We couldn't be a music site without being just a littttttle bit obsessed with lyrics which is why The Music team are asking some of our favourite favourites about their favourite lyrics in the new series, 'Wax Lyrical'. With their ninth full-length album - the aptly titled '9' - out in the world today, Jamie Terry from psych machines Pond unveils some of his favourite lyrics of all time. From Nina Simone and T-Rex, to some tunes much closer to home.
"Winnie-the-Pooh lying with his legs in the air, impotent, singing those were the days i was young and hungered for flesh like a bear. Now I've grown toy, on a turning display out of sight. An overgrown boy, lost in a world turning very very slowly to night" - From Take Me Avalon, I'm Young. This imagery is hard to unsee.
Cosmic Dancer by T. Rex mixes the sublime and the ridiculous so perfectly: "Is it strange to dance so soon? I danced myself out of the womb."
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I wish I wrote this.
Joan Armatrading is such a good songwriter I could have used her lyrics for any of these questions, but Is It Tomorrow Yet? makes me so happy.
It captures the excitement of a child on Christmas Eve: "Is it tomorrow yet...? I'd like to look my best for my babe" with its simplicity and honesty.
I don't speak French so the only lyric that I know is the translated title - "don't leave me" - but this still hits harder than any other song I can think of, and I imagine would even more if I knew the rest of the words.
Nick (Allbrook) and Joe (Ryan)'s band before Pond - Mink Mussel Creek - had some wondrous and inspiring lyrics, and this one from They Dated Steadily has one of the best lines: "I'm licking the hotplate, so when I get to the sun i know I'm gonna be ready".
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Pond's brand new album 9 is out now, you can grab a listen below.