Something in the way, Yeah…

Song lyrics are one of the most intoxicating ways to get words out.

If you’re trying to get a message across or tell a story, having music accompany it has the potential to raise your intentions to new heights. They’re also memorable because they flow with a melody that causes the listener to retain it – either for the words, the music, or both.

I use lyrics all the time to support a social media post, or to say something I don’t want to outright say myself – it’s coy, it’s what I do. Even as a writer, I find that someone may have already written what I needed to get out into the ether, so – heck, why not?

It’s been said that these lyrics are the most appealing lyrics of all time:

“Well, I’m standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona – and such a fine sight to see; it’s a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin’ down to take a look at me.”

The Eagles “Take It Easy”

There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re recognizable – and awesome – but those lyrics don’t check off all of the boxes for me – and I really like the Eagles, too. It’s not a knock on them – not at all.

The lyric that appeals to me the most – for all sorts of reasons – is:

“There’s been a hoot owl howling outside my window now. ‘Bout six nights in a row..”

Michael Martin Murphey “Wildfire”

Now, this isn’t the only bit of lyrics that I cling to – that causes a reaction in me – but whenever I hear a lyric that I like, this is the bit that always comes up in unison.

The way “hoot owl” and “howling” and “outside” and “now” all roll together to form the statement is some of the most delicious word stew I’ve ever seen and heard. It doesn’t hurt that the song is one of the best songs out there, in my opinion, either. But you can’t argue the alliterative excellence of that phrase.

It’s pleasing – it pleases me – as does the whole story of Wildfire. In fact, Murphey has a great catalog of music and I hope to see him one day. He’s out there doing these cowboy jamborees in places like Tulsa and Wichita – Grand Junction and Grand Prairie – and I hear his Christmas shows are a whole other level.

Anyway. What lyrics sing to you? What do you remember out of the blue from a song?