Meaningful songs #14 - SINEAD O'CONNOR

This is the fourteenth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Nothing Compares To You", released in 1990, is by a singer called SINEAD O'CONNOR.

Sinead O'Connor

Hear the song here

Sinead O'Connor will forever be known for this mesmeric cover version, possibly the best of all cover versions, originally composed and released by Prince. A controversial figure throughout her public life, attributed to her terrible early life and later resentment(s) it fostered. To understand her life and musical output, this is a good place to start, though a more intimate article about her is here. She was controversial in life and death it seems, for her waxwork was withdrawn as not truly representing her image.

N.B. Does the word mama, in the lyric, suggest someone is missing a mother?

NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU

It's been seven hours and fifteen days

Since you took your love away

I go out every night and sleep all day

Since you took your love away

Since you've been gone, I can do whatever I want

I can see whomever I choose

I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant

But nothing

I said nothing can take away these blues

'Cause nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

It's been so lonely without you here

Like a bird without a song

Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling

Tell me baby, where did I go wrong?

I could put my arms around every boy I see

But they'd only remind me of you

I went to the doctors, guess what he told me

Guess what he told me

He said, "Girl you better try to have fun, no matter what you do"

But he's a fool

'Cause nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

All the flowers that you planted mama

In the back yard

All died when you went away

I know that living with you baby was sometimes hard

But I'm willing to give it another try

Nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

Nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

Nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

 

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.