What is the single greatest lyric in all of music?

Our essence is distilled

and all familiar taste is now drained,

and though purity is maintained

it leaves us sterile,

living through the millions of years,

a laugh as close as any tear;

living, if you claim that all

that entails is breathing, eating, defecating,

screwing, drinking,

spewing, sleeping, sinking ever down and down

and ultimately passing away time

which no longer has any meaning

- Still Life, Van der Graaf Generator

"I've had choices since the day that I was born.

There were voices that told me right from wrong.

If I had listened, no I wouldn't be here today.

Living and dying with the choices I made."

-"Choices" George Jones

I think a lot of people can relate to the message in this song. Whether you like the song or not, the lyrics really get their point across.

how can there be ONE single greatest lyrics in all of music.

wouldn't be fair to say, since there is a lot of music I haven't discovered yet...

Not sure if this is the best, but it's one I love. this is a really tough question. I find it really hard to decide, as there are so many great lyrics already written

"So goodbye yellow brick road where the dogs of society howl. you can't plant me in your penthouse. I'm going back to my plough. Back to the howling old owls in the woods, hunting the horny black toad. Oh i've finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road." - Elton John "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

The Stars are Projectors - Modest Mouse (the name of the song title itself)

I just think nothing has ever truly made you wonder how infinite the Universe is than those 4 words.

Also I completely agree with the guy who mentioned "I will see you in the next life" by Radiohead, I used to never be able to listen to that song without bursting into tears.

Sang this song on the phone to my gf when I was in Iraq. She said it was the most beautiful words she ever heard.

Bob Dylan; "Tomorrow is a long time"

If today was not a crooked highway

If tonight was not a crooked trail

If tomorrow wasn't such a long time

Then lonesome would mean nothin' to you at all

Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin'

If I could hear her heart a-softly poundin'

Yes, and only if she was lyin' by me

And I'd lie in my bed once again

We're no strangers to love

You know the rules and so do I

A full commitment's what I'm thinking of

You wouldn't get this from any other guy

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling

Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down

i dont know if greatest but i really like it:

"I looked up and saw a third machine

It was erect and motionless, like the others

An insane resolve possessed me

I would give my life to the Martians, here and now"

- Dead London, War Of The Worlds, by Jeff Wayne.

In all of music there is no other lyric that has endured more time, spanned more cultures, crossed over more music styles, warmed more hearts, or conveyed a more important message than this:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

dang I could post a lot of lyric segments to this question. geez. umm I will go with this.

In the four corners of life are the golden mirrors

Reflecting what you are and what you are to be

In the first is a young boy white dove in

His hand, in the second is a warrior in armor

In the third is the old man gold watch

In his hand fourth and last

No reflection at all

The Apparition by Fates Warning

got to include one more.

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

Time - Pink Floyd