This track is hiding at the very end of Delta Spirit’s latest self-titled album. It’s honestly been making me cry lately…with it’s gorgeous, lush sound and words that I think really make you FEEL the emotion. Tomorrow night I’ll see Delta Spirit LIVE with Dr. Dog at Lupo’s…
“So cold I know you can’t believe it Sometimes you gotta face the feeling When you don’t care if you get up again There’s a thousand things I will not understand How you’re dealing with the hell I put you through If I had my way I’d be right there next to you There’s certain things in life you cannot change There’s certain things… I hope you know I care.”
This is the title track of Chris Smither’s latest album and it’s probably one of the most well-written songs I’ve heard this year. From start to finish, every phrase seems so perfect to me. I’ve got to include the entire song:
“Tell me why, the moment you’re gone I can’t see anymore, That sun is risin’ but it just don’t shine, Ain’t no light through my door. I flip my switches but I don’t turn on, There ain’t a flicker baby, I got no juice today, I had a lighter in my carry-on, But the airline took it away.
You know it ain’t just my sight that you stole, My heart’s been missin’ a beat, My wheels are spinnin’ but they just don’t roll, I’m standin’ dead on my feet. I can’t go out, I can’t stay home, I’m cryin’ showers, my mind’s a hurricane, I called a taxi ’bout an hour ago, But I think he got lost in the rain.
No mail today, my phone never rings, Nothin’ works when you’re gone, My mind is hummin’ but my heart don’t sing, Baby can’t you please come home. I got time on my hands I got you on my mind, I got a heart that’s beatin’ like a hundred-dollar valentine, I know you told me you’d be home by four, But I just can’t take it no more. I know you told me you’d be home by four, But I just can’t take it no more.”
This song has always given me goosebumps – nearly moved me to tears – no matter how many times I listen. And the more I hear each word, the clearer I see why it moves me the way it does.
“Oh my…I didn’t know what it means to believe
Oh my…I didn’t know what it means to believe
But if I hold on tight is it true?
Would you take care of all that I do?
Oh Lord,
Imma gettin’ ready To Believe
Oh my…I didn’t know how hard it would be Oh my…I didn’t know how hard it would be But if I hold on tight is it true? Would you take care of all that I do? Oh Lord, Imma gettin’ ready To Believe.“
Lately I’ve been revisiting Feist’s album, The Reminder…a collection of songs that really move me. If you haven’t listened to this album, I’d urge you to check it out. The words from this particular track keep running over and over in my head today…
“I had what I thought were clear open eyes bright blue vision not of a light carrying pictures to lay on you close up eyes let them in to a mind opening it’s the edge of love You can’t unthink a thought either it’s there or not
shadows of the mountain don’t tell of what’s on earth the breadth and the height of an undiscovered first”
Who knew Van Morrison got a little dirty with his songwriting? Of course, the word “roo” is open to interpretation… but I’ve just recently heard this tune and I’m digging on its flirty vibe:
“Come to me softly, come to me quiet Know what I’m after and I’m gonna try it Snowstorm’s on the way and we’ll be stranded for a week Come over to the window, look outside, take a peek
I wanna roo you, wanna get through to you I wanna woo you, woo you tonight I wanna roo you, wanna get through to you I wanna woo you, woo you tonight
You know I am lonely and in need of your company Oh, let your love light shine on down on me
And we can just sit here, look at the fire Watch the flames leaping higher and higher Tea on the stove, food in the pan Ain’t going nowhere and we don’t have many plans”
I CANNOT stop listening to this song…I literally play it every time I get into my car. Aside from the lush instrumentation, the words are really what move me. The first half of the song has such simple lyrics, you almost find youself thinking it’s cliche…and then the second half delivers some really great emotion. I feel like it’s another one of those songs that’s incredibly universal. I think we can all relate to the pain here, and that’s somehow a beautiful thing.
“I want you to move to California for yourself, I want you to find whatever your heart needs, I want you to move to California for yourself, but not for me.
I want you to go out there and find somebody else, I want him to treat you like I know he should, I want you to find somebody new for yourself, if not for me.
all of the feelings that I know you never felt, and all of the simple words you never said, I want you to keep them like a secret to yourself, they’re not for me.
I want you to wander silent past my outstretched arms, I want you to hide yourself from all I see, and though my heart will fight until its dying breath, you’re not for me.”
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. The melody is gorgeous and the lyrics blow me away. I included this song in my Hot Seat on Monday night, and I was reminded of how brilliant these words are:
“I could have been a sailor, could have been a cook A real live lover, could have been a book. I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock As simple as a kettle, steady as a rock. I could be Here and now I would be, I should be But how? I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first.
I could have been your pillar, could have been your door I could have stayed beside you, could have stayed for more. Could have been your statue, could have been your friend, A whole long lifetime could have been the end. I could be yours so true I would be, I should be through and through I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first.
I could have been a whistle, could have been a flute A real live giver, could have been a boot. I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock As simple as a kettle, steady as a rock. I could be even here I would be, I should be so near I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first.”
This tune is off of the Note Of Hope album, which is a celebration of Woody Guthrie. I had listened to the song so many times before I actually heard this lyric, but when I did, I certainly was struck by it. No surprise, these are Woody Guthrie’s lyrics…he’s got such an amazing way with words.
“I just felt like you feel
when you feel like
the angels are curling your hair
and you feel like
the devil is scratching your heel”
During the holiday season, I always have moments where I think about those less fortunate…people who don’t have what they need, people who are going through hardships. This Mumford & Sons tune touches on that so beautifully…with a hopeful chorus:
“But you are not alone in this And you are not alone in this As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand Hold your hand”
