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I know you’ve heard this before, but this is just a great song.

It seems to be a simple song about a man broken down by a lost love–presumably the singer. However, what really makes this song work is the funky bass and drum parts, mostly highlighted during the more instrumental bits.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

He didn’t cry on a safari
In over his knees
He couldn’t leave a finer life
Always hugging the ground
And crying out for me

He didn’t cry on a safari
In over his knees
He couldn’t leave the flock, he couldn’t leave
always hugging the man
and crying out for me

This is a great song, even though it’s seemingly about nothing. What I’ve always enjoyed about it–besides the cool beat–are the multi-layered vocals. Very cool and very fun.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo

She said yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Hello, Steve. Are you there?)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Hello, Steve. I know you’re there!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Come on, pick up! I know you’re there!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (I can hear you!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo

—————-
Now playing: LEVEL 42 - Something About You
via FoxyTunes

Rich is another of those wonderfully interesting songs from Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Seemingly a biography of a man wallowing in his own sins, it’s a cool song with some nice horn work,

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

She left you 1958
When the thought of another fifteen years
Was more than she could face
But did you miss her much well hey
You never gave her too much thought
In your newspaper grey
So waste away to morro bay
You never got around to yesterday
But money is for taking yes
And rich is what to be forsaken grey
And giving it away
And even jesus has a price
You’re making credit card donations to television faith healers
Born again missionaries come to morro bay
They saved your body but your mind hey
And everything you earned
You’re going to throw it all away
And waste away tomorrow
C.a. is where everybody falls down off the wagon under the wheels
Remember 1970
When the thought of a day without a drink
Was more than you could face
But did you miss her much well hey
You never gave her too much thought
In your newspaper grey
So waste away to morro bay
Saved your body but your mind paid
But money is for taking yes
And rich is what to be forsaken
Grey and giving it away
You’re going to hurt somebody if you can
You’re going to make somebody understand
Baby you’re a rich man
Baby you’re a rich man

—————-
Now playing: X - True Love Pt. #2
via FoxyTunes

No Action is one of the great 1st songs on an album. Costello’s voice leads you into a maelstrom of fury, the sonic attack of the Attractions exploding into a focused–oops, sorry, got a little pretentious there.

Straight up, this is a no-nonsense rocker. A song about the lack of passion between two former lovers, it just plain kicks ass. Not much else you need to know, really.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

Ringtone
I don’t wanna kiss you
I don’t wanna touch
I don’t wanna see you ’cause I don’t miss you that much
I’m not a telephone junkie
I told you that we were just good friends
But when I hold you like I hold that bakelite in my hands

There’s no action
There’s no action
There’s no action
Every time I phone you, I just wanna put you
Every time I phone you, I just wanna put you
Every time I phone you, I just wanna put you down

True Dreams Of Wichita is one of those great songs that really sneaks up on you. You know it’s good when you hear it, but it takes repeated listenings to give you an idea of how good it really is. The smooth but funky bass line, the mournful, desperate vocals, the evocative yet seemingly obscure lyrics, it’s all quite good.

It’s been suggested at SongMeanings that this song is about a long distance relationship. I cannot confirm this, but it seems as good an explanation as any.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

Signal got lost to the satellite
Got lost in the
Rideup to the
Plungedown;

True dreams

This song was actually my first exposure to the English Beat. I liked the way the ska sound updated it just enough but still left it with a feel pretty close to Andy Williams’ original recording. I just like the way the song flows.

Here’s a link to a performance on Top Of The Pops

And of course, the lyrics:

Guess there’s no use in hangin’ ’round
Guess I’ll get dressed and do the town
I’ll find a crowded avenue
Though it will seem empty without you

Can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

I know a lot of people hate this song, but I love it. Then again, I’m sometimes fond of funny little songs like this that are a little atonal and annoying (perhaps some Contortions in the future–we’ll see).

I’m pretty sure this song has no meaning, other than the daisies referring to nipples. Then again, every song does not need a meaning to just be cool.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

When you lie, kiss your baby bye bye bye
And if you’re true, the whole wide world will laugh with you
When we see nothing’s wrong with you and me
Time will tell, it might even bring a wedding bell

Push th’ little daisies and make ‘em come up [7x]

The first time I heard this song, it was being used as pre-show music for a college production of Vinegar Tom. I loved the way the song sounds and changes time signatures from the verse to the chorus. Also, it’s Kate Bush dude!

A couple of quotes about the song from SongMeanings:

“…a song about epistemology… This song is about how hard it is to obtain knowledge, and how when you get it, it often isn’t as satisfying as you thought it would be … ‘I hold a cup of wisdom, but there is nothing within’ … You achieve some intellectual goal, and you see that it’s just a foothill for a bigger mountain of knowledge behind … ‘I’ve been doing it for years. My goal is moving near. It says, “Look! I’m over here.”, Then it up and disappears’ … (perrific.com).

I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin… to write THE DREAMING…

SAT IN YOUR LAP concerns alienation and the ‘blessing or curse’ to (want to) see deeper. The opening lines express exclusion from the ordered, functioning bourgeois world. Projecting ability onto others but not being able to fit into the “triviality of everydayness”. It ‘hurts’ because it is not real enough. Colin Wilson describes two types of Outsider: the one who feels excluded from knowledge; and the one who Knows (the godlike ‘…I’m King’). The song pendulates between these high and low mental states. (Go see ‘The Outsider’, Colin Wilson, 1956.)

‘When I’m king’ everything fits into place and you see knowledge is Sat In Your Lap. But ‘when I’m dunce’ (see video for SIYL), there is nothing there/within.

SIYL also highlights the dangers of (deluded) knowledge and the knowledge-quest… Adolf Hitler: ‘By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell - and hell, heaven … The greater the lie, the more readily will it be believed’ (Mein Kampf) …
Choose wisely your teachers!

The song regards philosophical enquiry - The Longest Journey - as a religious experience… effort, balance, frustration, realisation…
It reminds me of ANNE SEXTON’S “GODS” …

And maybe the search ends with:
“Ha, ha, ha
Ho, ho, ho
And a couple of tra - la - las
That’s how we laugh the day away
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!”

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I see the people working and see it working for them,
And so I want to join in, but then I find it hurts me.
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that knowledge is something that you never have
I see the people happy, so can it happen for me?
‘Coz when I am unhappy, there is nothing that can move me.
Some say that knowledge is something that you never have
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that heaven is hell, some say that hell is heaven.
I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king, I must admit (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king
(I just begin.)
I h’ve been doing it for years, my goal is moving near,
I says “Look I am over here,” then it up and disappears.
Some say that knowledge is something sat in your lap
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho.
I want to be a Lawyer, I want to be a scholar,
But I really can’t be bothered, ooh just
Gimme it quick, gimme it, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme.
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho
Some say that knowledge is ho ho ho ho
Some say that heaven is hell, some say that hell is heaven,
I must admit, just when I think I’m king (I just begin)
Just when I think I’m king, I must admit (I just begin)
Just when I think everything’s going great (I just begin)
Hey I get the break
Hey I’m gonna take it all, (I just begin,)
When I’m king, (just begin.)
In my dome of ivory, a home of activity,
I want the answers quickly, but I don’t have no energy,
I hold a cup of wisdom, but there is nothing within,
My cup she never overfloweth and ’tis I that moan and groaneth,
Some grey and white matter, (Give me the Karma Mama
a jet to Mecca, Tibet or Jeddah,
To Salisbury, A monastery,
The longest journey, across the desert,
Across the weather, acaross the elements.
Across the water)

I’m not the biggest Tori Amos fan, but I’ve always loved this song. It’s a great dance tune, it’s got a really fun video, and the lyrics may not be the deepest, but they’re pretty easy to understand.

I found a couple of quotes attributed to Tori at SongMeanings:

The animus in me is raspberry swirl, I’m in love with my women friends, but I just don’t eat pussy. But I’m in love with them. If I had a different sensibility, then you know I think I could, you know, really fulfill someone down there, where a lot of men in their lives don’t. And eating pussy is a metaphor, too - it’s about crawling in there, being with their juices, really being with them.

In some of my relationships with a few of my women friends, I play a certain role. Heh, this is really getting in…I know, I hope my father’s not watching this. He just doesn’t know what to do. The straight-jacket’s coming. But you know I always told my dad - you know, gays, lesbians, he just has to get used to it. One of the neices and nephews is gonna be one, he’s just gotta get ready. So what I said was ah to Beenie, who’s the love of my life. My husband understands this, that we’re married. We’re absolutely married. And I adore her with all my heart. And she’s dated some idiots. And I hope you’re watching. I want you to know what I think of you and in another life, I’ll absolutely kick your ass. And I’m going to kick it right now actually, because this is for her and I’m in love with her.

Here’s a link to the video–I definitely recommend taking a look at this one.

And of course, the lyrics:

Huh-huh-huh, let’s go.
I am not your señorita. I am not from your tribe.
In the gard- in the garden? I did no crime.
I am not your señorita. I am not from your tribe.
If you want inside her, well, boy you better make her raspberry swirl.

Uh, hey. Ra-a-a-a?a?spberry swirl, uh let’s go.
Ra-a-a-a?a?spberry swirl, you go inside her world.
(And she swirls.)
Yes let’s go, ra-a-aspberry swirl, let’s go.
(And she swirls, and she swirls again.)
Ra-a-a-a?a?spberry swirl.
(And she swirls, and she swirls, and she swirls again.)
Uh, uh, yes.
(And she swirls, and she swirls, and she swirls again.)
(And she swirls, and she swirls, she swirls, and she swirls?)
Uh, uh yeah, uh yeah, uh yeah, uh mmm…

This was one of the great songs of the New Wave era. The guitar sound that dominates the track, the simple but eloquent lyrics, and the vocal work provide for a truly superior sound and song.

From SongFacts:

Moulding: “Partly biographical, this one. My dad prompted me to write it. He wanted a university future for me and was very overpowering in trying to persuade me to get my hair cut and stay on at school. It got to the point where he almost tried to drag me down the barber’s shop by my hair. I know the song tells of a slightly different situation, but it all boils down to the same thing - parental domination.”

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

We’re only making plans for Nigel
We only want what’s best for him
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We’re only making plans for Nigel
He has his future in a British steel
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel’s whole future is as good as sealed
And if young Nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
We’re only making plans for Nigel