"Borrowed" song lyrics...

[Droogan_Leader]

Hey ladies and gents, this likely comes as no surprise, but musicians don't always give credit for their lyrics where credit is due. I personally like tracing an artist's roots back and seeing who their influences were. One example is Snoop Dogg's version of Vapors, which was originally done by Biz Markie. But one of the more interesting ones I recently ran across that caught me off guard was Metallica's use of Lord Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage in one of their songs; check out the similarity:

The thorns which I have reap'd are of the tree
I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed.
I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.

~Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto iv, Stanza 10.

-and-

Metallica, portion of "Bleeding Me"

I'm sowing the seeds
I'm sowing the seeds I've taken
I'm sowing the seeds I take for granted


This thorn in my side
This thorn in my side is from the tree
This thorn in my side is from the tree I've planted


I think this is pretty interesting. I'm confused--I'm impressed with Metallica because they seem to know something about literature, but at the same time (I haven't checked the cover), I'm willing to bet ole Byron didn't get his due.

Anyway, can anybody think of any other cool examples of artists borrowing heavily from earlier artists/poets/etc?

Maybe it's a lame idea for a thread, but oh well /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

[Mighty_Wingman]

Hey Droog ,

Been a while.

I don't think it's a lame idea for thread, just kind of a tough one to answer. The best answer I can come up with comes from U2's " The Fly ".

"It's no secret that conscience can sometimes be a pest.
It's no secret that ambition bites the nails of success.
Every artist is a cannibal , every poet is thief .
All kill their inspiration, and sing about their grief. "

I know for a fact that " every poet is a thief " line is stolen but I can't remember from whom. I find it a little ironic that they would choose to steal that paricular line, but therein lies the point. I suppose .

As for Metallica ? Don't even get me started .

[Threadkiller]

While I can think of a large number of literary references in songs, it's hard to think of ones that seem 'borrowed' like your example.

Simon and Garfunkel put a lot of old poems to music. Even Judas Priest did it with Diamonds and Rust. Rush has songs and entire albums that are based on books and old stories. And then there's the Lord of the Rings stuff that Led Zeppelin did.

The difference is, all that stuff seems above board. They are more of a tribute to the original work rather than some kind of underhanded move like borrowing it and passing it off as your own.

[KingBison]

Lord of the rings and Led Zepplin???????? Which album please!!!

[jjcourtright]

This is one that has been bothering me of late:

Fuel - "Falls on Me" 2003

Chorus:
And all of your weight
All you dream
Falls on me it falls on me

Collective Soul - "Heavy" 1999

And all your weight
It falls on me
It brings me down
And all your weight
It falls on me
It falls on me

[KingBison]

Almost every rap song in existence.

Missy elliot -Gossip Folks
Gap Band - Double Dutch Bus

[RobinHoodDaffy]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Even Judas Priest did it with Diamonds and Rust

[/ QUOTE ]

Even worse than that, Judas Priest took it from Joan Baez!

[Threadkiller]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Which album

[/ QUOTE ] On Led Zeppelin II the song Ramble On and on Led Zeppelin IV, Misty Mountain Hop both contain obvious references to LoTR. I'm sure there are more but those are the most notable. Rush has a song (a boring one) called Rivendell as well. I think in the mid 70s it was considered cool to reference Tolkien in rock and roll.

[KingBison]

Frodo Lives!!!

[ratm1966]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Almost every rap song in existence.

[/ QUOTE ]
You hit the nail on the head with that statement. There are so many rap songs out there that rip off 70's and 80's music it is pitiful. My daughter listens to rap and when one of them comes on, I will sing along with it. She is surprised that I know the song, so I go get my CD with the original song on it. The funny part is, most rappers don't even acknowledge that they got the music and lyrics from someone else's song.

[KingBison]

Yep, its a dam shame in my opinion.

[Razorback]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I'm impressed with Metallica because they seem to know something about literature, but at the same time (I haven't checked the cover), I'm willing to bet ole Byron didn't get his due.:

[/ QUOTE ]

Metallica has based a large portion of their work on previously written literature. Also, I believe that Byron has been dead too long for him to receive any financial gain from it. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

RB

[Droogan_Leader]

RB, you're right, but when you cite somebody's work, I think it's more about the principle than the money.

Does any artist/poet make money when somebody else uses their works? I don't know whether they do or not, I'm wondering. I know, for example, that Weird Al has a LOT of thanks/mentions in his albums, because he parodies people like crazy. If so, he probably pays out a lot.

[Razorback]

Did you check the Metallica CD booklet to see if they thanked, cited, or otherwise mentioned the sourced for their lyrics?

RB

[karmattack]

Alright, you two. This fight is just creeeeeeeeeeeeeping along. What do I have to do to instigate some sheeyit?


Come on? Did Metallica cite the Bible for Creeping Death?

[jjcourtright]

I'm sure they just watched "The 10 Commandments" alot growing up. But I'm sure Chuck Heston don't get know credit.