Meaningful songs #8 - DORY PREVIN

This is the eighth 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 "Lemon Haired Ladies", released in 1971, is by a singer called DORY PREVIN.

Dory Previn

On the album, Mythical Kings & Iguanas - hear the song here

As a lament to a former and younger love(r), this song expresses resignation to the fact her younger partner treats her badly; because of the age difference he knows he can?

This song is acknowledged to be about the departure of her then husband to actress Mia Farrow (a lemon haired lady), as documented in her autobiography, "Midnight Baby". In the 1970s Dory gained a significant following for her dark and honest views on life and love, drawing heavily on a troubled childhood, her marriage (to conductor Andre Previn) and mental ill health.

LEMON HAIRED LADIES

Whatever you give me I'll take as it comes

Discarding self-pity I'll manage with crumbs

I'll settle for moments, I won't ask for life

I'll not expect labels like lover, or wife

  

If showing affection embarrasses you

I will not depend, and I will not pursue

For you are younger than I, younger than I, younger than I

And I am wiser than you

The 1 a.m. phone-calls, you're here, then you're gone

Come when you need me, I won't carry on

I'll simply accept you the way that you are

Unsure and unstructured, my door is ajar

Those lemon haired ladies of twenty or so

Of course you must see them, just don't let me know

Don't let me know, whatever you do

For you are younger than I, younger than I, younger than I

And I am weaker than you

  

I'll give you a year

Maybe two, maybe three

Then what will happen?

Where will I be?

You're still a boy

But what about me?

What about me?

What about me?

Why must you treat me with such little care?

I've so much inside me I'm aching to share

Why am I constant to someone like you?

Children don't know the meaning of "true"

Those lemon haired ladies, why must you see them?

All that I want, in your eyes is to be them

Time is on their side, that's all I lack

Oh, I wish you would just go away

No, come back

Come back. Go away

Come back. Go away

  

What in Hell can I do? I'm supposed to be wise

For I am older than you, older than you

  

You're so self-centred, the games that you play

Do as you please, well, you will anyway

Of course you will see them, no use to pretend

For you are younger than I, younger than I

Those lemon haired ladies

And they will win in the end

  

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

Read more about Dory Previn

Meaningful songs #7 - ELVIS COSTELLO

This is the seventh 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 "Alison", released in 1977, is by a singer called ELVIS COSTELLO.

Elvis Costello

Hear the song here

As a lament to a former love(r), now married, this song expresses an emotion (of regret?) very well. 

For over forty years Elvis Costello was tight-lipped about who or what inspired this song, but in his 2015 autobiography said he wrote it ,"after seeing a beautiful checkout girl looking as if all the hopes and dreams of her youth were draining away".

ALISON

Oh, it's so funny to be seeing you after so long girl

And the way you look I understand that you are not impressed

But I heard you let that little friend of mine

Took off your party dress

  

I'm not gonna get too sentimental

Like those other sticker valentines

"Cause I don't know if you are loving somebody

I only know it isn't mine

 

Alison, I know this world is killing you

Oh, Alison, my aim is true

  

Well, I see you've got a husband now

Did he leave your pretty fingers lying in the wedding cake

You used to hold him right in your hand

Bet he took all he could take

  

Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking

When I hear the silly things that you say

I think somebody better put out the big light

'Cause I can't stand to see you this way

 

Alison, I know this world is killing you

Oh, Alison, my aim is true

My aim is true, my aim is true

My aim is true, my aim is true

My aim is true, my aim is true

My aim is true, my aim is true

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

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

I have a great fondness for this song, for more information start here.

Meaningful songs #6 - RALPH McTELL

This is the sixth 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 "Streets Of London", released in 1974, is by a singer called RALPH McTELL.

Hear the song here

  

As a social commentary woven into a story, this is a powerful song protesting avoidable inequality, still relevant today 50 years later. The rich get richer and poorer get lost.

STREETS OF LONDON

Have you seen the old man

In the closed-down market

Kicking up the paper

With his worn out shoes?

In his eyes you see no pride

And held loosely at his side

Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news

CHORUS

So how can you ?tell me you're lonely

And say for you ?the sun don't shine?

Let me take you by the hand and

Lead you through the streets of London

Show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the old girl

Who walks the streets of London

Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?

She's no time for talking

She just keeps on walking

Carrying her home in two carrier bags

  

CHORUS

In the all night cafe

At a quarter past eleven

Same old man sitting there on his own

Looking at the world

Over the rim of his teacup

Each tea lasts a hour

And he wanders home alone

CHORUS

Have you seen the old man

Outside the Seaman's Mission

Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears

In our winter city

The rain cries a little pity

For one more forgotten hero

And a world that doesn't care

CHORUS

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

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

For more information start here.

MIDNIGHT

When I was young there came to me a dream. Previously I had seen my first black woman, working at a cosmetics counter in a local department store. I was mesmerised; beauty, style and grace of movement - the lot. 

I was "moved-on" by another member of staff who uprooted me from my loitering but we met again, in a dream, after I wrote this fantasy.

    

Tiptoe to my chamber,

as the clock it strikes the hour;

the hour of day to day. 

    

Tiptoe to my chamber, 

and knock upon my door;

a knock I often long for. 

  

Come forth beside my bed 

stretch out your silken hand, 

and I'll draw you down, 

down into a bliss, 

a world of white and eiderdown, 

until that time of blinding fervour 

comes and passes 

wains and dies 

and sleep encroaches upon our lives;

taking us off, 

off to bliss of dreamy sleep, 

of thoughts and actions, 

pleasures and ecstasies; 

life's loves found, 

now all surpassed.

In the hour of day to day. 

LOVE (NO MORE?)

Choices can be painful, as was evident at this time.

  

If I could express that that I feel,

for a beautiful girl,

before whom I'd kneel,

this page I'd fill to it's depthless full,

with indistinct feelings,

to others so dull;

but I cannot say that that I feel,

for even to me, this feeling's unreal.

To reveal her name, this I can't.

We have our secrets,

I shan't.

But she to me is all the world,

filling my thoughts,

most absurd;

and now as I write I think of her ... 

    

"Why did we end it girl so fair"? 

Personal comment - At this time, "Alison" by Elvis Costello was popular and really resonated with my feelings; expressing far more eloquently what was in my heart, which did not hasten recovery from a love lost. Time passed, as it does, but my mind was drawn back and soon after I wrote this poem.

MISS AFFECTION

Miss affection where are you now?

Miss affection, I need your hand in mine.

I miss you miss affection.

Know the state I'm in

and realise I miss you

miss affection.

Word of the day - OBSEQUIOUS

The word today is Obsequious 

Obsequious is an adjective and means the following:

- To be or become promptly obedient & submissive to the will of others.

- Exhibiting overtly servile and compliant devotional behaviour.

If you are being obsequious you are behaving obsequiously.

You are said to suffer obsequiousness if you are regularly obsequious.

In modern language an obsequious person is an arse-licker.

An alterative word for obsequious is fawning.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Word of the day - FACETIOUS

The word today is Facetious 

Facetious is an adjective and means the following:

- To be playfully jocular, with good humour and without seriousness.

- Exhibiting wit to excite (cause) laughter or other emotions.

- To inappropriately use joking or jest.

England pronounces Facetious like Fas-E-Shush

To say someone is facetious is to think they being a smart-arse.

Facetious people are usually unpopular..

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Meaningful songs #5 - LOU REED

This is the fifth 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 "Take A Walk On The Wild Side", released in 1972, is by a singer called LOU REED.

Lou Reed

Hear the song here

In the same vein as The Kinks song "Lola", this ground breaking song conveys a story, without sentiment, about a topic (trans) that was taboo in the 70's, remaining somewhat contentious to this day.

Info for geeks - Mick Ronson, lead guitar and arranger on David Bowie's earlier (best) albums, arranged and produced this song's album, called Transformer.

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A

Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.

Plucked her eyebrows on the way

Shaved her legs and then he was a she

She says "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side"

Said, "Hey honey

take a walk on the wild side"

Candy came out from the island

In the back room she was everybody's darling

But she never lost her head

Even when she was giving head

She says "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side"

Said "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side" 

And the coloured girls go

"Doo do doo do doo do do doo..."

Little Joe never once gave it away

Everybody had to pay the pay

A hustle here and a hustle there

New York city's the place

Where they say, "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side"

I said "Hey Joe

take a walk on the wild side" 

Sugarplum Fairy came and hit the streets

Looking for soul food and a place to eat

Went to the Apollo

You should have seen them go, go, go

  

They said, "Hey sugar

take a walk on the wild side"

I said "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side", alright

Jackie is just speeding away

Thought she was James Dean for a day

Then I guess she had to crash

Valium would have helped that bash

She said "Hey babe

take a walk on the wild side"

I said "Hey honey

take a walk on the wild side" 

And the coloured girls say

"Doo do doo do doo do do doo ..."

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

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

Meaningful songs #4 - THE KINKS

This is the fourth 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 "Lola", released in 1970, is by a group called THE KINKS.

The Kinks

Hear the song here

In the same vein as the Lou Reed song "Take a walk on the wild side", this ground breaking song conveys a story, without sentiment, about a topic (cross-dressing) that was somewhat taboo in the 70's, so much that David Bowie and Mick Jagger wore dresses provocatively as publicity stunts.

LOLA

I met her in a club down in old Soho

Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola

C-O-L-A, Cola

     

She walked up to me and she asked me to dance

I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she sail Lola

L-O-L-A, Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy

But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine

Oh my Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand

Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man

Oh my Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

Well, we drank champagne and danced all night

Under electric candlelight

She picked me up, sat me on her knee

And said "Dear boy, won't you come home with me?"

Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy

But when I looked in her eyes, well I almost fell for my Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

CHORUS

Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

I pushed her away

I walked to the door

I fell to the floor

I got down on my knees

Then I looked at her and she at me

Well, that's the way that I want it to stay

And I always want it to be that way for my Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

Girls will be boys and boys will be girls

It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

Well, I left home just a week before

And I'd never ever kissed a woman before

But Lola smiled and took me by the hand

And said Dear boy, I'm gonna make you a man"

Well, I'm not the worlds most masculine man

But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man

And so is Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

La-la-la-la Lola

CHORUS  x5

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

Read the next article in this series or hear the next song in the series, which is another "taboo" song.

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

Click here to read more of the background to this so ground breaking song.

Meaningful songs #3 - MUNGO JERRY

This is the third 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 "In the Summertime", released in 1970, is by a group called MUNGO JERRY.

Mungo Jerry

Hear the song here

This is a whimsical song, and by todays standards its lyrics are sexist, suggesting you do things nowadays frowned upon; but such "banter" was the norm at the time, as was drink-driving. I've included it by reason of it being a story containing social comment, plus the tune is jolly.

IN THE SUMMERTIME

In the summertime, when the weather is high

You can stretch right up and touch the sky

When the weather's fine

You got women, you got women on your mind

Have a drink, have a drive

Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal

If her daddy's poor, just do as you feel

Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton and twenty-five

When the sun goes down

You can make it, make it good in a lay-by

We're not grey people, we're not dirty, we're not mean

We love everybody, but we do as we please

When the weather's fine, we go fishing or go swimming in the sea

We're always happy, life's for living

Yeah, that's our philosophy

CHORUS

Sing along with us

Dee-dee-dee, dee-dee

Dah-dah-dah, dah-dah

Yeah we're hap-happy

Dah dah-dah

Dee-dah-do, dee-dah-do, dah-do-dah

Yeah, dah-do, dah-dah-dah

Dah-dah-dah, do-dah-dah (alright, alright, alright)

Alright

When the winter's here, yeah it's party time

Bring you bottle, wear your bright clothes

It'l soon be summertime

And we'll sing again, we'll go driving

Or maybe we'll settle down

If she's rich, if she's nice, bring your friends

And we'll all go into town

In the summertime, when the weather is high

You can stretch right up and touch the sky

When the weather's fine

You got women, you got women on your mind

Have a drink, have a drive

Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal

If her daddy's poor, just do as you feel

Speed along the lane, do a ton or a ton and twenty-five

When the sun goes down

You can make it, make it good in a lay-by

We're not grey people, we're not dirty, we're not mean

We love everybody, but we do as we please

When the weather's fine, we go fishing or go swimming in the sea

We're always happy, life's for living

Yeah, that's our philosophy

CHORUS  x1

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

Meaningful songs #2 - NORMAN GREENBAUM

This is the second 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 "Spirit In The Sky", released in 1969, is by a singer called NORMAN GREENBAUM. 

Hear the song here

This song is a song of faith and a homage to Jesus and ascent into Heaven. I am not a believer, but the riff in the tune is epic.

SPIRIT IN THE SKY

When I die and they lay me to rest

Gonna go to the place that's the best

When they lay me down to die

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Goin' up the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)

When I die and they lay me to rest

I'm gonna to to the place that is best

  

Prepare yourself, you know it's a must

Gotta have a friend in Jesus

So you know that when you die

He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

   

Whoa, he'll recommend you to the spirit in the sky

That's where you're gonna go when you die (when you die)

When you die and they lay you to rest

You're gonna go to the place that's the best

   

Never been a sinner, I've never sinned

I've got a friend in Jesus

So you know that when I die

He's gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky

Whoa, set me up with the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

That's where I'm gonna go when I die

When I die and they lay me to rest

I'm gonna go to the place that's the best

Go to the place that's the best

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

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

Meaningful songs #1 - BLUE MINK

This is the first of 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, so let's get this series going and if you agree a song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Melting Pot", released in 1969, is by a group called BLUE MINK.

Blue Mink

Hear the song here

This song is an anthem to racial harmony, something truly lacking for years to come. Some WOKE and revisionists criticise it for its "ingrained racial language" of the day, but to change the lyrics would be akin altering the Mona Lisa to have a big grin.

MELTING POT

Take a pinch of white man

Wrap it up in black skin

Add a touch of blue blood

And a little bitty-bit of that Indian boy

  

Curly Latin kinkies

Mixed with yellow Chinkees

If you lump it all together

Well, you've got a recipe for a get-along scene

Oh what a beautiful dream

If it could only come true

You know, you know

    

CHORUS

What we need is a great big melting pot

Big enough to take the world and all it's got

Keep it stirring for a hundred years or more

And turn out coffee-coloured people by the score

    

Rabbis and the Friars

Bishops and the Gurus

You got the Beatles or the Sun God

Well it really doesn't matter what religion you choose

   

Mick and Lady Faithfull

Lord and Mrs Graceful

You know the living could be tasteful

We should all get together in a loving machine

I'd better call up the Queen

It's only fair that she knows

You know, you know

   

CHORUS x3

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