Song Lyric Sunday – June 28, 2020 –Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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.

Jim’s prompts this week are all about temperature, in that we get to choose from Cool, Freeze, Heat, and Melt. Now, I think that most people are aware that we British don’t do heat very well and this year, so far, we’ve had some pretty high temperatures (for us anyway!) so I thought I would cool off with a Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress. That’s my story anyway!

This Hollies song originally appeared on the album Distant Light, it was released as a single on 17 April 1972, selling 1.5 million copies in the United States and two million worldwide. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1972. Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1972.

The song is different from most other Hollies songs in that there are no three-part vocal harmonies, instead it was written in the swamp rock style of Creedence Clearwater Revival, in terms of the vocal, rhythm, and melodic style.  According to Alan Clarke, the song was written “in about five minutes”. That’s as maybe, but it sure does get people up on the dance floor!

I hope you enjoy this live performance recorded from the television series Midnight Special.

 

and here, a version with lyrics and exquisite pictures of Charlotte Rampling who, incidentally, was 2.5 inches short of the  required 5’9″!

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high

Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the D.A. man
When I heard this woman singing a song

A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise

She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9″ beautiful ‘n’ tall
Just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her heading to the table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
Charlie said, I hope that you’re able, boy
‘Cause I’m telling you she knows where it’s at

Well, suddenly we hear the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
Well, I heard somebody shooting a gun

Well, the D.A. was pumping my left hand
She was holding my right
Well, I told her, don’t get scared
‘Cause you’re gonna be spared
I’ve gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my living

With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9″ beautiful ‘n’ tall
Well with just one look I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all (she had it all)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Alan Clarke / Roger Frederick Cook / Roger John Reginald Greenaway

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Carlin America Inc

Song Lyric Sunday – June 21, 2020 – Mary’s in India

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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’ve chosen another great song by Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong and, by now, regular visitors will know that this is the real name of Dido.

From the album Life for Rent, produced in September 2003, I’m offering you a fun song called Mary’s in India. Dido obviously enjoys singing this one and, in the last couple of lines, you can discern a distinct note of fun. Or maybe it is smugness!

The first video is a live performance at Brixton Academy which gives the background to the song.

and the second video is the original recording embellished with not only Spanish and English subtitles but with several still photographs.

Mary’s in India

Dido

Danny is lonely ’cause Mary’s in India now
She said she’d call but that was three weeks ago
She left all her things well, her books and her letters from him
And as the sun rises on Mary it sets on him

Just dance, just drink and just see the things
I’ll probably never get a chance to see

Danny’s not eating, he’s drinking and sleeping in
I saw him last night at a party, he’s definitely thin
He says he’s happy, he looked pretty good but I think
That as the sun rises on Mary, it sets on him

And just dance, and just drink and just see the things
I’ll probably never get a chance to see

Danny came over last night and I cooked for him
We talked about you Mary and how much we loved you still
He told me he’s packed up your books and your letters and things
And as the sun sets on Mary, it’s rising on him

And we danced and we drank and I’ve seen some things
You probably never got a chance to see
Don’t worry Mary, ’cause I’m taking care of Danny
And he’s taking care of me

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dido Armstrong / Rollo Armstrong

Mary’s in India lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management

Song Lyric Sunday – June 14, 2020 – Happy Jack

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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.

Today I’m offering you the Who song, Happy Jack.

The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Pete Townshend (vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Entwistle (vocals, bass) and Keith Moon, (drums, vocals). They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction. The Who have sold about 100 million records, and have charted 27 top forty singles in the United Kingdom and United States, as well as 17 top ten albums, with 18 Gold, 12 Platinum and 5 Multi-Platinum album awards in the United States alone.

Written by Pete Townshend  and recorded at IBC Studios in November 1966 the electric version of ‘Happy Jack’ reached #3 in the UK charts in December 1966. It was also the first record by the Who to make the US singles charts.  I don’t think that the group liked to play this song. They rarely performed it live and, in later years, would play a shortened version of only about two minutes.  In the acoustic version, which I think is better, Pete plays cello.

 

 

 

Happy Jack

Happy Jack wasn’t old, but he was a man
He lived in the sand at the Isle of Man
The kids would all sing, he would take the wrong key
So they rode on his head on their furry donkey

The kids couldn’t hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried

They dropped things on his back
And lied and lied and lied and lied and lied

But they couldn’t stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn’t prevent Jack from feeling happy

But they couldn’t stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn’t prevent Jack from feeling happy

The kids couldn’t hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried
They dropped things on his back
And lied and lied and lied and lied and lied

But they couldn’t stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn’t prevent Jack from feeling happy

I saw ya! (said in response to Keith Moon trying to sneak in to the recording booth to join in the singing!)

Writer PETER TOWNSHEND 
Publisher: T.R.O. INC.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Song Lyric Sunday – June 7, 2020 – Do You Have a Little Time?

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs.

I’m pretty sure that the name of todays singer is not familiar to most, although regular readers will have seen and heard a song  by Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong earlier in the year. You can find it here.

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.

Without further ado let’s get straight to Dido singing “Do You Have a Little Time” off the album Life for Rent, produced in September 2003.

There are three videos to choose from. The first is the original recording with only a picture of the album cover to entertain you:

The second gives you some lovely still photographs along with the song, and a bonus, absolutely free, of Spanish subtitles:

and lastly we have a live performance at The Brixton Academy in 2015. Now, this one is quite different from the original recording, almost like another song entirely. I like it. I hope you do too!

Do You Have a Little Time

Dido

If you’re feeling low and lost today,
Probably doing to much again,
Spend all your hours just rushing around,
Do you have a little time for me.

Slow down my love you’re confusing me,
If you’re feeling stressed just try calling,
Spend your time waiting for anyone to see,
Do you have a little time for me.

If you should stop for a while,
You will find me standing by,
Over here, at the side of your life,
I’d like to hold you still,
Remind you of all you’ve missed,
If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.

Why do you still run when you could walk with me,
Life will pass you by when you move this quickly,
What can you see when you’re spinning around,
Do you have a little time for me.

If you should stop for a while,
You will find me standing by,
Over here, at the side of your life,
I’d like to hold you still,
Remind you of all you’ve missed,
If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.

If you let me listen I’ll make you feel clear,
Spend your time waiting for anyone to see.

If you should stop for a while,
You will find me standing by,
Over here, at the side of your life,
I’d like to hold you still,
Remind you of all you’ve missed,
If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dido Armstrong / Mark Bates / Rick Nowels

Do You Have a Little Time lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Spirit Music Group

Song Lyric Sunday – May 31 2020 – Mint from the 60’s

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. I’m pretty sure that this one will be unfamiliar to the majority, including me!

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 Jim’s prompt this week I just could not get away from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme so I had to start trying to think laterally.  I came up with a song title from the psychedelic era, Incense and Peppermints, recorded in 1967. OK, it’s not Mint, but it is a type of mint.

I’m not going to try to analyse the song, or the group, or the era. It is what it is. You either get it, or you don’t. You may like it, even though you don’t get it! This was happening in the USA in 1967 while on the other side of the world, in Vietnam, 11,363 American soldiers were being killed in that one year!

I’m pretty sure that the group,  Strawberry Alarm Clock, were very self conscious dressed up for this performance, but, would you believe it, the group  carried on and on, with a couple of breaks, and is still performing today!

There are two videos, the first is a TV recording from 1967.

and the second carries a flashing lights warning for epilepsy sufferers or anyone suffering from migraines. It has lots of psychedelic flashing colours.

 

 

I hope you enjoy:

Incense and Peppermint

Good sense, innocence, cripplin’ mankind
Dead kings, many things I can’t define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time

Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win but nothin’ to lose

Incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns
Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around

Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah, yeah!

To divide this cockeyed world in two
Throw your pride to one side, it’s the least you can do
Beatniks and politics, nothing is new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view

Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win but nothin’ to lose

Good sense, innocence, cripplin’ mankind
Dead kings, many things I can’t define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time

Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win but nothin’ to lose

Incense and peppermints
Incense and peppermints

Sha la la, sha la la, sha la la, sha la la, sha la la

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: John Carter / Timothy P. Gilbert

Incense And Peppermints lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Song Lyric Sunday – May 24 2020 – End /Finish /Over /Stop

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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 weeks prompt gives me the chance to pick one of my favourite groups again, The Hollies. I bet I’m not alone in choosing this song either!

“Stop Stop Stop” is notable for being one of the few recordings by the group that feature Tony Hicks playing the banjo, and was the only song with that instrument to be performed live by the group. Actually, for the original recording, the banjo was tuned to the standard guitar tuning and a delay was introduced which made it sound like a balalaika. Only later did Tony learn to play the traditionally tuned banjo.

Here, Graham Nash explains how the song came about:

I can empathise totally, having encountered an alluring Turkish belly dancer in my youth – and that’s all the details you’re going to get folks!

Here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Stop, Stop, Stop

The Hollies

See the girl with cymbals on her fingers
Entering through the door
Ruby glistening from her navel
Shimmering around the floor

Bells on feet go, ting a ling a linging
Going through my head
Sweat is falling just-a-like-a tear drops
Running from her head

Now she dancing, going through the movements
Swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory
Thoughts of long ago

Blood is rushing, temperature is rising
Sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me
I can’t look away now

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave

Now, she’s moving all around the tables
Luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me
Hidden by the light

Closer, closer, she is getting nearer
Soon she’ll be in reach
As I enter into a spotlight
She stands lost for speech

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave

Now I hold her, people are staring
Don’t know what to think
And we struggle knocking over tables
Spilling all the drinks

Can’t they understand that I want her?
Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar
Throws me in the street

Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave, leave

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Alan Clarke / Graham Nash / Tony Hicks

Stop, Stop, Stop lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Song Lyric Sunday – May 17 2020 – Song that includes a number

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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 asked  us to find a song that includes a number and that gives us a pretty big pool to choose from.

I’ve chosen a song about writing a song, and it’s been written by a night owl who finds his creative juices flow better in the wee small hours. However, he gets a bit of writer’s block, something I’m sure we all encounter at times. While ideas are batted around, someone asks the time and receives the reply “Oh, it’s 25, or 6, to 4!”

The band is Chicago, and here is the original recording.

 

In this next recording at Tanglewood, on 21 July 1970, you’ve arrived too early. They are still setting up and having trouble with the drums.

In this one Chicago and REO Speedwagon jam out together Live at Red Rocks Ampitheatre!

and here Chicago play at the  Guitar Center Sessons on DIRECTV

25 Or 6 To 4

Chicago

Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Dancing lights against the sky
Giving up I close my eyes
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
25 or 6 to 4

Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wondering how much I can take
Should have tried to do some more
25 or 6 to 4

Feeling like I ought to sleep
Spinning room is sinking deep
Searching for something to say
Waiting for the break of day
25 or 6 to 4
25 or 6 to 4

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Robert Lamm

25 Or 6 To 4 lyrics © Spirit Music Group, BMG Rights Management

Song Lyric Sunday – May 3 2020 – Burrito /Fajita /Mexican /Tequila

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes 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’s prompt left me completely at a loss. I’ve never been to Mexico. I’ve never tried Tequila. I’ve never eaten Mexican food, and I couldn’t think of a song to fit.  What was I to do?

Then I remembered – It was a moonlit night in old Mexico.
I walked alone between some old adobe haciendas.
Suddenly, I heard the plaintive cry of a young Mexican girl

Song by Pat Boone

Speedy Gonzales

Lyrics

It was a moonlit night in old Mexico. 
I walked alone between some old adobe haciendas. 
Suddenly, I heard the plaintive cry of a young Mexican girl

You better come home, Speedy Gonzales
Away from tannery row
Stop all a your a-drinkin’
With that floozy named Flo
Come on home to your adobe
And slap some mud on the wall
The roof is leakin’ like a strainer
There’s loads a roaches in the hall

Speedy Gonzales, why don’t cha come home?
Speedy Gonzales, how come ya leave me all alone?

“Hey, Rosita – I hafta go shopping downtown for my mother
She needs some tortillas and chili peppers.”

Your doggy’s gonna have a puppy
And we’re runnin’ outta Coke
No enchiladas in the icebox
And the television’s broke
I saw some lipstick on your sweatshirt
I smelled some perfume in your ear
Well if you’re gonna keep on messin’
Don’t bring your business back a-here

Mmm, Speedy Gonzales, why don’t cha come home?
Speedy Gonzales, how come ya leave me all alone?

“Hey, Rosita – come quick 
Down at the cantina they giving green stamps with tequila!!”

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Buddy Kaye / David Hess / Ethel Lee

Speedy Gonzales lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Carlin America Inc

Song Lyric Sunday – April 12 2020 – Diamond /Emerald /Jade /Pearl /Ruby /Sapphire

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week I’ve chosen to link to the word Ruby.

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’m being very sparse with my details this week. I’ll not bother you with any reasons, just that I do not seem to have very much time to blog at the moment!

So here goes. My song is Ruby, by the Kaiser Chiefs. Here is the original recording.

Here is a live 2009 recording at a small venue:

 

and a recording of a performance at T in the Park 2014

Ruby

Kaiser Chiefs

Let it never be said that romance is dead 
‘Cause there’s so little else occupying my head 
There is nothing I need, ‘cept the function to breathe 
But I’m not really fussed doesn’t matter to me 

Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 
Do ya do ya do ya do ya 
Know what your doing, doing to me 
Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 

Due to lack of interest 
Tomorrow is canceled 
Let the clocks be reset and the pendulums held 
‘Cause there’s nothing at all ‘cept the space in between 
Finding out what you’re called and repeating your name 

Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 
Do ya do ya do ya do ya 
Know what your doing, doing to me 
Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 

Could it be could it be that you’re joking with me 
And you don’t really see you with me 
Could it be could it be that you’re joking with me 
And you don’t really see you with me 

Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 
Do ya do ya do ya do ya 
Know what your doing, doing to me 
Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby 
Do ya do ya do ya do ya 
What your doing, doing to me

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Nicholas Hodgson / Charles Richard Wilson / Nicholas Baines / James Rix / Andrew Robert White

Ruby lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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