Tag: SLS

Song Lyric Sunday – Hurt/Pain/Agony/Suffer

~ oneletterup ~ 11 Comments

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday (Prompt: Hurt/Pain/Agony/Suffer

 

Cidney Bullens (formerly known as Cindy Bullens) wrote “I Gotta Believe In Something” after the death of her 11 year old daughter Jessie, from cancer, in 1996.

“I Gotta Believe In Something” is part of the critically acclaimed album “Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth” released in 1999. Backing vocals: Bonnie Raitt and Beth Neilsen Chapman.

Grief is palpable, as is the unimaginable pain behind the lyrics in this haunting song.

Cidney Bullens, an American singer/songwriter/guitarist, grew up in Massachusetts. As Cindy, she began her singing career as a backup vocalist for Rod Stewart and Elton John. She released her first well received album “Desire Wire” in 1978 – the first of 8 albums – and was nominated for 2 Grammy awards. He is currently working on a new solo album.

 

 

I GOTTA BELIEVE IN SOMETHING

 

By Cindy Bullens

I can’t figure it out
As if I ever could
Everything I planned
Didn’t work out like I thought it would

I’ve had my share of tragedy
I’ve felt the darkness cover me
Till I can’t see

But I gotta believe in something
I gotta believe in something
That there’s just plain nothing
Don’t sit right with me

I gotta hold on to something
I gotta hold on to something
Even if it’s nothing
But a little dream

Some days just breathing
Is all that I can do
And I curse the disappearance
Of everything I knew

But there’s only so many tears I can cry
I need to point my soul to the light
So I can see

And I gotta believe in something
I gotta believe in something
That’s there’s just plain nothing
Don’t seem right to me

I gotta hold onto something
I gotta hold onto something
I can’t live with nothing
To believe

I can’t figure it out
As if I ever could
Everything I planned
Didn’t work out like I thought it would

So I gotta believe in something
I gotta believe in something
That’s there’s just plain nothing
Don’t seem right to me

I gotta hold on to something
I gotta hold on to something
Even if it’s nothing
But a little dream

I gotta believe in something
I gotta believe in something
I can’t live with nothing
To believe

© 1997 Mommy’s Geetar Music/BMI

Song Lyric Sunday – Boogie/Rock/Rolling Stone

~ oneletterup ~ 10 Comments

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday (Prompt: Boogie/Rock/Rolling Stone)

 

The late great Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin wrote “Rock Steady,” an “upbeat song that will get you up out of your seat moving and grooving…” (All Music Guide to Rock 2002 – 3rd ed.) for her album Young, Gifted and Black in 1971.

The song – classified as funk – was also released as a single in 1971 – reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

To quote Dave Marsh from The Heart of Rock & Soul (1989), “She cries out like a woman backed to the wall, shouting for truth and nothing less: ‘Let’s call this song exactly what it is!'”

Enjoy!

 

 

Rock Steady

by Aretha Franklin

Rock steady, baby
That’s what I feel now
Just call the song exactly what it is
Just move your hips with a feeling from side to side
Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride
While you’re moving, rock steady
Rock steady, baby
Let’s call this song exactly what it is
(What it is, what it is, what it is)
It’s a funky and lowdown feeling (what it is)
In the hips from left to right (what it is)
(What it is) what it is I might be doin’
(What it is) this funky dance all night
(Put your hands up in the air)
(Got a feelin’ you ain’t got a care)
(What fun to take this ride) 
(Rock steady will only slide) 

Rock steady, rock steady baby
Rock steady, rock steady baby

Jump and move your hips with a feeling from side to side
Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride
While you’re moving, rock steady
Rock steady

Let’s call this song exactly what it is
(What it is, what it is, what it is)
It’s a funky and lowdown feeling (what it is)
In the hips from left to right (what it is)
What it is is I might be doin’ (what it is)
This funky dance all night, ah
(Put your hands up in the air)
(Got a feelin’ you ain’t got a care)
(What fun to take this ride) 
(Rock steady will only slide)

Rock steady baby, rock steady, woo
Rock steady

Rock steady, rock steady (what it is)
It’s a funky and lowdown feeling (what it is)
In the hips from left to right (what it is)
What it is is I might be doin’
This funky dance all night, ah
(Put your hands up in the air)
(Got a feelin’ you ain’t got a care)
(What fun to take this ride) 
(Rock steady will only slide) 

Rock steady, steady baby, rock, rock steady, baby

Baby (what it is), baby, baby (what it is) baby

Song Lyric Sunday – Burn/Fire/Flame

~ oneletterup ~ 14 Comments

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday

One of my newest favorite singer/songwriter/guitarists – Mary Chapin Carpenter – has actually been making music for 30 years. Born in New Jersey, she spent the early part of her singing career in Washington DC before releasing her first album in 1987. The winner of 5 Grammy awards, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.

I discovered her a few years ago at a local outdoor concert. I was blown away by her voice and personal catch-ya-off-guard lyrics. I couldn’t take my eyes – or ears – off her and the amazing band she performed with. Playing seamlessly together.

MCC concert
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Prescott Park Arts Festival – 2017 

 

Her most successful album Come On Come On was released in 1992 and went quadruple platinum.

Walking Through Fire is from this album.

 

 

Walking Through Fire

by Mary Chapin Carpenter

When you set a match to your heart, fueling it with bitterness and doubt
That’s the place that once it starts, no amount of tears can put out
I know you’re scared, but no one’s spared when you play with matches

You got me walking through fire
You got me walking through fire

Maybe you’ve been burned by lovers, maybe you’ve been scarred by the pain
But baby, I’m not like the others, drawing moths to a flame
Spite is like a spark, crackling in the dark, consuming all it catches

And you got me walking through fire
You got me walking through fire to get to you
Got me walking through fire (walking through fire)
You got me walking through fire (walking through fire)

You can see the toll it’s taking, you can feel the faith it’s shaking
You can hear the heart it’s breaking now
Baby, I’ve been burned by the fever, I’ve been scorched by desire
But baby, I am not your deceiver or your eloquent liar
Your jealous heart is tearing us apart, turning love to ashes

When you got me walking through fire
You’ve got me walking through fire to get to you
Got me walking through fire
You’ve got me walking through fire

You’ve got me walking through fire (walking through fire)
You’ve got me walking through fire (walking through fire)
As the flames shoot higher
You got me walking through fire (through fire), walking

Song Lyric Sunday – Record/Jukebox/DJ/Radio

~ oneletterup ~ 17 Comments

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday (prompt: Record/Jukebox/DJ/Radio).

 

At the age of 17, I discovered Joni Mitchell when I first dropped the needle on her album Blue. Thanks to new friends at my summer job. One of those friends and I were lucky enough to see her in concert together. Three years later. The Music Hall in Boston. High up in the balcony.

Joni Mitchell is a Canadian singer/songwriter. The winner of 9 Grammy awards. Music that ranges from folk to pop to rock to jazz. Lyrics that reach out and grab you tight…especially when you’re 17.

You Turn Me On I’m A Radio was Mitchell’s first Top 40 hit as an artist in America. Lighter and brighter than her more serious musings on Blue, it was released in 1972 on the For the Roses album (her 5th). Written from the point of view of a radio station, it moved more towards the pop genre.

I now get a kick out of the references to dials and transistors…as I remember my first radio. A gift from my grandparents when I was in the 5th grade. A black Sony transistor radio (with a case!). And a dial…which picked up my favorite AM station: 77WABC

I’ll bet Joni Mitchell performed this song that night in Boston…

 

 

 

You Turn Me On I’m a Radio

by Joni Mitchell

If you’re driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Who’s bound to love you
Oh honey you turn me on
I’m a radio
I’m a country station
I’m a little bit corny
I’m a wildwood flower
Waving for you
I’m a broadcasting tower
Waving for you
And I’m sending you out
This signal here
I hope you can pick it up
Loud and clear
I know you don’t like weak women
You get bored so quick
And you don’t like strong women
‘Cause they’re hip to your tricks
It’s been dirty for dirty
Down the line
But you know I come when you whistle
When you’re loving and kind
But if you’ve got too many doubts
If there’s no good reception for me
Then tune me out, ’cause honey
Who needs the static
It hurts the head
And you wind up cracking
And the day goes dismal
From “Breakfast Barney”
To the sign-off prayer
What a sorry face you get to wear
I’m going to tell you again now
If you’re still listening there
If you’re driving into town
With a dark cloud above you
Dial in the number
Who’s bound to love you
If you’re lying on the beach
With the transistor going
Kick off the sandflies honey
The love’s still flowing
If your head says forget it
But your heart’s still smoking
Call me at the station
The lines are open

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday – Minutes/Hours/Days/Weeks/Months

~ oneletterup ~ 12 Comments

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday (prompt: Minutes/Hours/Days/Weeks/Months)

 

At the age of 17, I discovered Carole King – a prolific American singer-songwriter – via her Tapestry album.
She was not, however, a one-hit wonder for me.

I collected her albums over the years, their dust jackets now worn and faded. I devoured each and every one…most likely wearing out the phonograph needle in the process.

Carole King’s 4th album Rhymes & Reasons was released in 1972. It climbed to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

One of the songs on this album – Gotta Get Through Another Day – still resonates all these years later…although from an entirely different perspective….

 

 

Gotta Get Through Another Day

 

by Carole King

It’s a gray, gray gloomy day
A strange and moody blues day
Gotta get through, gotta get through another day

Corn yellow silk and golden sunlight I remember
As we walked together, you and I
Love like a sweet flaming glow inside
Now has been denied
And I’ve cried till I can’t remember why

I gotta get through, gotta get through some way
Gotta get through, gotta get through another day

Will Tuesday be “good news” day
Or another “paying dues” day
It’s a strange and moody blues day
Anyway

Some say that time brings a better understanding
Of the rhyme and reason to it all
Still the flame keeps burning through the lonely night
It’s just not all right
And I wonder if I’ll make it till you call

I gotta get through, gotta get through some way
It’s a gray, gray gloomy day
A strange and moody blues day
Gotta get through, gotta get through another day
I gotta get through another day.

 

 

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday – Music Memories

~ oneletterup ~ 2 Comments

Tonight is the 91st Academy Awards. My ballot is printed. Ready to be filled in.

Full disclosure: I love the Oscars. I write the date on my calendar as soon as it is announced. Back in the days of 3 networks, I was glued to the TV screen for the entire broadcast. I remember watching when “The Sound of Music” won; being also impressed I had managed to stay awake until 12:30 AM!

There may have been a few years I missed it, away at college with no television. Or later, ensconced in early parenthood fatigue and exhaustion. But not many.

My contribution to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday (prompt: Harmony/Melody/Music) honors the 1973 Academy Award winner for Best Song.

“The Way We Were” performed by Barbra Streisand – the ultimate professional of harmony, melody and music. It was the title song from the movie of the same name.

The Way We Were

Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
Music by Marvin Hamlisch

Memories light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?

Memories may be beautiful and yet
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it’s the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were
The way we were