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

Song Lyric Sunday 13/10/2019 – Drifter /Loner /Vagabond

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. This week we have a brand new badge, designed at great expense by Jim, who has sweated day and night to bring it to us. So, this week, it is a double thank you Jim.

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 would not be at all surprised if Jim chooses Iron Maiden this week, although I could be totally wrong, and, having seen his latest post, I find that I AM WRONG!

I am not a great expert on this group and would not even attempt to enlighten you about their history, their many successes, or their 39 albums. You can read all about this HERE if you wish.

All of the group members are very talented but Paul Dickinson, the lead singer, is talented in so many ways outside his career in music.  Most notably, he undertook a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number of media-reported ventures such as captaining Iron Maiden’s converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours. Following Astraeus’ closure, he created his own aircraft maintenance and pilot training company in 2012, Cardiff Aviation. Dickinson presented his own radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music from 2002 to 2010, and has also hosted television documentaries, authored novels and film scripts, created a successful beer with Robinsons Brewery and competed at fencing internationally.

I’m including 2 versions of “Drifter” from the “Killers” album released in 1981. The first is  recorded live at a pre release concert at the Marquee in April 1980. This shows just why small venue concerts were so good to be able to experience, before money making moguls took over, and the venues, and audiences, expanded to silly sizes.

FOR SOME OBSCURE REASON YOU WILL NEED TO CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW

Drifter

Iron Maiden

Rock away!

Look out now, baby won’t you take me away
Sittin’ here sayin’ its gonna be a new day
Gotta get my song and I can’t go wrong
Gotta keep on roaming, gotta sing my song

What you feeling when you hold me tight?
I’m gonna cuddle up with you tonight
Gonna get you feeling so secure
Listen child, don’t you see there’s a cure?
Anywhere, got to get you away
Feels so good, think it’s gonna be a new day
I’m gonna get my song and I can’t go wrong
I’m gonna keep on roaming gonna sing my song

What you feeling when you hold me tight?
I’m gonna cuddle up with you tonight
Gonna get you feeling so secure
Listen child, don’t you see there’s a cure?, ooh yea
Anywhere, got to get you away
Feels so good, think it’s gonna be a new day
I’m gonna get my song and I can’t go wrong
I’m gonna keep on roaming gonna sing my song
I wanna Rock n’ Roll, yeah!

Gonna sing my song, yeah, and it won’t take long
Gonna sing my song, yeah, I want you to sing
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along
I want you to sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it along

‘Cause I’m a drifter!
Drifting alon-o-o-o-o-ong…
Yeah!

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Smith

Drifter lyrics © Imagem London Ltd., Nu Shooz Orchestra LLC, Imagem London Limited, UNIVERSAL MUSIC-Z TUNES OBO IMAGEM LONDON LTD.

The second version is from 2005 recorded Live At a stadium concert in Ullevi, Sweden

https://youtu.be/KdxnrLrnz0M

 

Song Lyric Sunday 15/09/2019 – House of Four Doors – The Moody Blues

Facebook has just reminded me that it is 55 years to the day since I left home to start my army career. It has nothing to do with SLS, apart from the fact that a lot of my musical influences stem from that time.

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.

This week Jim has given us the following to work with: Floor/House/Roof/Walls.

My immediate thoughts turned to:

Another Brick in The Wall by Pink Floyd

House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

Up on the roof by dozens of singers,

and then I thought of “Madness” who seemed to make a habit of singing about houses, for example House of Fun, Our House, and, although the title doesn’t fit in with the theme, Kitchen Floor. Whatever can they be singing about here?

I’m not going for any of these. Instead I have chosen a Moody Blues song from In Search of the Lost Chord, their 1968 concept album based around a broad theme of quest and discovery.

On this album they played all instruments themselves (approximately 33). Indian instruments such as the sitar (played by guitarist Justin Hayward), the tambura (played by keyboardist Mike Pinder) and the tabla (played by drummer and percussionist Graeme Edge) can be heard on several tracks (notably “Departure”, “Visions of Paradise” and “Om”). Other unconventional (for the Moodies) instruments were also used, notably the oboe (played by percussionist/flute player Ray Thomas) and the cello (played by bassist John Lodge, who tuned it as a bass guitar). The mellotron, played by Pinder, produced many string and horn embellishments. (Thank you wikipedia)

I think that this album shows off their amazing musical talents more than any of their other work does. The video is also typical of all their performances in front of a camera. They always seem very awkward, as if they would much prefer to be unseen, but just get on making music.

See what you think.

House of Four Doors

The Moody Blues

Mystery spread it’s cloak
Across the sky
We’d lost our way
Shadows fell from trees
They knew why
Then through the leaves a light broke through
A path lost for years lead us through

House of four doors
I could live there forever
House of four doors
Would it be there forever?

Loneliness, the face of pilgrims eyes was known
As the door opened wide

Beauty they had found before my eyes to see
To the next door we came

Love of music showed in everything we heard
Through the third door where are we?

Enter in all ye who seek to find within
As the plaque said on the last door

Walking through that door
Outside we came nowhere at all
Perhaps the answers here
Not there anymore

Then in our hearts the light broke through
A path lost for years is there in view

House of four doors
You’ll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Rest of life’s life forever

House of four doors
You’ll be lost now forever
House of four doors

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Lodge

House of Four Doors lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

 

Song Lyric Sunday 08/09/2019 – Blackbird on the wire?

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.

This week Jim has given us the word prompts of Bird /Fly /Sky /Wing and my immediate thought was to go for Leonard Cohen singing “Bird on the Wire”. (click on the link if you wish to hear it), but then I thought it’s yet another chance to turn to my all time favourites The Beatles, and another fabulous song from the White Album.

This song is performed by Paul McCartney alone, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.

McCartney explained on Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road, aired in 2005, that the guitar accompaniment for “Blackbird” was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach‘s Bourrée in E minor, a well-known lute piece, often played on the classical guitar. As teenagers, he and George Harrison tried to learn Bourrée as a “show off” piece. The Bourrée is distinguished by melody and bass notes played simultaneously on the upper and lower strings. McCartney adapted a segment of the Bourrée (reharmonised into the original’s relative major key of G) as the opening of “Blackbird”, and carried the musical idea throughout the song.

The first night his future wife Linda Eastman stayed at his home, McCartney played “Blackbird” for the fans camped outside his house. The fingerpicking technique that McCartney uses in the song was taught to him by folk singer Donovan. (wikipedia)

Here, for your, and my, enjoyment, is Blackbird. This is the 2009 remastered version which I consider to be the best available.

Blackbird

The Beatles

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney

Blackbird lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore

Other versions that you may like are below – just click on the link to listen:

1968 original White Album

Glastonbury 2004 version

Crosby Stills and Nash version

 

 

Rapid rhyme #13 – Unlucky for some!

Does my bum look big in this?

Of course it bloomin’ does!

But I will never say as much

Because – oh, just because

 

I learned to hold my tongue way back

In 1974

Like every married fella does

I got to know the score!

Song Lyric Sunday 25/08/2019 – Dream/Lullaby/Sleep

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 having a go you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

I’ve said before, that when thinking of songs to fit the weekly prompts, my memory normally drifts towards The Beatles. This week is no exception and there can only be one song to fit the bill, Golden Slumbers.  If you are interested in the original source of this song there is quite an interesting account that you can read by following the previous link.

Golden Slumbers is really part of the finale of the Abbey Road album with “Golden Slumbers” and “Carry That Weight” being written and recorded as one piece, and then morphing into “The End.”

Although their final album was Let It Be , completed and released before the band’s dissolution in April 1970, Abbey Road recording sessions were the last in which all four Beatles participated. The main recording session for “Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight” was on 2 July 1969. John Lennon was not present, as he had been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Scotland on 1 July, and was hospitalised there until 6 July.

As this song is only just over a minute and a half long, I’m indulging myself by adding a few versions that I love.

Golden Slumbers

The Beatles

Once there was a way
To get back homeward

Once there was a way
To get back home

Sleep, pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Golden slumbers
Fill your eyes
Smiles await you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Once there was a way
To get back homeward

Once there was a way
To get back home

Sleep, pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Paul McCartney / John Lennon

Golden Slumbers lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

An absolutely lovely version by Elbow that was used in the 2017 John Lewis Christmas advert, always an eagerly awaited release each year in the UK. This shows the making of that video. There may be copyright issues outside the UK. If you cannot see this one, it is well worth googling (other search engines are available) to try to find it.

 

A version by Dua Lipa

Because/Golden Slumbers – a version by Seattle Ladies Choir with Golden Slumbers from 3.10.

A live version that continues with Carry That Weight and The End

……….and a super bonus that I only just discovered

I do hope that you’ve enjoyed these.

Song Lyric Sunday 11/08/2019 – A song that includes somebody famous in it

Thank you to Jim Adams, who hosts Song Lyric Sunday. He gives us the chance to share familiar, and not so familiar, songs by setting us a challenge each week to submit a song that either fits in with a word, an idea, or specific criteria.

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.

For this week we have to find a song that includes somebody famous.

I think I may be stretching the boundaries a little here. I’m not even sure that my inclusion can be called “somebody”! Is it a man? A woman? An entity? Human? Celestial? An alien?

It depends on your perception, your belief, where you live in the world, how you were brought up, what has happened to you since.

It is a song from The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, released in July 1966.

Does it include somebody famous?

God Only Knows.

God Only Knows

The Beach Boys

I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I’ll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I’d be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I’d be without you

God only knows what I’d be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I’d be without you

God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you (what I’d be without you)
God only knows what I’d be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you (what I’d be without you)
God only knows what I’d be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you (what I’d be without you)
God only knows what I’d be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you (what I’d be without you)
God only knows what I’d be without you

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Brian Douglas Wilson / Tony Asher

God Only Knows lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

This holds very fond memories for me as a special song for me and my first “true” love, Susan Margaret Wood. As I had left home at age 16, in 1964, to join the army, and left Susan behind, this became “our song” when it first came out!

Here is a version from 20 June 2008.

A version by David Bowie from 1984

and a version from Michael Bublé in 2016

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday 07/07/2019 – Zodiac Animals

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.

The theme for this week is Zodiac animals. I’m choosing “Dog”, man’s best friend. I’m not choosing a song with dog in the title, or the lyrics, but a song by Three Dog Night.

Did I hear you say “Who?”

Well, I suppose it depends how old you are! I must admit that they were never amongst my favourite, go to bands, but the song I’ve chosen was amongst my collection.

Until I started to look into their history I had not realised that they are still active today, albeit with only 2 of the original line up.  They formed in 1967, the year of my first flight, a 13 hour trip in a turbo prop Brittania, on my way to my first overseas posting in Bahrain.  Ah, those were the days! The days of Radio Luxembourg, Radio Caroline, The Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan as Governor of California, the last man hanged in Australia, Muhammad Ali refused military service, Elvis married Priscilla, Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men were captured in Bolivia; they were executed the following day, The Abortion Act 1967 passed in the British Parliament and received royal assent two days later, The term “Black Hole” came into being.

We’ve come a long way since then. Or have we?

Anyway, here they are Three Dog Night. I hope you enjoy “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”

 

Mama Told Me Not to Come

Want some whiskey in your water
Or sugar with your tea
What are these crazy questions
That they’re asking of me
This is the craziest party
That there ever could be
Oh, don’t turn on the light
‘Cause I don’t want to see

Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain’t the way to have fun

Open up the window
Let some air into this room
I think I’m almost choking from
The smell of stale perfume
And that cigarette you’re smoking
‘Bout to scare me half to death
Open up the window sucka
Let me catch my breath

Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
That ain’t the way to have fun, son
That ain’t the way to have fun, son

The radio is blasting,
Someone’s beating on the door
I’m looking at my girlfriend
She’s passed out on the floor
I seen so many things 
I ain’t never seen before
I don’t know what it is
But I don’t wanna see no more

Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come
She said, that ain’t the way to have fun, son

That ain’t the way to have fun,

Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me
Told me, told me, 

Mama told me not to come
Mama told me not to come

That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son

That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son

That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son

That ain’t the way to have fun, no
That ain’t the way to have fun, son

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Randy Newman

Mama Told Me Not to Come lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Song Lyric Sunday 23/06/2019 – Cards /Dice /Gamble /Lose /Win

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

Seems that Jim is very uncertain this week, as he’s set us a theme of Who /What /When /Where /Why /How.

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

Most people are familiar with Leonard Cohen and his hit songs like “Hallelujah,” “Suzanne,” and “Bird on a Wire”, but, for your delight this week I am offering you a song from his album New Skin for the Old Ceremony, “Who by Fire.”

Leonard Cohen tackled different religions in his music.  This song was Cohen’s own interpretation of the Hebrew prayer titled “Unetanneh Tokef”, part of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur liturgy.

Who By Fire

Leonard Cohen

And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?

And who in her lonely slip, who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love, who by something blunt
Who by avalanche, who by powder
Who for his greed, who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?

And who by brave assent, who by accident
Who in solitude, who in this mirror
Who by his lady’s command, who by his own hand
Who in mortal chains, who in power
And who shall I say is calling?

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen

Who By Fire lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

In case the video is unavailable for you I am attaching a couple of other versions. The first is the standard issue video when the song was released:

The second is a Live in Israel 2009 version which highlights the normal type of performance he used, with a 12 string guitar introduction, and marvellous orchestral accompaniment. Very appropriate, considering the songs roots.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!