Artist: Neil Young
Song: The Needle And The Damage Done
Year: 1972
Album: Harvest
Simply put, this may be the sweetest sounding song ever to be written about the dangers of heroin. Neil had watched many great artists die by the needle at this point in his career. It wouldn't be the last.
I can remember hearing this song for the first time and being in awe. I couldn't believe that a song could sit so still, yet knock you out at the same time. It was a lesson that I learned at an early age. Less is sometimes more and you can scream by the use of a whisper.
Everyone from Simple Minds to the Red Hot Chili Peppers have covered this classic. Another round of covers appeared after Kurt Cobain was found dead. Although, not many of those have been recorded. Every time an artist dies by the needle, this song can be heard playing somewhere.
Lyrics:
I caught you knockin' at my cellar door
I love you, baby, can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.
I hit the city and I lost my band
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done.
I sing the song because I love the man
I know that some of you don't understand
Milk-blood to keep from running out.
I've seen the needle and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's like a settin' sun.
Showing posts with label 1972. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1972. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Bare Trees - Fleetwood Mac
Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Song: Bare Trees
Year: 1972
Album: Bare Trees
Here is yet another example that Fleetwood Mac is more than the Stevie Nicks era. This album sees them in a transition from blues to pop. There are still traces of blues in the songs, but there are more elements of pop in a lot of the work. While Fleetwood Mac was a success, this would be right on the cusp of super stardom.
This song is light and breezy despite the cold winter subject matter. I suppose that it's because of the other subject in the song that makes this a warmer song. It's so simple that a child could have written the lyrics, but the way the song is expressed makes all the difference here.
Simply saying that someone is alone, snug in their bed on a cold, winter day wouldn't make much of a song. It barely makes a coupling. What makes it work is the music. It's so simple that it invades your mind and stays there for awhile. Most people will find themselves humming this hours later, seemingly out of nowhere.
I find this period of Fleetwood Mac the most interesting. There were many directions that the band could have gone in. The band was almost dissolved. They chose to soldier on, picking up new members along the way. I wish that Fleetwood Mac would break out more of these songs when they tour, but that's not what the "public" wants. It too bad. They are missing out on some great music.
Lyrics:
Bare trees, grey light
Oh yeah it was a cold night
Bare trees, grey light
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bare trees, grey light
Oh yeah it was a cold night
Bare trees, grey light
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do.
Song: Bare Trees
Year: 1972
Album: Bare Trees
Here is yet another example that Fleetwood Mac is more than the Stevie Nicks era. This album sees them in a transition from blues to pop. There are still traces of blues in the songs, but there are more elements of pop in a lot of the work. While Fleetwood Mac was a success, this would be right on the cusp of super stardom.
This song is light and breezy despite the cold winter subject matter. I suppose that it's because of the other subject in the song that makes this a warmer song. It's so simple that a child could have written the lyrics, but the way the song is expressed makes all the difference here.
Simply saying that someone is alone, snug in their bed on a cold, winter day wouldn't make much of a song. It barely makes a coupling. What makes it work is the music. It's so simple that it invades your mind and stays there for awhile. Most people will find themselves humming this hours later, seemingly out of nowhere.
I find this period of Fleetwood Mac the most interesting. There were many directions that the band could have gone in. The band was almost dissolved. They chose to soldier on, picking up new members along the way. I wish that Fleetwood Mac would break out more of these songs when they tour, but that's not what the "public" wants. It too bad. They are missing out on some great music.
Lyrics:
Bare trees, grey light
Oh yeah it was a cold night
Bare trees, grey light
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bare trees, grey light
Oh yeah it was a cold night
Bare trees, grey light
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
I was alone in the cold of a winters day
You were alone and so snug in your bed
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do
Bah do dah, do dah da do da do.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Changes - Black Sabbath
Artist: Black Sabbath
Song: Changes
Year: 1972
Album: Volume 4
I grew up knowing the basic Black Sabbath songs that everyone has to know before graduating onto other music in the genre. It wasn't until I found a Black Sabbath box set called the Ozzy Osbourne Years that I got to hear the best of the rest. Songs like "Planet Caravan" and "Changes" absolutely floored me when they first pierced my ears. They were beautiful. They had melody. They were not typical heavy metal affair.
Eventually, I found the rest of the rest and was equally impressed on what the box set left out. That was an amazing find at a used CD store. I've regretted many CD purchases that I've made, but this wasn't one of them. I can honestly say that I got my money's worth from that lucky find.
For some reason the piano against a young Ozzy's voice and some ethereal sounding background music made "Changes" captivating. The song almost makes you want to cry. The melody is haunting. The background gives the right balance of uneasiness and sweet grieving. The voice captures the right amount of sadness to be effective, without being sappy.
Sure, the lyrics are super simple. Sometimes the simplest thing can hit home the hardest. Not everything has to have complexity to convey complex emotion. This song is a release. It is cathartic. It still stands the test of time as a rarely uncovered gem.
Lyrics:
I feel unhappy
I feel so sad
I lost the best friend
That I ever had
She was my woman
I loved her so
But it’s too late now
I've let her go
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
We shared the years
We shared each day
In love together
We found a way
But soon the world
Had it’s evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
It took so long
To realize
That I can still hear
Her last goodbyes
Now all my days
Are filled with tears
Wish I could go back
And change these years
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
Song: Changes
Year: 1972
Album: Volume 4
I grew up knowing the basic Black Sabbath songs that everyone has to know before graduating onto other music in the genre. It wasn't until I found a Black Sabbath box set called the Ozzy Osbourne Years that I got to hear the best of the rest. Songs like "Planet Caravan" and "Changes" absolutely floored me when they first pierced my ears. They were beautiful. They had melody. They were not typical heavy metal affair.
Eventually, I found the rest of the rest and was equally impressed on what the box set left out. That was an amazing find at a used CD store. I've regretted many CD purchases that I've made, but this wasn't one of them. I can honestly say that I got my money's worth from that lucky find.
For some reason the piano against a young Ozzy's voice and some ethereal sounding background music made "Changes" captivating. The song almost makes you want to cry. The melody is haunting. The background gives the right balance of uneasiness and sweet grieving. The voice captures the right amount of sadness to be effective, without being sappy.
Sure, the lyrics are super simple. Sometimes the simplest thing can hit home the hardest. Not everything has to have complexity to convey complex emotion. This song is a release. It is cathartic. It still stands the test of time as a rarely uncovered gem.
Lyrics:
I feel unhappy
I feel so sad
I lost the best friend
That I ever had
She was my woman
I loved her so
But it’s too late now
I've let her go
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
We shared the years
We shared each day
In love together
We found a way
But soon the world
Had it’s evil way
My heart was blinded
Love went astray
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
It took so long
To realize
That I can still hear
Her last goodbyes
Now all my days
Are filled with tears
Wish I could go back
And change these years
I’m going through changes
I’m going through changes
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry
Artist: Chuck Berry
Song: My Ding-a-Ling
Year: 1972
Album: The London Chuck Berry Sessions
This is a song that was introduced to me by a childhood friend. We were sitting in his room playing records and he put this 45 on after the Led Zeppelin II LP.
Being younger, I thought the lyrics were risqué. As I got older, I found the lyrics juvenile and sad, especially in the light of Chuck Berry's legal troubles surrounding women.
Something about the song never escaped me though. I would find myself singing the song in my head at random moments. It's a catchy song that eventually won me over again.
I wouldn't say that it's the best song in the world, but it's better than I once thought. Who wouldn't like a song about a boy playing with two silver bells? It manages to successfully use the double entendre as a selling point. It's a harmless, fun song that little kids can snicker at and adults can let loose with.
My only beef with the song is that it stands as Chuck Berry's only number one single. Like I've said before, the public is fickle. The album version is over 11 minutes long but this single edit is parred down to around 4 minutes.
Lyrics:
(Spoken):
We got to do our alma mata, we must do our alma mata.
When I was a little bitty boy, my grandmother bought me a cute little toy
Silver bells hanging on a string, she told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Mmmm, and then mamma took me to grammar school, but I stopped off in the vestibule
Every time that bell would ring, you'd catch me playin' with my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Oh that is beautiful. You know what I heard. I heard 2 girls over here singin' in harmony. That's alright honey, this is a free country, live like you wanna live, baby. Yeah, ain't nobody gonna knock it darlin'. Uh-mmm. Yeah, freedom. Yessir, there's one guy right over here singin' "my" too, that's alright brother. Yessir, you got a right baby. Ain't nobody gonna bother you.
Once I was climbing the garden wall, I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard I heard bells ring, but held on to my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Mmm, you know that's future Parliament out there singin', oh yeah!
Mmm, once I was swimming 'cross Turtle Creek, man them snappers all around my feet
Sure was hard swimming 'cross that thing, with both hands holdin' my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
That's so beautiful, I think it's a beautiful little song, really I do. And guess what,
everybody's still not singin'. There's a few right down front here that's not singin'.
We're gonna dedicate this verse to those who will not sing, yessir.
Mmm, this here song it ain't so sad, the cutest little song you ever had
Those of you who will not sing, ya must be playin' with yer own ding-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
Oh your ding-a-ling, your ding-a-ling
We saw you playin' with your ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, everybody sing
I want to play with my ding-a-ling
Everybody, my ding-a-ling, oh my ding-a-ling
I wanna play with my ding-a-ling
Song: My Ding-a-Ling
Year: 1972
Album: The London Chuck Berry Sessions
This is a song that was introduced to me by a childhood friend. We were sitting in his room playing records and he put this 45 on after the Led Zeppelin II LP.
Being younger, I thought the lyrics were risqué. As I got older, I found the lyrics juvenile and sad, especially in the light of Chuck Berry's legal troubles surrounding women.
Something about the song never escaped me though. I would find myself singing the song in my head at random moments. It's a catchy song that eventually won me over again.
I wouldn't say that it's the best song in the world, but it's better than I once thought. Who wouldn't like a song about a boy playing with two silver bells? It manages to successfully use the double entendre as a selling point. It's a harmless, fun song that little kids can snicker at and adults can let loose with.
My only beef with the song is that it stands as Chuck Berry's only number one single. Like I've said before, the public is fickle. The album version is over 11 minutes long but this single edit is parred down to around 4 minutes.
Lyrics:
(Spoken):
We got to do our alma mata, we must do our alma mata.
When I was a little bitty boy, my grandmother bought me a cute little toy
Silver bells hanging on a string, she told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Beautiful beautiful beautiful
Mmmm, and then mamma took me to grammar school, but I stopped off in the vestibule
Every time that bell would ring, you'd catch me playin' with my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Oh that is beautiful. You know what I heard. I heard 2 girls over here singin' in harmony. That's alright honey, this is a free country, live like you wanna live, baby. Yeah, ain't nobody gonna knock it darlin'. Uh-mmm. Yeah, freedom. Yessir, there's one guy right over here singin' "my" too, that's alright brother. Yessir, you got a right baby. Ain't nobody gonna bother you.
Once I was climbing the garden wall, I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard I heard bells ring, but held on to my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
Mmm, you know that's future Parliament out there singin', oh yeah!
Mmm, once I was swimming 'cross Turtle Creek, man them snappers all around my feet
Sure was hard swimming 'cross that thing, with both hands holdin' my ding-a-ling-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
(Spoken):
That's so beautiful, I think it's a beautiful little song, really I do. And guess what,
everybody's still not singin'. There's a few right down front here that's not singin'.
We're gonna dedicate this verse to those who will not sing, yessir.
Mmm, this here song it ain't so sad, the cutest little song you ever had
Those of you who will not sing, ya must be playin' with yer own ding-a-ling-oh
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling
I want you to play with my ding-a-ling
Oh your ding-a-ling, your ding-a-ling
We saw you playin' with your ding-a-ling
My ding-a-ling, everybody sing
I want to play with my ding-a-ling
Everybody, my ding-a-ling, oh my ding-a-ling
I wanna play with my ding-a-ling
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