Song Lyric Sunday – 21 February 2021 – Cups

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song must contain the word Long, Short, Small, or Tall.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

The song I’ve chosen this week contains the word LONG, although you’d be hard pushed to find it.  In fact, the word appears twice. It is always referred to as “The Cups Song” and I’m offering you the Official Video version of Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”.

The singer is Anna Kendrick and, although she is probably best known for her role in this 2012 film Pitch Perfect she was singing long before this.  Aside from starring in a few movie musicals over the past few years, Kendrick has even performed on a real life Broadway stage.

Here she is.  I hope you enjoy it.

The Cups Song became very popular, especially as a project for amateur groups.  If you search you will find many interesting recordings and they all have one thing in common.  Everyone taking part is thoroughly enjoying themselves.  Albania recorded a world record attempt in 2017 that is pretty spectacular to watch.

One of the best, to my mind, is a recording sung in Irish.  I think the language is a real joy to listen to, it is lyrical even if you are being sworn at!  The danger with adding this video is that I shall spend a good part of today finding other Irish lyrical songs.  I hope you join me! 

Cups (Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”)

Anna Kendrick

I got my ticket for the long way ’round
Two bottle o’ whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I’m leavin’ tomorrow, what do you say?

When I’m gone
When I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me by my hair
You’re gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

I got my ticket for the long way ’round
The one with the prettiest of views
It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers
It’s got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you

When I’m gone
When I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me by my walk
You’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: A. P. Carter / Heloise Maud Tunstall-Behrens / Luisa Amanda Gerstein Vallejo

Cups (Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”) lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG Rights Management

Song Lyric Sunday – 10 January 2021 – Mandolin Wind

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title of the song must start with M or A.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

First released on the (Sir) Rod Stewart 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story, Mandolin Wind is a mix of rock music and folk music.  It uses mostly acoustic instruments, with a particularly prominent mandolin part.

The video I’ve chosen is a recording of two very good friends who have known each other from way back and are very comfortable together. They first got together in January 1967 when The Jeff Beck Group was formed and went on to help set up The Faces in 1969. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood are plainly great mates. They are happy to be together and they enjoy playing music together.

Rod Stewart  has stated that his goal in life is to play ‘Mandolin Wind’ and make it sound like the record. I think this, despite using the banjo in place of the mandolin for parts of the song, is a pretty good effort!

I hope you agree!

Mandolin Wind

Mandolin Wind

Rod Stewart

When the rain came, I thought you’d leave
‘Cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm
Through the darkest nights, I’ve ever known
If the mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing
Then I know I love ya
Oh the snow fell, without a break
Buffalo died, in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter, in almost fourteen years
I couldn’t believe you kept your smile
Now I can rest assured, knowing that we’ve seen the worst
And I know I love ya
Oh I never was good, with romantic words
So the next few lines, come really hard
Don’t have much, but what I’ve got is yours
Except of course, my steel guitar
Ha, ’cause I know you don’t play
But I’ll teach you one day
Because I love ya

I recall the night, we knelt and prayed
Noticing, your face was thin and pale
I found it hard, to hide my tears
I felt ashamed, I felt I’d let you down
No mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing
Couldn’t change a thing, no no
Ooh-hoo-hoo

Lada-dada, la-da, lada-dada
Lada-dada, da-n-dada

The coldest winter, in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind, yeah
Ooh-hoo-ooh
And I love ya
Yes indeed, and I love ya
And I love ya
Lordy I love ya
Ooh-hoo
And I love ya
Lord, I love ya

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Rod Stewart

Mandolin Wind lyrics © Unichappell Music Inc., Stewart Rod

And so you can compare, here is the original recording.

My wish for the New Year

Let’s hope that 2021 is the start of we humans getting things right, allowing nature to heal herself, realising that to move forward we have to co-operate rather than argue, compromise rather than stick rigidly to our preconceived ideas, love rather than hate, and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Happy New Year to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, even those I disagree with, even those who are bigoted, even those who hate.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Song Lyric Sunday – August 16 2020 – Clear or Cloudy – and now for something completely different!

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. I am almost certain that my choice today will count amongst the latter!

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

Most people, even if they couldn’t say exactly who Sting was, would recognise some of his music. Some will be familiar with his early work with The Police  where he was the lead vocalist, bass guitarist, and main songwriter. The band sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best selling bands of all time.

Sting has also had a hugely successful solo career, and has written and performed in a musical, The Last Ship, inspired by Sting’s own childhood experiences and the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear where he grew up.

Not content with this, he has also collaborated with various artists and musicians on multiple projects, worked on films, sung at President Obama’s inauguration and had his brain scanned whilst performing his music!

In October 2006, he released an album entitled Songs from the Labyrinth featuring the music of John Dowland (an Elizabethan-era composer) and accompaniment from Bosnian lute player Edin Karamazov. Sting’s interpretation of this English Renaissance composer and his cooperation with Edin Karamazov brought recognition in classical music.

Here he is singing………..

Clear or Cloudy

The lyrics are a little olde worlde, I suspect it is to help Sting in his enunciation? You may have noted that he is reading the music as he sings. It is obviously a little complicated!

Cleare or cloudie sweet as April showring, 
Smooth or frowning so is hir face to mee, 
Pleasd or smiling like milde May all flowring, 
When skies blew silke and medowes carpets bee, 
Hir speeches notes of that night bird that singeth, 
Who thought all sweet yet jarring notes outringeth. 

Hir grace like June, when earth and trees bee trimde, 
In best attire of compleat beauties height, 
Hir love againe like sommers daies bee dimde, 
With little cloudes of doubtfull constant faith, 
Hir trust hir doubt, like raine and heat in Skies, 
Gently thundring, she lightning to mine eies. 

Sweet sommer spring that breatheth life and growing, 
In weedes as into herbs and flowers, 
And sees of service divers sorts in sowing, 
Some haply seeming and some being yours, 
Raine on your herbs and flowers that truly serve, 
And let your weeds lack dew and duly starve.

and here singing Come Again

and for anyone who is interested in the derivatives of the Lute, here is a very good introduction.

STOP PRESS

As a late addition I found this alternative version of the song. Quite an interesting comparison.

Song Lyric Sunday – April 5 2020 –Party time

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we have the choices of Birthday /Cake /Gift /Party /Surprise. I wonder if that is because Jim is missing all the parties he normally attends now that most of the world is in lockdown? If so, then I’m happy to invite him, and you, to my garden party,  and thanks Jim for continuing to host SLS.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

With the fairly decent weather in the UK at the moment it seems the perfect time to have a garden party but, unfortunately, we cannot,  so instead I’ve asked Rick Nelson, and Smokie to sing for you.

The song was written by Rick Nelson and was a hit in 1972. It is a story about him being booed at a concert in Madison Square Garden in October 1971 and you can read about that here.

Without further ado, please enjoy Garden Party, first by Rick Nelson, followed by Smokie.

Garden Party

Ricky Nelson

Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn’t look the same

But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
And over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguise

But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

Played them all the old songs, thought that’s why they came
No one heard the music, we didn’t look the same
I said hello to “Mary Lou”, she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave

But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin’ a bell and lookin’ like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck

And it’s all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Ricky Nelson

Garden Party lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Song Lyric Sunday – March 22 2020 – Promised Land

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we’re asked to go with Promise, Vow, or Oath and I’ve chosen to link to the word Promise.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

The song I’ve chosen is Promised Land originally recorded by  Chuck Berry to the melody of “Wabash Cannonball“, an American folk song.

In the lyrics, the singer (who refers to himself as “the poor boy”) tells of his journey from Norfolk, Virginia, to the “Promised Land”, Los Angeles, California, mentioning various cities in Southern states that he passes through on his journey. It has subsequently been performed by numerous other artists, including the Grateful Dead which should please Jim!!!

However, I reckon that the best cover of this song was provided by Johnnie Allan

He was Born in Rayne, Louisiana, and grew up in a musical family. At age six he obtained his first guitar and  by age thirteen he was playing with Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, a traditional Cajun music band. About two years later he switched to Lawrence Walker and the Wandering Aces, another traditional Cajun band.

Throughout the 1960s he pursued his music career while developing a distinguished career in education and would often use the school PA system to advertise his latest records!

He combined his love and expertise in music and education as the author of two books on Cajun culture.

Just look at this album cover. What a fantastic head of hair!

I’m including two versions of the song. The original recording and a later supposedly live performance where they were miming!

Now that is accordion playing at its best!

Promised Land

Johnnie Allan

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound
And rode into Raleigh
And on across Caroline

We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam’
And that hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham

Right away I brought me a through train ticket
Ridin’ across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just to help me get to Houston Town
There are people there who care a little about me
And they won’t let the poor boy down

Sure as you’re born brought me a silk suit
Put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
On a jet to the promised land

Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate

Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone

Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line

Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate

Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone

Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Andreas Behle / Christian Kundschaft / Mike Rejchel

Promised Land lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

 

Rapid Rhyme #21

On hearing the wonderful Blackbird song at twilight tonight:

 

It really is delightful

It really is sublime

I cannot do it justice

in just a simple rhyme

Song Lyric Sunday 26/01/2020 – Duets

Thanks again to Jim Adams, who hosts Song Lyric Sunday and gives us the chance to share lots of familiar, and some not so familiar, songs. This week he’s asked us to share Duets.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

What I’m sharing with you this week is SEX!

Every time I see this couple singing together it’s almost as though they are making love on the stage. OK, they don’t really make love, but their body language, their eye contact, their mannerisms, all make me imagine lascivious speech bubbles and thoughts drifting between them.

The couple that I’m describing are Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and it’s only natural that they should have a very close bond because they attended the same school, but a year apart. They started a relationship in 1966, and moved to Los Angeles in 1971. They recorded an album together before joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975 after Mick Fleetwood called Buckingham, inviting him to join the band. Buckingham refused, insisting that Nicks and he were “a package deal” and he would not join without her. The group decided that incorporating the pair would improve Fleetwood Mac, making the British band into an Anglo-American one. The first rehearsals confirmed this feeling, with the harmonies of the newcomers adding a pop accessibility to the hard rock. Their intimate relationship had broken down by 1977. The break up was chronicled in a number of songs written by the two, such as “Silver Springs” and “Dreams” by Nicks and “Go Your Own Way” and “Second Hand News” by Buckingham.

I suppose that most of their work together does not constitute a duet as they are singing accompanied by other band members, however, the first offering is definitely a duet, and shows off Lindsey’s consummate skills as a guitarist. He is one of my favourites.

This week I am kicking against the traces and am not giving you any lyrics. I am, instead, offering you a few choices of fantastic singing, with SEX!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Never Going Back Again

Bleed to love her

Landslide

I could go on and on because I do so love these two singing together, but I’d better go and get some sleep!

 

Song Lyric Sunday 19/01/2020 – Written or sung by Tom/Dick/Harry or including one of these names in the lyrics

Just how does Jim Adams keep up his prodigious posting and yet he still manages to keep on hosting Song Lyric Sunday?

Frankly, I don’t care. I’m just thankful that he gives us the chance to share lots of familiar, and some not so familiar, songs.

If you fancy joining in you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

This week I’m offering you a song that I love. Without You sung by Harry Nilsson. Originally a BadFinger song.

I can’t do better than to quote the words of James Cooper (I have no idea who James is, but his words sum up the song so well)

“What makes this so incredible? It is not the song. It is not the lyrics. It’s Harry’s mind bending, heart rending, vocal. I can’t think of another vocal that so powerfully and authentically conveys anguish while never coming close to being over wrought. The vocal is also incredibly nuanced. The first few lines are sadly reflective. He then sounds increasingly ominous. He then becomes desperate, then pleading, then hopeless, then resigned—a shifting kaleidoscope of pain. I really think this brief little song contains one of the most powerful vocal performances ever recorded. All other covers are simply embarrassments.”

Thank you James Cooper, and thank you Harry Nilsson.

 

And here is the original Badfinger version:

 

Without You

Harry Nilsson

No, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows

No, I can’t forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrows
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it’s only fair that I should let you know
What you should know

I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give any more
Can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t give, I can’t give any more

Well, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows

Can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
(Living is without you)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Peter William Ham / Thomas Evans

Without You lyrics © Songtrust Ave, BMG Rights Management

Song Lyric Sunday 17/11/2019 – Are Friends Electric? – Don’t ask

Thank you to Jim Adams, who hosts Song Lyric Sunday and gives us the chance to share lots of familiar, and some not so familiar, songs.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

I have missed three weeks but have still managed to listen to the entries. However, since “There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats.” (Albert Schweitzer) I thought I’d better make an effort to find the time to offer my choice for this week, and stroke my cat, Daisy!

The song I’m offering has a very tenuous link to the prompts this week (Did/Didn’t/Do/Don’t/Does/Doesn’t) in that the lyrics contain the word DON’T twice. That’s it! The real reason is I like this song and I hope you do too. It is the first hit of a group who only existed from 1975 to 1979.

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave and electronic band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band. (Wikipedia)

And here is a later, live performance, at the Brixton Academy.

Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

Gary Numan

It’s cold outside
And the paint’s peeling off of my walls
There’s a man outside
In a long coat, gray hat, smoking a cigarette

Now the light fades out
And I’m only wondering what I’m doing in a room like this
There’s a knock on the door
And just for a second I thought I remembered you

So now I’m alone
Now I can think for myself
About little deals and S.U.’s
And things that I just don’t understand

Like a white lie that night
Or a slight touch at times
I don’t think it meant anything to you

So I open the door
It’s the friend that I’d left in the hallway
“Please sit down”
A candle lit a shadow on a wall near the bed

You know I hate to ask
(But are friends electric?)
[Incomprehensible] mine’s broke down
And now I’ve no one to love

So I find out your reason
For the phone calls and smiles
And it hurts and I’m lonely
And I should never have tried

And I missed you tonight
So it’s time to leave
You see this means everything to me

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Gary Numan

Are ‘Friends’ Electric? lyrics © Universal/Momentum Music 3 Ltd., Numan Music Usa LLC, UNIVERSAL – POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL PUB INC, UNIVERSAL-MCA MUSIC PUB OBO UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUB. LTD., GARY NUMAN USA UNIVERSE