Lindsey has certainly grown as a lyricist, yet even in the seventies he could undo me.
Many times, if you're just reading the words on paper, they seem insubstantial, but combine them with his vocal accents and something is expressed that really goes beyond words. I say vocal accents, because he doesn't convey messages with his singing per se. The yelps, screams, and staccato bursts seem to yank meaning from his core. Primal.
One of the simplest lyrics that get me is "don't say that you love me." To me, it means that love never stopped anyone from inflicting hurt and love never stopped them from leaving. So, don't talk about love. Sometimes love doesn't matter. Sometimes, it's not enough. So, he pushes love aside as being inconsequential and insufficient. Just say that you want me.
And maybe it's because he writes the music first, so often the barest lyrics seem so layered. With a few short words, he builds concepts in my head that I always come back to. Fate takes time. I guess I need to be amazed. Melodies awaken sorrows from their sleep.
Now, starting with Miranda and then flowering into the UTS songs, his lyrics could frequently and consistently serve as standalone poetry. So, there's been a definite evolution in the last few years, but I found his words penetrating long before that.
Michele
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