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The 20 Worst Lyrics Ever: No. 13

"There were plants
And birds
And rocks
And things"

--America's 'Horse With No Name'

Like in New York, nouns are scarce in the desert, and apparently our poor soft rockers simply ran out of them. Too bad they didn't consult Michael Stipe: "There were plants and birds and rocks and prouds."
Last Lyric Next Lyric

Posted by Spinner Staff
Filed under: The Hit List

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  • Comments (192)

Reader Comments(1 of 10)

vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

Georgeat 3-27-2007

Like the comedian said, You been in the desert long enough to write a song ...... name the damn horse!!!

Reply
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lucyhzat 9-16-2008

DAVE BARRY quoted it from a reader in Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs

vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

suoiresat 3-27-2007

in the dessert, you can't remember your name...it's true.i went to vegas and i still don't remember who the hell i am.

Reply
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DixonSteele1on1at 1-04-2009

If there's an award (or even list) for most misquoted song lyrics, you (and others) win suoires!

The two lines are:

In the desert you CAN remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

Funny thing is, I was in Las Vegas, and the AmWay Convention remembers you! mwuahahahahahaha!!!

http://www.accessbackstage.com/america/song/song005.htm

vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

jonat 3-27-2007

Actually the lyrics to this song were writen by acclaimed poet Shelle Silverstien

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chimayaiat 10-21-2008

When I first heard it was Shel's lyrics, I was aghast. Here's a man who, in the his prime, was one of the satirical geniuses of the 1960s, not to mention "Miss Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Forgot to Take the Garbage Out". Acclaimed or not, he should hit with a rubber chicken for "aint there aint no one for to give you no pain."

vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

j d criveauat 3-27-2007

the song is filled with alot of facts if you knew what the song was about those nouns are there for a reason

the name of the horse is the USS AMERICA yes that is where they got their name from they were stationed on her while they were in the navy

again people who are talking about something they know nothing about

and while you are in the navy nobody knows your name just your rank and last name never your first name it does not matter

and anyone who ever served on a carrier knows exactly what that song is about

Reply
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DixonSteele1on1at 1-04-2009

Ouch! JD!!

Talk about skewing facts and fictions not in evidence!

A) The group America is named after the country.

B) The horse had no name.

C) Myself having served on an aircraft carrier, the song is definitely about being alone in the DESERT!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_(band)

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j d criveauat 3-27-2007

those nouns in the song a hourse with no name is there for a reason and if you knew what the song was about you would understand why they were there

but like usal people talking about things they know nothing about

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johnnywasat 3-27-2007

Oh come on! The worst lyric in this song--if not all time--is "the heat was hot." How did you miss that?

Reply
vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

Daveat 3-27-2007

Hey leave America alone. At least they were less stoned that the guys writing this list

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Daveat 3-27-2007

Hey jd, you say the song is about a carrier, can you explain what dessert the carrier sails across??

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rbr617at 7-27-2008

UMMM DAVE? ARE YOU STONED AGAIN? YOU CAN'T SAIL A SHIP ON DESSERT UNLESS IT'S A REALLY REALLY BIG LAKE OF PUDDING. HOWEVER, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A DESERT, THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT NOUN. YOU SO VERY VERY STOOOOOPID.

vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

Aimee Healyat 3-27-2007

America is an icon of the music industry and for music surrealism which would explain why you don't understand their poetic art. at least they were original and decent role models I don't know about the other parents out their (not children) but I am sick of radio porn. My kids will learn it soon enough without radio influence. Every since my kids figured out what a bodonkydonk is and other choice phrases that don't exist in the English language I only listen to the oldies while drivin with the 6 8 and 10 year old kiddies.Profanity should be discreet. I can be profane and love it to an extent but not in front of the kiddies.

Reply
vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

GeeBeeat 3-27-2007

The "desert" refers to the bottom of the ocean...some deserts were oceans at one time...I love that song, and now that I live in Arizona, the references are even stronger, even tho it may be a Navy thing, as the previous poster states.

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Martin Binghamat 3-27-2007

There is plants, birds, rocks, and etc in the desert. They are telling what they saw in the desert. "America" wrote "Sister Golden Hair, I need you, Does she really love me, and Magic". They are one of the top 5 groups of the 70's and early-mid 80's. I am shocked that they are listed. There are other groups and singers that deserve the 13th spot.

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XbrianXat 3-27-2007

When you're on as much drugs as these guys were when writing this, they probably saw ALOT of things

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Danat 3-27-2007

Good grief! Would you rather had the lyrics as: There were plants And birds And rocks And cacti
And succulents And snakes And scorpions..... Surely there's got to be worse lyrics out there than on this song!

Reply
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Harmonyat 3-28-2007

Hey, first of all leave New York out of it. There are plenty of nouns there. Forgettaboutit!

Second, if someone is out in the desert long enough then they would probably forget alot of things. Like the name of their horse among other things.

I never liked this song in particular but I don't think these lyrics are so bad. As a matter of fact I like most of the lyrics on the list because they are a little bit quirky. It makes them a little more interesting not typically run of the mill. Isn't that what creativity supposed to be all about?

Reply
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gpa of 2at 3-28-2007

they are talking about smack the horse is heroin. it felt good to be up on the reins, just shot up .in the desert no-one remembers your name no shit niether do you.la la la la la there is no pain

Reply
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