The Slanguage of Lyrics

This is the first post of a new category of lyrics and music in slang. This song popped into my head this morning as I was thinking about the most recent slang I have heard. It is the first song to play on my ipod if I accidentally hit play all.  This is really a slang poem put to music.

 

311 – Down -
Chill light on my sight as my ego becomes
a funky child with some words on my tongue
be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
so while I scatter my spit I dream of juice
have you ever made out in dark hallways
displayed a kiss that made your day or say
you played a track from your record collection
it’s your mix, congratulations

We’ve changed a lot and then some – some
you know that we have always been down – down
and if I ever didn’t thank you – you
then just let me do it now

(Jump back in) I bet you light up when we start the show
follow me now very closely ‘cuz I told you so
you know we glow cuz we throw sun-rays
now we be freaky and we wanna stay (unh)

We’ve changed a lot and then some – some
you know that we have always been down – down
and if I ever didn’t thank you – you
then just let me do it now

Lightning strikes yo we be in that violent force of light
guaranteed to turn it out as bad as dolemite
because we’re dope kid change like a chameleon
and the channel whenever that wack show real world is on
you know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin’ battles
rattle inside your head feel redeemed like cola bottles
fall in love with your teachers on the wax
we are self made, check the technique, 311 in LA

We’ve changed a lot and then some – some
you know that we have always been down – down
and if I ever didn’t thank you – you
then just let me do it now

Keep my feet on the ground
keep my head in the clouds
electrified by the sound
comes from the down, and

We’ve changed a lot and then some – some
you know that we have always been down – down
and if I ever didn’t thank you – you
then just let me do it now

More of the Best Quotes About Slang

A continuation of The Best Quotes About Slang.

 

“By such innovations are languages enriched, when the words are adopted by the multitude, and naturalized by custom.”  ~ Miguel de Cervantes

“I’ve found that there are only two kinds that are any good: slang that has established itself in the language, and slang that you make up yourself. Everything else is apt to be passé before it gets into print.”  ~ Raymond Chandler

“All slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry.”  ~ G.K. Chesterton

“The downtrodden are the great creators of slang.“  ~ Anthony Burgess

” I know only two words of American slang, ’swell’ and ‘lousy’. I think ’swell’ is lousy, but ‘lousy’ is swell.“  ~ J.B. Priestley

“It is too late to be studying Hebrew; it is more important to understand even the slang of to-day.“  ~ Henry David Thoreau

It’s Begun

This is a poem that I wrote with some slang.  You can call it slang poem #1 or It’s Begun.

  It’s Begun

The night’s dank
Water hanging in the air
A cool breeze pushes my hair
Into my eyes, blank

My heart thuds quietly
At the rate of self-reflection
It wants out of my body
My mind goes the opposite direction

Searching into my core
I look for what love means
Have I ever really loved before?
The tears stream

My life is defined by apathy
I cling to nothing except
Those thoughts of urgency
Which on my heart have stepped

I crave an answer true
I want to feel alive
How do I know I love you?
I need an answer to arrive

The breeze has stopped
My eyes begin to focus
It’s begun

Perfect Ride

Another great slang poem using some So-Cal surfer slang.

Riding my surfboard to catch a wave,
The perfect ride is what I crave.

 

My board all waxed, I’m ready to ride,
On my belly into the surf I glide.

 

I paddle out fast and watch the swells,
Any apprehension I quickly quell.

 

There’s the one, it looks just right,
I position myself and stand up with all my might.

 

I feel so cool, I’m shreddin the waves,
The sea beckons to me, I am her slave.

 

That last wave was gnarly, crashed over my head,
Flattened me on the reef, miracle I’m not dead.

 

That was so cool, man what a score,
With my board I head back to shore.

 

Tomorrow I’ll be back ready to glide,
Always in search of the perfect ride.

Original poem is from allpoetry.com and found here

In Ginger Ale (Swap Quatrain)

This poem written in Cockney Slang comes from a contest at allpoetry.com The original can be found here It is a simple poem written in the style of swap quatrain.  You will notice that the first and last line of each stanza are the same but flipped. 

In ginger ale, for quite a while
Definitely not living in style
Gained weight, not tanned, visage pale
For quite a while in ginger ale

Doing the bird, alone in cell
Lack of contact is surely hell
My own the only voice I’ve heard
Alone in cell, doing the bird

No bread and honey, not one dime
For sweets and books to ease my time
I’m frustrated, not very funny
Not one dime, no bread and honey

It is brass tacks,I’ve given up
I’m now just a beaten pup
With mind, soul and spirits lax
I’ve given up, it is brass tacks.

Computer Slang Goes Poetic

Television commercials are even harping on the shorthand slang that has come about from instant messenger and texting. BRB, BBL, ttyl, ic, ROFLMAO, jk, nm, and w/e are just a few of the popular slang terms used. Sometimes it is very hard to figure out what these mean out of context. However for some reason it is easy in context even if you’ve never seen that particular one before. It may have to do with the fact that we’ve been exposed to it for a while; or is there something inherent in its nature that speaks to us?

One style of computer slang is to 1ns3rt num63r5 in the place of letters. Sometimes people also use the sounds of numbers 2 indic8 what they are trying 2 say. Now imagine poems written completely in this “shorthand” form. Well here is one: