To what extent do you learn lyrics by heart?

[Erik]

Some people I talk to can't sing along with their favourite albums 'cause they don't know the lyrics. This puzzles me. I tend to know all/most of the words to most songs by my favourite bands, and random bits and pieces here and there to almost everything I listen to. Ask me to write down pretty much any song by Dark Tranquillity, Tiamat, Iron Maiden, Slayer, etc. off the top of my head and I'm pretty sure I can do a decent enough job. This is not because I consciously study the lyrics, but something that comes with plenty o' listens and the occasional glance in the booklet. How about you?

 

[NAD]

I am terrible at memorizing lyrics, and even worse at getting them right when trying to sing along. But I appreciate fine lyrics, when I finally get around to reading them. I have lots of tidbits memorized though.

 

[MFJ]

I can sing along to Vintersorg. Old Vintersorg. In Swedish, pronounced correctly. It is essential to the musical experience to understand the rhythm and/or melody of the vocalist. Also, the lyrics are important for an understanding of the song. Obviously I don't know what the Vintesorg lyrics mean entirely, but to know how to sing them gives me a special edge when listening to the song, For Kung Och Fosterland, for example. For king and Country, I believe.

edit : I know most DT songs too. Especially Lethe, those lyrics are close to me.

 

[MFJ]

niiiicee

Et trolskot vargaland
Insvept i hostlig mantel
Utav tussmorkrets sfar
Ur sagans natt det stillsamt foddes

something something

 

[Krilons Resa]

Favorite albums? most of'em. Comes with continuous listening obviously. Once I sit down and read the lyrics along with the music though, I pretty much have most of the songs memorized 80%.

 

[Crimson Velvet]

I can sing/scream along to almost any Metallica, Slayer, Dark Tranquillity, old In Flames, Opeth song. No Immortal songs, though, but who the hell can.....?

In my opnion, it's not necesarry to know the lyrics to songs to fully enjoy them. I can't even start to think of how many black metal songs I love, without having the faintest idea about what they're singing about.

 

[MFJ]

Nice, erik. i'd show off and type lethe but it'll take too much time.

 

[MFJ]

cool

 

[NAD]

HEY MICKEY YOU'RE SO FINE
YOU'RE SO FlNE YOU BLOW MY MIND
HEY MICKEY
HEY MICKEY

 

[MajestikMøøse]

I don't know a lot of lyrics off by heart. I stopped studying lyric booklets awhile back, but that's mainly because most stuff I listen to these days is in a language I can't understand.

I can probably still recite some Megadeth lyrics though.

 

[NAD]

THEY KlLLED MY WIFE AND MY BABY
WITH HOPES TO ENSLAVE ME
PAAAAAAAAAAID BY THE ALLIANCE
TO SLAY ALL THE GIANTS
LAST MISTAKE
NO MORE MISTAKES

how close was I?

 

[MFJ]

HEY MICKEY YOU'RE SO FINE
YOU'RE SO FlNE YOU BLOW MY MIND
HEY MICKEY
HEY MICKEY

haha you're my new hero.

and now Max Johnson types out Asmegin lyrics without the knowledge of nowegian or a general understanding of what this guy is doing with his vox. (doing this by ear)

Da etesk steel manork nahm inpreyvin mannak
Verdin steela stemmen vistsa il in a

thats enough.

 

[NAD]

See I forgot the first mistake line. Idiot. Instead of fragging this one to bits I'll just post my favorite lyrics ever:

If, when I say I may fade like a sigh if I stay,
You minimize my movement anyway,
I must persuade you another way.

There's no love in fear.

Staring down the hole again.
Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.

Just remember I will always love you,
Even as I claw your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way.
It will end no other way.

 

[Tranquillian]

I don't study lyrics but I know most lyrics by my favourite bands.

 

[MFJ]

Swiss Colony Beef Log - performed by Eric Cartman

the stockings are hung on the chimney
and the presents are under the tree
mom is in the kitchen...
making some herbal tea

windows are covered with frost
and the candles are all on light
but as i wander through this quiet house
something just doest seem right

you see every year,
the neighbors bring us a swiss colony beef long
but the neighbors arent around
so theres no beef log to be found this year... no beef log

christmas isnt christmas without a swiss colony beeflog
without those cheese and meats
i dont think i can get along

mother tries to comfort me
she says, here son, here's some eggnog
but i fucking hate eggnog, seriously.

but what do i see
under the tree
grandma got a swiss colony beef log
just for me.

IIIIIIIIII grandma
swiss colony beef log baby
that whats christmas is all about
a rolley polley column of beef log baby
makes a little boy scream out loud

deck the halls with SWISS COLONY
falalalala etc.

i hate myself.

 

[JayKeeley]

Who needs a QuickieMart?
Now here's the tricky part,
Oh won't you rhyme with me....

 

[Captain Beard]

If I play any song enough, I'll memorize it. But usually, I recall "Greed" from Amorphis the fastest. I've typed the lyrics in time with the song many times on IRC.

 

[mousewings]

Black metal lyrics are difficult to memorise and often in another language so I can't sing those or memorise them well.

I do know how to sing Coldplay and some Anathema songs completely in tune. Some lyrics of "clean" songs are easy to get after I've listened to them zillions of times.

 

[matt99_crew]

Metal lyrics are almost always embarrassingly bad. I go out of my way not to listen to them. There are exceptions of course, but as a general rule any middle school kid can do as well.

 

[ScottG]

Then all at once the chaos ceased
a stillness fell, a sudden peace
the warriors felt a silent cry
and stayed their struggle, mystified

apollo was astonished
dionysis thought me mad
but they heard my story further
and they wondered and were sad

looking down from olympus
on a world of doubt and fear
its surface splintered into sorry HEMISPHERES



hmm... not bad, I think.
Yes, when it comes to my favorite band, I could probably pick up the lyrics to any song at any time. Not much room in the noggin for any more..