Artist: Sam Cooke
Song: A Change Is Gonna Come
Year: 1964
Album: Ain't That Good News
"A Change Is Gonna Come" was released as a single shortly after Sam Cooke's death. Sam never lived to see the success of this song, but he always believed in it. Sam's manager pushed for the song to be sung all throughout appearances in 1964. He sang a moving rendition of the song on the Tonight Show, but was trumped by the Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan two days later.
NBC ended up not saving the broadcast tape, as was the practice at the time. No known copy of this performance exists. This is the same reason that no video of Johnny Carson's first Tonight Show performance exists. Hopefully, a bootleg copy will come forward at some point. This is an important, but neglected performance.
This song became an important battle cry in the civil rights movement. It's a shame that Sam didn't live to see the impact that the song had on ordinary people. It is still a powerful song that inspires hope and unity.
After four decades worth of legal troubles, the song finally saw another release in 2003. It has been included on the remastered version of Ain't That Good News, as well as a greatest hits compilation. A version of this song has hit the charts in 2008, by Seal. He is just one in a long line of artists to pay tribute to the song by covering it.
Lyrics:
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie
And I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
Oh, there were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gone come, oh yes it will
Showing posts with label 1964. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1964. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, September 7, 2008
And I Love Her - The Beatles
Artist: The Beatles
Song: And I Love Her
Year: 1964
Album: A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles have always been a part of my life. I resisted for a long time though. After awhile, the songs were just so catchy that I couldn't help start liking them.
By 1995, I had tracked down every Beatles album on CD. A few years earlier, I had obtained two records from my dad's collection. He doesn't really like Beatles music, so I think someone left them at his place when he was younger.
The American versions of Rubber Soul and Beatles '65 have stared at me since I was a kid. Now they are in my collection. In this age of digital tracks, I do still have all of my records.
When I was down on my luck, dating-wise, I was hooked up with a mutual friend's friend. Don't you love when that happens? We dated on and off for many years and still remain on speaking terms. Her mom was a huge Beatles fan. We would talk about the Beatles for hours on end, when her daughter was busy with other things.
One cold February night, I was in their backyard waiting. What exactly I was waiting for has been lost to the erasure of time. I do remember that she was always late, so I was probably waiting for her to come out.
I'm strange, I like the silence of a cold, winter night. The kind where it's crystal clear and the air is crisp. I can stand out there for hours, if it's not windy. I remember looking at the stars in the sky and admiring how bright they were. It's rare for the Chicago suburbs to get dark enough to where the stars brightly shine, but this was the perfect night for that.
While I was out in the cold, I started singing "And I Love Her" softly to myself. It was a perfect stolen moment.
Lyrics:
I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her
She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her
A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Song: And I Love Her
Year: 1964
Album: A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles have always been a part of my life. I resisted for a long time though. After awhile, the songs were just so catchy that I couldn't help start liking them.
By 1995, I had tracked down every Beatles album on CD. A few years earlier, I had obtained two records from my dad's collection. He doesn't really like Beatles music, so I think someone left them at his place when he was younger.
The American versions of Rubber Soul and Beatles '65 have stared at me since I was a kid. Now they are in my collection. In this age of digital tracks, I do still have all of my records.
When I was down on my luck, dating-wise, I was hooked up with a mutual friend's friend. Don't you love when that happens? We dated on and off for many years and still remain on speaking terms. Her mom was a huge Beatles fan. We would talk about the Beatles for hours on end, when her daughter was busy with other things.
One cold February night, I was in their backyard waiting. What exactly I was waiting for has been lost to the erasure of time. I do remember that she was always late, so I was probably waiting for her to come out.
I'm strange, I like the silence of a cold, winter night. The kind where it's crystal clear and the air is crisp. I can stand out there for hours, if it's not windy. I remember looking at the stars in the sky and admiring how bright they were. It's rare for the Chicago suburbs to get dark enough to where the stars brightly shine, but this was the perfect night for that.
While I was out in the cold, I started singing "And I Love Her" softly to myself. It was a perfect stolen moment.
Lyrics:
I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her
She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her
A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
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