Tag: Song Lyric Sunday

Music Blog

And It Makes Me Wonder

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about
songs performed with orchestras and/or choirs.

Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin developed their style by drawing from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. The band was comprised of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the forerunners of hard rock and heavy metal music. Zeppelin has been credited as significantly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock.

Led Zeppelin is one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with total sales estimated at over 300 million records sold worldwide. The group achieved eight consecutive UK #1 albums and six #1 albums on the US Billboard 200, with five albums certified diamond in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine once described Zeppelin as “the heaviest band of all time”, “the biggest band of the 70s”, and “unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history”. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum’s biography of the band states that they were “as influential during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s”. That’s quite a statement.

There are so many great songs that fit into this category and I changed my mind several times before finally making my decision. For me this is the quintessential presentation of a legendary song which has withstood the test of time over and over again.

The performance I have chosen to feature today is what I consider to be an indelible moment in time. On December 2, 2012, Led Zeppelin received the Kennedy Center Honors; it’s an award bestowed upon those considered to have contributed greatly to American culture. In a world where awards are handed out like lollipops, The Kennedy Center Honors are a big deal. 

Every December, the awards climax with a gala event at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and in 2012 the show included an emotional performance by Heart’s Ann & Nancy Wilson, with Jason Bonham on drums.

Did I say “emotional”? It’s almost startlingly so. It’s the looks the members of Led Zeppelin give each other during the performance. It’s Robert Plant’s eyes watering as he watches Ann Wilson singing a song he famously has a difficult relationship with. It’s the gospel choir paying tribute to Led Zeppelin’s original drummer John Bonham in the most unexpected way. It’s Jason Bonham lifting his eyes towards the heavens as the song climaxes. It’s extraordinary. 

This is no hype; you’ll know what I mean when you see the reaction from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones watching from the best seats in the house. The song is one you all know; it has been called “the single-most important and celebrated song Led Zeppelin ever recorded”.

From the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, this is Ann & Nancy Wilson with orchestra and choirs performing the epic “Stairway To Heaven”.

LYRICS

There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to Heaven

When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for

Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to Heaven

There’s a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, makes me wonder

There’s a feeling I get when I look to the West
And my spirit is crying for leaving

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, really makes me wonder

And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter

Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now
It’s just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on

And it makes me wonder
Ohh, whoa

Your head is humming, and it won’t go, in case you don’t know
The piper’s calling you to join him

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow? And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one, and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll

And she’s buying a stairway to Heaven

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jimmy Page / Robert Anthony Plant
Stairway to Heaven lyrics © Succubus Music Ltd., Sons Of Einion Publishing, Flames Of Albion Music, Inc.

Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday.

Conducting a Performance

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Music Blog

Sex Bomb

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is
to write about a duet(s) featuring two prominent performers.

Three years ago, Sir Tom Jones …. quite possibly the Sexiest Man Ever …. and Helene Fischer …. Die Königin der deutschen Popmusik (The Queen of German Pop Music) …. got together on Helene’s show where the duo put on an unforgettable performance that has been viewed over 21 million times on YouTube. Backed by a brass band and a dazzling stage show, they treated the audience to a seductive duet, proving that Tom Jones’ voice is still worthy of the halls of fame. Even in his 80s, Tom is leaving fans in awe with his unbelievably strong and silky smooth voice. Not many performers can stand up to that.

Helene Fischer became one of the most popular musical artists in Germany after making her recording debut in 2006. She consistently racked up hits in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before her 2013 album “Farbenspiel” (“Play of Colors”) became one of the most successful in German history. She followed it with still more number one records, including a four-week stay at the top of the album chart with 2017’s “Helene Fischer”.

Today’s song was released in 1999 in several European countries; the following year it was issued across the rest of Europe where the track served as the second single from Jones’ 34th album, ”Reload”. Commercially, it reached number one in France and Switzerland while becoming a top-three hit in Austria, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom.

Here is the Sexiest Man Ever along with the Queen of German Pop Music with their sizzling duet, “Sex Bomb”.

LYRICS

Spy on me, baby, use satellite
Infrared to see me move through the night
Aim, gonna fire, shoot me right
I’m gonna like the way, the way that you fight

Now you found the secret code I use
To wash away my lonely blues
And I can’t deny or lie
‘Cause you’re the only one who makes me fly

Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to be turned on
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And, baby, you can turn, turn me on (woo)

Hey!

Don’t get me wrong, ain’t gonna do you no harm
This bomb’s for lovin’, you can shoot it far
I’m your main target, come and help me ignite
Lovestruck, holding you tight

Make me explode, although you know
The route to go to sex me slow
Yes, I must react to claims of those
Who say that you are not all that

Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And, baby, you can turn me on (yeah)

Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And, baby, you can turn me on (oh right)

You can give me more and more, counting up the score
You can turn me upside down and inside out
You can make me feel the real deal
I can give it to you any time because you’re mine

Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And, baby, you can turn me, baby, you can turn me on

Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb
Baby, you can turn me on

Baby, you can turn me on
And, baby, you can turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on
And, baby, you can turn me on

You can turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Errol Rennalls / Mustafa Guendogdu
Sexbomb lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday.

Two Are Better Than One

Thanks for stopping by.

See you on the flip side. 😎

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Eighties, Music Blog

Embrace The Journey

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday
is to write about songs with the words “hot, burning, fire or blazing”.

If reports in recent years are to be believed, former Journey singer Steve Perry and keyboardist Jonathan Cain don’t have much of a personal relationship anymore, but when they first met nearly 43 years ago, the situation was very different.

Journey, originally known as the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, was formed in San Francisco in 1973; the name was officially changed to Journey in 1975, shortly after signing with Columbia Records. The band’s early sound was influenced by jazz and fusion music. They gradually shifted towards a more pop-oriented sound in the late 1970s. Steve Perry joined Journey as their lead vocalist in 1977 and became one of the band’s most recognizable members.  Jonathan Cain was hired in January 1981 and it wasn’t long before he and Perry began writing together.

One of the first things they did was a song called “Who’s Crying Now.” Steve Perry said the chorus popped into his head while driving to Los Angeles, which he recorded on his mini cassette player. Once Steve Perry arrived in LA, he went straight to Jonathan Cain’s house to play his work in progress. Perry had come up with most of the melodies and rhythms but was stumped on the lyrics. Perry said, “Jonathan just like zeroed in on it. We had the beginning, we had the middle, he helped do the lyrics with me .… and it was done!”

“Who’s Crying Now” tells the sad and age-old tale of good love gone bad. The song, the first single from Journey’s album Escape, helped the LP achieve sales of over nine million copies. The song charted at #46 in the UK Singles Chart, the band’s highest charting single in the UK until “Don’t Stop Believin'”. Billboard praised “Who’s Crying Now” as one of Journey’s “strongest and classiest records” and one of the most appealing love songs of 1981. Escape remains their only #1 album.

In 1996, Steve Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and was unable to perform. The diagnosis was degenerative bone disease and a hip replacement was required but Perry was reluctant to rush into the surgery and touring was postponed indefinitely. While Perry kept putting off the inevitable surgery, the other members of the band waited nearly 17 months after the initial diagnosis before presenting him with an ultimatum: If he did not undergo hip replacement surgery so the tour could proceed upon his recovery, the band would hire a replacement singer. Still hesitant to undergo surgery, and now upset at his bandmates, Perry announced in 1988 that he was permanently leaving Journey. No one loves the idea of surgery but Steve Perry made a big mistake making his band mates wait so long.

The position of lead singer went to Steve Augeri who was then sidelined with a chronic throat infection. The very hard-working singer-musician-songwriter Jeff Scott Soto temporarily stepped into the role of lead singer until Arnel Pineda signed on as frontman in 2007. Pineda, a vocalist for a Filipino cover band, was hired as a result of a video he posted on YouTube and is still Journey’s current lead vocalist. Hey …. sometimes you just gotta give it a shot!

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Journey has sold 52 million albums in the US, making them the 11th-best selling band. Their worldwide sales have reached over 100 million records globally, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. A 2005 USA Today opinion poll named Journey the fifth-best US rock band in history. In 2017 Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are without a doubt a truly great band and, IMO, Steve Perry’s voice is one of the best in the business.

Thanks for hanging with me at Jim’s place.

See you on the flip side. 😎

Now let’s listen to “Who’s Crying Now” and Steve Perry’s phenomenal voice. From 1981s album Escape, this is Journey.

Lyrics

It’s been a mystery
But still they try to see
Why something good can hurt so bad
Caught on a one-way street
The taste of bittersweet
Love will survive somehow, somewhere

One love, feeds the fire
One heart, burns desire
I wonder who’s crying now?
Two hearts, born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one?
I wonder who’s crying now?

So many stormy nights
So many wrong or rights
Neither could change their headstrong ways
And in a lover’s rage
They turn another page
The fighting is worth the love they save

One love, feeds the fire
One heart, burns desire
I wonder who’s crying now?
Two hearts, born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one?
I wonder who’s crying now?

Only so many tears you can cry
‘Til the heartache is over
And now you can say your love
Will never die

Whoa ooh ooh, ooh ooh

One love, feeds the fire
One heart, burns desire
I wonder who’s crying now?
Two hearts, born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one?
I wonder who’s crying now?

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jonathan Cain/Stephen Ray Perry
Who’s Crying Now lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lead Vocal, Composer, Lyricist: Steve Perry
Background Vocal, Keyboards, Composer, Lyricist: Jonathan Cain
Background Vocal, Bass: Ross Valory
Background Vocal, Guitar: Neal Schon
Drums: Steve Smith
Producer(s): Mike Stone, Kevin Elson
Engineer: Wally Buck

Inferno

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

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Who Do You Think You Are? A Superstar?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

The topic today at Song Lyric Sunday is to write about songs written for movies. According to estimates by industry analysts, people from 95 different countries and 82% of all Americans will be celebrating Easter this year. Armed with that information, reading the name of my post and looking at the image below, my selection for today should be an obvious one. Roll away the stone; it’s time for Jesus Christ Superstar!

The classic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar has had many different reincarnations since it premiered on Broadway in 1971 and has been made into four movies. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1973 film adaptation of the original Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice live musical of the same name.

*Point of interest which I will get into later. Ian Gillan from the rock group Deep Purple was slated to play Jesus in both the 1971 Broadway show and the movie in 1973; however due to his heavy recording and concert obligations with Deep Purple, he was unavailable.

The film Jesus Christ Superstar starred Ted Neely, Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman and, just like the Broadway musical, depicted the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The movie was released to theaters in the US on August 15, 1973. Neeley, Anderson, and Elliman were nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 1974 for their portrayals of Jesus, Judas, and Mary Magdalene, respectively. None of them won; out of 16 various nominations, including the Academy Awards, Jesus Christ Superstar won only 3 …. “Best Soundtrack” for the British Academy Film Award; “Best Foreign Film” for the David di Donatello Award; “Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film” for the British Society of Cinematographers Award.

The movie received very mixed reviews from critics but movie-goers loved it; it was the highest-grossing musical in the US and Canada for 1973.

In the 1980 book “The Golden Turkey Awards” by Michael and Harry Medved, Ted Neeley was given “an award” for “The Worst Performance by an Actor as Jesus Christ“. Neeley went on to recreate the role of Jesus in numerous national stage tours of the rock musical. I watched the move again last night and I didn’t think he was that bad.

The obvious saving grace for the movie was the music …. the same phenomenal Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice songs used in the live musical. I bought the album soundtrack of the Broadway show after seeing the performance and played the hell out of it …. not just during Easter but all the time and not Mary Magdalene’s famous “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, even though that is a fabulous song. My favorite song was the soliloquy “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”. 

If you ever attended church services or Sunday School, went to a parochial school, read the Bible, saw the famous painting by Heinrich Hofmann or watched almost any epic Bible movie on TV, you’ll remember that just before Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The disciples all fell asleep, leaving Jesus to pray alone. He knew what was about to happen and He was frightened, as any man in that unspeakable situation would be.

In “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”, Jesus asks why he has to die and even prays for a way out (“Take this cup away from me for I don’t want to taste its poison”). This “Superstar” turning point finds Jesus questioning his fate for the first and only time. At no point in this beautifully subtle song is God’s existence assessed. Jesus appears in all his human frailty …. doubtful, frightened and impressively lonely. I remember hearing over and over again in Mass how Jesus died willingly for our sins; I never believed that could possibly be true and this number from “Superstar” clearly brings that message home. Think for a moment what is being asked of him.

From the 1973 movie Jesus Christ Superstar, this is Ted Neeley with “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say).

On April 1, 2018, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert starring John Legend in the role of Jesus premiered on American television, broadcast live on NBC on Easter Sunday evening. As a staged concert performance, it was more of an opera with minimal dialogue. Like the movie 45 years earlier, the concert was based on the Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, using the same music. I didn’t hold out much hope for this production and was prepared to hate it; it was too modern and edgy-looking, like a Dino De Laurentiis production of Pagliacci set in Las Vegas. And to top it all off, the highly unlikely Alice Cooper was cast as King Herod! Much to my complete delight, it was amazing and I was blown away by the production, the cast and John Legend in particular. It is well worth watching and you can find it streaming anywhere right now. This excellent concert is on my TV viewing line-up for tonight. BTW, Alice Cooper was perfect in the role.

From 2018’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, here is John Legend with “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”.

So far we’ve listened to Ted Neeley’s version from the 1973 movie and John Legend’s rendition from the 2018 concert …. two vastly different performances. But there’s still one more. *This one is and always will be my favorite …. the  original soundtrack recording of this all-time Broadway musical classic. Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan sang the role of Jesus and his interpretation set the bar for all upcoming performers. When “Superstar” was on Broadway in 1971, Deep Purple was on the top of the music world; because of Deep Purple’s commitments and schedule, Ian Gillan was not able to join the cast of the play nor appear in the 1973 film. The late Jeff Fenholt replaced Ian Gillan in the role of Jesus on Broadway and Ted Neeley replaced him in the movie and became known as the face of Jesus. (There’s some weird backstory about Fenholt being a member of Black Sabbath at one time; I say it’s bogus. He claimed he was, Sabbath said he only tried out. Google if you care to). As I told my friend Clive yesterday, “Ian Gillan will always be Jesus to me”.

From the original Broadway soundtrack, this is the unmistakable and incredible voice of rock icon Ian Gillan singing the role of Jesus. Here is “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”.

Lyrics

I only want to say if there is a way
Take this cup away from me
For I don’t want to taste it’s poison
Feel it burn me, I have changed
I’m not as sure as when we started

Then I was inspired now I’m sad and tired
Listen, surely I’ve exceeded expectations
Tried for three years, seems like thirty
Could you ask as much from any other man?

But if I die see the saga through and do the
Things you ask of me
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me
Nail me to their tree
I’d wanna know, I’d wanna know, my God
I’d wanna know, I’d wanna know, my God
I’d wanna see, I’d wanna see, my God
I’d wanna see, I’d wanna see, my God

Why I should die
Would I be more noticed than
I ever was before?
Would the things I’ve said
And done matter anymore?
I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord
I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord
I’d have to see, I’d have to see, my Lord
I’d have to see, I’d have to see, my Lord
If I die, what would be my reward?
If I die, what would be my reward?
I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord
I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord

Why should I die? Oh, why should I die?
Can you show me now that I
Would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little
Of your omnipresent brain
Show me there’s a reason for
You wanting me to die
You’re far too keen on “where” and “how”
But not so hot on “why”

Alright, I’ll die
Just watch me die see how I die
See how I die oh, watch me die
Oh, watch me die

Then I was inspired now I’m sad and tired
After all I tried for three years
Seems like ninety why then am I scared to
Finish what I started?
What you started I didn’t start it

God, thy will be done destroy your only son
I will drink your cup of poison
Nail me to your cross and break me
Bleed me, beat me, kill me, take me
Now, before I change my mind
Now, before I change my mind

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice
Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Thank you for joining me today. I hope all of you who are celebrating Easter today realize the fulfillment of hope, peace, joy and love from your faith.

Big thanks to Jim for hosting another week of Song Lyric Sunday.

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

Movies Need Music

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Music Blog

Like Father, Like Son

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

The topic today at Song Lyric Sunday is to write about a song(s) dealing with children and/or families, two themes that clearly go hand-in-hand.

We have a serious tune today, a classic song that’s a lesson and a warning to parents everywhere. The song sends a powerful message which needs to be heeded before everything slips away and is lost forever. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?

My featured performer today is Harry Chapin, born in NYC in 1942 and cousin of Mary Chapin Carpenter. Music was always in Harry’s life and his three siblings also became musicians. His wife, Sandy, was a writer and today’s song is based on a poem which she wrote. At first, Harry wasn’t crazy about the poem but after the birth of his son, he decided to give it another look.

The result was a song of regret, the sad tale of a man who only had time for his work and put everything before the needs of his young son who emulated his dad and eventually grew up to be “just like him”. That song is “Cat’s In The Cradle” which was a huge hit for Harry Chapin in 1974, being his only #1 song. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1975 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2011.

Music magazine Cash Box called “Cat’s In The Cradle” a “lyrical delight, a tender story of a father and his son and a perfect representation of how roles change in the relationship over the years”. Record World said that the song “deals with the preoccupations plaguing parenthood” and that it “bridges the generation gap by pointing up mutual faults”.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “Cat’s in the cradle,” which is a reference to a child’s nursery rhyme about a cat sleeping in a cradle. The phrase serves as a metaphor for the passing of time and the changing relationship between father and son. 

Sadly, on July 16, 1981, Harry Chapin died at the age of 38. He was killed in an accident on the Long Island Expressway when his Volkswagen Rabbit was rear-ended by a tractor trailer truck. He was on his way to perform at a benefit concert when the accident occurred. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Harry Chapin was a philanthropist and hunger activist. As a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger, he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987 he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.

There are many different videos for “Cat’s In The Cradle” but this is my favorite. Let’s have a listen to Harry Chapin.

In keeping with the theme today of children and/or dfamilies, here is Harry Chapin’s daughter, Jen, performing his song.

Heavy metal band Ugly Kid Joe also released their own cover; while staying faithful to the original, they chose to remove the apostrophe from the title. Interpreted literally, there is more than one cat in their cradle. This is Ugly Kid Joe with “Cats In The Cradle”.

Lyrics

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say “I’m gonna be like you, dad”
“You know I’m gonna be like you”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when”
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw, I said-a, not today
I got a lot to do, he said, that’s okay
And he, he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
It said, I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when”
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?
He shook his head, and they said with a smile
What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when”
But we’ll get together then, dad
You know we’ll have a good time then

I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind
He said, I’d love to, dad, if I can find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when”
But we’ll get together then, dad
We’re gonna have a good time then

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Harry F. Chapin / Sandy Chapin
Cat’s in the Cradle lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

NAR©2024

Perks of Having Kids

Thanks to Jim for hosting another week of Song Lyric Sunday.

See you on the flip side. 😎

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Music Blog

All We Are Saying

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

The topic today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is to write about songs dealing with war and/or peace .… subjects that have been plaguing the world since the beginning of time.

Bill and I are pretty patriotic people; still, we were very relieved when he failed the draft physical. He and his identical twin brother were numbers 8 & 9 when they were called up; if not for them both having a pilonidal cyst, they surely would have been drafted and shipped off to Vietnam. It was the first and last “F” Bill ever got in his life. Let me just add …. Bill and I have total respect for all veterans – those who served and came home, those who died. Bill’s older brother served in the Navy, his sister’s husband was a marine and our fathers were in the US Army; Bill’s dad never left The States whereas my dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge. It was literally the luck of the draw.

Here are four songs about war and peace which were the soundtrack of our lives from the late 60s and early 70s.

From his 1969 video, this is Edwin Starr singing “War”. Originally written under the Motown label and first performed by The Temptations, “War” was later re-released as a single with Edwin Starr on vocals. This version has become the most popular protest song ever.

LYRICS

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y’all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me, oh
War, I despise
‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh (good God, y’all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) Friend only to The Undertaker
Oh, war it’s an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die? Oh

War, huh (good God y’all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War (uh-huh), huh (yeah, huh)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) It’s got one friend that’s The Undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young man’s dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars each day
War can’t give life
It can only take it away, oh

War, huh (good God y’all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

It ain’t nothing but a heart breaker
(War) Friend only to The Undertaker, woo
Peace, love and understanding, tell me
Is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way, oh

War, huh (God y’all)
What is it good for? You tell me (nothing)
Say it, say it, say it, say it
War (good God), huh (now, huh)
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it (nothing)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barrett Strong / Norman Whitfield
War lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Here are the Animals with “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”. Though the song never mentions war, it was quickly adopted by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War and was the most requested on Armed Forces Radio, according to the late radio personality Adrian Cronauer, whose life inspired the 1987 film “Good Morning, Vietnam”. 

LYRICS

In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refused to shine
People tell me there ain’t no use in tryin’
Now my girl you’re so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You’ll be dead before your time is due, I know
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin’
Watched his hair been turnin’ grey
He’s been workin’ and slavin’ his life away
Oh yes I know it

(Yeah!) He’s been workin’ so hard
(Yeah!) I’ve been workin’ too, baby
(Yeah!) Every night and day
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it’s the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
’cause girl, there’s a better life for me and you

Now my girl you’re so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true, yeah
You’ll be dead before your time is due, I know it
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin’
Watched his hair been turnin’ grey, yeah
He’s been workin’ and slavin’ his life away
I know he’s been workin’ so hard

(Yeah!) I’ve been workin’ too, baby
(Yeah!) Every day baby
(Yeah!) Whoa!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it’s the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there’s a better life for me and you
Somewhere baby, somehow I know it
We gotta get out of this place
If it’s the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there’s a better life for me and you
Believe me baby
I know it baby
You know it too

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Wixen Music Publishing

This is “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens. His  Majikat – Earth Tour was recorded during his last legendary North American tour in 1976. This was the ultimate tour for Cat Stevens before he quit the music business and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. He didn’t perform on stage again for nearly thirty years.

LYRICS

Now I’ve been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I’ve been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it’s going to come

‘Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides the peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Now I’ve been smiling lately
Thinkin’ about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train

Get your bags together
Go bring your good friends too
Because it’s getting nearer
It soon will be with you
Now come and join the living
It’s not so far from you
And it’s getting nearer
Soon it will all be true

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now peace train
Peace train

Now I’ve been crying lately
Thinkin’ about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating?
Why can’t we live in bliss?

‘Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on, come on, come on
Yes, come on, peace train
Yes, it’s the peace train

Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Oh, peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Yusuf Islam
Peace Train lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Here’s the Plastic Ono Band with what has become the anthem for peace activists …. “Give Peace A Chance”. The song was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their 1969 weeklong ‘BED-IN’ peace advertising campaign in Montreal, Canada. The film features the original recording of “Give Peace A Chance” and includes John and Yoko appearing at the National Peace Rally in Bryant Park, New York on April 22, 1972. It concludes with impromptu gatherings of fans in Liverpool, London, New York, etc. after John’s shooting on December 8, 1980. Since the lyrics are part of the video, I did not print them.

War and Peace

See you on the flip side. 😎

Peace, people! ✌🏼☮️ 🕊️

NAR©2024

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Music Blog

Near Death Experience

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has informed us the suggestion for today is to write about a song(s) dealing with God or the afterlife. There are a lot of songs in this category and I considered a few but in the end I chose to write about something personal to me. And I’ve got an Elephant’s Trunk full of stories!

Fifty years ago I met and had a brief but memorable conversation with Cat Stevens. It was the summer of 1974 in the Hamptons at one of those parties where everyone was a friend of a friend of a friend. My husband was off getting us drinks and I suddenly found myself in the same place at the same time as Cat Stevens. We talked for a little while, mostly about Southampton, NY and Southampton, UK and the vast Atlantic Ocean – how, after crossing it fairly often, it no longer felt quite as vast to him as it originally did. Well, that’s what he talked about; I was swept away by his delightful accent, lost in his deep eyes and the dark curls that framed his face. After our little tête-à-tête, he went one way, I went the other and that was that. Of course I remember that day like it happened last week; I’m absolutely certain Cat Stevens has no recollection of me whatsoever. Damn! What I wouldn’t give for a selfie from back then!

Over the last five decades, Cat Stevens has led a wholly unique music career. After finding himself a crucial part of the early 70s singer-songwriting boom, he found faith in Islam following a near-death experience in 1976. He almost drowned off the coast of Malibu, California, and said he shouted, “Oh, God! If you save me I will work for you.” He stated that immediately afterwards, a wave appeared and carried him back to shore. This brush with death intensified his long-held quest for spiritual truth. Changing his name to Yusuf Islam, Cat discarded his guitar in favor of the Qur’an, much to the disappointment of his devoted fans.

However, it seems Cat Stevens was exploring his spirituality long before 1976 when he wrote “Lilywhite” in the late 60s. The lyrics “the dial” and “wheel of change” refer to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, the cycle of life and death. This is also hinted at in the first line, “Back up on the mended road”.

In an interview with Mojo in 2009, Stevens remembered the “amazingly bad trip” that inspired him to write “Lilywhite”: “I was at Noel Redding’s house (Jimi Hendrix Experience), and he introduced me to this substance. That was the worst night of my life! We were in his flat. By the time it got to dawn and I was able to get to the door, it had snowed and it was like looking at an angelic gift from heaven! It was beautiful. The song represents a recapturing of that moment where after darkness comes light.”

Unfortunately “Lilywhite” has been eclipsed by some of Stevens’ hits but remains an essential part of his repertoire among devoted fans.

From his album Mona Bone Jakon, this is “Lilywhite” by Cat Stevens.

Lyrics

Back up on the mended road
I pause
Taking time to check the dial

And the Lilywhite
I never knew her name
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.

I raise my hand and touch the wheel
Of change
Taking time to check the dial

Thank the Lilywhite
I never knew her name
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.
But she’ll be passing my way sometime again.

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Yusuf Islam
Lilywhite lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Thanks for sharing some time with me. FYI – Cat Stevens was as soft-spoken, humble and charming as you imagine him being. A lovely man, inside and out.

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

Going Biblical

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Music Blog

A Perfect Storm

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today at Song Lyric Sunday, Jim is asking us to write about a song based on true events. My husband Bill and I have lived near the water all our lives; he grew up on City Island in New York and spent all his teen years working in marinas repairing boats. Years ago we bought a boat which was supposed to be a fun family get-away adventure until we realized I get heinously seasick; Bill uses it for fishing. Before Covid, we spent 35 summers in Montauk, NY with the Atlantic Ocean as our view. It’s only natural that I would be drawn to a song about a nautical event.

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior 49 years ago. Gordon Lightfoot’s song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976, Moose Music, Ltd.) is a tribute to this shipwreck and the men who lost their lives.

On November 9, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald departed from Superior, Wisconsin with approximately 26,000 tons of ore bound for Detroit, Michigan. Just think about that for a second …. 26,000 tons; the cargo weighed more than the ship itself. Around 7 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a gale warning for Lake Superior. Overnight the winds increased tremendously and waves grew to incredible heights; no longer protected by land, the Fitzgerald was in terrible danger. At some point, another ship – the Anderson – made radio contact with the Fitzgerald and had her on their radar. When asked how the Fitzgerald was making out, they replied “We’re holding our own”. Shortly afterwards, the Fitzgerald disappeared from the Anderson’s radar screen.

There are phrases in the song that have been embellished, romanticized, making it sound as if the crew knew they were doomed. In reality, the sinking of the Fitzgerald was very rapid and it’s likely they didn’t know the seriousness of their condition. Thank the gods for that! In fact, after the wreck, a severely damaged lifeboat was found and only part of the second, suggesting that no attempts were made to leave the ship. No distress signals were ever issued. They didn’t know what hit them.

On November 10, 1975 the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior; all 29 crew members died. At the time, it was the worst shipping disaster on the Great Lakes in more than 10 years. No bodies were ever recovered from the wreckage. When the wreck was found, the ship had broken in half by the storm. It still sits on the bottom of Lake Superior at 530 feet deep.

“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was written, composed and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song was recorded in December 1975 at Eastern Sound, a recording studio in a then-hippie district of downtown Toronto. The famous studio was later torn down and replaced by a parking lot …. cue Joni Mitchell! Lightfoot cleared the studio and killed all the lights except for the one illuminating the paper with his scribbled words when he recorded his vocals; he considered this song to be his finest work.

The single version hit #1 in Lightfoot’s native Canada on November 20, 1976, barely a year after the disaster. In the US it reached #1 in Cashbox and #2 for two weeks in the Billboard Hot 100. Overseas it was at best a minor hit, peaking at #40 in the UK Singles Chart. 

This is “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitchegumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well-seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship’s bell rang
Could it be the north wind they’d been feelin’?

The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too
T’was the witch of November come stealin’
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashin’
When afternoon came it was freezin’ rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind

When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
At 7 PM, a main hatchway caved in, he said
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
The captain wired in he had water comin’ in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay
If they’d put fifteen more miles behind her
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams
The islands and bays are for sportsmen
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the maritime sailors’ cathedral
The church bell chimed ’til it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitchegumee
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Gordon Lightfoot
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

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Specific Moments in History

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

Music Blog

Do You Have Any Singles?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today, Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to write about a song that was not originally released as an album single or never became a single.

The songs I’ve chosen were written and recorded by one of the biggest bands to come out of the UK in the 60s. No, not the Beatles! This time I’m talking about the Rolling Stones. Contrary to what some people believe, a person can be into both the Beatles and the Stones. Shocking, isn’t it!

Here’s a quick bio: The Rolling Stones were formed in London by founding members, vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts. During their early years, Jones was the primary leader of the band.

Just like all bands starting out at that time, the Stones’ catalog consisted of cover songs. When they began writing their own songs, the Jagger-Richards partnership became the band’s primary songwriting and creative force; this alienated Brian Jones, who developed a drug addiction that by 1968 interfered with his ability to contribute meaningfully. Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor. In 1971 the Stones released the album Sticky Fingers, the first of eight consecutive #1 studio albums in the US. Taylor left the band at the end of 1974 and was replaced by Ronnie Wood. Following Wyman’s departure in 1993, the band continued as a foursome.

Two of the Rolling Stones’ songs that were never released as singles are both mega hits – “Gimme Shelter” off their 1969 album Let It Bleed and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” from their first #1 album, Sticky Fingers.

“Gimme Shelter” is about the political and social unrest at the time. There was the war in Vietnam, race riots, the murders by the Manson Family and politicians being assassinated. Mick Jagger sings of needing shelter from this “storm”. Merry Clayton is the female vocalist featured singing the line “Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away”. She delivered a chilling vocal with her voice cracking on the word “murder” at the 3:01 mark and you can hear Jagger in the background saying “Whoo!” The Stones didn’t release the song as a single but Merry Clayton did …. in 1970 which made it to #73 in the US.

This is “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones; be sure to listen for Merry in the background.

“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” is the fourth track on the Rolling Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers. The first two and a half minutes of the song are down and dirty, riff-tastic Rolling Stones. The last four and a half minutes are an improvised, instrumental jam session. The length of this song made for a tough sell; in order to improve the chances of radio play, singles were held to around three minutes. The entire track was captured in one take, with the jam being a happy accident. The band had assumed the tape machine had been stopped and were surprised to find the entire session had been captured. Originally they were going to end the song before the jam started, but were so pleased with the results, they decided to keep it in.

The four singles from Sticky Fingers were “Brown Sugar,” “Bitch,” “Wild Horses,” and “Sway.” However, popular consensus is “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” stands miles higher than “Sway”. Not only does it bear one of the Rolling Stones’ most instantly recognizable guitar riffs, but it’s been included in the soundtracks for  a number of movies including Casino and The Fighter.

But what’s the song all about? What are the Stones trying to tell us? It’s probably best not to read too much into the lyrics of this one since even Mick Jagger isn’t exactly sure what he wrote! Appearing on the track is Bobby Keys, who had debuted his saxophone for the Stones on “Live With Me” back on Let It Bleed. Mick Taylor’s got that impressive guitar track starting at the 4:32 mark.

So, since I don’t have any spectacular words of wisdom to add to that, let’s just enjoy the Stones and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”.

The Rolling Stones’ estimated record sales of 200 million makes them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. They have won three Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Billboard and Rolling Stone magazine have ranked them as one of the greatest musical groups of all time. I definitely concur. 

Thanks so much to Jim for all the work he does week after week on Song Lyric Sunday.

Should Have Been a Single

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All text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

Music Blog

The King of Queens

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today in Song Lyric Sunday, Jim as asking us to write about a song(s) composed by a duo. I’ve chosen a duo not only from the US but from my hometown of New York. As a kid, I’d sing these songs in my bedroom pretending I was a major recording artist. Didn’t we all? I found myself happily swimming in a sea of wonderful memories as I wrote this post.

This former husband and wife duo wrote many of the 60s biggest hits and those songs were recorded by everyone from Aretha Franklin to James Taylor to the Beatles. He wrote the lyrics and she wrote the music to songs such as “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “Take Good Care Of My Baby” and “The Loco-Motion”, and chances are you’ve danced to a hit single by this dynamic songwriting duo.

I’m talking about Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

During the spring semester of her freshman year at Queens College in NY, Carole King was introduced to Gerry Goffin while at the student lounge. Goffin, three years older than King, was looking for someone to write lyrics for a musical he was writing. King took a look, said she wasn’t interested and added “You know, I write rock ‘n’ roll songs” but allowed Goffin to drive her home. Soon she was writing songs for his musical, he writing lyrics for her songs.

King and Goffin were married in 1959 when she was only 17 and pregnant with their first child. They quit college and took day jobs, Goffin working as an assistant chemist and King as a secretary.  And in the evenings, they wrote songs together. High school friend Neil Sedaka got them an audition with music producer Don Kirshner; he offered a guaranteed advance against royalties of $1000 a year, to be doubled if the deal was renewed for a second year and tripled if for a third. The rest is history.

Their songs were always impeccably structured. Their music was for teens and dealt with themes of  love, rejection and jealousy and teenagers dealing with them on their own terms. Carole’s heart-tugging melodies and Gerry’s superb lyrics captured the tone and the everyday language of their audience’s  inner experiences with uncanny accuracy.

Carole had a gift for arrangement, knowing how to build a song. To help sell her songs, she began making low cost tapes to demonstrate her ideas to the producers. Those demos were so good that often the producer only had to copy them with the proper instrumentation to have a hit record.

One night in the fall of 1960 Carole and Gerry returned from an evening out and found a note from Don Kirshner saying he needed a lyric by the next day for the Shirelles. Goffin immediately began writing and King composing; the result was “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” In January 1961, the song became the first song by a female group to reach #1 on the pop charts since the McGuirre Sisters in 1958, and first ever for a black female group.

Kirshner decided that Goffin & King were capable of running a record label and put them in charge of Dimension Records. For over a year they had a more consistent track record than any of their competition, including Phil Spector’s Philles Records. By 1964 they had come up with another 23 hits, but their best work was behind them and the British Invasion had begun.

However Goffin & King were heroes to these English groups. The Beatles recorded “Chains” and Paul McCartney was quoted as saying he wished he could write as well. On their first U.S. tour, meeting them was a priority. The Beatles were not the only British band that felt that way but by 1965, Carole and Gerry’s talents were becoming less important as groups such as the Byrds, the Young Rascals and the Beach Boys set the tone for other upcoming artists who wrote their own material.

By 1967 Goffin & King’s marriage was crumbling due to creative disenchantment, internal pressures and the times.  They were divorced with King moving to California where she started a group called “The City” and came into her own as a performer. When Carole King found her solo niche, the team of Goffin & King ended.

I’d like you to think for a minute about those exhilarating days of young love as teenagers. Our parents called it “puppy love” and didn’t take us seriously, saying it would never last and we’d get over it. Some parents were dead set against their daughters or sons getting romantically involved at such a young age; really, who could blame them but who could blame us teenagers for falling in love? We can’t control what the heart feels and it was especially difficult for teenage girls. As much as we like to think people have evolved, they really haven’t changed all that much. Teen girls who have sex are thought of as promiscuous while guys are macho and sewing their wild oats. It’s an age old dilemma, the most personal situation young people can find themselves in.

Nothing obvious or indelicate was ever revealed in our featured song but if you read between the lines of Gerry Goffin’s gorgeous lyrics, there’s little doubt what this song is about. Using a variation on the theme “will you respect me in the morning?”, here are the Shirelles asking in a sublimely delicate and romantic way, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

Lyrics

Tonight, you’re mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight, the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?

Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment’s pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I’m the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night (when the night)
Meets the mor- (meets the morning sun)

I’d like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now, and I won’t ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?

So tell me now, and I won’t ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me-

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
Will You Love Me Tomorrow lyrics © Screen Gems-emi Music Inc., Aldon Music Inc., Screen-gems Emi Music (r.mellin M.)

In 1960, the Shirelles released the first version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” with “Boys” on the B-side. The single’s first pressing was labeled simply “Tomorrow“, then lengthened later. When first presented with the song, lead singer Shirley Owens did not want to record it because she thought it was “too country“; she relented after a string arrangement was added. However, Owens recalled on Jim Parsons’s syndicated classic radio program, “Shake Rattle Showtime“, that some radio stations had banned the record because they had felt the lyrics were too sexually charged.

In addition to reaching No. 1 in the US, the song reached No. 2 on the R&B chart, No. 4 in the UK and No. 3 in New Zealand. This version, with session musicians Paul Griffin on piano and Gary Chester on drums, was ranked at No. 126 among Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Billboard named the song No. 3 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.

From 1971, the incredibly talented Carole King with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

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Collaborating Songwriting Partners

This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

Music Blog

Midnight Ride

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Jim over at Song Lyric Sunday has challenged us to write about a band that wore uniforms or dressed alike. I’ve chosen a group from here in the U.S.

In Boise, Idaho in 1958 a little instrumental combo called the Downbeats was born; the group saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s. Founded by organist Paul Revere Dick and singer Mark Lindsey, the band was known for including Revolutionary War-style clothes during their performances. The group’s name was soon changed to the catchy and more appropriate Paul Revere and the Raiders.

After charting in 1961 with a minor hit and then just missing Billboard’s Hot 100 in late 1963 with a cover of “Louie, Louie”, the band was signed to Columbia Records. In January 1966, thanks to Dick Clark’s show “Where The Action Is”, the single “Just Like Me” reached #11 on the Hot 100. The consecutive Top Tens hits “Kicks” and “Hungry” soon followed, establishing the band as national stars. Between 1966 and 1969 they reached the top 30 with 12 hits. Their three 1966 albums all were gold-certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

Songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil composed “Kicks” in 1966 and offered it to the Animals but lead singer Eric Burdon turned it down. Instead, Paul Revere & the Raiders recorded and released it as a single which became a #1 hit in Canada and reached #4 in the United States. “Kicks” was included on the band’s fifth album, “Midnight Ride”, released in May 1966. A live version of the song was recorded on the band’s 1996 “Greatest Hits Live” compilation album.

Considered one of the earliest anti-drug songs, “Kicks” was composed and released during the time when pro-hippie, pro-experimentation, and other counterculture themes were gaining popularity on U.S. FM radio stations. As a result, the song’s message was perceived as outdated by the emerging youth counterculture, as popular artists ranging from the Beatles to Jefferson Airplane had written songs whose themes sharply contrasted that of “Kicks”. However, the song has received generally positive reviews by music critics in the decades since its release. In 2004, “Kicks” was ranked number 400 on Rolling Stone’s  list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

This is “Kicks” by Paul Revere and the Raiders

Lyrics

Girl, you thought you found the answer
On that magic carpet ride last night
But when you wake up in the mornin’
The world still gets you uptight
Well, there’s nothin’ that you ain’t tried
To fill the emptiness inside
When you come back down, girl
Still ain’t feelin’ right

And don’t it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find
And all your kicks ain’t bringin’ you peace of mind
Before you find out it’s too late, girl
You better get straight
No, but not with kicks, you just need help, girl

Well you think you’re gonna find yourself
A little piece of paradise
But it ain’t happened yet, so girl, you better think twice
Don’t you see no matter what you do
You’ll never run away from you
And if you keep on runnin’ you’ll have to pay the price

And don’t it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find
And all your kicks ain’t bringin’ you peace of mind
Before you find out it’s too late, girl
You better get straight

No, you don’t need kicks
To help you face the world each day
That road goes nowhere
I’m gonna help you find yourself another way

Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find
And all your kicks ain’t bringin’ you peace of mind
Before you find out it’s too late, girl
You better get straight

Don’t it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find
And all your kicks ain’t bringin’ you peace of mind
Before you find out it’s too late, girl
You better get straight

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil
Kicks (Original artist re-recording) lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Wixen Music Publishing

 

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Music Blog

And It Goes Like This

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Jim over at Song Lyric Sunday has challenged us to write about a song that mentions a dance style or craze or a song that has it’s own dance. My choice covers all those options.

The Peppermint Lounge was a popular disco on West 45th Street in New York City from 1958 to 1965. The club had a lengthy mahogany bar running along one side, many mirrors and a dance floor at the back, a capacity of about 180 people, and a large gay clientele. It was a happening scene.

As Chubby Checker’s “Twist” craze hit the scene, celebrities swarmed to the Peppermint Lounge, big names such as Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Liberace, Noël Coward, Frank Sinatra, Norman Mailer, Annette Funicello, even the elusive Greta Garbo had a swinging time there. Jackie Kennedy was such an enthusiast that she arranged for a temporary Peppermint Lounge to be mounted in the White House.

The Beatles were filmed visiting the club during their first U.S. visit in 1964. Artists who performed at the Peppermint Lounge include the Beach Boys, the Ronettes (who made their professional debut there in 1961) the Crystals, the Isley Brothers, Chubby Checker, Liza Minelli and the Four Seasons. But the crowds loved to dance to the house band, Joey Dee and the Starliters …. especially after they recorded their biggest hit song “The Peppermint Twist”, written in 1961 by Joey Dee and Henry Glover.

Capitalizing on the “Twist” dance craze started by Chubby Checker and the name of the nightclub where Joey Dee performed, “The Peppermint Twist” hit No.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1962. The song was a huge hit, replacing Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” at the No. 1 position. 

I was just a kid but that didn’t matter; people of all ages loved dancing to “The Twist” and still do; “The Peppermint Twist” was no different. It was lots of fun, easy to do and had a great sound. Get ready to start cutting the rug. Here are Joey Dee and the Starliters with their biggest hit …. “The Peppermint Twist”.

And it goes like this…..

Lyrics

Well they’ve got a new dance and it goes like this
(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
Yeah the name of the dance is Peppermint Twist
(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
Well you like it like this, the Peppermint Twist

It goes ’round and ’round, up and down
‘Round and ’round, up and down
‘Round and ’round and a up and down
And a one two three kick, one two three jump

Well meet me baby down at 45th street
Where the Peppermint Twisters meet
And you’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist

It’s alright, all night, it’s alright
It’s okay, all day, it’s okay
You’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Ey yeah
Ey yeah
Ey yeah
Ey yeah
Ey yey yeah
Ey yey yeah
Ey yey yeah

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Henry Glover / Joseph Di Nicola
Peppermint Twist (Original Artist Re-recording) lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Wixen Music Publishing

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Long and Complicated Story

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Music Blog

Author! Author!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today on Song Lyric Sunday, Jim is asking us to write about a song that mentions a profession; thanks to Di for the suggestion. Since we’re all here on WordPress writing about something, it seemed only logical that I would choose a song about writers/authors.

My sophomore year of high school was one I’ll never forget. Our teacher, Mr. Erdmann, took his show on the road, so to speak, and brought our class on field trips into Manhattan where we saw movies such as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, “To Sir With Love”, “Wait Until Dark”, among others. He also played movies for us in the auditorium, classics like “On The Waterfront”, “The Pawnbroker” and “Casablanca”.

It wasn’t a year of just fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those movie reports almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big bold letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!”

Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, Mr. Erdmann! I’m blogging my heart out on WordPress!

My song choice for today is “Paperback Writer”  by the Beatles.

Written in 1966 mostly by Paul McCartney, the song allegedly came about when his Aunt Lil said something like “Can’t you write anything besides love songs?” According to Paul, he was thinking about his aunt’s question while backstage at a concert venue when he spotted Ringo reading a book and something clicked. The beginnings of “Paperback Writer” were already forming in Paul’s head.

The lyrics are in the form of a letter from an aspiring author addressed to a publisher. It starts off “Dear Sir or Madam” …. really quite clever, don’t you think?

The Beatles recorded “Paperback Writer” at EMI Studios in London on April 13-14, 1966. The song was released in May 1966 as the A-side of their 11th single and topped the singles charts in the UK, the US, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The song was at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, being interrupted by Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In The Night”.

“Paperback Writer” was the last new song by the Beatles to be featured on their final tour in August 1966 where they performed 16 shows across the US and 2 in Toronto, finishing up at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29.

Here now is “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles.

Lyrics

Paperback writer (paperback writer)

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job
So I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

It’s a dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn’t understand
His son is working for the Daily Mail
It’s a steady job
But he wants to be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

Paperback writer (paperback writer)

It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few
I’ll be writing more in a week or two
I could make it longer if you like the style
I can change it ’round
And I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

If you really like it you can have the rights
It could make a million for you overnight
If you must return it you can send it here
But I need a break
And I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Paperback Writer lyrics © Iricom US Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Thanks again to Jim for hosting SLS and to Di for today’s suggestion.

This Job I Got

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This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

It wasn’t just a year of fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those reports on the movies almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big red letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, M

Music Blog

Out Of The Blue

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is challenging us to choose a song dealing with mental health. This is a double edged sword; it’s wonderful that there are so many songs about this subject to choose from but it’s a shame that there are so many troublesome issues (and troubled souls) to write songs about.

I chose this one because it’s a tremendously uplifting song, I love the group and I feel a personal connection as well. When you’re talking about a song, it’s great to have something that ties you to it. It may not always be something positive but that’s just the way life is. The beautiful thing about music is there’s something for whatever is going on in your life. I hope you enjoy my selection today.

“Mr. Blue Sky” is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), featured on the band’s seventh studio album “Out of the Blue” written and produced in 1977 by front man Jeff Lynne. Promotional copies were released on blue vinyl, like the album from which the single was issued. Due to its popularity and frequent use in multiple television shows and movies, it has sometimes been described as ELO’s signature song.

I have loved this song since the first time I heard it. It’s a happy and fun tune about a make-believe superhero, inspired by a silly TV show Jeff Lynne loved as a child. It was recorded with percussion played on a fire extinguisher, for crying out loud, and was so powerful and singable, astronauts would use it as an alarm clock in space! Reaction by critics and the public was a definite thumbs up, calling the tune “truly exhilarating”; the song would go on to be referred to as “the happiest song ever”. Sorry, Pharrell!

In 1977, Jeff Lynne and the other members of ELO rented a place in the Alps to work on music for their new album. Jeff was trying to write songs but the weather was so dark and dreary around him, he went into a funk. So how was it possible for Jeff to have written this fun, happy song?

During a BBC Radio interview, Jeff Lynne gave this account of how it all went down:

“It had been dark, wet and dreary for more than two weeks, and I didn’t come up with a single thing for the new record. I started going to the local pub, getting drunk, and spending more time there than back at the studio with my mates. Here we were in a house in the Alps and I was totally spiritless. I had writer’s block and fell into an ugly depression. Those two weeks felt more like two years! Finally one morning the sun suddenly came out and shone brilliantly. It shook me from my gloom and I felt inspired for the first time in weeks. It was like, ‘Wow, look at those gorgeous mountains, that beautiful sky’! For me that was a sign, a re-awakening, a chance to start over. I was so encouraged and motivated, I wrote “Mr. Blue Sky” and 13 other songs in the next two weeks.”

That’s Jeff’s great story; now here’s my story.

Over a span of 8 years, 2011 to 2019, I had two major surgeries on the same knee. It was not fun but what surgery is?

After operation #1, a total knee revision, I was in a lot of pain and my recuperation did not go well. I fell into a major depression. I lost my appetite, suffered panic attacks and shut myself off from everyone and everything. All I wanted was be left alone and sleep. I was convinced I was going to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life, unable to play with my young grandchildren. I began seeing a psychologist. And I was taking anti-anxiety meds and pain killers.

My husband Bill was my biggest supporter, a shoulder to lean on, my rock. He took me to physical therapy 3 times each week and stayed with me. He drove me to see the psychologist and sat in the waiting room. He took me out for drives just to get me out of the house. He set up FaceTime with our sons. He arranged for someone from the nail salon to come to the house to give me a mani/pedi. He helped me shower and wash my hair. Family and friends brought over prepared meals which Bill warmed up for me, even though I had little interest in eating. He was worried about me, scared for me but never let it show; he was a saint.

One day Bill came into the bedroom and said he had something to show me. He switched on the TV and inserted a DVD; it was the “Concert for George” and it was the first thing in months that held my attention. That’s the day I started listening to music again. Bill and music were the major factors in getting my mental and emotional recovery into motion. I put on my headphones and listened to all my favorite tunes. I started feeling better and eventually got myself to the point where I felt before the urgent need for surgery …. but I still had nagging pain in my knee. X-rays revealed something wrong with my replacement and I needed to have a total revision …. a complete do-over of the first operation. All that suffering between 2011 and 2019 because of something that could and should have been avoided.

The 2nd surgery was in early December 2019, just before Covid. I had great hope this time around but my recovery turned into the perfect storm. A visiting nurse came to see me five times and Bill brought me to have my staples removed. I started physical therapy but that lasted only about two weeks before everything came to a halt. I was left to my own devices as far as physical therapy was concerned and I had a wave of anxiety wash over me thinking “here we go again” …. but this time I sort of knew what to expect. I had an exercise routine from my first round of PT 8 years earlier which I did on my own as best I could. Being your own physical therapist after major surgery is far from ideal. By the grace of God, I did not hurt myself or fall into another depression. Once again music and Bill were my constant companions. I’d also begun to write again.

Long story even longer, when lockdown was lifted, I went back to therapy. That’s how I met the therapist who literally saved my life and I still see him when I have a flare up. Besides being a great therapist, he’s an incredibly good person who loves what he does …. helping people recover and feel better. And he always has music playing during his sessions! If I didn’t have him and Bill, I don’t know where I would be right now. And I’m also no longer taking meds.

Depression is serious business. As hard as it may be, we need to try to let people into our life. We need to talk to someone, anyone who will listen and be a good friend. There’s no shame in being depressed; it’s an illness and needs to be treated as one …. not covered up like a dirty secret.

I’m one of the lucky ones and I have music, my therapist and Bill to thank for helping me on the road to recovery.

Take good care of yourselves, my friends, and try to listen to music every day. Don’t underestimate it’s powers. It’s a balm for your body, mind, heart and soul. It could also mean a new lease on life.

National Depression Hotline – 866-629-4564 for free help, treatment options and support. Call 24/7.

This is “Mr. Blue Sky” by ELO

LYRICS

Sun is shinin’ in the sky
There ain’t a cloud in sight
It’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in the play
And don’t you know
It’s a beautiful new day? Hey

Runnin’ down the avenue
See how the sun shines brightly in the city
On the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?

Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration, Mr. Blue Sky’s up there waitin’
And today is the day we’ve waited for

Oh, Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?

Hey there, Mr. Blue
We’re so pleased to be with you
Look around, see what you do
Everybody smiles at you

Hey there, Mr. Blue
We’re so pleased to be with you
Look around, see what you do
Everybody smiles at you

Mr. Blue, you did it right
But soon comes Mr. Night creepin’ over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind, I’ll remember you this
I’ll remember you this way

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?

Hey there Mr. Blue (sky)
We’re so pleased to be with you (sky)
Look around see what you do (blue)
Everybody smiles at you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jeff Lynne
Mr. Blue Sky lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

  • Jeff Lynne–lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, orchestral and choral arrangements 
  • Bev Bevan– drums, various percussion instruments, cymbals, backing vocals, fire extingjuisher
  • Richard Tandy– piano, electric piano, synthesizer, vocoder, orchestral and choral arrangements
  • Kelly Groucutt– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mik Kaminski– violin
  • Hugh McDowell – cello
  • Melvyn Gale – cello
  • Lewis Clark – orchestral and choral arrangements, orchestra conductor
Mental Stability

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This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

Music Blog

Nordic Sounds: Sweden Calling

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

For today’s challenge, Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has asked us to write about a Scandinavian song and/or performer. This was a no-brainer for me; I couldn’t write about anyone other than the incredible Yngwie Malmsteen. Honestly, for many years I didn’t think there was any better guitarist than Ritchie Blackmore; then I heard Yngwie.

Born in 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden, Yngwie first became known in the 80s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal. In his career of more than 40 years (and still going), Yngwie has released 22 studio albums. In 2009 he was listed in Time magazine as #9 on its list of the 10 best electric guitar players of all time.

Really? There are 8 better guitarists than Yngwie? I wonder who they could be. Well, let’s take a look: in descending order starting with #8 they are – Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, B.B. King, Slash, and Jimi Hendrix. I’ve got issues with this list. And where are Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie Van Halen, Matteo Mancuso, Henrik Freishlader, Tommy Emmanuel, Joe Bonamassa and Guthrie Govan, FFS?

Anyway ….

As a teenager, Yngwie was heavily influenced by classical music, particularly Paganini and Bach. During this time he also discovered his most important guitar influence, Ritchie Blackmore. Yngwie has sad that Hendrix had no musical impact on him and did not contribute to his style but seeing him on TV smashing and burning his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 was “really cool”.

Yngwie Malmsteen has been a member of Steeler, Alcatrazz, Hear ‘n Aid, G3 and is currently with Generation Axe. Addtionally, he has had side projects and made special appearances with many other groups and performers.

In a 2005 issue of Guitar Player magazine, Yngwie Malmsteen discussed his often-ridiculed behavior, saying that, “I’ve probably made more mistakes than anybody. But I don’t dwell on them. I don’t expect people to understand me, because I’m pretty complex, and I think outside the box with everything I do. I’ve always taken the untraveled path. Obviously, people have their opinions, but I can’t get too wrapped up in that, because I know what I can do, and I know what kind of person I am. And I have no control over what anybody says about me. Back in Sweden, I’m ‘Mr Personality’ in the tabloids, but obviously I can’t take that seriously. I know in my heart that if I do the absolute best I can do, maybe ten years from now people may turn around and say, ‘he wasn’t that bad’.”

Let’s get down to business and listen to some Yngwie tracks.

  • This is Yngwie Malmsteen playing “Allegro and Adagio” by Paganini with the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra

  • While with Alcatrazz, here is “Lost In Hollywood” by Yngwie Malmsteen and Graham Bonnet

  • This is a real treat: Yngwie Malmsteen and Dio performing Aerosmith’s “Dream On”

The following is an interview with Yngwie Malmsteen and Rick Beato (the human music encyclopedia).

Nordic Sounds

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Music Blog

On The Roof

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Prompts today from Jim at Song Lyric Sunday
and Linda at Daily Prompt – JusJoJan

Today’s challenge from Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday is to write about a song that mentions clothing accessories suggested by Christine of Stine Writing and Miniatures. Now that’s an interesting topic!

I started working on this post a couple of days ago, thinking about “accessories”; at the time I didn’t have Christine’s list of suggestions and some of the items I came up with were shoelaces, hats, ties, scarves, belts, hairpins, assorted jewelry, purses and socks. And that’s where I stopped – at socks. I was curious about that because I thought socks were not considered “accessories” but rather actual articles of clothing. It’s definitely debatable and when I saw them on the list I was thrilled because I had a great song in my head.

And that song is “’I’ve Got a Feeling” by the Beatles. There’s absolutely no need to discuss the group so let’s just get into the song.

“I’ve Got a Feeling” is from the Beatles 1970 album “Let It Be” and was recorded almost 55 years ago on January 30, 1969 during the Beatles’ rooftop concert. It is a combination of two unfinished songs – Paul McCartney’s “I’ve Got a Feeling” and John Lennon’s “Everybody Had a Hard Year”.

McCartney’s unfinished song was written for his girlfriend Linda Eastman and is quite upbeat, telling her that she was the girl he had always wanted. In Lennon’s song, each line begins with the word “everybody” and isn’t as light as Paul’s. John had a bad year: he divorced Cynthia, he and his son Julian became estranged, his girlfriend Yoko Ono had a miscarriage, he was arrested for drug possession, and he was increasingly discontent in the group. Critics called it a “litany” and they were right.

So, “What’s socks got to do with this song?” you ask. Very simple: one line that goes “Everybody pulled their socks up”. Sound familiar? Let’s have a listen:

From that legendary rooftop concert, here are the Beatles with “I’ve Got a Feeling”. I honestly think this is one of the greatest things they ever did. To capture this performance on a roof with no monitors in the freezing cold with the police breathing down their necks is just incredible.

This is “I’ve Got A Feeling” from the Beatles rooftop concert

Lyrics

I’ve got a feeling
A feeling deep inside
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, that’s right
I’ve got a feeling
A feeling I can’t hide
Oh no, no
Oh no
Oh no

Yeah, yeah
I’ve got a feeling, yeah

Oh please believe me
I’d hate to miss the train
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah
And if you leave me
I won’t be late again
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no

Yeah, yeah
I’ve got a feeling, yeah
I’ve got a feeling

All these years, I’ve been wanderin’ around
Wonderin’ how come nobody told me
All that I been lookin’ for was somebody who looked like you

Ooh, I’ve got a feeling
That keeps me on my toes
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
I’ve got a feeling
I think that everybody knows
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah

Yeah, yeah
I’ve got a feeling, yeah
Yeah

Everybody had a hard year
Everybody had a good time
Everybody had a wet dream
Everybody saw the sunshine
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah, oh yeah (yeah)
Everybody had a good year
Everybody let their hair down
Everybody pulled their socks up (yeah)
Everybody put their foot down
Oh yeah

Yeah
Woo

I’ve got a feeling (everybody had a good year)
A feeling deep inside (everybody had a hard time)
Oh yeah (everybody had a wet dream)
Oh yeah (everybody saw the sunshine)
I’ve got a feeling (everybody had a good year)
A feeling I can’t hide (everybody let their hair down)
Oh no (everybody pulled their socks up)
Oh no, no (everybody put their foot down, oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah

I’ve got a feeling (oh yeah)
I’ve got a feeling (oh yeah)
I’ve got a feeling
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Oh my soul, so hard)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
I’ve Got a Feeling lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

“I’ve Got a Feeling”
Song by the Beatles
from the album Let It Be
Released8 May 1970
Recorded30 January 1969
StudioApple, EMI and Olympic Sound, London
GenreBlues rock, Hard rock
Length3:37
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)Lennon-McCartney
Producder(s)Phil Spector

This is what John Lennon’s song sounds like. Here is “Everybody Had a Hard Year”

Fashion Accessories
Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 7th, 2024

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Music Blog

RAGS TO RICHES

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today in Song Lyric Sunday, Jim has challenged us
to write about a song by an artist or songwriter
who passed away in 2023. This is my response.

Tony Bennett, 1926-2023

There aren’t too many people who haven’t heard of Tony Bennett and if you haven’t, there’s plenty of info you can find on Wiki. But perhaps you didn’t know he was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in the Astoria district of Queens, New York. He was the son of immigrants …. John, a grocer from southern Italy, and Anna, a seamstress. Tony was the baby of the family, with older siblings, Mary and John Jr. With a father who was ailing and unable to work, the children grew up in poverty.

John Sr. instilled in his son a love of art and literature and compassion for human suffering. His father died when Tony was 10 and Anna worked all hours to support her three children. Watching her struggle, Tony made up his mind to be successful enough for his mother’s trials to end. His Uncle Dick, a tap dancer, provided an early glimpse of show business, and Tony was passionate about both singing and painting by the time he attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) in Manhattan.

Tony took bellboy jobs before becoming a singing waiter in a restaurant. He sang with army bands during World War II, but he was demoted and assigned to grave digging for fraternizing on Thanksgiving night with a black soldier who had been a schoolfriend. Twenty years after that episode, Tony was marching in Alabama with Martin Luther King. He was moved to become a pacifist following combat in Europe in 1945, an experience he described as “a front-row seat in hell”.

After demobilization, Tony took vocal classes at the American Theatre Wing School; a teacher there suggested he try imitating the phrasing of jazz instrumentalists and he began singing in nightclubs from 1946 under the stage name of Joe Bari. Comedian Bob Hope hired him in 1949 but, disliking the stage name, told him: “We’ll call you Tony Bennett.”

And so it began, the slow climb from “rags to riches”.

However, there’s something you won’t read about Tony Bennett anywhere but here. Read on.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

“Why don’t you invite Tony Bennett to the wedding?”

That’s something you might expect to hear Nancy Sinatra or Billy Joel say – certainly not me! But I did make that suggestion and here’s how it all came about.

It was probably around 2004 when my son, Bill, first met Tony Bennett. I say “first” because Bill had the pleasure of working with Tony numerous times .… at the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center, the Grammy Awards, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and other gigs.

You see, Bill’s been a camera man/teleprompter for a lot of years; he’s had the great opportunity of working with celebrities ranging from Paul McCartney to Big Bird to Bill Clinton. His jobs are as varied as crayons in a jumbo Crayola box and just as colorful. I’m not going to bore you with names but the list is impressive. That’s how Bill met Tony.

These gigs – many of which are live – don’t happen in just one take. The crew and the performers (or “talent”, as they’re known in the business) can wind up spending a great deal of time on the set – certainly hours, sometimes days. Some performers prefer to remain aloof; others, like Tony Bennett, are the type who pull up a chair in the break room and eat lunch with the crew.

Now I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging but I raised a good son. Bill is a hard worker, agreeable, unassuming, pleasant, good-looking and funny. Tony and Bill enjoyed working with each other very much – so much so that when Tony was asked to perform at the Rockefeller Center tree lighting again in 2005, he requested my son by name.

During down time at a rehearsal two years later (2007), Bill mentioned his upcoming wedding and Tony happened to be within earshot. He came over to congratulate Bill and they talked about “things” for a while. Tony wished Bill “a happy wedding day”, shook his hand and that was that – until I found out about it and I said what any mom would say:

“Why don’t you invite Tony Bennett to the wedding? He just might say ‘yes’.”

I gave Bill an invitation for him to give Tony the next day. He took it and placed it in his backpack …. where it stayed. Let’s just say my son is a bit more circumspect than me; he opted not to impose on Tony and did not extend the invitation. I was a bit bummed out but it was Bill’s decision to make, not mine, and in hindsight it was probably the right decision.

Still …. can you just imagine what a gas it would have been if Tony Bennett had shown up at my son’s wedding?

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Frank Sinatra was a good friend of Tony Bennett and he had a couple of great things to say about him, things like he was “the best singer in the business” and – my personal favorite – “that kid’s got four sets of balls”!

I saw Tony Bennett perform several times. I’ll never forget a concert we went to at Carnegie Hall about 25 years ago. A highlight of the show was when Tony sang “Rags To Riches”, one of his very early hits, without accompaniment or a mic, and we could hear him clear as a bell all the way up in the “nosebleed’ seats! What an amazing set of pipes! I was blown away by that performance.

To celebrate Tony Bennett’s life, his incredible talents and gifts to the world, I have chosen that memorable 70-year-old song. “Rags To Riches” is based on a famous Russian tune called “Volga Melody” (aka “Samara My Lovely”) by Yuri Shchetkov. Tony Bennett did the best-known version in 1953 with Percy Faith and his orchestra. It was #1 for eight weeks on the Billboard chart and became a gold record. It was also featured in the opening sequence of the 1990 film “Goodfellas”.

From 1953, this is “Rags To Riches” by the incomparable Tony Bennett.

Lyrics

I know I’d go from rages to riches
If you would only say you care
And though, my pocket may be empty
I’d be a millionaire

My clothes may still be torn and tattered
But in my heart I’d be a king
Your love is all that ever mattered
It’s everything

So, open your arms and you’ll open the door
To every treasure that I’m hoping for
Hold me and kiss me, and tell me you’re mine evermore

Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you

Must I forever be a beggar
Whose golden dreams will not come true?
Or will I go from rags to riches?
My fate is up to you

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Marc Shaiman / Mike Caren / Randolph S. Parker / Brian Scott / Vito Tisdale / William Hughes / Melvin Adams / L. Elroy
Rags to Riches lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music International Ltd.

“Rags To Riches”
Single by Tony Bennett
B-side“Here Comes That Heartache Again”
ReleasedAugust 3, 1953
RecordedMarch 17, 1953
StudioColumbia 30th Street Studio, New York City
GenrePop
Length2:50
LabelColumbia
Producer(s)Percy Faith
Tony Bennett singles chronology
(1953)”Someone Turned The Moon Upside Down”
(1953)”Rags To Riches“
(1953)”Stranger In Paradise”

Tony Bennett died at his home in New York City on July 21, 2023, – just two weeks shy of his 97th birthday – following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. His family said he kept singing right up to the end. Tony will never be forgotten and has been hailed as the “champion” and “legendary interpreter” of the Great American Songbook. 

Thank you for sharing in my tribute to Tony Bennett and “Rags To Riches”. Rest easy, Tony. As Bob Hope used to say, “Thanks for the memories”.

Gone But Not Forgotten

NAR © 2023

Today at The Rhythm Section
I have posted my final edition
of Name That Tune.
Why not stop by for
one last spin of the disc?
https://rhythmsection.blog//

This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR © 2017-present.

Music Blog

BUON NATALE, BABY!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

It’s Christmastime today at
Song Lyric Sunday,
my favorite time of the year!

One of the greatest personal moments in music is when I hear an instrumental and the combined qualities of that piece get my imagination going to the point where I see an entire story unfolding. Surely it happens quite often with classical pieces since most are instrumental.

So where am I going with this? Well, in his post today, Jim asked what our favorite Christmas song is and mine happens to be an instrumental. From the first notes to the last, as the excitement builds, this song is, for me, the epitome of Christmas. Yes, there is a version with lyrics and they’re pretty good ones, but I prefer the original instrumental. Can you guess which song I’m talking about? Hang on a bit longer, please, and I’ll play it at the end of this post. First, I want to talk about something else.

Today in Song Lyric Sunday, the suggestion for “Anything Christmas” comes from our friend Clive at Take It Easy.

Since I’m The Sicilian Storyteller it should be obvious that I am extremely proud of my heritage. I want to say “Mille grazie, Jim & Clive” for the opportunity to play some Italian Christmas songs and to wish our readers “Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo a tutti!”

My first song for today’s “Anything Christmas” prompt is a fun Italian/American favorite Christmas song.

“Dominick the Donkey” is a novelty Christmas song recorded by Lou Monte in 1960 (written by Ray Allen, Sam Saltzberg and Wandra Merrell). This beloved Italian Christmas song describes a donkey who helps Santa Claus bring presents (made in Brooklyn, of all places!) to children in Italy “because the reindeer cannot climb”  Italy’s hills. The song was listed at No. 14 in Billboard’s “Bubbling Under the Hot 100” list in December 1960.

Lou Monte was an Italian-American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also recorded on Roulette Records, Jubilee Records, Regalia Records, Musicor Records, Laurie Records, and AFE Records.

Let’s have a little fun with Lou Monte and “Dominick The Donkey”.


LYRICS
Hey! Chingedy,ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.
Cumpare sing,
Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to town,
And brings do ciuccianello.
Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)
Hey! Dominic

Written by: Ray Allen, Sam Saltzberg, Wandra Merrell
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Then, while surfing the net, I found this. There wasn’t much info, just what the composer/singer offered up. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did, even if you’re not Italian …. AYYY!

“The Other Italian Christmas Song” by Eddie Napilillo

I stayed up all night and wrote this so people could enjoy it this Christmas! It’s kind of an Adam Sandler Hanukkah Chanukah Song parody. It was fun making it and clearly expresses that everyone, all religions ethnicities and beliefs, is welcome in an Italian family home at Christmas! Merry Christmas everybody! Peace and love to you and your families! Please forgive my lyric reading and sloppy playing!!! I mispronounced some names too… lol.. No Mic, no reverb or affects, just iMovie, an iSight camera, and a $20 acoustic guitar. – Eddie Napolillo

🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟  

From the ridiculous to the sublime …. my next song for you today is a traditional Italian Christmas carol called “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle” (“From Starry Skies Thou Comest”) or, more colloquially, “You come down from the stars”, written in 1732.

The melody and original lyrics for the hymn were written by Alphonsus Liguori, a prominent Neapolitan priest and scholastic philosopher (later canonized) who founded the Redemptorist missionary order. While staying at Convent of the Consolation, one of his order’s houses in the province of Foggia in southeastern Italy, he wrote the beautiful Christmas song, “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle”. Over the years, this song became the most popular Christmas carol in Italy.

Many artists have recorded this carol and they are all lovely. In my opinion no one sings it more sweetly than the great Andrea Bocelli; it is his version I have chosen for you today. If you would like to follow along, I have provided the lyrics in both Italian and English.

Here is Andrea Bocelli with “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle”

LYRICS

You come down from the stars, O King of heaven
Tu scendi dalle stelle, o Re del cielo

And come to a cave in the cold and frost
E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo

And come to a cave in the cold and frost
E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo

O my divine Child, I see you here trembling
O Bambino mio divino, io ti vedo qui a tremar

O blessed God
O Dio beato

Ah, how much it cost you to have loved us
Ah, quanto ti costò l’averci amato

Ah, how much it cost you to have loved us
Ah, quanto ti costò l’averci amato

To you, who are the Creator of the world
A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore

Clothes and fire are missing, oh my Lord
Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore

Clothes and fire are missing, oh my Lord
Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore

Dear chosen little child, how much this poverty
Caro eletto pargoletto quanto questa povertà

The more I fall in love
Più m’innamora

Since he made you poor love again
Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora

Since he made you poor love again
Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alfonso Maria De Liguori
Tu scendi dalle stelle lyrics © Tratore

Oh, did you think I forgot about my favorite Christmas song? Never! Did you guess what that song is? Well, let’s play it now and we’ll see if you were right. Here is the incredible Boston Pops Orchestra with its awesome rendition of “Sleigh Ride”.

Seventy-five years after Leroy Anderson created “Sleigh Ride” (1948), the song is still ranked as one of the 10 most popular pieces of Christmas music worldwide!

Thanks to Jim at Song Lyrics Sunday for always coming up with great prompts and to Clive for his suggestion today of “Anything Christmas”. Merry Christmas to all; may your day be joyous and wonderful and filled with terrific music!

Jingling Ring Tingle Tingling

This portfolio (including text, graphics and videos) is copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and not for use by anyone except with permission. NAR © 2017-present.

Music Blog

AND THAT’S A WRAP!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today at Song Lyric Sunday, Jim is asking us to choose a song that was recorded in one take. Ok, let’s do it!

In my mind, I can’t imagine anyone not being a Beatles fan …. not to the exclusion of all other bands, mind you …. just an ordinary fan. With that thought in mind, I’m sure you’re all eager to know that the Beatles recorded not one but four songs in one take. The amazing thing about that is the lead singer for each of the four songs was a different Beatle!

Let’s see which four songs were recorded in just one take and who sang which song:

On February 11, 1963, Ringo took lead vocals for the first time on “Boys”, a hit song for the Shirelles written in 1960 by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell. As usual, Ringo also played the drums. On that day the Beatles recorded ten songs for the first album “Please Please Me”, which was released on March 22, 1963.

Next up is Paul. On March 1, 1964, he did his greatest Little Richard impression on “Long Tall Sally” with George Martin joining in on piano. The song was written by session musician Henry Strzelecki and originally released in 1959. The Beatles version was released on June 1, 1964 on a 4-song EP that included “Matchbox’, “I Call Your Name” and “Slow Down”.

On October 18, 1964, George sang lead on a cover of the Carl Perkins song “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”, originally written way back in 1936 by Rex Griffin. The take was so well done, there was no need for another. That was a very productive recording session, with the Beatles completing three songs in just five takes!

The last of the songs is one by John singing “Rock and Roll Music”, which Chuck Berry wrote and recorded in 1957. George Martin once again joined in on the piano (as he often did); it was such a clean and crisp recording, only one take was needed.

Nothing new here for the Beatles; they had performed all these songs in their Hamburg days so the group was used to playing them. Yes, you’re right if you’re saying “But, Nancy … Ringo wasn’t in Hamburg – Pete Best was the Beatles drummer back then“. And I would reply that Ringo had sung “Boys” with his previous band so it was only natural that he be given the lead for that song again with the Beatles. These songs were also Rock & Roll or Rockabilly covers – a genre the Beatles loved to listen to and play, which they did with extreme ease.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Beatles routinely recorded songs in one take when in reality it happened only four times in their entire career. Let’s listen to my favorite of the four “one take” songs …. John’s version of “Rock and Roll Music” from “Beatles For Sale”.

Rock And Roll Music (Remastered 2009)
The Beatles
Beatles For Sale

Written by: ChuckBerry
Recorded: October 18, 1964
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: December 4, 1964 (UK), December 15, 1961 (US)
Available on:
Beatles For Sale
Anthology 2
Live At The BBC

Personnel
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
Paul McCartney: bass guitar, piano
George Harrison: acoustic guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: piano

One and Done

Thanks to Jim for another great prompt in Song Lyric Sunday. I’m looking forward to seeing what other great songs were recorded in just one take.

NAR © 2023

Music Blog

IT’S TIME TO GO TO CHURCH

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today in Song Lyric Sunday
Jim is challenging us to write about
a killer album closer. Here’s my response:

Say “hello” to my little friend.
This is Eddie, the official mascot for Iron Maiden.
Eddie is a perennial fixture of the group’s artwork,
appearing on all their album covers and merchandise,
which includes T-shirts, posters and action figures.
Eddie, AKA Eddie the Head, made his debut February 8, 1980.

There are metal singers and then there are METAL SINGERS.
Bruce Dickinson, without a single solitary doubt in my mind,
falls into the latter category.
He is among the best of the best!

“Hallowed Be Thy Name,” the end track from the epic “The Number of The Beast” album, is not only one of Iron Maiden’s best songs, it’s one of the greatest metal tracks of all-time, period. The epic 7+ minute track instantly became a mainstay at live shows and has been covered by numerous artists, including Dream Theater and Machine Head.

Allmusic describes it as “perhaps the most celebrated of the band’s extended epics; it’s the tale of a prisoner about to be hanged, featuring some of Harris’ most philosophical lyrics.” Several band-members have since stated that it is one of their favorite tracks, with Bruce Dickinson describing it as “fantastic” and that performing it live is like “narrating a movie to the audience.”

On the evening of October 2, 1982, my mister and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for one of our final rock concerts. It had been a while. Now that we had kids, who knew when we would be able to have this experience again. We were all grown up with a different set of priorities but this was one event we could not miss. Performing that night at Madison Square Garden were two British groups Bill and I didn’t have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids).

The concert tour was called “Beast On the Road” and the two groups were Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. It was incredible and the closing song sounded a lot like this:

“Hallowed Be Thy Name” by Iron Maiden

Lyrics

I’m waiting in my cold cell when the bell begins to chime
Reflecting on my past life and it doesn’t have much time
‘Cause at 5 o’clock, they take me to the Gallows Pole
The sands of time for me are running low
Running low, yeah!

When the priest comes to read me the last rites
Take a look through the bars at the last sights
Of a world that has gone very wrong for me

Can it be that there’s some sort of error?
Hard to stop the surmounting terror
Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?

Somebody, please tell me that I’m dreaming
It’s not easy to stop from screaming
The words escape me when I try to speak
Tears flow, but why am I crying?
After all, I’m not afraid of dying
Don’t I believe that there never is an end?

As the guards march me out to the courtyard
Somebody cries from a cell, “God be with you”
If there’s a God, why has he let me go?

As I walk, my life drifts before me
Though the end is near I’m not sorry
Catch my soul, it’s willing to fly away

Mark my words, believe my soul lives on
Don’t worry now that I have gone
I’ve gone beyond to seek the truth

When you know that your time is close at hand
Maybe then you’ll begin to understand
Life down here is just a strange illusion

Yeah-yeah-yeah, hallowed be thy name
Yeah-yeah-yeah, hallowed by thy name

Yeah

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Stephen Percy Harris
Hallowed Be Thy Name lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Universal Music Publishing Group

“Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Song by Iron Maiden
from the album The Number of the Beast
Released22 March 1982
RecordedJanuary–February 1982
StudioBattery, London
GenreHeavy Metal
Length7:08
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)Martin Birch

Album Closer

Thanks to Jim for another great prompt in Song Lyric Sunday!

NAR © 2023

Music Blog

BEFORE HIS COUNTRY DIES

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶
Ravi Shankar/George Harrison

This week the theme at Song Lyric Sunday is to find a song by an artist or group that won a Grammy.

Where do I begin? Where my heart takes me!

If you know me, chances are very good you know I’m a Beatles lover from Day 1. If you know me really well, there’s no question which of the Fab Four is closest to my heart.

Perhaps it’s because we’re both Pisces. Maybe it’s because I always root for the underdog. Maybe it’s because he was an immensely humble man never allowing money or success to be the end all in his life. He was accepting, gracious, genuine …. a man of great faith who possessed an enormous talent.

He was, of course, George Harrison.

George has an amazing catalog of songs; in my mind one of the best things he ever did was the “Concert for Bangla Desh” which won a Grammy in 1973 for Album of the Year. I will not bore you with statistics; here’s a link to Wiki where you can find out everything you ever wanted to know:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Concert_for_Bangladesh_(album)

Today we’re just going to sit back and enjoy the legendary eponymous song from that phenomenal concert. Here is “Bangla Desh”:

Please follow me this week as I feature a different George song every day as a tribute to and in memory of the great George Harrison.

On Wednesday, November 29, we will mark the 22nd anniversary of his passing. That was a day that truly broke my heart. Thank the gods his music will never die.

As I like to say, “There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!”

Thanks, Jim, for another great prompt!

NAR © 2023

Outstanding Music Achievement

Lyrics

My friend came to me, with sadness in his eyes
He told me that he wanted help
Before his country dies
Although I couldn’t feel the pain, I knew I had to try
Now I’m asking all of you
To help us save some lives
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Where so many people are dying fast
And it sure looks like a mess
I’ve never seen such distress
Now won’t you lend your hand and understand
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Such a great disaster – I don’t understand
But it sure looks like a mess
I’ve never known such distress
Now please don’t turn away, I want to hear you say
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Relieve Bangla Desh
Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Now it may seem so far from where we all are
It’s something we can’t neglect
It’s something I can’t neglect
Now won’t you give some bread to get the starving fed
We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
We’ve got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh

Words and music by George Harrison

“BanglaDesh”
Single by George Harrison
B-side“Deep Blue“
Released28 July 1971
RecordedJuly 1971
Record Plant West, Los Angeles
GenreRock, gospel
Length3:57
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)George Harrison
Producer(s)George Harrison, Phil Spector
George Harrison singles chronology
“What Is Life“
(1971) “BanglaDesh“
(1971) “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)“
(1973)

The Concert for Bangladesh
Live album by George Harrison & Friends
Released20 December 1971
Recorded1 August 1971
VenueMadison Square Garden, New York
GenreRock[1]Hindustani classicalfolkgospel
Length99:32
LabelApple
ProducerGeorge HarrisonPhil Spector
George Harrison chronology
All Things Must Pass
(1970)The Concert for Bangladesh
(1971)Living in the Material World
(1973)
Music Blog

UNPLUGGED IN L.A.

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Jim over at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to get unplugged today by writing about an acoustic rock song.

Of course, my immediate reaction was to go right to the source, the premier #1 acoustic song, the most covered song in the history of songs …. “Yesterday” by the Beatles …. but I changed my mind. Too predictable; anyone who knows me would expect me to go there. So I went with another member of British royalty and selected one of the greatest acoustic songs I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing live.

Led Zeppelin could do it all, including ballads, and the finest has to be “Going to California” from their unchallenged masterpiece, 1971’s Led Zeppelin IV.

This folk-leaning rock song features only Robert Plant on vocals, acoustic guitar by Jimmy Page and the mesmerizing ring of the mandolin by the group’s bassist and multi-instrumental wizard, John Paul Jones.

The track came about after Jimmy Page and some crew members experienced a small earthquake while in Los Angeles. Folk legend Joni Mitchell supplied the “aha moment” for this song by inspiring the line: “She plays guitar and cries and sings”. When playing it live, Robert Plant would sometimes sing ‘Joni’ after this portion of lyrics. Well, he did the night I heard it.

Thanks to Jim for this fantastic prompt today.

NAR © 2023

Going Unplugged

This is Led Zeppelin and “Going To California”

Lyrics

Spent my days with a woman unkind
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
Made up my mind to make a new start
Going to California with an aching in my heart
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair

Took my chances on a big jet plane
Never let ’em tell ya that they’re all the same
Oh, the sea was red and the sky was grey
I wonder how tomorrow could ever follow today
The mountains and the canyons start to tremble and shake
The children of the sun begin to awake (watch out)

It seems that the wrath of the gods got a punch on the nose
And it’s startin’ to flow, I think I might be sinkin’
Throw me a line, if I reach it in time
I’ll meet you up there where the path runs straight and high

To find a queen without a king
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings, la-la-la
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin’ to find a woman who’s never, never, never been born
Standin’ on a hill in the mountain of dreams
Tellin’ myself it’s not as hard, hard, hard as it seems

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jimmy Page / Robert Anthony Plant
Going to California lyrics © Succubus Music Ltd., Sons Of Einion Publishing, Flames Of Albion Music, Inc.

“Going to California”
Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album Led Zeppelin IV
Released8 November 1971
Recorded1971
StudioHeadley Grange, Hampshire, England
GenreFolk Art rock
Length3:32
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Producer(s)Jimmy Page
Music Blog

ABOUT THAT BRIDGE

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Continue reading “ABOUT THAT BRIDGE” →

Music Blog

UNDERRATED? GO FISH!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

 Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has presented us with this challenge:
“Find a song that you feel is an underrated deep album cut.”
OK, friends. Here we go! 

“Nantucket Sleighride” is the second studio album by the American hard rock band Mountain, released in January 1971.

The title track “Nantucket Sleighride” (To Owen Coffin) and album title is a reference to the experience of being towed along in a boat by a harpooned whale.

Poor Owen, to whom the song is dedicated, was a young seaman on the Nantucket whaler Essex, which was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820. In the aftermath of the wreck, Coffin was shot and eaten by his shipmates. The story of the Essex was recorded by its First Mate Owen Chase, one of eight survivors, in his 1821 “Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex”.

On the list of 100 Most Underrated Rock Songs, “Nantucket Sleighride” stands in the whopping #10 slot. What?? Are you kidding me? The 10th most underrated rock song of all time. What are these list-compilers smoking?

I don’t have the answer to that and I can’t even hazard a guess. “Nantucket Sleighride” is one of Mountain’s  (and Leslie West’s) greatest achievements. It is a stone classic of 1970s heavy metal and a guitarist’s dream. This title track from the album is easily Mountain’s greatest individual song. The band took its inspiration from Cream and turned it into some of the finest guitar driven hard rock ever put on record. If anyone doesn’t agree that Leslie West is a great guitarist and this song is epic, then I suggest they just listen.

#10 FFS!

NAR © 2023

This is Mountain and “Nantucket Sleighride” (To Owen Coffin)

Lyrics
Goodbye, little Robin-Marie
Don’t try following me
Don’t cry, little Robin-Marie
‘Cause you know I’m coming home soon

My ships’ leaving on a three-year tour
The next tide will take us from shore
Windlaced, gather in sail and spray
On a search for the mighty sperm whale

Fly your willow branches
Wrap your body round my soul
Lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets
There are years behind us reaching
To the place where hearts are beating
And I know you’re the last true love I’ll ever meet

Starbuck’s sharpening his harpoon
The black man’s playing his tune
An old salt’s sleeping his watch away
He’ll be drunk again before noon

Three years sailing on bended knee
We found no whales in the sea
Don’t cry, little Robin-Marie
‘Cause we’ll be in sight of land soon

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Felix Pappalardi / Gail Collins
Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin) lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

  • Leslie West – guitar, vocals
  • Felix Pappalardi – bass, vocals, production
  • Steve Knight – keyboards
  • Corky Laing – drums, percussion
Nantucket Sleighride
Studio Album by  Mountain
ReleasedJanuary 1971
Recordedlate 1970
StudioThe Record Plant, New York City, NY
GenreHard rock
Length35:12
LabelWindfall (US)
Island (UK)
ProducerFelix Pappalardi
Mountain chronology
Climbing! (1970)
Nantucket Sleighride (1971)
Flowers of Evil (1971)
Music Blog

DESTINATION UNKNOWN

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Our friend Jim Adams over at “Song Lyric Sunday” has given us a new challenge. This week the theme is to find a song by an artist or group that has a color in their name.

My choice is a song I found visually interesting and musically appealing right off the bat. It’s unusual (in a good way) and bold and still delivers a great song with an intriguing spy story video attached.

My song of choice today is “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring.

The Dutch band Golden Earring had a hit in 1982 with their song “Twilight Zone”. It was written by the band’s guitarist George Kooymans who drew inspiration from the book, “The Bourne Identity”. The song spent 27 weeks on the US Pop charts and was the group’s sole Top 10 Pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart, the band’s only No. 1 hit single in the US. Lead vocals are divided between Kooymans and Golden Earring frontman, Barry Hay

The music video was one of the first to feature a cinematic storyline and dance choreography and was a hit on the fledgling MTV network. Golden Earring followed their success on MTV with an extensive tour of the US, Canada and Europe. MTV commissioned the band to shoot a movie of the final “homecoming” concert of the tour in the Netherlands. The concert was released in 1984 as “Live from The Twilight Zone” along with an album of the concert titled “Something Heavy Going Down: Live From the Twilight Zone”. It aired on MTV and was published as a video on VHS, Beta and Laserdisc.

Golden Earring’s ”Cut” album cover image of the Jack of diamonds playing card being shredded by a bullet is used in the video and represents the life of a rogue secret agent.

Thanks for another great challenge today, Jim! Always fun!

NAR © 2023

Power of Color

Now here’s the video of Golden Earring’s “Twilight Zone”.

LYRICS

Somewhere in a lonely hotel room there’s a guy
Starting to realize that eternal fate has turned its back on him
It’s two A.M.

It’s two A.M. (It’s two A.M.)
Fear is gone (fear is gone)
I’m sitting here waiting
The Gun still warm (the gun still warm)
Maybe my connection is tired of taking chances

Yeah, there’s a storm on the loose
Sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence, all circuits are dead
Cannot decode, my whole life spins into a frenzy

Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being cold
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far? (Oh oh oh)

Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being alone
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far?

So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone

I’m fallin’ down a spiral, destination unknown
Double crossed messenger, all alone
Can’t get no connection, can’t get through
Where are you?

Well the night weighs heavy on his guilty mind
This far from the borderline
When the hitman comes
He knows damn well he has been cheated

And he says
Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being cold
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far? (Oh oh oh)

Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being alone
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far?

So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone

Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being cold
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far? (Oh oh oh)

Help, I’m steppin’ into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse, feels like being alone
My beacon’s been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I’ve gone too far?

So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone
When the bullet hits the bone

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: George Kooymans
Twilight Zone lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Twilight Zone”
Single by Golden Earring
from the album Cut
B-side“King Dark”
Released23 August 1982 (NL) 
Recorded1982
GenreRock, new wave
Length7:58 (album version)
4:47 (single version)
Label21/Polygram
Songwriter(s)George Kooymans
Producer(s)Schell Schellekens
Uncategorized

READY FOR A CHANGE

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams is asking us to think about songs dealing with “changes”. Well, how can I pass up an opportunity like that? Today I am going with a song from a group usually not associated with ballads. My featured artist is Black Sabbath and my song choice is an obvious one: “Changes”.

Sabbath was formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist Toni Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osborne. Like so many young guys from that time period, they were looking to escape a life of factory work through music. They got their start in such bands as the psychedelic Rare Breed and Mythology. Influenced by the reigning British rock and blues bands of Led Zeppelin, Cream and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, our four enterprising guys formed Earth Blues Company (shortened to Earth) in 1968. Then, as Black Sabbath, the group helped define the heavy metal music genre early in its career with the release of albums such as the eponymous Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971) and Master of Reality (1971).

Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most commercially successful metal bands. They were ranked by MTV as the “Greatest Metal Band of All Time” and placed 2nd on VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. Black Sabbathwas inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019 the band was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

As I mentioned earlier, these four guys suffered the same plight as many young men …. give up your youth and life to working day after day in the factories, the mines or on the docks doing back-breaking manual labor and earning barely enough to exist or find an escape through music. This is true for so many guys who formed bands back then. And success did not come overnight. They earned it all. This is just one of the many reasons I love heavy metal music and why I get annoyed at people who dismiss it out of hand as nothing but noise.

But I digress…..

“Changes” is a piano ballad mainly inspired by drummer Bill Ward’s ongoing breakup with his first wife. As explained in Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography, while in the studio and experimenting with the piano, guitarist Tony Iommi composed the song’s sentimental melody. This was later accompanied by bassist Geezer Butler’s lyrics. The song was not recorded with a real string ensemble. Instead, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi used a Mellotron to create the sound of an orchestra. The ballad also does not feature guitar or drums. Quite different from Sabbath’s previous work, “Changes” has been described as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘forlornly pretty’.

From Black Sabbath’s 1972 album, “Vol 4”, this is “Changes”:

Lyrics

I feel unhappy, I feel so sad
I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had
She was my woman, I loved her so
But it’s too late now, I’ve let her go

I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes

We shared the years, we shared each day
In love together, we found the way
But soon the world had its evil way
My heart was blinded, love went astray

I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes

It took so long to realise
And I can still hear her last goodbyes
Now all my days are filled with tears
Wish I could go back and change these years

I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Tony Iommi / John Osbourne / Terence Butler / W.t. Ward
Changes lyrics © Metal Skull Music, Onward Music Ltd

“Changes”
                                Song by Black Sabbath
from the album Vol. 4
Released25 September 1972
Recorded1972
GenreSoft rock
Length4:43
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Bill Ward
Producer(s)Patrick Meehan Black Sabbath

Three decades later in 2003, Ozzy Osbourne re-recorded “Changes” as a duet with his daughter, Kelly. The lyrics for this version were revised to reflect their relationship and moments of their life together focusing on the changing relationship of a father and daughter drifting apart. This rendition reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart.

Here are Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne performing “Changes”:

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne]
I feel unhappy, I am so sad
I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had
She is my baby, I love her so
But it’s too late, now, I’ve let her go

[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne]
We’re going through changes
We’re going through changes

[Verse 2: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne]
We shared the years, we shared each day
I love you, daddy, but I’ve found my way
You know, the world is an evil place
My baby’s grown, now, she found her way

[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne]
We’re going through changes
We’re going through changes

[Verse 3: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne]
It took so long to realize
And I can still hear his last goodbye
Now, all my days are filled with fears
Wish I could go back and change the years

“Changes”
Single by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
from the album Shut Up
Released8 December 2003
Length4:07
LabelSanctuary
Songwriter(s)Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Bill Ward
Producer(s)Mark Hudson
Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology
“Stillborn”
(2003) “Changes“
(2003) “In My Life”
(2005)
Kelly Osbourne singles chronology
“Shut Up”
(2003) “Changes“
(2003) “One Word”
(2005)

Ch-Ch-Changes

NAR © 2023

Music Blog

DOING IT CHICAGO STYLE

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

For Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday, I’m celebrating the phenomenal voice and life of the legendary Etta James, whose heartfelt tunes and soulful pipes captured an enduring spot in American music history.

James was born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, CA. She grew from a gospel prodigy into a versatile singer of jazz, R&B, soul, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. 

James’ greatest success came after she signed with Chicago-based Chess Records in 1960. During her time with the company, which inspired the movie “Cadillac Records”, she produced pivotal works including “A Sunday Kind of Love,” “Trust in Me,” “At Last,” and “I’d Rather Go Blind” which I am showcasing today. These great songs are all part of her hits album, “The Chess Box” as well as highlighted in “The Essential Etta James”. 

“I’d Rather Go Blind”  written by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and Etta James, is one of those blues songs you hear once and never forget. It was first recorded and released in 1967 by Etta James and has subsequently become regarded as a soul and blues classic.

“I’d Rather Go Blind” was written while Ellington Jordan, AKA “Fugi”, was in prison. Fugi poured his grief from being incarcerated into the song and in 2006 told an interviewer “I got tired of losing and being down. I was in prison and didn’t know when I was going to get out. I sat in a piano room and began to write”. For Etta James, the song was about being blind in her “love life” and her “personal ways”, she wrote in her autobiography “A Rage to Survive: The Etta James Story”.

Over the years, “I’d Rather Go Blind” has been covered by Rod Stewart, Christine McVie and Beyonce, among others. In her autobiography, Etta James wrote “Funny, but that’s a tune that’s deepened along with my life, its meaning growing more mysterious. Me and the song have grown old together.”

For many listeners, the two and half minutes of “I’d Rather Go Blind” convey so much of the emotion James must have been feeling. When Leonard Chess of Chess Records heard the song for the first time, he had to leave the room, crying.

This is the one and only Etta James and “I’d Rather Go Blind”.

NAR © 2023

Doing it Chicago Style

Lyrics

Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talkin’
Something deep down in my soul said, ‘Cry, girl’
When I saw you and that girl walkin’ around

Whoo, I would rather, I would rather go blind, boy
Then to see you walk away from me, child, no

Whoo, so you see, I love you so much
That I don’t wanna watch you leave me, baby
Most of all, I just don’t, I just don’t wanna be free, no

Whoo, whoo, I was just, I was just, I was just
Sittin here thinkin’, of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah

Whoo and baby, baby, I’d rather, I’d rather be blind, boy
Then to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Whoo, baby, baby, baby, I’d rather be blind…

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Ellington Jordan / Billy Foster
I’d Rather Go Blind lyrics © Arc Music, Arc Music Corp, Urban Ideas Publishing

“I’d Rather Go Blind”
Single by Etta James
from the album Tell Mama
A-side“Tell Mama”
B-side“I’d Rather Go Blind”
Released1967
Recorded1967, FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 
GenreSoul Blues Deep Soul
Length     2:32
Label     Cadet 5578
Songwriters      Etta James, Ellington Jordan, Billy Foster
Producer(s)      Rick Hall
Music Blog

BLUE EYED PHILLY SOUL

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Okay, we’re gonna turn the heat up just a bit here and really get in the groove with a little Philadelphia (Blue Eyed) Soul, as prompted this morning by Jim at Song Lyric Sunday.

When this song first came out in September of 1972, I was a newlywed of exactly three months with nothing but loving on my mind. I thought this was possibly the sexiest, most titillating and steamy song I’d ever heard.

It’s the story of an affair between a married man and his equally married lover. In the song, the two meet in secret “every day at the same café” at 6:30 where they hold hands and talk. The two are in a quandary: “We’ve got a thing going on. We both know that it’s wrong but it’s much too strong to let it go now.”

I’m presenting a cover version of this song by my favorite duo of all time – Hall and Oates, the most successful pair in music history (yes, even more successful than Simon & Garfunkel).

Why a cover and not the original when the original is an excellent recording? Two words: Daryl Hall. Fifty-plus years after seeing him on MTV, I still “have a thing going on” for Daryl Hall so please allow me this one indulgence.

Here now are Hall and Oates doing a live performance of “Me and Mrs. Jones”.

“Me and Mrs. Jones” was a #1 single originally performed by Billy Paul, recorded and released in 1972 on CBS Records’ Philadelphia International imprint. The single, included on the album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, was written by Cary ‘Hippy’ Gilbert, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, and arranged by Bobby Martin.

Lyrics
Me and Mrs. Jones
We got a thing goin’ on
We both know that it’s wrong
But it’s much too strong
To let it go now

We meet every day at the same café
Six-thirty and no one knows she’ll be there
Holding hands, making all kinds of plans
While the jukebox plays our favorite songs

Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones
We got a thing goin’ on
We both know that it’s wrong
But it’s much too strong
To let it go now

We gotta be extra careful
That we don’t build our hopes up too high
‘Cause she’s got her own obligations
And so, and so do I

Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones
We got a thing goin’ on
We both know that it’s wrong
But it’s much too strong
To let it go now

Well, it’s time for us to be leaving
It hurts so much, it hurts so much inside
Now she’ll go her way and I’ll go mine
Tomorrow we’ll meet
The same place, the same time

Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones
We got a thing goin’ on (thing)
We gotta be extra careful (goin’ on)
We can’t afford to build our hopes up too high
I wanna meet (thing) and talk with you
At the same place (goin’ on), the same café, the same time
And we gonna hold hands like we used to
We gonna talk it over, talk it over
(Thing) we know, they know (goin’ on), and you know
And I know that it was wrong
But our thing is strong, we gotta let ’em know now
That we got a thing going on, a thing going on

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Cary Grant Gilbert / Kenneth Gamble / Leon Huff
Me and Mrs Jones lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

And now for the original by Billy Paul:

This will always be one of the smoothest, coolest and sexiest songs ever recorded.

Thanks, Jim, for a fun Philadelphia Soul prompt!

Philadelphia Soul
Uncategorized

LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

This week Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to write about a song that mentions a food suggested by Christine of Stine Writing and Miniatures. Here is a unique little ditty just about as old as bread itself.

“Bread and Butter” is a 1964 song by the American pop vocal trio Newbeats; it was the group’s first and most popular hit. The song served as the Newbeats’ demo in an effort to obtain a recording contract with Hickory Recording.

The opening two-chord piano riff and the lead falsetto of Larry Henley are the most notable features of the song.

“Bread and Butter” was the inspiration for the advertising jingle of Schmidt Baking Company used in the 1970s and 1980s; it went like this:

“I like bread and butter,
I like toast and jam,
I like Schmidt’s Blue Ribbon Bread,
It’s my favorite brand”.

Catchy, isn’t it?

The song has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows as well as a variety of television commercials. It is part of music compilations found on Billboard Top Rock’n’Roll Hits: 1964 as well as Classic Rock (Time-Life Music).

Let’s have a listen to this quirky hit from 1964:

Lyrics

… Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
Ah, that’s what his baby feeds him
Ah, he’s her loving man

… Well, I like bread and butter
I like toast and jam
That’s what baby feeds me
I’m her loving man

… Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
That’s what his baby feeds him
Ah, he’s her loving man

… Well, she don’t cook mashed potatoes
She don’t cook T-bone steak
She don’t feed me peanut butter
She knows that I can’t take

… Ah, he likes bread and butter
Ah, he likes toast and jam
Ah, that’s what his baby feeds him
Ah, he’s her loving man

… Well, I got home early one Monday
Much to my surprise
She was eating chicken and dumplings
With some other guy

… No more bread and butter
Ah, no more toast and jam
He found his baby eating
Ah, with some other man

… No, no, no
No more bread and butter
Ah, no more toast and jam
I found my baby eating
Ah, with some other man

… No, no, no, no
No more bread and butter
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more toast and jam

… No, no, no, no
Ah, no more bread and butter
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more toast and jam
No, no, no, no
Ah, no more bread and butter

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jay Turnbow / Larry Parks

Bread and Butter lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

“Bread and Butter”
Single by the Newbeats 
from the album Bread and Butter
B-side“Tough Little Buggy”
ReleasedJuly 1964 (US)
August 28, 1964 (UK)
Recorded1964
GenrePop
Length1:58
LabelHickory 1269
Songwriter(s)Larry ParksJay Turnbow
The Newbeats singles chronology
“Bread and Butter“
(1964)”Everything’s Alright”
(1964)


From the movie 9 1/2 Weeks:

Buffet of Options

As Jim pointed out to me, the big surprise in this song is when the guy comes home early and finds his lover eating chicken and dumplings with some other guy! What a great ending!

Well, I gotta run; I think I smell toast burning! 🍞 🧈 🥫

NAR © 2023

Music Blog

SIGN OF THE GYPSY QUEEN

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to think about a musical group with a type of food in its name and write about one of their songs. I have chosen the Canadian hard rock group April Wine and their song Sign of the Gypsy Queen.

♛

“Sign of the Gypsy Queen” was written and originally recorded by Lorence Hud. The song became a hit in Canada when released as a single in 1973. Hud’s version appeared on his eponymous debut album. The song reached the top 5 on the West Coast, #3 on CJRW-FM in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and peaked at #16 nationally on the RPM 100 chart.

April Wine had more success with its 1981 hard rock version of the song. It was the second single from their album, The Nature of the Beast. The song reached #40 on the Canadian Hot 100, and #57 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100, and #19 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.

This version has become popular on album-oriented rock radio stations, getting frequent airplay in the United States and Canada; a music video aired on MTV’s first day of broadcast. It remains one of the group’s signature songs and a live concert staple.

“Sign of the Gypsy Queen” gained a brief resurgence in popularity when it was featured in an episode of the American television series Breaking Bad in 2013. The episode, “Granite State”, received critical acclaim, and is one of the most popular episodes in the series history.

Sign of the Gypsy Queen – by April Wine

Lyrics

Lightning smokes on the hillrise
Brought the man with the warning light
Shouting loud you had better fly
While the darkness can help you hide
Trouble’s comin’ without control
No one’s stayin’ that’s got a hope
Hurricane at the very least
In the words of the gypsy queen

Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go

Get my saddle and tie it on
Western wind who is fast and strong
Jump on back, he’s good and long
We’ll resist till we reach the dawn
Running seems like the best offense
Staying just don’t make any sense
No one could ever stop it now
Show the cards of the gypsy town

Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go

Shadows movin’ without a sound
From the hold of the sleepless town
Evil seems to be everywhere
Heed the spirit that brought despair
Trouble’s comin’ without control
No one’s stayin’ that’s got a hope
Hurricane at the very least
In the words of the gypsy queen

Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go
Sign of the gypsy queen
Pack your things and leave
Word of a woman who knows
Take all your gold and you go

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Lorence Hud

Sign of the Gypsy Queen lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

“Sign of the Gypsy Queen”
Single by April Wine
from the album The Nature of the Beast
B-side“Crash and Burn”
Released1981
StudioLe Manoir
GenreHard rock progressive rock
Length4:18
LabelAquarius Capitol
Songwriter(s)Lorence Hud
Producer(s)Myles Goodwyn Mike “Clay” Stone
April Wine singles chronology
“Just Between You and Me“
(1980) “Sign of the Gypsy Queen“
(1981) “Enough Is Enough”
(1981)
Audio
“Sign of the Gypsy Queen” on YouTube
Sustenance

NAR © 2023