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Me, Myself and I is a great song about the joys of solitude–something I can personally attest to enjoying fairly regularly.

I know I like this song because I think it really sounds good, and because it’s so very simple. It also touches a certain nerve within me, and I’m sure within many other people as well. The crush of everyday life does get overwhelming and annoying over time, and it’s important to get away sometimes.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I sit here by myself
And you know I love it
You know I don’t want someone
To come pay a visit

I wanna be by myself
I came in this world alone
Me myself I
Me myself I
Me myself and I
Just me myself I

Doors Of My Heart is a tune that hits all the classic ska/reggae themes: unity and love. It’s a shameless, pure declaration of love, plain and simple. It’s also got a great groovy beat, and the dance hall break in the middle by Ranking Roger really gives the song a flair of coolness.

From the Rolling Stone review:

“Doors of Your Heart” comes closest to blending sauciness and sage advice. Ranking Roger struts and strolls through the vocal, savoring the wickedly catchy chorus. His toast-rap break pitches for brotherly love by drawing sly parallels between eros and agape: everybody looks the same when the lights are out.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Every story has to be about something, I suppose
This one says I lose my head
As the feeling starts to grow, you know
I can feel love thumping at the doors of my heart
Feel love thump as it tears me apart
Feel blood punp as the worrying starts
I can feel love thumping
At the doors of my heart again
At the doors of my heart again
I can feel love thump
Bom-bom, be bom-bom

Everytime it happens, seem to act a little touched
In this at least, you’re just like me
I think we think too much, why can’t we just
Feel love thumping at the doors of our heart
Feel love thump as it tears us apart
Feel blood pump as the worrying starts
I can feel love thumping
At the doors of my heart again
At the doors of my heart again
I can feel love thump, bom-bom, be bom-bom
I can feel love thump, bom-bom, be bom-bom
At the doors of my heart again
At the doors of my heart again
I can feel love thump, bom-bom, be bom-bom
Bom-bom, be bom-bom….

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Now playing: My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult - Sex on Wheels
via FoxyTunes

1960’s style Rhythm and Blues has never gone out of favor in the UK, as a great many songs you hear seem to be plucked out of that time period no matter what year it might be. This is one of those songs.

Sign Of The Times could just as easily have been performed by the Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas as the Belle Stars. It’s got that great funky guitar sound, the cool girl group style vocals, and a pretty cool beat. I always thought it was a great song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

As I lie here thinking of you
I realize that nothing is new
Lying in my bed thinking of you
I realize nothing is new
You say you love me but want success
I say you’re lying, nothing has changed
This is the sign of the times
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone
This is the sign of the times
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone

This is the sign of the times (The sign of the times)
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone
This is the sign of the times (The sign of the times)
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone
This is the sign of the times (The sign of the times)
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone
This is the sign of the times (The sign of the times)
Piece of more to come
This is the sign of the times
Time to be alone

Yes, those fun boys from Germany are at it again.

Drei Mann Im Doppelbett is one of those songs that seems like an afterthought on the album, but it’s really one of the centerpieces. It’s a simple four-chord song with a nice melody that’s extremely hummable. Gotta love that Casiotone.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics (few though they are):

Drei Mann im Doppelbett
Drei Mann im Doppelbett
Drei Mann im Doppelbett

For most people, True was how they first encountered Spandau Ballet, and that’s the impression that most people have of them. True is a great song, but well before then they had a slightly different sound.

Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) is a really well executed piece of pure funk. It’s one of those songs that makes you want to free your ass and your mind at the same time. I love the opening with the guitar quickly followed by the congas, and the trumpet solo in the bridge really just makes this song so much fun.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course the lyrics:

I checked the time, it was almost time
A curious smell,an intangible crime
I’m washing my clothes,but the stain still grows
cover your eyes,the stain still shows

I don’t need this pressure on
You go down,down
Pass the talk of town
You go down Greek street
Then it’s underground
Well it’s Soho life
For this mobile knife
It’s the place to shoot
Friday night Beat Route

Stupid Marriage is a simple story of a jilted lover and his attack on his ex-girlfriend–apparently spurred on by his unwillingness to get married. An interesting sentiment, and one that was fairly popular in the late 70’s-early 80’s.

I love the way the band acts out a little play, and how the tempo of the music mirrors ‘Rude Boys’ growing anger and frustration. It’s particularly fun towards the end as the music goes absolutely manic.

Here’s a link to a live performance

And of course, the lyrics:

Court in session. What do you mean ‘Oy oy oy’? Must have court in session.
Order. My name is Judge Roughneck, and I will not tolerate any disobedience in my courtroom.
Rude boy, you have been brought in front of me and charged with smashing this woman’s window.
Before I sentence you, what have you got to say in your defense?

Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Order in my courtroom
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Hush up
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Naked woman, naked man, where did you get that nice sun tan?
Take him away

This song is a mutherfuckin’ jam. Period. Not much else to say, really.

The song itself is about a woman deciding to have a night on the town either after having dumped her boyfriend/husband or while simply feeling stuck in a rut, and the overall feeling of the song is total liberation. It’s energetic and fun.

What really makes the song work, however, is the music and arrangements. Each instrument (banjo, mandolin, electric and acoustic guitar, bass, drums and fiddle) has a moment to shine and keep the song careening towards an inevitable explosion of sound. Just a great song.

Here’s a link to a live performance

And of course, the lyrics:

He pushed me ’round
Now I’m drawin’ the line
He lived his life
Now I’m gonna go live mine
I’m sick of wastin’ my time
Well now I’ve been good for way too long
Found my red dress and I’m gonna throw it on
‘Bout to get too far gone

I’ll fly away on a sin wagon

Country Death Song may not be the darkest song ever written, but it’s certainly one of them. According to Wikipedia:

“Country Death Song,” for example, was based a true story from an 1862 news article about a man who intentionally threw his daughter into a well and then hung himself in his barn. It was written by Gano during his 10th grade study hall.

It’s quite interesting that this is based on a true story–presuming that Wikipedia is accurate. If so, Gordan Gano did a fabulous job of getting inside of the head of the murderer, making his craziness sound almost plausible.

The song itself is extremely well arranged. The stark sounding bass, the simple snare drum, and the sparse finger-picked guitar give the song a spacy, hollow feeling. However, what really makes it work is the banjo. Al Barger had this to say:

But this recording has a critical additional instrument: banjo. The more I listen to it, the more interesting Tony Trischka’s playing here becomes. The point of the song emotionally is despair, not typically an emotional territory associated with banjo playing. Indeed, Steve Martin got one of his funnier stand-up routines out of how nearly impossible it is to play sad songs on this happy instrument.

I agree completely: the banjo gives the song a certain flavor and feeling used as a counterpoint to the other instruments. Additionally, Gano’s plaintive vocals really put things in perspective.

Here’s a link to a tribute video

And of course, the lyrics:

I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.

Don’t speak to me of lovers, with a broken heart.
You wanna know what can really tear you apart?
I’m going out to the barn, will I never stop in pain?
I’m going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.

Get Back is one of those feelgood jams that just makes you want to get out of your chair and bust a move. I really dig the way the guitars work against each other, as well as the way the vocal shifts work too. And it’s got a great beat and you can dance to it, or chair-dance if you’re not so inclined to shake your hips anymore.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Here comes the boom
I got game like Kobe, act like you know me, if you rhyme better well then kid you best show me
Fly by wrecking, never come in second, fists in my pocket and use my words as my weapon
Ghetto blaster thumping, girlies are bumping, got to get the dough like my man Donald Trump and
Set this in motion, jaws in the ocean, if you need a rhyme well, then kid I got the potion
Damn
Building this up like a high rise, better yet phatter than Neil Carter’s right thigh
Coming in slanging, never leave you hangin, if you talk shit then on your door I’m banging
Twisting up hip hop, running with my flip flops, past all the cops just chilling in the donut shops
For no other reason, no it ain’t treason, just coming up cause this is the zebrahead season
Get back
I didn’t want it
Didn’t need it
My time is the only thing that you have taken
So about the world, don’t be mistaken
Get back
I didn’t want it
Didn’t need it
You’re lost the only thing that you were given
Afraid to stand alone, so now you’re tripping
Living life disco, here to San Fransisco, do my own stunts cause I like to take the risk, yo
Punk rock rhyming, rap in always climbing, like your first time cause I’ll pop out your hymen
With the bass drum booming, jump up in the room and, watch the walls sway cuz the grove is grooving
Got your hands shaking, suckers that I’m baking, made you look dumb it’s your girl that I’m Taking
What
Let me set this off like a bomb, have your ass stepping like Jerry had Tom and I’m gone
With the free style form that I’m kicking, have your ass tripping, with the rhymes that I’m flipping
And this ain’t no west coast thing, it’s a world wide ring with the style we bring, right
So watch the dime drop as I harvest my crop cause I’m going to ride this to the top

You have to love Lyin’ Ass Bitch. Well, you don’t have to, but it really is just a fun song.

I love the manic vocals, the sheer sense of fun you can feel from the band, and the very well-played instruments. Plus, the song almost forces you to two-step because the hooks are so good.

I also really dig the range of the melody, particularly during the chorus. It brings a little jazz flavor to the song as well as that funky ska beat.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

Lalalala Lalalalala

The lyin’, piss off, sack of shit
Slut trash can scumish
Dirt bag Biiiitch