lyrics subforum

[Wjames]

I was trying to think of songs where the lyrics could work well on their own without any music.

I think this song, Small Plane by Bill Callahan is one:

You used to take me up
I watched and learned
how to fly.

No navigation system
beyond our eyes
watching.

I always went wrong in the same place
where the river splits towards the sea,
that couldn't possibly be
you and me.

Sometimes you sleep while I take us home
that's when I know
we really have a home.

I never like to land -
getting back up seems impossibly grand,
we do it with ease.

Danger, I never think of danger,
I really am a lucky man
flying this small plane.

I like it when I take the controls from you
and when you take the controls from me,
I really am a lucky man
flying this small plane,
eyes scan the path ahead
and all around.

---
I removed some of the repetition and added some punctuation. Certain sections work really well on their own, other parts don't work as well without the music. I am also a biased reader because it's incredibly difficult not to hear the music in my head while reading the words.