Ted Nugent - A Thousand Knives Lyrics

I think he borrowed a bit of phrasing from I Wanna To Go To The Sun. The lines "they're cutting into you babe, it happens to you every day" is sung a lot like the opening lines of the Frampton song.

Boy Ted really needs Derek!
Heard this love without Derek
And Ted alone was lacking!
He should've never let Derek go!

Really took a liking to this song!I
Ted wasn't the same after
Derek left!

It's "A youth that's been misspent scratching at my wall...

A couple lies is like a thousand knives.

Ted should've never let Derek go! He was
the voice that made Ted great! But he didn't
call me and ask For advice! Lol!

1978 I was a junior in high school. Portland Maine at the civic center,never forget it,general admission, tixs were around 20 bucks. Loudest concert I ever been to.

Look, not to spoil your memory banks and whatnot...but, concert tickets in the late 70s were right around 6 to 9 bucks. I'm looking at my 1980 Ted Nugent ticket at the Seattle Center Coliseum and it was $9.50.

A lot of people gave their lives for the rich who run this country... Ted just wants to be one of them!

Saw Ted 3 times, in the 70's. Indianapolis

First line is 'You've been gettin' desperate'

14 Dislikes ? WTF ? May "A Thousand Knives" cut into you baby.

Ted was a good guitar player, but he was also a NARCISSIST and misogynist. They're are many more accomplished guitar players then Ted that don't do the political platform crap. Where Ted FUCKED up in life in my opinion, and it's just an observation of a 64 year old die hard rock fan, who in fact sean Ted 3 times in the middle to late 70's, is he should of just stuck to rock n' roll. This bullshit political shit he keeps pushing and spewing makes him sound like he's got old timers disease. Quit with the political bullhorn shit and stick to the script of Rock n' ROLL Ted we'll all be better off if you did.

Old Timers?

1977! Skating in the empty alligator pond at the abandoned zoo, Jungleland. By this time I had recorded it three or four times onto cassette and wore them all out. Where's my f'ng time machine, dammit?!?

Classic Rock stations need this in the rotation. Damn fine piece of work!

Daam, seems like yesterday...Great song along with so many.

Best Nugent song with nice and slow feeling? I know he plays fast the best but it seems songs like this really suit him, and acoustic guitar too, he could make some nature-slow-rock beautifully only if he did, it isn't all about speed Ted! Anyways... Masterpiece!

Look at the album cover!

A couple of eyes!

The Nuge!

Uncle Ted!

Wasn't workin hard playin hard on this album ? Awesome intro

Yes it was. Good song.

8 TRACK DAYS NEED I SAY MORE?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 OK WASTED!!!😎

No One else does it better than TED!

One of my fav Nugent tunes

This is definitely one of my favorite solo of all times. Ted had his own style. Nobody sounded like Ted. Also thank God for Derek .

So awesome. So wish I could claim it. Awesome in my opinion

This and snakeskin cowboys are my two favorite Nugent songs.

Home Bound has me by the balls

i don't know what you did in your youth...but "i scarred them for life,like 1000 knives !!!"

ted sure can play guitar - what a master....

Green Sombrero Master Of Feedback. One of the greatest I can pick out his sound anywhere.

@Mike Goodlock My thoughts exactly,so unique,there's never been anyone better.

This entire Album is GREAT! I bought the vinyl back in the day and was instantly addicted.

Same here buddy bought every album since then

Super Super album. One of the best ever.

he freaked out...am i the only one not on drugs?????♫

Snarf snarf

this is my favorite song in the whole album. First time i heard in 1977 - jamming in my brothers' room while they were gone. playing their albums full blast. they'll never know

isn't it "a couple lines are like a thousand knives"?
or "a couple lies"?

CSF Was the tightest rock I've ever heard this entire album just kicked wads of ass

Wes Northcutt well spoken!!!

Teds noBullshit is What Make's US Champions Amercians, you dont need to like anything about HisWay's , But Damm Sore wish you could Hunt With Em' . Ted Reminds Me to "Do What' s Good , Even if Knowone Ever Knows" rest well honey 's you're in America .. got to love that shit.......

Drunk much?

We played the crap outa this album , listened to Ted from the Amboy Dukes days this album was a nice revival , things fell off after this album in my opinion.

You're nuts.

State of Shock and Scream Dream are wicked albums in their own right!!

fuck ya.... and then some...

And then some more....from Canada.. ;-)

HE SO FUCKING BELONGS IN THE RNRHOF!!!!!!! but he will never get in. They FEAR what he would say in his acceptance speech! His first 3 albums ALONE makes him eligible as far as I am concerned! In the mid to late 70's it was IMPOSSIBLE NOT to hear Uncle Ted on ANY FM ROCK station! He was played just as much as all the other classic rock stars of that era. Its to bad the RNRHOF is bullshit!!! the Beastie Boys and a BUNCH OF GARBAGE RAP FUCKS are in and the Motor City Mad Man is NOT!!! FUCK YOU RNRHOF Uncle Ted is too good for your lame ASS!!!!!

I agree with what you say about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame my favorite band War is not in there with their accomplishments and things that they have done over there 40 plus year history. but it needs to chill on the politics the stick to shooting his rifle

People seem to forget these days that Ted is a good guitar player. Love the riff in this song!

Not only is he a good guitar player Benny The Man, but he is way better than many who get more credit than him! Actually, he is one of the best rock guitar players ever! For the time that this came out, he beat the crap out of most! I think that because of his ego he lost a lot of respect!

Todd Geffken yeah with his political views. He used to be an incredible guitar Player instead. He never dissapoints me his guitar style and ted is The most underrated bluesy guitarist ever in Hard Rock since 70s.

Dumb to forget that.

Still is a great guitar player!

"you've been getting expend" makes no sense at all. no lyricist worth his/her salt would leave a sentence like that.

"Desperate"

DAMN TED IM THE ONLY ONE TO VISIT,,SPEAKING OF VISIT...LET AN OLD KENTUCKY BOY OUT SHOOT YOU ? .22 CAL CHALLENGE!!! tO uNCLE tED!!!!

one of my best friends is pappy van winkle. he's kicked my ass couple of times.

no one beats the nuge !

one of Ted's best extended solos

one of my favorite albums of all time . TED FAN ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!

I RONT SEE THE LYRICS I KNOW MOST OF THEM IN ALL HIS SONGS. I STILL ENJOY TO READ ALONG AS THE SONGS PLAY JON IN KENTUCKY

Saint Ted. Bless Him.

We wore this album out!!!! This was one of my favorite Nugent songs!!! Turn it up!

bought this album from a friend for two dollars back in '77. had a few scratches and a few skips, so I put a nickel on the arm, after a few months didn't need nickel anymore it regrooved so I recorded it on a TDK and sold album to another friend for four dollars. this compressed crap nowadays just don't crank or rock out like analog.

True.  while I couldn't stand the snap, crackle and pops you got when you had a really bad LP  with CD's you don't get the depth of sound you got from a good LP.  Plus, you can't enjoy cover art on a CD like you used to with an LP...Yes's cover art was inspired.

Those "scratches" would be CAT Scratches !! Goes with the territory son.. !! :-)

An increadable album on vinyl. Like listening to the master tapes 😋🌤😜

Just a note... it's "A couple lies are like a thousand knives...."

ITBPhoneJock Thanks. I always thought he said,"A compromise" now I know and knowing is half the battle.

I always thought it was I cut up the lines, it's like a thousand knives.

A couple lives

Pretty sure it's "a double life is like a thousand knives."

IT STILL IS 12 23 2019 TED ROCKS THE HOUSE

My S O N G

BTW-the YouTube video below is from a show in Chi-Town from 2011, so it's fairly recent. Most of you would love it, so look it up!

Derek St.Holmes is singing and playing guitar in an old school hat on the You Tube video filmed live in Chicago. They're playing 'Motor City Madhouse.' Rocks nicely and yes, Ted should not have let Derek St.Holmes leave the band in the 70's like that. Ouch! Enjoy the music all the same...Uncle Ted is one of the best guitar slingers ever.

Derek is back long done and over with but I do love the albums with Derek’s vocals.

Ted is awesome but you're right, Dereks voice made
The band! Ted wasn't the same after that!

Although meatloaf was awesome on Free for all! I don't know if he sang anymore for Ted or not.

"to run and hide is your ONLY DEFENSE"

Cliff Davies, I meant.

He's saying: "a couple lines are like a thousand knives". Probably referring to cocaine. Also, Clive Davies is on drums. Rest In Peace. An underrated drummer.

No... STUPID!!! a COUPLE LIES ARE LIKE A THOUSAND KNIVES... WTF !!!

demoninvader saw ted a few times in his heyday with Cliff on drums and Derek singing unbelievable

Ted doesn’t do drugs!

I don't think the drugs could handle Ted!

the lyrics to the chorus are not "i've ducked a lot but like a thousand knives". Its "our colourful lives are like a thousand knives"-lol

THE OTHER VOCALIST IS BETTER THAN TED, WHO SHOULD STAY ONLY PLAYING GUITAR

i will only agree with u the Derek St Holmes was a much better singer than Uncle Ted. that's it tho. Uncle Ted is a Master on his Guitar hence Journey to the Center of Your Mind was the best example of Live Music from bands back then. if you have seen it, the video that is, you will see all but One wearing those flaky clothes of the period, but in the Video, you will See Uncle Ted gettin the F*^$ down & showing off at such a young age. Stay playing the Guitar Uncle Ted has done, but there are songs like the Fred Bear Song, Uncle ted Nails it. i actually refuse to listen to anyone else from the 60's & 70's that changes singers from the original line up. of course there are always exceptions. Death, being hospitalized for personal reasons etc. I grew up in this age n time & will always treasure the bands just as they came out on albums etc. there are 1000's of groups from 62-78 including one hit wonders which were 1000's as well. no other time in music history. no other time starting from the 80's until today will ever over power my era. the 80's will always carry this era as well. all they had was hair bands and the start of metal, etc which gives the 80's for the all time award for carrying 1980 until toda's date.

A couple lies are like a thousand knives......they cut into you babe

St Holmes

i cant find this anywhere on tabs or cover or sheet music it sucks!

Derek St John! One of the best voices in Rock and Roll.

Cary Sledge st Holmes

you know what, I think you're right, thanks for the call out, good ears

a copulated misfit with the good housekeeping seal. lol

a couple lies are like a thousand knives / to run and hide is your only defense

To run and hide isn't running affairs.

your blue eyes are like a thousand knives

I thought it was "a couple lies are like......" Definitely something "lies"

GuitarosaurusRex a thousand knives. The name of the song. Lol

Awesome song, just a heads up though, "it's Broken Lies are Like a Thousand Knives" thanks for posting this, overlooked gem

1979 Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Anyone else attend?

I can't tell you how many times this lyric argument has came up through out my life with friends, to this day it still sounds like "A couple lies are like a thousand knives" to me.

A lot of artists have the lyrics written down and rehearsed, then change a few words on the fly in studio or live cause it just feels right. But then again,...I'm commenting on a you tube video so what the fuck do i know?!

I always thought it was I cut up the lines, it's like a thousand knives.

probably true

: ive ducked the lies
"

To run and hide is your only defense

To run and hide isn't running affairs.

I got shivers

You're right. You noticed that too, huh? I don't quite know how 'Intensities' was engineered; but for whatever reason they didn't manage to get the same sound quality as Gonzo. But, like you said, the music's still pretty damn good. It kicketh ass. :)

"Sophomoric"? WTF does that adjective have to do w/ a bitchin' 70's hard rock guitar riffin' tune like this? I bought this album when I was 13 when it first came out. This tune kicked ass then; it kicks ass now. I do agree it was overlooked at the time. So was 'Death By Misadventure' a bit. My two fav's off this album. But listen to 'Wang Dang Sweet Poontang' on Double Live Gonzo and you see they never really captured in the studio the raw power of this band. '1k knives' comes close.

You know,, you're right. When I was a youth, I loved the lyrics.. now that I am old.. I see it differently

joseph

This is one of Nugent's worst. lyric wise

joseph

allways good 2 here a fresh voice, lol

ted nugent has so many great songs. my fav rock group.

@TheRisingforce2000 "to run & hide is your only defense"

to run and hide is your only defense,why do the say the lyric is to run into yourself?

@pkrwd Sure is

In the 70's i would start my day doing jumping jacks and sit ups to this and hit the weights to homebound. A quick shower and out the door to high school.

to run and hide is only defense

@paguaplayer... Oops, I meant TN, Ted Nugent. Sorry about that.

@paguaplayer... I think TS sang "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" as well.

Uncle Ted never gonna die!!

One of my Fav Nuge tunes!

The lyrics you've posted are wrong he doesn't say I've ducked a lot

a compromise is like a thousand knives....

another great nugent song, thanks ib

"... they was puttin' on the squeeze."

Right on, Ted. =)

FRICKEN GOOD SONG

fucking brilliant. fuck politics! from ted nugent to scream dream ted nugent ruled the roost!

LOL! Quack quack!

A couple lies are like a thousand knives.
also, I won't listen to your two cents, to run and hide is your only defense.

No again: A couple lies are like a thousand knives. That makes sense.

No! A couple eyes are like a thousand knives!!!

u-said-what? No,it's "A house of flies is like a thousand tiles". thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.