Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 79

A song for a mournful day. Thinking of you today and always.

**

“Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry”
as recorded by Luba

In my mind
I've got it all figured out
But the head does not always rule the heart
And I try to place him
Out of body and soul
Just when I thought I’d made it
His images start taking their toll on me
I feel his memory haunting me
Time and again
I feel weak because

Every time I see your picture I cry
And I learn to get over you
One more time because
Every time I see your picture I cry
Oh, I cry

There you rest
Inside the walls of a frame
Hurts so bad
I can almost feel your eyes calling out my name
Out of body and soul
You're everywhere I go
Illusion or reality, I don't know
I feel your memory haunting me
Time and again
I feel weak because

Every time I see your picture I cry
And I learn to get over you
One more time because
Every time I see your picture I cry
Oh, I cry...

Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 201

The last few weeks have been tough on people, and even tougher times probably await us. The Pretenders’ Learning to Crawl was the first album I wanted to play last Wednesday, November 9, and this is one of the standout tracks from that still very solid — and angry — record.

**

"Middle of the Road" (Chrissie Hynde) as recorded by The Pretenders

The middle of the road is trying to find me

I'm standing in the middle of life with my plans behind me

Well, I got a smile for everyone I meet

As long as you don't try dragging my bay

Or dropping the bomb on my street

Now come on baby

Get in the road

Oh come on now

In the middle of the road, yeah

In the middle of the road you see the darnedest things

Like fat guys driving 'round in jeeps through the city

Wearing big diamond rings and silk suits

Past corrugated-tin shacks full up with kids

Man, I don't mean a Hampstead nursery

When you own a big chunk of the bloody Third World

The babies just come with the scenery

Oh come on baby

Get in the road

Oh come on now

In the middle of the road, yeah

The middle of the road is no private cul-de-sac

I can't get from the cab to the curb

Without some little jerk on my back

Don't harass me

Can't you tell

I'm going home

I'm tired as hell

I'm not the cat I used to be

I got a kid

I'm thirty-three, baby

Get in the road

Come on now

In the middle of the road

Yeah

Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 166

I rediscovered this song by accident — hadn’t heard it for years, possibly decades. It’s sugary, sugary pop — and also gloriously, smooshily romantic. What girly girl could resist?

**

An Everlasting Love (Andy Gibb)

I've been here all your life

Watching your crying game

You were the heaven in my lonely world

And he was your sun and your rain

I was losing you before I ever held you tight

Before you ever held me in your arms

And I won't make you blue

And maybe an everlasting love will do

I've got an everlasting love

So tall, so wide, so high

Above the rumble of thunder down below

It's your love I need

It's the only show

And it's you on an everlasting dream

Can take us anywhere

All the tears are yesterday

We killed the pain

We blew away the memories of the tears we cried

And an everlasting love will never die

Take me out of the cold

Give me what I've waited for

If it's the pleasure of taking my heart that you need

Then it only makes me love you more

I was yours before the stars were born

And you were mine

I could have saved you all the pain you knew

And I won't make you cry

And maybe an everlasting love can try

I've got an everlasting love

So tall, so wide, so high

Above the rumble of thunder down below

It's your love I need

It's the only show

And it's you on an everlasting dream

Can take us anywhere

All the tears are yesterday

We killed the pain

We blew away the memories of the tears we cried

And an everlasting love will never die ...

[repeat chorus and fade] 

Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 23

Suzanne Vega is a fascinating singer-songwriter who writes wistful songs especially well. This is one of my favourites, not only because of the lyric but because of the delivery: so bouncy, lilting, and lurching, redirecting the listener’s attention from what the speaker is actually saying.

**

In Liverpool (Suzanne Vega)

In Liverpool

On Sunday

No traffic on the avenue

The light is pale and thin like you

No sound down

In this part of town

Except for the boy in the belfry

He's crazy

He's throwing himself

Down from the top of the tower

Like a hunchback in heaven

He's ringing the bells in the church

For the last half an hour

He sounds like he's missing something

Or someone that he knows he can't have now

And if he isn't

I certainly am

Homesick for a clock

That told the same time

Sometimes you made no sense to me

If you lie on the ground in somebody's arms

You'll probably swallow some of their history

And the boy in the belfry

He's crazy

He's throwing himself

Down from the top of the tower

Like a hunchback in heaven

He's ringing the bells in the church

For the last half an hour

He sounds like he's missing something

Or someone that he knows he can't have now

And if he isn't

I certainly am

I'll be the girl who sings for my supper

You'll be the monk whose forehead is high

He'll be the man who's already working

Spreading a memory all through the sky

In Liverpool

On Sunday

No reason to even remember you now

Except for the boy in the belfry

He's crazy

He's throwing himself

Down from the top of the tower

Like a hunchback in heaven

He's ringing the bells in the church

For the last half an hour

He sounds like he's missing something

Or someone that he knows he can't have now

And if he isn't

I certainly am

In Liverpool

In Liverpool

Vault of lost lyrics, chapter 195

In the late 1990s I saw Sarah Slean at the Sidetrack Cafe, opening for Oh Susanna, aka Suzie Ungerleider. When Oh Susanna took the stage, Ms Slean came back out to accompany her on the piano for this song. It was a staggering performance from both, and the song has always stopped me dead since. It is alt-country at its peak, the recording is gorgeously layered, and this track is meant to be played LOUD. Relish that deep, dooming final note.

**

You’ll Always Be (Oh Susanna)

Well, the first time I saw heaven

you stood in my doorway

Scent of gardenia and lily

By your voice I was led into a forest of cherry

When you lay down beside me so softly you did say

You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my baby, yeah

You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my love

Well, you sure got some funny sense of forever

'Always' did end with the summer

I awoke in a bed that’s as wide as the river

And a voice in my head that softly did say

You’ll always be my baby, my baby, my baby, yeah

Now you’ll always be my baby, my baby, my love

Well, six seasons have weathered 

since you stood in my doorway

Now you’re stinking of blood and hard liquor

And you’ve come for a favour

for your sorry sight to cover

And you still got the nerve to softly do say

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my baby

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my love

Now I don’t need no tailor to sew this suit together

Your yarn is a worn-out old tether

And you better button that collar

for you’re going out to pasture

And I’ll be counting the bounty

when softly I will say

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my baby yeah

You owe this to me, my baby, my baby, my love.

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 144

OK, so it’s difficult to imagine that anything involving Rihanna could truly be “lost,” but it is possible that these lyrics have not found most of the small audience of this blog. Anyway. This song has been a touchstone for me lately. If you know the back story, you know why.

**

“Hard” (Rihanna)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Ah yeah ...

They can say whatever

I'ma do whatever

No pain is forever

Yup, you know this

Tougher than a lion

Ain't no need in tryin'

I live where the sky ends

Yup, you know this

Never lyin', truth teller

That Rihanna reign just won't let up

All black on, blacked-out shades

blacked out Maybach

I'ma rock this shit like fashion, as in

Goin' til they say stop

And my runway never looked so clear

But the hottest bitch in heels right here

No fear

And while you getting your cry on

I'm getting my fly on

Sincere

I see you aiming at my pedestal,

I better let ya know

(chorus) That I — I — I — I'm so hard

Ah yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so hard ...

So hard, so hard, so hard, so hard

All up on it

Know you wanna clone it

Ain't like me

That chick too phony

Ride this beat, beat, beat like a pony

Meet me at the top

Gettin' loaded

Who think they test me now

Run through your town

I shut it down

Brilliant, resilient

Fan mail from 27 million

And I want it all

It's gonna take more than that

Hope that ain't all you got

I need it all

The money, the fame, the cars, the clothes

I can't just let you run up on me like that

I see you aiming at my pedestal

So I think I gotta let ya know

(repeat chorus)

[Jeezy raps: Go hard or go home

Back to your residence

Soon the red dogs will give the block back to the presidents

I used to run my own block like Obama did

You ain't gotta believe me, go ask my momma then

You couldn't even come in my room, it smelled like a kilo

Looked like me and two of my boys playing casino

Trying to sell they peeping my bag they can't afford it

Tell 'em to give me back my swag, they tryin' to clone me

See my Louis tux, Louis flag, Louis frames, Louis belt

What that make me, Louis Mane?

I'm in an all white party wearin' all black

With my new black watch call it the heart attack

Cardiac arrest, cardiac a wrist

Yeah, they say they're hard

They ain't hard as this

Hard! The one word describes me, if I wasn't doin' this

You know where I be, too hard]

Where dem girls talkin' trash, where dem girls talkin' trash

Where they at, where they at, where they at?

Where dem bloggers at, where dem bloggers at

Where they at, where they at, where they at?

Where your lighters at, where your lighters at

Where they at, where they at, where they at?

So hard, so hard, so hard, so hard ... 

(repeat chorus)

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 19

An adaptation from Molly Bloom's speech at the conclusion of Ulysses, this song is one my favourite Kate Bush singles. Both the vocal delivery and the instrumentation are so feminine! Sadly, like so much of her music, it was badly under-appreciated when it was released in 1989, despite a gorgeous video. So you've probably never heard this lyric — or Kate's original lyrical working of Molly's speech, which Kate released as "Flower of the Mountain" on her 2011 album Director's Cut.

**

"The Sensual World" (Kate Bush)

Mm, yes

Then I'd taken the kiss of seedcake back from his mouth

Going deep South, go down, mm yes

Took six big wheels and rolled our bodies

Off of Howth Head and into the flesh, mm yes

He said I was a flower of the mountain, yes

But now I've powers o'er a woman's body, yes

Stepping out, off the page

Into the sensual world

Stepping out

To where the water and the earth caress

And the down of a peach says mm yes

Do I look for those millionaires

Like a Machiavellian girl would

When I could wear a sunset? mm yes

And how we'd wished to live in the sensual world

You don't need words

Just one kiss then another

Stepping out, off the page

Into the sensual world

Stepping out, off the page

Into the sensual world

And then our arrows of desire rewrite the speech, mm yes

And then he whispered would I, mm yes

Be safe, mm yes, from mountain flowers?

And at first with the charm around him, mm yes

He loosened it so if it slipped between my breasts

He'd rescue it, mm yes

And his spark took life in my hand and mm yes

I said, mm yes

But not yet, mm yes, yes

Mm yes

Yes ...

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 16

Another once-fresh song now rendered ubiquitous by covers. Not that I dislike the covers: the Michael Andrews/Gary Jules version from the Donnie Darko soundtrack is finely interpreted. But the original still hits me like a punch every time.

**

"Mad World" (as recorded by Tears for Fears)

All around me are familiar faces

Worn-out places, worn-out faces

Bright and early for their daily races

Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses

No expression, no expression

Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow

No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you

Cos I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it's a very very

Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good

Happy birthday, happy birthday

Made to feel the way that every child should

Sit and listen, sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous

No one knew me, no one knew me

Hello teacher, tell me, what's my lesson?

Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

I find it hard to tell you

Cos I find it hard to take

When people run in circles it's a very very

Mad world

(repeat and fade)

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 83

Once startlingly fresh, now ubiquitous: the story of so many songs of the 1980s. But this one holds a special place in my heart. Is it, as the video suggests, a ghost story? Or just one's emotional weather?

**

"Here Comes the Rain Again" (as recorded by Eurythmics)

Here comes the rain again

Falling on my head like a memory

Falling on my head like a new emotion

I want to walk in the open wind

I want to talk like lovers do

I want to dive into your ocean

Is it raining with you?

So baby talk to me

Like lovers do

Walk with me

Like lovers do

Talk to me

Like lovers do

Here comes the rain again

Raining in my head like a tragedy

Tearing me apart like a new emotion

I want to breathe in the open wind

I want to kiss like lovers do

I want to dive into your ocean

Is it raining with you?

So baby talk to me

Like lovers do

Here comes the rain again

Falling on my head like a memory

Falling on my head like a new emotion

I want to walk in the open wind

I want to talk like lovers do

I want dive into your ocean

Is it raining with you?

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 2

Consensus says the lyrics are about a girl getting involved with drugs, and perhaps that's what the writer intended. But when I first heard this song back in elementary school, I heard a different story. Boys, beware.

**

"Magic Man" (Heart)

Cold late night so long ago

When I was not so strong you know

A pretty man came to me

Never seen eyes so blue

You know I could not run away

It seemed we'd seen each other in a dream

It seemed like he knew me

He looked right through me, yeah

Come on home, girl

He said with a smile

You don't have to love me yet

Let's get high awhile

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try, try, try to understand

I'm a magic man

Winter nights we sang in tune

Played inside the months of moon

Never think of never

Let this spell last forever

Well, summer lover passed to fall

Tried to realize it all

Mama says she's worried

Growing up in a hurry, yeah

Come on home, girl

Mama cried on the phone

Too soon to lose my baby yet

My girl should be at home

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try, try, try to understand

He's a magic man, mama

He's a magic man

Come on home, girl

He said with a smile

I cast my spell of love on you

A woman from a child

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try, try to understand

Try, try, try to understand

He's a magic man

He got magic hands

Come on home, girl

He said with a smile

You don't have to love me yet

Let's get high awhile

But try to understand

Try to understand

Try, try, try to understand

He's a magic man

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 36

This project of my imagination is thwarted by the findings of communication scholars, who point out that song lyrics are typically fairly uninteresting, and even silly, when extracted from melody, rhythm, and inflection. Regrettably, that observation is especially true of this song; but if you've ever heard it, you know how optimistic and joy-filled it sounds with its multiple intersecting vocals and sparkling balalaikas. It rouses my triumphant inner fifteen-year-old girl, anyway.

 **

"Burning Bridge" (Kate Bush)

Come close to me

Come cross the bridge

I need to know what you have to say to me

What have you got to say to me?

Tell me all about it

Tell me, please

Oh, I know

I know it works for me

As we cross the bridge — the burning bridge

With flames behind us

We front the line

It's you and me, baby, against the world

I've got to know what you have to say

What have you got to say?

Oh, I've got to get close now

Tell me all about it

All night long

All night long

It works for me

It's you and me, babe, against the world

All night long

It works for me

Let's cross the bridge

Oh, I know

I know, I know

It's you and me, babe

When you stand next to me, it's all right

It's you and me, babe, against the world!

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 87

This is my absolute favourite summer song, and also one of my top-ten heart songs. It reminds me of August evenings, creamy caramel light, sweetness and laughter. And though the original remains the best, Styx did a pretty kickass cover back in 2005, too.

**

"Summer in the City" (as recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful)

Hot town, summer in the city

Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty

Been down, isn't it a pity

Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking half dead

Walking on the sidewalk

Hotter than a match head

But at night it's a different world

Go out and find a girl

Come on, come on and dance all night

Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity

That the days can't be like the nights

In the summer, in the city

In the summer, in the city

Cool town, evening in the city

Dressing so fine and looking so pretty

Cool cat, looking for a kitty

Gonna look in every corner of the city

Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop

Running up the stairs

Gonna meet you on the rooftop

But at night it's a different world

Go out and find a girl

Come on, come on and dance all night

Despite the heat it'll be alright

And babe, don't you know it's a pity

That the days can't be like the nights

In the summer, in the city

In the summer, in the city

(repeat verse 1 and chorus)

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 66

(Before we go any further: little signal and little time on the VI circumnavigation trip, so no posts. Sorry!)

While no one will ever confuse Deep Purple with bubblegum pop, this song is a surprisingly summery selection for the band. The crunchy guitar, the snapping Hammond organ, the underplayed vocals? Perfect for June's big blue sun-drenched prairie skies. And on the wind, the breath of a voice.

**

"Hush" (as recorded by Deep Purple)

I got a certain little girl, she's on my mind

No doubt about it, she looks so fine

She's the best girl that I ever had

Sometime she's gonna make me feel so bad

Hush, hush

I thought I heard her calling my name now

Hush, hush

She broke my heart, but I love her just the same now

Hush, hush

Thought I heard her calling my name now

Hush, hush

I need her loving, and I'm not to blame now

(Love, love)

They got it early in the morning

(Love, love)

They got it late in the evening

(Love, love)

Well, I want and need it

(Love, love)

Oh, I gotta gotta have it

She got loving like quicksand

Only took one touch of her hand

To blow my mind, and I'm in so deep

That I can't eat and I can't sleep

Hush, hush

I thought I heard her calling my name now

Hush, hush

She broke my heart, but I love her just the same now

Hush, hush

Thought I heard her calling my name now

Hush, hush

I need her loving, and I'm not to blame now

(Love, love)

They got it early in the morning

(Love, love)

They got it late in the evening

(Love, love)

Well, I want and need it

(Love, love)

Hey, I gotta gotta have it ...

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 86

I adore Joni Mitchell's music. I have been listening to her seriously for almost thirty years; Court and Spark is playing as I type this post. She is definitely one of the artists who has shaped my sense of self.

This song is from Dog Eat Dog, released in October 1985. I remember listening to this album (on cassette) incessantly in late 1985 and early 1986 as I commuted on the bus from home to school and back. With time, these lyrics have become much more poignant as I have watched friendships — and friends — come and go. A wry but truthful song, pointedly and accurately observed.

**

"Good Friends"

(Joni Mitchell, performed with Michael McDonald)

I have to come and see you

maybe once or twice a year

I think nothing would suit me better

than some downtown atmosphere

In the dance halls and the galleries

Or betting in the OTB

Synchronized like magic

Good friends you and me

The sun goes down in Jersey

Rises over Little Italy

We could talk it up

'Til the block gets up

Swapping stories

Sitting around in some all-night zoo

Watching it run like a movie

Synchronized like magic

Good friends you and me

No hearts of gold

No nerves of steel

No blame for what we can and cannot feel

But now it's cloak and dagger

Walk on eggshells and analyze

Every particle of difference

Gets like mountains in our eyes

You say "You're unscrupulous"

You say "You're naive"

Synchronized like magic

Good friends you and me

No hearts of gold

No nerves of steel

No blame for what we can and cannot feel

Sometimes change comes at you

Like a broadside accident

There is chaos to the order

Random things you can't prevent

There could be trouble around the corner

There could be beauty down the street

Synchronized like magic

Good friends you and me

No hearts of gold

No nerves of steel

No blame for what we can and cannot feel
No nerves of steel

No hearts of gold

No blame for what we can and can't control

Good friends you and me

Good friends you and me

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 15

You know, sometimes you have one of those days. Weeks. Months. Well ... whatever. You know how this feels. Or at least I do.

"I'm Going Slightly Mad" (as recorded by Queen)

When the outside temperature rises

And the meaning is oh so clear

One thousand and one yellow daffodils

Begin to dance in front of you — oh dear

Are they trying to tell you something?

You're missing that one final screw

You're simply not in the pink my dear

To be honest you haven't got a clue

I'm going slightly mad

I'm going slightly mad

It finally happened
It finally happened

It finally happened

I'm one card short of a full deck

I'm not quite the shilling

One wave short of a shipwreck

I'm not at my usual top billing

I'm coming down with a fever

I'm really out to sea

This kettle is boiling over

I think I'm a banana tree

I'm going slightly mad

I'm going slightly mad

It finally happened

It finally happened

It finally happened

I'm slightly mad

I'm knitting with only one needle

Unravelling fast, it's true

I'm driving only three wheels these days

But, my dear, how about you?

I'm going slightly mad

I'm going slightly mad

It finally happened

It finally happened

It finally happened

I'm slightly mad!

Just very slightly mad

And there you have it...

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 101

If you were listening to music in the 1980s, you remember its excesses. (Not that every era doesn't have some excesses.) Culture Club had a hard time being taken seriously after "Karma Chameleon," and that's too bad because their singles reflect very pretty pop styling with catchy and sometimes clever musical details. This lyrically wistful song may make you smile — if somewhat wryly.

"Time (Clock Of The Heart)" (as recorded by Culture Club)

Don't put your head on my shoulder

Sink me in a river of tears

This could be the best place yet

But you must overcome your fears

 In time we could've been so much more

But time is precious, I know

In time we could've been so much more

The time has nothing to show

Because time won't give me time

And time makes lovers feel

Like they've got something real

But you and me we know

We got nothing but time

And time won't give me time

Won't give me time

Don't make me feel any colder

Time is like a clock in my heart

Touch we touch was the heat too much

I felt I lost you from the start

In time we could've been so much more

But time is precious, I know

In time we could've been so much more

The time has nothing to show

Because time won't give me time

And time makes lovers feel

Like they've got something real

But you and me we know

We've got nothing but time

And time won't give me time

Won't give me time

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 73

A perfect song for lazy summer afternoons.

**

"Dark Horse" (as recorded by Amanda Marshall)

Indian summer, Abeline,

You were new in town, I was nineteen

And the sparks flew

They called us crazy behind our backs

Romantic fools

We just let them laugh

Because we knew

It may be a long shot

We may get lonely down the line

Love knows no reason

And I won't let 'em make up my mind

My money's riding on this dark horse, baby

My heart is saying it's the lucky one

And its true colour's gonna shine through someday

If we let this, let this dark horse run

Stars are brighter in a desert sky

No need to wonder or justify

Where this will lead

I wear your locket, our picture's inside

Inscription says, "The joy's in the ride"

And I believe

Something so sacred

Is something worth this kind of fight

'Cause love knows no patience

You can't please everyone all the time

My money's riding on this dark horse, baby

My heart is saying it's the lucky one

And its true colour's gonna shine through someday

If we let this, let this dark horse run

So rare, so sweet

Together baby, I know

We can be free

My money's riding on this dark horse, baby

My heart is saying it's the lucky one

And its true colour's gonna shine through someday

If we let this, let this dark horse run

Indian summer, Abeline,

You were new in town, I was nineteen ...