an hour too long.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

"Our eyes are dry but we're bored to tears" - I Can Make It

"They kissed with their eyes "goodbye" - Living in an Island

"You get hooked so quick to anything, even your chains" - When the Night comes

"Look at the brickwall gravestone where some kid has sprayed
Saying nobody could be bothered to rule here O.K." - Joey

Ah, there's so many!!

-- Edited by Lisa on Friday 7th of March 2014 07:56:23 AM

-- Edited by Lisa on Friday 7th of March 2014 07:57:24 AM

suss · In the Long Grass

There are so many, and alot already quoted, but if I was pushed to name one I'd probably go with 'flirt with death but never kiss her' - genius. (Someone will tell me it's plagiarised now, like so many Geldof lines smile )

Derek The Dane · V Deep

Deep down in her pocket she finds 50p,is that anyway for a young kid to be and hope bites the dust behind all the closed doors,just summed up my teenage years.I will never forget the first time I heard Rat Trap.I knew that I would have to leave,get out,get away for a better life.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Talking of Bob's lyrical genius you might be interested to read some of the background to it: t.co/bINwAEX4Zo

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Anybody ever notice the lines from the childrens movie The Jungle Book- a song called I Wanna Be Like You most probably is the origin of Bobs ire and wish to be not like anyone else. The song was released in 1967 and doubtless Bob heard it at some stage.

Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like you, too

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 10th of March 2014 02:19:16 PM

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 10th of March 2014 02:22:20 PM

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

noelindublin wrote:
Anybody ever notice the lines from the childrens movie The Jungle Book- a song called I Wanna Be Like You most probably is the origin of Bobs ire and wish to be not like anyone else. The song was released in 1967 and doubtless Bob heard it at some stage.
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like you, too

Well they're exceedingly good lyrics biggrin

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Hmm, now I'm imagining a (blind) date and apple slice ....

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Well the jungle book was always my favourite as a child. Probably explains something

.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEEPaYD5KZE

Here's the song I Wanna Be Like You(The Monkey Song), which Bob might have borrowed from, just in case anyone does not know it. smile

Mark L · Loudmouth

Don't talk to me of teenage love and burning fire, I don't believe it: all excuses are the same
You're searching round for scapegoats everywhere you go, look in the mirror and you'll know just who to blame

From the brilliant 'It's All The Rage'

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

A worm in one ear and slug in the other. It doesn't look like her are you sure that's mother. ( I know where he was going with on this line)

Mark L · Loudmouth

Not one of my favourite lines, but I'd be interested to know what he was driving at with this one......

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
Not one of my favourite lines, but I'd be interested to know what he was driving at with this one......

He talks about going down to the graveyard to visit the dead his mum had been dead along time so in ref to the dead he's saying the earth has claimed her back

stuart · House on Fire

They saw me there in the square shooting my mouth off bout saving some fish, reference to him speaking at a save the whale demo (I think)

Mark L · Loudmouth

manatthetop wrote: He talks about going down to the graveyard to visit the dead his mum had been dead along time so in ref to the dead he's saying the earth has claimed her back

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Thanks, now I understand.

Mark L · Loudmouth

stuart wrote:
They saw me there in the square shooting my mouth off bout saving some fish, reference to him speaking at a save the whale demo (I think)

Fabulous line from arguably their best single and it does relate to Bob's attendance at a Greenpeace rally in Trafalgar Square.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Mark L wrote:
Not one of my favourite lines, but I'd be interested to know what he was driving at with this one......

it's called Surrealism Mark. Or maybe just dream imagery. Everything does not have to be linear to make sense. I love Please Don't Go, and its lyrics though I know its not everyones cup of tea. Try seeing it as a glimpse into Bob's subconscious. Likewise with Mood Mambo. All a bit like a William Burrough's 'cut up'

Good lyrcs can take many different forms apart form just plain 'storytelling'. Captain Beefheart was a very good example of a brilliant surrealist lyricist than always read well and made 'sense'.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 31st of March 2014 02:52:20 PM

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

noelindublin wrote:
Mark L wrote:
Not one of my favourite lines, but I'd be interested to know what he was driving at with this one......
it's called Surrealism Mark. Or maybe just dream imagery. Everything does not have to be linear to make sense. I love Please Don't Go, and its lyrics though I know its not everyones cup of tea. Try seeing it as a glimpse into Bob's subconscious. Likewise with Mood Mambo. All a bit like a William Burrough's 'cut up'
Good lyrcs can take many different forms apart form just plain 'storytelling'. Captain Beefheart was a very good example of a brilliant surrealist lyricist than always read well and made 'sense'.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 31st of March 2014 02:52:20 PM

Hear, hear Noel. Well put I also happen to think Please don't go is a great wee song I can't fault the lyrics

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I love all the different styles Bob uses to write. Just more evidence of his genius and creativity.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Not a fan of either Please Don't Go or Mood Mambo. Together with Red, they are Mondo Bongo's weakest songs. I think Geldof writes best when he's storytelling rather than surrealisming. If you can imagine a word like that exists!

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
Not a fan of either Please Don't Go or Mood Mambo. Together with Red, they are Mondo Bongo's weakest songs. I think Geldof writes best when he's storytelling rather than surrealisming. If you can imagine a word like that exists!

Each to there own Mark. Overall. I think the rats songs are well up there with the best of them. I do have to point out in my opinion the weak album out of the 6 for me goes to V Deep. But in saying that I do like Skin on skin, House of fire, Up all night (Still think the USA one is better) Talking in code (Better live) Never in a million years (hit and miss for me anyway) Little death?? (play now and again) Charmed lives ( Never) This song, and I know it's the rats, but I just can not for the life of me get into this track. He watches it all ( I think this should have been a single) Bitter end ( Bitter song) Storm breaks ( Not for me)

For me the 3 singles should have been House on fire (Which was a single) He watches it all. Then. Skin on skin.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

I think. Please don't go,Mood Mambo & Another piece of red are really very good crafted songs lyrically

suss · In the Long Grass

Have to agree with Mark myself. Please Don't Go not a favourite and Mood Mambo not even as positively viewed as that. Unlike our illustrious moderator I do quite like Another Piece of Red however.

Suppose it's no coincidence the first two had me lost lyrically. Would be interested to know what the intended imagery is.

Understood Another Piece of Red at least, which goes a long way to why I rank it higher.

Guess I'm no surrealist either.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

suss wrote:
Have to agree with Mark myself. Please Don't Go not a favourite and Mood Mambo not even as positively viewed as that. Unlike our illustrious moderator I do quite like Another Piece of Red however.
Suppose it's no coincidence the first two had me lost lyrically. Would be interested to know what the intended imagery is.
Understood Another Piece of Red at least, which goes a long way to why I rank it higher.
Guess I'm no surrealist either.

Have to say the only weak track on the Mondo Bongo album has to go to Whitehall 1212 The rest I think are great to very good songs

suss · In the Long Grass

Whitehall 1212, again one I like. Prepared to accept I may be in a minority there.

Now this one I think does have imagery, as the sounds conjure up some old 60s black and white movie police Jag, bells ringing in hot pursuit etc etc. Coppers represented by guitars, robbers by the drums, fleeing the scene.

Works for me anyway smile

Re-read Mood Mambo lyrics in isolation, something I don't think I've done (only ever as track played previously) and without the 'music' I suppose I can see allusions to slick nightcluubers on the pull using their dancing to express themselves, but that, like the track imho anyway, might be crap.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Whitehall 1212 is a good, fun instrumental. Although of course there are some lyrics at the start and end of the track, with a repeating Policeman-like 'Hello? ' in the middle. I recall Bob and Simon talking about this track on Saturday Superstore with Mike Read and finding the clipped, well-to-do switchboard operator's 'To whom?' particularly funny in response to the enquiry "Can I speak to Blake of the Yard?'

Never quite sure who posed that question, but seems to be the same voice preceding and saying 'Up all night, extremely long version'

Since he produced the associated albums, could it have been Tony Visconti?

noelindublin · Loudmouth

I always have doubts about instrument 'songs' on albums. I need lyrics to conjure up images, and make the song 'about something'- otherwise I just don't know what I am supposed to feel. Bowie's Low is largely full of tracks with few words and is a bit trying, to say the least. Maybe one reason I've never been a fan of classical music is the lack of lyrics.It's very hard to conjure up emotion with just music alone, for me anyway.

I'd go along with Manatthetop and put Whitehall as the weakest track on Mondo Bongo. To think they left this on, and thought Real Different was only worthy of being a B side beggars belief. I can see Suss's point about Whitehall conjuring up images of cops and robbers in some old Ealing b/W film from the past, or some sort of intrigue on the government block, but I still think it's weak, and not the sort of thing that was gonna help the Rats case when they needed good songs at that time.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Thursday 3rd of April 2014 01:07:56 PM

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
Whitehall 1212 is a good, fun instrumental. Although of course there are some lyrics at the start and end of the track, with a repeating Policeman-like 'Hello? ' in the middle. I recall Bob and Simon talking about this track on Saturday Superstore with Mike Read and finding the clipped, well-to-do switchboard operator's 'To whom?' particularly funny in response to the enquiry "Can I speak to Blake of the Yard?'
Never quite sure who posed that question, but seems to be the same voice preceding and saying 'Up all night, extremely long version'
Since he produced the associated albums, could it have been Tony Visconti?

O Kay that's fine by me,Cheerio,cheerio,cheerio

Mark L · Loudmouth

Manatthetop said, in Best line from any Rats song:

Okay, that's fine by me, Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio

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Not a standout line I'd have gone for particularly, being a bit of a throwaway track and all that, but as you were alluding to before, each to their own...

suss · In the Long Grass

Think that might just have been a ratty reference to your vote on Whitehall 1212 (i.e. fine by me/each to their own) rather than a vote for a best line contender?

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
Manatthetop said, in Best line from any Rats song:
Okay, that's fine by me, Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio
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Not a standout line I'd have gone for particularly, being a bit of a throwaway track and all that, but as you were alluding to before, each to their own...

Mark have a day of. I was just making light of what you has said about Whitehall using a rats line to do it LOL

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

suss wrote:
Think that might just have been a ratty reference to your vote on Whitehall 1212 (i.e. fine by me/each to their own) rather than a vote for a best line contender?

Good to see your tuned in Suss

Mark L · Loudmouth

Couldn't see the trees for the wood

Or maybe, yes, I could? biggrin

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
Couldn't see the trees for the wood
Or maybe, yes, I could?

Very good Like it

Mark L · Loudmouth

All from Dave:

Flirt with death, but never kiss her.

The view from on your knees deceives.

It's all over, that's too cheap.

Last 3 words of that last line is Geldof and the band singing it at same time but separately and with different intonation. Very effective. Works similarly well in Million Years where 'Don't stop now' gets the same treatment.

jamieuka · House on Fire

Best:
He bought and sold a video, made a fortune in between.

Worst:
Put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

It's not the best line but I like it.

And in the light of day it all worked out and you were right how does that feel

clareontarget · She's So Modern

The line that paints the bleakest picture must be:

Hope bites the dust behind all the closed doors and pus and grime ooze from its scab-crusted sores.

I can see such a grim picture in those words.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

'You took the risk and you opened up Pandora' box/Look what jumped out, now someone's gone and stolen all the locks'

Just might be relevant in Scotland soon!

noelindublin · Loudmouth

'You took the risk and you opened up Pandoras Box/Look what jumped out, now someone's gone and stolen all the locks'

Just might be relevant in Scotland soon! Bob is advising women to vote with their heads. smile

Also just love the line from Diamond Smiles ' Love is for others, but me it destroys'. As we said before there are way too many great Rats lyrics to just pick out one or two.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Tuesday 16th of September 2014 01:49:41 PM

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
So many, but to name but a few:
Justice isn't blind, it just looks the other way
Heroes going cheap these days, price...a bullet in the head
And now I always wander through fields that never stood
You know most killing is committed at 90 degrees, when it's too hot to breathe and it's too hot to think
Oh everybody tries, it's Dale Carnegie gone wild
The girl in the cake jumped out too soon by mistake, somebody said the whole thing's half-baked
Every line of Rat Trap!

Agree with you here. Regarding Scotland bob should keep his opinion to himself Come Friday morning no matter what the out come that wee place will be split in two Coming from Ireland I for one know what that is like.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Diamond Smiles contains many fab lines like Rat Trap.

Nobody saw her go, they said they should have noticed as her dress was cut so low and it only goes to show, ha ha, how many real men, any of us know.

jamieuka · House on Fire

I don't think it gets much better than this:

There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear | Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears | And the Christmas bells that ring there, are the clanging chimes of doom | Well, tonight, thank God it's them, instead of you

Rats' song? Sorry, as you were.

FingersLullaby · Like Clockwork

Not only cripples have a need for crutches - Fall Down
Gets me right in the feels every time.. <3

Mark L · Loudmouth

I think that's brilliant too