Yes, the lyrics parade is very good, but it's not always convenient to either print it out or be near a computer when you listen. MES doesn't want his lyrics printed, says the listener should make an effort. What do you think?

definitely not. hate it when artists print lyrics (i even try to avoid the lyrics parade as much as pos here as tend to end up like that mouse in the cartoon who gets sold glasses by an evil travelling crow n finally sees the fairy castle for the rubbish dump it always was (sniff))

Nope. Too easy, I'm afraid. Think of what great threads would have never been had lyrics been printed! :D

There are some lyrics printed in Extricate, though (and apparently some of the Cog reissues liftes lyrics from the lyrics parade — Grotesque, I think?).

But I'm sure there would have been people disagreeing with the printed versions,as they do now. Look at the misprints already existing on Fall record sleeves.

yes because then maybe we can really get into the mind of mes.

P.Ubu finally printed lyrics and later apologized for doing so:

"To print lyrics is a bad thing" ("Raygun Suitcase" liner notes, 1994)

I don't think MES is the sort who writes most of his lyrics ahead of time -- I think there's a lot of adlibbing -- so no. The only reason to print lyrics is if you want to present them as written word, like poetry. They should NOT be included specifically for clarification or interpretation.

MES' lyrics are more like verbal collage that's organic to the music being played. He purposefully will mangle phrases upon repetition just to fuck up the listener. Printed lyrics are pointless, and actually diminish the power of the words (which of course need the music anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised if half of lyrics I'm hearing are misheard, but that's okay since I have my own meanings associated with them.

I like the murkiness and mystery of it all.

No to lyrics. Adds to mystery; also it's always a good laugh to go on Lyrics Parade (no offence). On there, they had (from Sing Harpy) "They put her on Genius Showtime...when I always thought it was 'Junior Showtime' which was kids' cabaret show...all part of the fun...

No.

Which band is it that includes lyrics but asks people to not read them while listening? Pulp? (I'm at work or I'd look meself) -- Foe

then again if i was a lead singer i wouldnt print my lyrics.

Actually, can I change my vote to yes? But they shouldn't be the lyrics to the songs on the record... maybe just similar enough to sow confusion, but otherwise quite different. And all with the wrong titles. Then you can choose which song to sing it along to once you've mastered the "heard" version.

Actually MES often carries lyric sheets around on stage. He does seem to want them to not be "definitive" though (I seem to remember an interview where he said the German lyric book that was published c.1983 was actually frequently wrong, and that was the way he wanted it).

no to printed lyrics (yes to mystery & murkiness!) but i do like some random bits of MES writing on sleeves.... possibly/preferably having nothing whatsoever to do with the record.... :P

I just figured these were transcriptions of songs already written so he wouldn't forget (or rather, wouldn't have to remember).

Certainly not! Ruins all the fun of decyphering MES code. Maybe as Otherdave suggests, different but similar words, prompts, phrases, (similar to Hex sleeve) but not lyric sheets like blummin Fleetwood Mac or summat!

Couldn't agree more – I like the idea that on early albums Mark had so mnany words bursting out of his that there was this overflow of new ideas pouring onto the sleeves.

yeah - was pulp (always thought this smacked of Have Cake Will Eat)

Always find it interesting when printed lyrics deviate from what is actually sung. Smiths and Morrissey CDs have this. Presumably lyrics are submitted in original form, then evolve slightly in studio and no one remembers to change the written version.

Some artists seem to include lyrics with all their releases. Genesis used to, I think. The Beatles did it with Sgt. Pepper, the White Album and Magical Mystery Tour. Wire too. I'm not sure if any lyrics with records are really justified.

i remember reading an interview with morrissey when yr arsenal came out n he said he'd decided not to include a lyric sheet because he wanted it to be a more "physical" record - think this did actually make a difference as well...

An overwhelming NO...but why do we need a lyrics parade, then?

The sleevenotes of PBL include snippets of lyrics for Garden and KC.

HPAK have some lyrics on as well.

In the video for EYF we get a brief glimpse of a long, handwritten lyrics sheet.

Invaluable reference material for our lists!

why not do it once or once in a while? this band is about defying expectations

but what if you couldn't get out again like in Fantastic Voyage???

"No" for me. I suspect some lyrics are spontaneous anyway.
The lyrics pde does an admirable job (I found out recently that I can't tell Doug Yule from the Cure in Shoulder Pads!!!), but I seldom go there.

Never ever include the lyrics with any album, ever.

Not only does it spoil the fun of working out for yourself (have a bleedin' guess!) but if you read the lyric sheet while listening to the album then your not really hearing the music.

It was who Pulp gave lyrics with their common people album, but warned the listener not to read the lyrics while the album was playing.

The general consensus is an overwhelming no. But how many of the people who voted no have ever consulted the Lyrics Parade? Why is it okay to do this...aren't you spoiling the mystery? (Yes, I know there are disputed lyrics, but not as many as some people make out).

I don't think I've ever consulted the Lyrics Parade, but I wouldn't care either way if lyrics were included. You don't *have* to look at them, and most of the time, I don't read them anyway.

More often than not, printed lyrics, even official ones, aren't correct. They change in the recording studio but no one bothers to go back and adjust the lyrics already written on paper.

Defo no-its naff having the whole lyrics-but part thereof is cool

i have consulted the pde to check a niggling thing out and to (contradicts self) revel in the poetry sans music though.

and to know what a pillock i am..for singing i dont need no rhyme about stuff
instead of i dont need no roundabout stops :ohdear:

I think PBL was the best example. Print lyrics which read particularly well and to intrigue (Garden), but leave plenty of mystery and Baghdad Space Cog-type analysis.

You'd take all the fun of deciphering the words (wrongly) and getting your own unique vision of the song, they should come along later eg On the Lyrics Parde and you can re-listen to the album to see how wrong/right you had been. :applaud:

:applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
Bastard Snake-Hall Anarchist!

I wouldn't want to see printed lyrics on Fall albums, but what about including the reams of lyrics MES allegedly writes then scraps to get down ot the core essence of the song? :P

maybe they could on some due out album print the lyrics [a bit like how we mishear them]....so it is the lyrics [but only as heard by various ppl ] not the secret MES ones.

especially really funny misheard lyrics.... so that when you listen to the song u can tell it is a mile off the actual lyrics... but u can see where they're coming from to have thought they were the real lyrics.

I've now got a perverse vision of Rachel Welch in a yellow lycra jump suit swimming round in MESs head..... :blink:

Coz its not artistic like or credibily n very naff to put out lyrics with an LP however none of us are the artist in question n we are fans so its ok for us to have a lyrics source ont internet...

What a bunch of precious wankers.

I asked MES about this once. He said you don’t need them – “Make up your own to Fall music!”

No, because Smith is the master of the "is that what he's saying, I've always thought he was saying..."

Contraflow or Country Folk
Spine Trak or Spider Track
John Quays or Junkies

and so forth.

It compliments the music. It's obvious and simple, but then there's something going on which is oblique and coming at you from the corners of the speakers and you're not quite sure that you can trust your ears.