Lyrics versus songs (Trash a lyric? Why not try to do it better instead?)

Forostar

Forostar

Ancient Mariner
LooseCannon said:
Perun's takedown of ATG's lyrics are around somewhere. Worth the time to read. So wrong.
Click to expand...

To be frank, I find such breakdowns exaggerated and even a bit unfitting. Harris didn't write a university paper. Perun didn't break down the lyrics of a historian, specialized on the subject. These are lyrics by a songwriter.

Sometimes we forget that we're talking about songs, not about texts. And by focussing so much on lyrics, one might ignore the song (and often the music as well), which I find a sad thing.

Take Alexander the Great. It has some fantastic epic music, and singing. Yes there are mistakes, but I don't see why it should take away the listening pleasure.

On the other hand, I know where Perun is coming from. He has a lot of interest in history.

So I reach out my hand to him and all the other lyric fanato's:
I'd like to see you write alternative lyrics which would fit as well (sonically/rhythmically) as these current lyrics.

Hereby I invite people on this forum to write better lyrics when (s)he doesn't like (a) certain line(s).
Let's have it. Not just ATG, any Maiden song. And we're not just going to correct texts, it has to fit to the song.

Why do I prefer to make relations to the song, instead of focussing at plain text?
The answer is simple: The inspiration for a lyric is not more important than the creation itself.
 
This initiative deserves praise, because if our history freaks pick up the glove here, we can have some really interesting things coming our way.

(And after witnessing LC's lyrical abilities with that rapper edition of The Trooper, I actually think he can come up with some good stuff  :D)
 
I must read this breakdown of AtG... will try to search for it as soon as I get some free time unless someone graciously provides the link. *hint hint* :p
 
Looking forward to Quest for Fire as well.

:)

What will one do with that first line (and perhaps some others as well)?
 
Quest For Fire is beyond all hope of rescue  :P

Maybe one can replace "dinosaurs" by "sabre tooths" as in sabre tooth tigers? Alternately use its latin name - In a time when smilodons roamed the earth? It works!

And those have coexisted with stone age humans.
 
^ LOL! It works. It really does. :)

I haven't read the breakdown of ATG yet; but from what I could gather, it sounds like a criticsm based on historical inaccuracy. I don't really do that unless the lyric is asinine and controversial. I put premium on the music over the lyrical content. So if the music is great and the lyrics sound nice/flow well, I'm generally forgiving of the content.

My main gripe with QFF is basically just what I said on the worst lyrics thread: It just sounds comically cheesy and cartoonishly campy for me. I really don't care if dinosaurs walked the earth or not (although I'm an evolutionist as opposed to being a creationist); it's just that the lyrics simply don't work for me at all :p

BTW, this reminds of a bit from the F666 documentary where Bruce was talking about a running argument that he has with Steve. It appears that Steve puts a premium on the music while Bruce puts a premium on the lyrics. I'm with Steve on this one.
 
Me too vala!

Good attempt Wingman, though Smilodons sounds a bit funny (but I reckon the rest of the lyrics too?  :D ).
In case you or others want to try alternatives, they're still welcome of course.
 
You have to take into consideration that Steve is no History professor, and there was no Wikipedia in 1986.

Regardless, it doesn't matter to me because I don't know enough about history to know what's wrong with the lyrics. I think people get way too caught up in the past (look at all the arguing on ATG videos on YouTube).
 
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