Wow this is a lot more difficult than I first anticipated!!!
The selection of song lyrics below are fantastically composed, beautiful, poignant, poetic and speak, when combined with compelling melody, to entrance the listener!
Course that's only my opinion! I tend to hear lyrics before music but it's the union that has an emotional impact on me and causes me to love it or hate it!
I couldn't possibly compile everything as pretty much every song by story tellers like Billy Joel, Chris de Burgh, or Jim Steinman are fab and the evocative musical numbers with such heart and soul are too many to mention but here's a taster.
So here are some songs that you may or may not know but I feel are worth knowing so perhaps I can introduce a few of you out there to some new material!
Hypodermics on the shore, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore
CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...
Goodnight Saigon
We met as soul matesOn parris islandWe left as inmatesFrom an asylumAnd we were sharpAs sharp as knivesAnd we were so gung hoTo lay down our livesWe came in spasticLike tameless horsesWe left in plasticAs numbered corpsesAnd we learned fastTo travel lightOur arms were heavyBut our bellies were tightWe had no home frontWe had no soft soapThey sent us playboyThey gave us bob hopeWe dug in deepAnd shot on sightAnd prayed to jesus christWith all our mightWe had no camerasTo shoot the landscapeWe passed the hash pipeAnd played our doors tapesAnd it was darkSo dark at nightAnd we held on to each otherLike brother to brotherWe promised our mothers we'd writeAnd we would all go down togetherWe said we'd all go down togetherYes we would all go down togetherRemember charlieRemember bakerThey left their childhoodOn every acreAnd who was wrong? And who was right? It didn't matter in the thick of the fightWe held the dayIn the palmOf our handThey ruled the nightAnd the nightSeemed to last as long as six weeksOn parris islandWe held the coastlineThey held the highlandsAnd they were sharpAs sharp as knivesThey heard the hum of our motorsThey counted the rotorsAnd waited for us to arriveAnd we would all go down togetherWe said we'd all go down togetherYes we would all go down together