Gonna See My Friend - Pearl Jam

Artist: Pearl Jam
Song: Gonna See My Friend
Year: 2009
Album: Backspacer

A great rocker, which is infectious!

Lyrics:
Do you wanna hear something sick?
We are but victims of desire
I'm gonna shake this thing
I wanna shake this pain before I retire

I’m gonna see my friend, I'm gonna see my friend
Make it go away
I’m sick of everything, gonna see my friend
Make it go away

Buona Sera, won’t be long before we
All walk off the wire
I’m gonna see my friend,.. I'm gonna see my friend
for what I require

Buona sera, cut my quick
Don’t’ want my flame to get no higher.

I'm gonna see my friend, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away
I'm sick of everything, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away
I'm gonna see my friend, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away

Wanna leave it all
Wanna give it up
Wanna see it, gone once & for all

Wanna feel withdrawal
Want an overhaul
Wanna be there, hard as a statue
Black as a tattoo, never to wash away

Gonna take me an astral plane
I'm gonna tunnel through denial
I’m gonna shake this thing
I wanna shake this pain 'for I retire

I'm gonna see my friend, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away
I'm sick of everything, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away
I'm gonna see my friend, I'm gonna see my friend, make it go away

Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon

Artist: Kings Of Leon
Song: Use Somebody
Year: 2008
Album: Only By The Night

This song is everywhere! Even Dreams covers it (very well, I might add) in their Chicago area concerts.

I apologize for my long absence from this blog. Many other things took priority, in the past year and I didn't find enough time to do these posts to the high standards I set for myself. Instead of a daily post, it will become a "whenever the mood strikes me" posting schedule. There may be a story attached to it. There may not be. There will be lyrics and youtube embedding (when possible) and some type of writing.

Most of the comments on this blog lately have been foreign spam. I do not tolerate comment spam of any kind. I do appreciate all the people who have commented with an actual opinion or statement. Thank you for that.

Lyrics:
I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody

Someone like you and all you know and how you speak
Countless lovers under cover of the street
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you

Off in the night while you live it up I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shake the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice

Someone like me, someone like me
Someone like me, somebody

I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now

Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody
Someone like you, somebody

I've been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see

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.