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Leafs
by Gary E. Andrews - 05/01/24 01:05 PM
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by Fdemetrio - 04/25/24 01:36 AM
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Joined: May 2009
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I know song lyrics have broken the rules of grammar many times, most notable double negatives. Two song lyrics come to mind:
From Something (Beatles) Somewhere in her smile she knows, That I don't need no other lover.
From Don't Rock The Jukebox (Alan Jackson) Now I ain't got nothin' against rock and roll
My question is: should you always use a double negative when faced with the choice?
I usually start with a title or maybe a little rhyme or phrase. - Harlan Howard
Co-writing = Compromise!
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Joined: Oct 2006
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If your character would say things that way, and the line fits, use them. If not, don't.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Johnson.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Yes, lyrics should reflect how real people speak. "Somewhere in her smile she knows, That I don't need no other lover" Better than "That I don't need another lover". or "That I need no other lover". But then, that ain't half bad neither. John
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Joined: Mar 2009
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I agree with Lee and John's responses. But avoid it if the results looked too contrived. It's better if the double negation seems genuine to the voice of the narrator/character in the song rather than those situations where it's used to quote someone else as that can seem like they're being portrayed as somehow 'lower class' and the narrator is superior to them.
I'll bet that some of our more prolific wordsmiths here could get a whole song out of the double negative theme. Might be fun.
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"I can't get no satisfaction" sounds interesting, but I have this nasty feeling someone's done it before. Ott
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Joined: May 2001
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My question is: should you always use a double negative when faced with the choice? No! Next question please
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Joined: Sep 2004
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I agree with the idea that if it makes it sound authentic then use it. however, in all other cases find a way to use grammatically correct lines.
I wrote a song several years ago called the double negative blues.
"I don't do nothing every day so why am I so tired anyway
the double negative blues open mouth and insert shoes I don't do nothing for nobody I don't never choose (nohow) Double negative blues"
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Joined: Sep 2004
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So, do a double negative really make a positive? I ain't gots no idea. Bad grammar don't work nohow. Whut?
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It is all about empathy.....The listener must understand and empathise with the singer......realistic dialect and phrases in common use adds empathy.....whereas sometimes grammatically correct lyrics would actually be alien to most people listening to the song as real people would never speak like that.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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It is all about empathy.....The listener must understand and empathise with the singer......realistic dialect and phrases in common use adds empathy.....whereas sometimes grammatically correct lyrics would actually be alien to most people listening to the song as real people would never speak like that. Some of us do. My last girlfriend told me I talked like a book.
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