Words to never use

[Nephew Twiddleton]

I'm coming up with a running list of words and phrases to never use in song lyrics, and reasons why. Feel free to make suggestions and I will consider them. Also feel free to use these guidelines.

1. Never under any circumstance mention California, any variant or pun on California (such as Cali or Californication), or any place in California, especially Los Angeles/City of Angels, especially especially streets in Los Angeles.
Reason: California is not very metal. I doubt it's even rock and roll. I could see it working in a country song, maybe.
Exceptions: The lyrics include deaths of Californians, preferably by means of the state sinking into the Pacific while on fire from earthquakes and stuff.

2. Never mention any musical instrument in your lyrics.
Reason: There is no reason for this at all.
Exception: The instrument in question is nowhere on the song. Maybe. Unless it's Devil Went Down to Georgia, which I didn't write anyway.

3. Brain.
Reason: Sounds silly. Use mind instead.
Exception: maybe ok if followed immediately by the word damage.

4. Never use the string of words "yeah yeah yeah no" or "no no no yeah"
Reason: Inconsistency.
Exception: None.

More to come.

[Requia ☣]

Are these your personal rules, other people's rules, or observations about song lyrics?

Also, an exception to number 1 if its the last one: there's a song, All of California and Everyone Who Lives There Sucks.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Are these your personal rules, other people's rules, or observations about song lyrics?

Also, an exception to number 1 if its the last one: there's a song, All of California and Everyone Who Lives There Sucks.

Personal rules as well as observations of lyrics. It started when I heard some Alice In Chains song, the one where he mentions California and says "somebody check my brain" and I thought   That's two stupid things in a song right there! So it started off as an observation and ended up with being guidelines.

And, I agree with your exception for number one.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I dunno.

Californication pretty much summed up America in the last 20 years.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

People glaringly guilty of the California rule:
Anthony Kiedis (if this were a crime, he'd be doing life).
Sheryl Crow.

Country music is ok, because it has songs about places, going to places, and shooting people in places, and getting put in jail in places.
Johnny Cash is exempt on grounds of being Johnny Cash.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

People glaringly guilty of the California rule:
Anthony Kiedis (if this were a crime, he'd be doing life).
Sheryl Crow.

Country music is ok, because it has songs about places, going to places, and shooting people in places, and getting put in jail in places.
Johnny Cash is exempt on grounds of being Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash wrote country music.

The shit they write now is mostly emo pop.

[Succulent Plant]

Brand names of shoes, like Nike or Louboutin.

Reason: Is a reason really necessary? 

[Nephew Twiddleton]

I dunno.

Californication pretty much summed up America in the last 20 years.

Summing up is one thing. Bad lyrics are another.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

People glaringly guilty of the California rule:
Anthony Kiedis (if this were a crime, he'd be doing life).
Sheryl Crow.

Country music is ok, because it has songs about places, going to places, and shooting people in places, and getting put in jail in places.
Johnny Cash is exempt on grounds of being Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash wrote country music.

The shit they write now is mostly emo pop.

That's why I made the exception. Folsom Prison Blues is an awesome song.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Brand names of shoes, like Nike or Louboutin.

Reason: Is a reason really necessary? 

I don't think I've been exposed to that, but yes, definitely.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I dunno.

Californication pretty much summed up America in the last 20 years.

Summing up is one thing. Bad lyrics are another.

I don't see how pointing out the worst parts of America means "Bad lyrics".

Also, "bad" is a relative statement, isn't it?  You stay true to your art, and Taylor Swift cleans the fuck up.

FACT:  The American people aren't interested in good lyrics.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

People glaringly guilty of the California rule:
Anthony Kiedis (if this were a crime, he'd be doing life).
Sheryl Crow.

Country music is ok, because it has songs about places, going to places, and shooting people in places, and getting put in jail in places.
Johnny Cash is exempt on grounds of being Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash wrote country music.

The shit they write now is mostly emo pop.

That's why I made the exception. Folsom Prison Blues is an awesome song.

Well, it's not much of an exception.  That IS country music, and it's just one example.  Keith Heatherly ("Flowers on the Wall") is another, as is Roy Orbison ("Crying"), though most people don't recognize him as country.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

I dunno.

Californication pretty much summed up America in the last 20 years.

Summing up is one thing. Bad lyrics are another.

I don't see how pointing out the worst parts of America means "Bad lyrics".

Also, "bad" is a relative statement, isn't it?  You stay true to your art, and Taylor Swift cleans the fuck up.

FACT:  The American people aren't interested in good lyrics.

Ok, American people aren't interested in good lyrics. I get that. I was just trying to make a semi-humorous thread about words not to use in lyrics, not the content or message of those lyrics. I'm not a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers aside from a song here or there. And I think that references to California in a song are silly.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I dunno.

Californication pretty much summed up America in the last 20 years.

Summing up is one thing. Bad lyrics are another.

I don't see how pointing out the worst parts of America means "Bad lyrics".

Also, "bad" is a relative statement, isn't it?  You stay true to your art, and Taylor Swift cleans the fuck up.

FACT:  The American people aren't interested in good lyrics.

Ok, American people aren't interested in good lyrics. I get that. I was just trying to make a semi-humorous thread about words not to use in lyrics, not the content or message of those lyrics. I'm not a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers aside from a song here or there. And I think that references to California in a song are silly.

You just made Mama Cass cry. 

[LMNO]

Do not use words you can't define coherently.

Cf: "Ironic".