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Lyrics Revealed

Here are the answers and notes to the guess-the-lyrics game.

I used my Launch station to get random songs, this means that there was a slight skew towards more recent, more popular music. It also meant that I wasn't completely familiar with everything played myself. Also, I threw in a few on my own that were stuck in my head 'cause I felt like it.

1. And being lost is worth the coming home. —Neil Diamond, "Stones" (jessknoch)

I was surprised anyone got this one. It's not a Diamond song that I'm familiar with.

2. And I bet you're making shells back home. —Belle & Sebastian, "I Fought in a War."

Contrariwise, I was surprised that no one got this one. B&S tend to go unguessed, but I thought that had good recognizability. Anyway, this line is from the chorus, so I thought it'd go down. I was wrong.

3. Been down one time, been down two times. —Fleetwood Mac, "Never Going Back" (rubrick)

4. Feel the beat from the tambourine. —Abba, "Dancing Queen." (amojojo)

The first of the really well known songs on the list. I think this is a funny line. In Chemistry class, when I was in high school, some of my friends decided they'd create a fictitious band. One of my friends decided that her role should be "Tambourine Girl." You know, the cute girl who kind of sings backup and vaguely beats the tambourine. That line always reminds me of that.

5. First the mic then a half cigarette, singing "Cathy's Clown." —Elliott Smith, "Waltz #2" (thedan)

I put this one in myself. It got stuck in my head after "Cathy's Clown" appeared on

jrw's list. I really love this line; I heard it once and became a fan.

6. Her Hitler hairdo is making me feel ill. —Radiohead, "Karma Police" (taradinoc)

What, Radiohead music has lyrics? I don't really pay much attention. Anyway, who would win in a fight between the Karma Police and the Dream Police?

7. I call a cab 'cause a cab will come quicker. —Public Enemy, "911 Is a Joke" (rikchik)

Man, it was hard choosing a single line out of this great rap. I picked this one because it was kind of suggestive of the title without being too much so.

8. I heard her sobbing. Her tears tasted so sweet. —Cibo Matto, "Apple"

I own this album, have listened to it many times, but I couldn't have told you the lyrics. I still can't, and I looked them up to find this line. I'm completely unsurprised that no one got it.

9. I just want to scream Hello! —Pearl Jam, " Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" (starsinmybelly)

I love this song. I haven't heard it in years, and now I find myself singing it every day. I used to own the cassettes of Ten and Vs, but I lost track of them after Vitalogy. Also, I carefully considered how I should punctuate the line to be expressive, but not to limit possible interpretations.

10. I wouldn't talk down to you. —The Police, "Roxanne" (playingpossum)

Another well-known song. I tried really hard to choose a line from the song that wouldn't be an immediate giveaway. When I mentioned how hard this was to

ojouchan, she replied, "Roxanne was on that list?" So I guess I succeeded. Still, it wasn't so obscure that it couldn't be guessed, which was also nice.

11. If you won't get your hands that dirty, what's inside? —Throwing Muses, "I'm Alive"

Another one that I figured would be left unpicked.

12. I'm good here in my car, I'm good with what you said. —They Might Be Giants, "Memo to Human Resources" (cnoocy)

I'm not to big on Spine, and this song is pretty forgettable to me. Launch through it up, though, so I tracked down the lyrics.

13. I'm not scared, light my candles. —Nirvana, "Lithium" (sineala)

Another hit song, and another difficult time finding an evocative obscure line. This line is strange because it's one I sing along with easily, but could never ever repeat without the song playing. Seeing them written down was surprising.

Also, Nirvana. They were kind of a nifty band, weren't they.

14. I'm waiting, I'm waiting for you. —Garbage, "Milk" (slipjig)

I unwittingly duplicated an item on

taradinoc's list.

15. It was no one I had heard of. —Suzanne Vega, "Tom's Diner" (leighjen)

For those interested, it was the original a capella version, not the remix. Again, it was fun to find a line that is hard to place but is very definitely a part of the specific song.

16. Smiling in the bright lights coming through in stereo. —Counting Crows, "Mr. Jones (joenotcharles)

I think this was the easiest, it's a well-known line from a hit song. But it's such a great line I couldn't resist it.

17. Smoke a lot of weed on the first . . . first . . . first . . . first . . . —Kruder & Dorfmeister, "1st of Tha Month (K&D Session Remix)"

It wasn't hard to choose this line from the song; it's the only line in the song. It's originally taking from a song by Bone Thuggs & Harmony. All in all, another one I figured would be left untouched.

18. The conductor, he's still stuck on the line. —Oh Susanna, "I'll Keep It With Mine

This is a cover of the Bob Dylan song, but when I chose the lyric, I may have unintentionally made this more difficult. The original Dylan line is: "The conductor, he's weary; he's still stuck on the line." The Oh Susanna version leaves out the "he's weary". Strange. Hopefully, no one thought they had it but figured it couldn't be.

19. Turn off your headlights and go slowly. I don't want it to let up. —Sarah Harmer, "Silver Road"

I'd never heard this song or this artist before, but both were very good. I tried to pick a line I thought would be noticeable to Canadian readers, but it went unnamed.

20. Well, I had a little metaphor to state my case. —Aimee Mann, "Jacob Marley's Chain" (paulobrian)

Ah, what a wonderful non-Christmas song. It's been in my head, and so I threw it on the list. Sorry,

nothings, close but no cigar.

21. You gotta drive all night just to feel like you're OK. —Beck, "Golden Age" (ojouchan)

I love Sea Change but it's mostly a blur of beautiful music. I'm surprised anyone got it.

22. You'll say you understand; you'll never understand. —Fiona Apple, "Never Is a Promise" (one_woman_army)

I saw a line very similar to this on someone else's list (can't recall who) and thus it became stuck in my head.

23. You look like shit, and smell is even better! —Liz Phair, "Easy"

This is from the Juvenalia EP, which is really good. But it's an EP, so it probably counts as a rarity, which makes it very hard to identify songs from it.

24. You speak of signs and wonders, but I need something other. —U2, "Crumbs from Your Table" (angelohana)

This is from the new album, so I wasn't entirely surprised that it didn't get noticed right away. It's a good song, though. I didn't really pay attention to it while I was listening to it, but a little while later, I wanted to hear it again. In five years, it'll be a song that U2 fans love, I think. At least, I'll probably really love it in five years.

25. You think you're so smart, but I've seen you naked. —Barenaked Ladies, "Blame It on Me" (off_coloratura)

This line gets picked out a lot, but it's a really striking line, so I picked it again.

And that's it. Thanks to all those who aprticipated and congratulations to everyone who got one right.

ThuNYTX: 8.

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It may just come down to who's less imaginary. The Dream Police are "inside my brain" so the singer may just be imagining them, but the Karma Police are just kind of invoked, so they may not exist at all. (I don't entirely recall the lyrics to Karma Police, so correct me if I'm wrong.)

re: #8 - I'm like that with nearly all Cibo Matto songs.
re: #15 - ironic we both had "Tom's Diner," same version, on our lists. :)

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