Poet laureate Simon Armitage picks his all-time favourite lyrics
LYR possesses a somewhat unconventional lineup comprising Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Richard Walters, and producer-musician Patrick J. Pearson. Yet, their collective sound skilfully employs today’s finest elements to evoke echoes from ancient times.
At its crux, LYR brings together the unique perspectives of a poet, a singer, and a producer to create a distinctive sound that blends spoken word, lyrics, and music. Armitage, known for his contributions to poetry, takes on the role of the band’s lyricist, infusing their music with rich and evocative language. Walters provides the vocals and songwriting, adding a melodic and emotive layer to the compositions, while J. Pearson, with his background in production and music, contributes to the overall sonic landscape of the band’s sound.
The collaborative endeavours of the trio have given rise to a sound that eludes simple categorisation, establishing LYR as a captivating and unique entity in the modern music scene. In their 2023 release, The Ultraviolet Age, they combined a “dramatic monologue spoken by a tyrant” with sitar-like wails, trip-hop influences, and lush melodies. Similarly, An Unnatural History presented a 16-track homage to Eldon Street in Barnsley, Yorkshire, serving as a love letter to the locale.
The band’s innovative approach merges poetic musings with musical elements to create a captivating and immersive experience like no other. As a result, its sound seamlessly offers a unique perspective on everything from everyday life to more abstract conceptualisation. Considering the power of poeticism in awakening parts of the soul never before touched, Armitage once revealed his favourite lyrics of all time.
As seen below, his preferred reflections often delve into aspects of existence that transcend the limitations of language.
Simon Armitage‘s favourite lyrics:
‘My Perfect Cousin’ – The Undertones
“He thinks that I’m a cabbage
‘Cause I hate University Challenge“
Armitage says: “Hilarious, ironic (smart boy cousin Kevin couldn’t have executed such a pithy half-rhyme) and keyed into the everyday.”
‘A Sad Lament’ – Orange Juice
“You came exactly on the hour, such precision worries me / like a bower bird in her bower as you watched me from the balcony.“
Armitage says: “Beautifully crooned by Edwin Collins on the lesser-known Texas Fever EP. Romeo and Juliet with a bit of voyeurism and a bit of ornithology thrown in.”
‘Elegance’ – Prefab Sprout
“Please be ashamed that you’re afraid,
Equating elegance and real estate.
When all the bullion in the world,
Cannot transform what’s simply second rate.“
Armitage says: “Exceptional poetic scansion, word-play, diction, syntax, then landing on that emphatic final rhyme. Few song-writers come anywhere near this level of brilliance.”
