U2 do soft-rock and hummable melodies very well; personally feel the problem is overexposure more than over-rating.

Mind, though I'm sure he means well, Saint Bono irritates a bit.

My favourite lyric would be from Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower":-

# "No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke/ "There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke. #

Tough call... I'm always amused by "I was forced, with remorse, to learn the bassoon..." (Dracula From Houston by the Butthole Surfers)

I've a couple that spring to mind...

"All tied to their things
They are netted by their strings
Free to flutter in memories of their wasted wings"
In the Cage - Genesis (1974)

"I think she's made of glass
She breaks with the lightest touch
And cuts me when I try to put her back together"
When She Stares - Span (2004)

Problem is, lyrics, for me, work as a whole, not just one plucked line. So if I quote, out of context:

"Flowers in the water/Floating off downstream"

it doesn't sound like much. But I'd happily argue that Erasure's 'Am I Right?' is lyrically one of the best songs around.

However, I'll try my best by first offering:

"I'll protect you from the hooded claw/Keep the Vampires from your door"
(Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power of Love)
"I am Human and I need to be loved/Just like anybody else does"
(The Smiths - How Soon is Now)

But personal favourite is probably (this week):
"Don't just stand there and shout it/Do Something about it"
(Depeche Mode - Judas)

Way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way too many to choose from! (plus my memory's terrible so at the moment I can't think of many at all... lol!)

But, here's a few selected cool ones. Mostly from stuff I've listened to today!

"It's your eyes that make me smile."
(Oh Yeah - The Subways)

"No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women,
No fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark."
(Turning Japanese - The Vapors)

"A line of vodka tears inside.
A sudden boredom helps my mind.
Staring through a thousand dead eyes.
I guess my nerves are brutalised."
(Condemned to Rock n' Roll - Manic Street Preachers)

"Fingertips have memories, I can't forget the curves of your body."
(Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger)


Sadly, one of my favourite lyrics I can't print outside of the After Hours Forum! But it comes from The Ataris song "The Last Song I Will Ever Write About a Girl".