Best Song Lyrics (Part XV)

It's a little embarrassing to have just realized I haven't included a single female songwriter yet in this continuing series on lyrics.  There are plenty to choose from, although not as many these days as in the 60s and 70s.  In terms of contemporary singer/songwriter/performers, Lady GaGa comes to mind, but not enough history yet.

For my 'best song lyrics' category, I'm going to go with Sarah McLachlan.  Known these days as much for her charity work, she has a great, soulful music library to choose from.  She's also covered a lot of Christmas season songs, my favorite being Gordon Lightfoot's Song For A Winter's Night.

My choice for a great example of her music is Building A Mystery, for which she won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.  It's about keeping certain aspects of our lives hidden from others.  It was a bit unique for the time (1997) in that it was a popular radio song that contained a naughty word, which made for a gap in the radio lyrics.  That part goes like this -- can you see the naughty word?:

You woke up screaming aloud
A prayer from your secret God
To feed off our fears
And hold back your tears
Oh you give us a tantrum
And a know-it-all grin
Just when we need one
When the evening’s thin
Oh you’re so beautiful
A beautiful fucked up man
You’re setting up your
Razor wire shrine
‘Cause you’re working
Building a mystery
Holding on, holding it in
Oh yeah you’re working
Building a mystery
And choosing so carefully