I’ve been revisiting the latest album from The National for the past few days. If you haven’t listened to Trouble Will Find Me, it’s definitely work checking out…and it’s got a neat vibe for this time of year. Track #7 really beautifully describes the concept of returning to someone (or something) that’s less than healthy for you…something I think everyone can relate to.
“Oh, when I lift you up you feel
like a hundred times yourself.
I wish everybody knew
what’s so great about you. Oh,
but your love is such a swamp.
You don’t think before you jump,
and I said I wouldn’t get sucked in…
Today, April 1st, turned out to be a beautiful sunny day on the island. Spring days like these make me instantly long for summer – and I know I’m not alone. As I was paying close attention to the lyrics of this John Mayer tune, I noticed it was the perfect anthem for summer romance…
“River’s strong you can’t swim inside it
We could string some lights up the hill beside it
Tonight the moon’s so bright
You could drive with your headlights out
‘Cause a little bit of summer’s what the whole year’s all about
You look fine, fine, fine
Put your feet up next to mine
We can watch that water line
Get higher and higher
Say, say, say
Ain’t it been some kind of day
You and me been catching on
Like a wildfire
Don’t get up just to get another
You can drink from mine
We can’t leave each other
We can dance with the dead
You can rest your head
On my shoulder if you want to
Get older with me
‘Cause a little bit of summer makes a lot of history”
I think this is one of those tracks where the music and melody are at the forefront of the listening experience. They were for me at least. It took me dozens of listens to REALLY pay attention the the lyrics of this song and when I did, they really struck me…
“Go ahead and congratulate yourself
Give yourself a hand, the hand is yours
When the eye that eyes itself is your eye
And the ear that hears itself is too
And you’re getting too close
You’re getting too close
You’re getting too close to your source
You’ve done the impossible now
Took yourself apart
Made yourself invulnerable
No one can break your heart
So you break it yourself
Bringing your own, break it yourself…
Go ahead and re-ionize yourself
Give yourself a hand, the hand is yours
And you go ahead and wring it out
Go ahead and stretch it out
Go ahead and wear it inside out”
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.”
