Rainy Day People - Gordon Lightfoot

Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Song: Rainy Day People
Year: 1975
Album: Cold On The Shoulder

It's a rainy day in Chicago, so I thought of this song.

Lyrics:
Rainy day people always seem to know when it's time to call
Rainy day people don't talk, they just listen till they've heard it all
Rainy day lovers don't lie when they tell 'ya they've been down like you
Rainy day people don't mind if you're cryin' a tear or two

If you get lonely, all you really need is that rainy day love
Rainy day people all know there's no sorrow they can't rise above
Rainy day lovers don't love any others, that would not be kind
Rainy day people all know how it hangs on a piece of mind

Rainy day lovers don't lie when they tell you, they've been down there too
Rainy day people don't mind if you're cryin' a tear or two.

Rainy day people always seem to know when you're feeling blue
High stepping strutters who land in the gutters sometimes need one too
Take it or leave it, or try to believe it
If you've been down too long

Rainy day lovers don't hide love inside they just pass it on
Rainy day lovers don't hide love inside they just pass it on

ABC - Jackson 5

Artist: Jackson 5
Song: ABC
Year: 1970
Album: ABC

I used to listen to this song when I was very young. I also watched the cartoon and I was sucked into the Michael Jackon mania surrounding Thriller, but not to the degree of some people. I was a fan, but not a fanatic. It didn't bother me that the Jacksons would not record together. I didn't want to know if Rosie was based on Michael's real pet snake.

I just enjoyed the songs and watched the cartoon, when I could find it. The cartoon disappeared. The music was left off of playlists and largely forgotten because of other issues that we won't go into here. Then, like with everything else, there was a ressurgence. I started seeing the songs in movies and there seemed to be a genuine interest in the songs again.

As an adult, I'm sad to say that I had dismissed most of the music as being childish. It largely is, but it's got a catchy beat. I didn't start having respect for this song again, until I saw it used in Clerks 2. That cinched it for me. This was going back into the collection.

Sometimes, it takes a different context to truly appreciate a song. I'm glad Kevin Smith decided to use it in the rooftop dancing scene. It turned out to be the perfect choice. It's dancy and fun.

Lyrics:
A buh-buh buh buh-buh
A buh-buh buh buh-buh
You went to school to learn girl!
Things you never ever knew before
Like "I" before "E" except after "C"!
And why two plus two makes four!
Now, now, now,
I'm gonna teach you,
All about love girl,
sit yourself down,
take a seat!
All you gotta do is repeat after me!
A, B, C!
It's easy as
One, two, three, as simple as
Do, re, mi, A, B, C, one, two, three!
Baby you and me girl!
It's easy as
One, two, three, as simple as
Do, re, mi, A, B, C, one, two, three!
Baby you and me girl!
Come on girl and love me just a little bit!
I'm gonna teach you how to sing it out!
Come on, come on, come on!
Let me tell you what it's all about!
Reading, writing, arithmatic
are the branches of the learning tree!
But without the roots of love everyday girl!
Your education ain't complete!
Teacher's gonna show you!
How to get an "A"!
How to spell "me", "you", add the two!
Listen to me baby thats all you got to do!
A, B, C,
It's easy as
One, two, three!
as simple as
Do, re, mi, A, B, C, one, two, three!
Baby you and me girl!
A, B, C, it's easy,
it's like counting up to three!
Singing simple melodies!
That's how easy love can be!
That's how easy love can be!
That's how easy love can be!
One, two, three, you and me!
Sit down girl, I think I love ya!
No, get up girl, show me what you can do!
Shake it, shake it baby, come on now!
Shake it, shake it baby, oooh, oooh!
Shake it, shake it baby, yeah!
One, two, three, baby, oooh, oooh!
A, B, C, baby, ah, ah!
Do, re, mi, baby, wow!
Thats how easy love can be!
A, B, C, it's easy,
it's like counting up to three!
Singing simple melodies!
That's how easy love can be!
Teacher's gonna teach you
how to sing it out,
cmon cmon cmon let me show you
all about it now
A, B, C, it's easy,
it's like counting up to three!
Singing simple melodies!
That's how easy love can be!
Teacher's gonna teach you
how to sing it out,
cmon cmon cmon let me show you
all about it now
A, B, C, it's easy,
it's like counting up to three!
Singing simple melodies!
That's how easy love can be!
Teacher's gonna teach you
how to sing it out,
sing it out, sing it, sing it sing it
A, B, C, it's easy,
it's like counting up to three!
Singing simple melodies!
That's how easy love can be!

Gin And Juice - Snoop Doggy Dogg

Artist: Snoop Doggy Dogg
Song: Gin & Juice
Year: 1993
Album: Doggystyle

I'll admit it. I've seen Snoop live. He was pretty good too. I saw him on the 1997 Lollapalooza tour. I like all kinds of music and this just happens to be one of them. I really liked the debut album from Snoop. It's been hit or miss ever since, but the debut was solid.

Since then, Snoop has tried to clean up his image somewhat. You are more likely to see him on a movie set today rather than the streets. As with most performers, image is everything. That's what got him into the limelight and shying away from it made him stay there.

I had a job at K-Mart doing overnight stocking in 1994 and 1995. We were left to our own devices and we got to choose the music that we listened to during the night. It was much better than listening to the K-Mart radio network all night long.

I worked with a woman named Sherri, who loved rap music. Whenever I would stroll past her section with Snoop on my cassette player, I'd always get the thumbs up. I usually mixed in all the genres on the tapes because occasionally we would be able to play them on the portable radios. I really learned to appreciate all kinds of music on that job.

Lyrics:
*man pissing*
Heah hah hah!
I'm serious nigga one of y'all niggaz got this ass motherfuckin up
Aiy baby, aiy baby... aiy baby get some bubblegum in this motherfucker
Steady long, steady long nigga

With so much drama in the L-B-C
It's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double-G
But I, somehow, some way
Keep comin up with funky ass shit like every single day
May I, kick a little something for the G's (yeah)
and, make a few ends as (yeah!) I breeze, through
Two in the mornin and the party's still jumpin
cause my momma ain't home
I got bitches in the living room gettin it on
and, they ain't leavin til six in the mornin (six in the mornin)
So what you wanna do, sheeeit
I got a pocket full of rubbers and my homeboys do too
So turn off the lights and close the doors
But (but what) we don't love them hoes, yeah!
So we gonna smoke a ounce to this
G's up, hoes down, while you motherfuckers bounce to this

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]
Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]

Now, that, I got me some Seagram's gin
Everybody got they cups, but they ain't chipped in
Now this types of shit, happens all the time
You got to get yours but fool I gotta get mine
Everything is fine when you listenin to the D-O-G
I got the cultivating music that be captivating he
who listens, to the words that I speak
As I take me a drink to the middle of the street
and get to mackin to this bitch named Sadie (Sadie?)
She used to be the homeboy's lady (Oh, that bitch)
Eighty degrees, when I tell that bitch please
Raise up off these N-U-T's, cause you gets none of these
At ease, as I mob with the Dogg Pound, feel the breeze
beeeitch, I'm just

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]

Later on that day
My homey Dr. Dre came through with a gang of Tanqueray
And a fat ass J, of some bubonic chronic that made me choke
Shit, this ain't no joke
I had to back up off of it and sit my cup down
Tanqueray and chronic, yeah I'm fucked up now
But it ain't no stoppin, I'm still poppin
Dre got some bitches from the city of Compton
To serve me, not with a cherry on top
Cause when I bust my nut, I'm raisin up off the cot
Don't get upset girl, that's just how it goes
I don't love you hoes, I'm out the do'
And I'll be

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]
Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice (beeotch!!)
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]
Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice (beeotch!!)
Laid back [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind]

Shame - Stabbing Westward

Artist: Stabbing Westward
Song: Shame
Year: 1996
Album: Wither Blister Burn & Peel

I used to love this song, back in 1996. I still like it now, but it a disappointment to me. The song is still the same. I'm still the same. The lyrics have changed.

Let me explain. I thought that this was a bold song because of one line in the lyrics. It turns out that I misheard the line. I found out the real line and it was still good, but it wasn't as good as i originally perceived it to be.

The line, "How can I exist without you" is the line in question. Until I looked up the lyrics, I thought the line was, "How can I have sex without you". I thought that was a bold statement and I liked the song more because of it. Like everything great, there was some flaw with that logic.

It's still a good song, but it missed a chance at greatness. At least the greatness envisioned in my head.

Lyrics:
If only see myself reflected in your eyes
So all that I believe I am essentially are lies
And everything I've hoped to be or ever thought I was
Died with your belief in me so who that hell am I?

I don't know if I am real without you
What is left of me without you?
I don't know whats real without you
How can I exist without you?

I'm wanderin' 'round confused
Wondering why I try
The more that you deny my pain
The more it intensifies...
I pray for someone to ache for me the way I ache for you...
If you ignore that I'm alive
I've nothing to cling to

I don't know if I am real without you
What is left of me without you?
I don't know whats real without you
How can I exist without you?

I stare into this mirror
So tired of this life
If only you would speak to me or care if I'm alive
Once I swore I would die for you
But I never meant like this
I never meant like this
no i never meant like this

I don't know if I am real without you
What is left of me without you?
I don't know whats real without you
How can I exist without you?

Fearless - Pink Floyd

Artist: Pink Floyd
Song: Fearless
Year: 1971
Album: Meddle

A quick entry today. This song has been running through my brain lately. I never thought much of the song, when I was a teenager. But running the iPod while I'm busy at the computer has had some awesome benefits. Some songs actually improve, when you don't know they are coming.

This is a song where I was torn away from my computer work because I wondered what this song actually was. It sounded like Pink Floyd, but I couldn't recall what exactly. It turns out that it was "Fearless" popping up on shuffle. I try to preview all the newer songs that I hear this way. I can test my true nature about a song without the preconceived notions about it. I've found some great lost songs that way.

Lyrics:
You say the hill's too steep to climb
Climb it.
You say you'd like to see me try
Climbing.

You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb
That hill in my own way.
Just wait a while for the right day.
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds
I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today.

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd
Smiling.
Merciless the magistrate turns 'round
Frowning.

And who's the fool who wears the crown?
And go down,
in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow
You look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd.

Rock Of Ages - Def Leppard

Artist: Def Leppard
Song: Rock Of Ages
Year: 1983
Album: Pyromania

I spent a good deal of my youth trying to figure out what was said at the beginning of this song. It turns out that the phrase is utter nonsense and is actually said in place of a 1, 2, 3, 4 count. So much for the mysteries of the ages.

This was my first real exposure to Def Leppard. And it was a good one. It was because of this song that I sought out more music from Def Leppard. I was able to follow the band through their meteoric rise in the late eighties. It was a real treat to be there from somewhere near the beginning.

When I think of this song, I can still picture the Druid imagery embedded throughout the video. It was one of the staples of early MTV and I must have had this song on at least a dozen videotapes that I made in the eighties of overnight MTV programming. You know, when they used to make their living running videos instead of reality shows.

Somewhere I have a tape of the top 100 videos on MTV for that year. It has been a long time since it or any other MTV tape has been viewed. Somewhere, in that year end countdown, is "Rock Of Ages".

Lyrics:
Gunter glieben glauten globen
All right
I got something to say
Yeah, it's better to burn out
Yeah, than fade away
All right
Ow Gonna start a fire
C'mon!
Rise up! gather round
Rock this place to the ground
Burn it up let's go for broke
Watch the night go up in smoke

Rock on! Rock on!

Drive me crazier, no serenade
No fire brigade, just Pyromania

What do you want? What do you want?
I want rock'n'roll, yes I do
Long live rock'n'roll

Oh let's go, let's strike a light
We're gonna blow like dynamite
I don't care if it takes all night
Gonna set this town alight

What do you want? What do you want?
I want rock'n'roll, Allright!
Long live rock'n'roll

Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', keep a-rollin'
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', rock'n'rollin'

We got the power, got the glory
Just say you need it and if you need it
Say yeah!

Heh heh heh heh
Now listen to me
I'm Burnin', Burnin', I got the fever
I know for sure, there ain't no cure
So feel it, don't fight it, go with the flow
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme one more for the road

What do you want? What do you want?
I want rock'n'roll, You betcha
Long live rock'n'roll

Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', keep a-rollin'
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', rock'n'rollin'

We're gonna burn this damn place down
Down to the ground

Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh

Let 'Em In - Wings

Artist: Wings
Song: Let 'Em In
Year: 1976
Album: Wings At The Speed Of Sound

Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings? Yeah, some band called the Beatles. Wings was sort of the anti-Beatles. It was the same basic poppy songs from McCartney, but without the input of four other people. It was a time of pure bliss for McCartney fans.

"Let 'Em In" is another simple song from Paul McCartney. He is a master craftsman at taking boring nonsense and making it into a hit. The lyrics almost read like the phone book as Paul lists a bunch of relatives. It took the genius of McCartney to turn this into any resemblance of a true song.

Lyrics:
Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Do me a favor, open the door
And let 'em in, uh yeah.

Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Do me a favor, open the door
And let 'em in, yeah, let 'em in.

Sister Suzie, brother John,
Martin Luther, Phil and Don,
Uncle Ernie, Auntie Jin,
Open the door, let 'em in, oh yeah.

Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Do me a favor, open the door
And let 'em in, oh yeah, yeah, let 'em in now.

Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du.

Sister Suzie, brother John,
Martin Luther, Phil and Don,, ooh-ooh,
Uncle Ernie, Uncle Ian, ooh-ooh,
Open the door, let 'em in, oh yeah-yeah.

Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Someone's knocking at the door,
Somebody's ringing the bell,
Do me a favor, open the door
And let 'em in, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh.

Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du.
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du,
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du.

Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Song: Free Bird
Year: 1973
Album: (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)

I'm not the biggest Skynyrd fan, but I like the occasional song. This has to be one of the most cliched songs in rock history, but it still rocks. There's a reason why people jokingly shout it out at almost every rock concert on the planet. It's a damn fine song.

This song is bittersweet for me, especially on this day. My uncle, who passed away two years ago today, loved Lynyrd Skynyrd. He passed away by his own hand, which makes this day a little hard for most in my family. I have been lining up a bunch of his favorite songs and I listen to them on his birthday and the day he died.

When the wake came, everyone knew that I was his concert buddy, so they looked to me to supply the music. I knew he wouldn't want something sappy and religious, so I took the bands that he loved and chose songs that he either loved or were appropriate for the occasion. This song was the ending centerpiece to the disc I made. It was a song that he loved and it was a song that was appropriate.

I wasn't the only one who thought this song was an appropriate choice. Instead of showing a video or a live performance, I think this scene from Elizabethtown would be an appropriate choice to showcase the song.

Lyrics:
If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.

Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it badly,
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.

The Living Years - Mike And The Mechanics

Artist: Mike + The Mechanics
Song: The Living Years
Year: 1988
Album: The Living Years

What an upliftingly depressing song. It sounds happy and cheery until you realize that the song is about a deceased father and the son's regrets for not making amends. This was the musical landscape of 1988. You either had depressing, thoughtful songs or throwaway junk, with a few exceptions.

About two months ago, I had this song stuck in my head for five days straight. I can't believe I didn't crawl into bed and hide under the covers for two months. This is a wonderful song, but I just can't take the emotional subject matter.

Every time I hear the song, I feel like I just saw a baby's grave. You have a whole bundle of emotions that get bottlenecked into the same place with no chance of escape. You feel sad. You feel happy. Then you feel bad for feeling happy. It's a complete rollercoaster.

I'm sure that I'll seek this song out at the appropriate time, but until then, I'm happy with hearing it from a distance.

Lyrics:
Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door

I know that I'm a prisoner
To all my Father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got

You say you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
You just can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defence

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts

So don't yield to the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be O.K.

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

I wasn't there that morning
When my Father passed away
I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say

I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I'm sure I heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

Longview - Green Day

Artist: Green Day
Song: Longview
Year: 1994
Album: Dookie

The long career of Green Day really took off with this song. After years of trying to find success, they hit the big time with "Longview". This was the first in a string of hits for Green Day that really hasn't let up yet.

Believe it or not, the song is about masturbation. It wasn't obvious during my first few listens in 1994, but looking at the lyrics (and knowing the lyrics by heart) reveal the true story. It's a song about boredom and what a person will do when bored.

After this video debuted on MTV (when they actually played videos and not reality shows), Green Day would be everywhere in 1994. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a Green Day song. You couldn't turn on the TV without seeing a video or a live performance.

This is one of the many reasons that the summer of 1994 will remain one of my favorite summers. The only thing that seemed to go wrong was that I missed Green Day performing at Lollapalooza by one day. I got to see them in 1995, so it was OK.

Lyrics:
Sit around and watch the tube, but nothing's on
Change the channels for an hour or two
Twiddle my thumbs just for a bit
I'm sick of all the same old shit
In a house with unlocked doors
And I'm fucking lazy

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

Peel me off this velcro seat and get me moving
I sure as hell can't do it by myself
I'm feeling like a dog in heat
Barred indoors from the summer street
I locked the door to my own cell
And I lost the key

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

I got no motivation
Where is my motivation?
No time for the motivation
Smoking my inspiration

Sit around and watch the phone, but no one's calling
Call me pathetic, call me what you will
My mother says to get a job
But she don't like the one she's got
When masturbation's lost it's fun
You're fucking breaking

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored
I'm going blind
And loneliness has to suffice
Bite my lip and close my eyes
I was slipping away to paradise
Some say,"Quit or I'll go blind."
But it's just a myth