Song Lyric Sunday

Good morning to everyone in the land of blog; I hope you’re having a great Sunday (or will have a great Sunday, depending where you are in the World). Another week has rolled around and it’s time again for Song Lyric Sunday, brought to us by the honourable Jim Adams. The theme for this week is ‘a song that features someone famous’; if something immediately springs to mind, why not play along? It’s a great way to discover new music and find new blogging friends. Here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

 

He’s walking where I’m afraid I don’t know
I see the firemen jumping from the windows
There’s panic and I hear somebody scream
(aaaah)

He picks up useless paper
And puts it in my pocket
I’m trying very hard to keep my fingers clean
I can’t remember tell me what’s his name

And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep

The sun is laughing its another broken morning
I see a shadow and call out to try and warn him

He didn’t seem to hear
Just turned away

The quiet fellow follows and points his fingers
Straight at you

He had to sacrifice his pride yes throw it all away

And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home

And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep

His days are numbered he walks round and round in circles
There is no place he can ever call his own
He seems to jump at the sound of the phone

Staring out the window there’s nothing he can now do
All he wanted was to remain sane
He can’t remember his own name

And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
And all I wanted was a word or photograph
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep

And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
And all I wanted was a word or photograph
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep

Songwriters: Cathal Smyth / Cathal Joseph Smyth / Christopher John Foreman / Daniel Woodgate / Daniel Mark Woodgate / Graham Mcpherson / Lee Jay Thompson / Mark William Bedford / Michael Barson

Michael Caine lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

As soon as I read the prompt this song popped into my mind. Back in the day, I was a huge Madness fan and loved song after song after song that they put out but I was always a bit ‘meh’ with this one. It didn’t have the energy that I associate with Madness’ early work nor the darkness that they seemed to draw on with their later music but it fits the brief so I thought I’d share it with you – I’d be interested to know what you think.

As an added bonus I decided to share my favourite Madness track – if this doesn’t get you bouncing around the living room, I don’t know what will!

 

 

Have a super Sunday everyone!

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Goooooood Moooooooooorning Blogland! How are we all? Whatever you’re up to today enjoy it to the max because it’s back to work tomorrow but for now, sit back, relax and enjoy Song Lyric Sunday. I love this once a week challenge where we can connect with other bloggers and discover new music – why not play along? Brought to us by the TVtastic Jim Adams, it’s a must for all music lovers and, this week, for all gogglebox enthusiasts too as our prompt is ‘song from a TV show’.

Here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

This one was easy for me as I love the TV show that first introduced me to the song:

Hello, hello
Anybody out there? ‘Cause I don’t hear a sound
Alone, alone
I don’t really know where the world is but I miss it now

I’m out on the edge and I’m screaming my name
Like a fool at the top of my lungs
Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I’m alright

But it’s never enough

‘Cause my echo, echo
Is the only voice coming back
Shadow, shadow
Is the only friend that I have

Listen, listen
I would take a whisper if that’s all you had to give
But it isn’t, is it?
You could come and save me and try to chase the crazy right out of my head

I’m out on the edge and I’m screaming my name
Like a fool at the top of my lungs
Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I’m alright

But it’s never enough

‘Cause my echo, echo
Is the only voice coming back
Shadow, shadow
Is the only friend that I have

I don’t wanna be an island
I just wanna feel alive and
Get to see your face again

I don’t wanna be an island
I just wanna feel alive and
Get to see your face again

But ’til then
Just my echo, my shadow
You’re my only friend and I’m

I’m out on the edge and I’m screaming my name
Like a fool at the top of my lungs
Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I’m alright

But it’s never enough

‘Cause my echo, echo
Oh my shadow, shadow

Hello, hello
Anybody out there?

Songwriters: Nicholle Anne Galyon / Jason Walker

I’ve had a bit of a thing for vampires ever since I watched Interview With A Vampire (Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Cristian Slater and Antonio Banderas all in the same film – what’s not to love!) but it became something of an obsession after I lost my husband. I watched The Vampire Diaries which led me to The Originals, I watched the Twighlight films back to back, I read every vampire novel I could lay my hands on……..after a long time, I realised why I had this compulsion – vampires don’t die.

In this particular episode Elena and Stefan were apart and they were pining for each other even though they knew that it was impossible for them to be together and this song, for me, really sums up those feelings. I was at a pretty low ebb when I watched this episode – missing my husband desperately, lonely and trying so hard to put on a brave face and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Needless to say I cried when I heard the opening lines:

“Hello, hello
Anybody out there? ‘Cause I don’t hear a sound
Alone, alone
I don’t really know where the world is but I miss it now”

and I guess that’s why this song has stuck with me. Anyway, I really hope that you enjoy it

As an added bonus track, here’s my favourite vampire of all time – the ultimate bad boy – Klaus Mikaelson. He’s doing what he does best, which is being mean and menacing and it’s all to an amazing track – Bartholomew by The Silent Comedy.

That’s it for now – have a super day :O)

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Here we are at the end of another week or the beginning of a new one, depending on how you look at it and so it must be time for Song Lyric Sunday. Each week Jim Adams gives us a prompt to get our musical juices flowing and then we share our choices with blogging friends old and new. Do you know Jim? If not, o pop over and see him, I know he’d love to meet you, and why not play along today and join in the fun?

Here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

This week’s theme is Wedding/Marry/Diamond/Ring/Cake and, as soon as I read it my thoughts went back to my own wedding. I wasn’t sure whether to share this track with you or not, as this is what was playing as I walked towards the love of my life at the start of our marriage ceremony. It holds bitter/sweet memories for me but it is outstandingly beautiful; I hope that you enjoy it:

Te lucis ante terminum
Rerum creator poscimus
Ut solita clementia
Sis praesul ad custodium

Before the ending of the day
Creator of the world we pray
That with thy wonted favour thou
Would be our guard and keeper now

Keep me as the apple of an eye
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
Keep me as the apple of an eye
Hide me, hide me, hide me
Hide me, hide me, hide me

The heaven soars with voices above
The skies resound the power of your love
The stars shine out your glorious light
Shine through our gloom and take us on high

Keep me as the apple of an eye
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
Keep me as the apple of an eye
Hide me, hide me, hide me

Sancto Spiritu, rerum Creator
Sancto Spiritu
Sancto, Sancto Spiritu

Te lucis ante terminum

Songwriters: ROBERT PRIZEMAN

We had a civil service and had to fight to use this track because it was deemed to be ‘religious’ and apparently you can’t use ‘religious’ music in a civil ceremony. Fortunately common sense prevailed and I will never forget walking towards my husband-to-be while this music played. I thought that I’d be able to listen to it today without crying – I couldn’t, even after more than five years. On the day of my wedding I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was deeply, deeply loved and that I loved without fear and beyond measure. I miss my husband every day but I will always be grateful for the fifteen wonderful years that we spent together.

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Happy Sunday one and all, I hope that you’re ready to share some love and some music with your fellow bloggers as it’s time, once again, for Song Lyric Sunday, brought to us by the tirelessly imaginative Jim Adams. Our prompt for this week is Haunted/Magic/Mystery/Supernatural/Trick, so there’s loads of scope if you’d like to play along and, let’s be honest, why wouldn’t you? To help you out, here are some rules:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

This is my choice for this week and I really hope that you’ll like it:

 

I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep

When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?

I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep

When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
My house

I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep

When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
My house

I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep
I could sleep

When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
When I lived alone
Is there a ghost in my house?
My house

Songwriters: Benjamin Bridwell / Creighton Barrett / Rob Hampton

Is There a Ghost lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

I don’t know why I like this song so much as the lyrics are beyond basic and ridiculously repetitive which is something I normally hate with music but there is something that appeals to me. Maybe it’s the idea that someone could sleep, even though they were alone, because they could sense the presence of someone else who was no longer with them and they were comforted by it………

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and have a super Sunday!

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Good morning one and all, I hope that life is treating you well :O) Another week has flown by and it’s time once again for Song Lyric Sunday which is brought to us by the endlessly creative Jim Adams. If you’ve never played along why not give it a try this week, it’s a fantastic way of discovering new music and meeting new bloggers. If you’re feeling inspired this weeks theme is zodiac animals (Rat/Ox/Tiger/Rabbit/Dragon/Snake/Horse/Sheep/Monkey/ Rooster/Dog/Pig) and these are the rules:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

 

Once there was a gardener
Whose horse became a dream
It then became a nightmare
And nothing was redeemed
His heart was overshadowed
It yielded to the pain

Of lost and broken memories
Of love he’d spent in vain
There within the labyrinth
He bathed in vapours green
He poured his very essence
Into pools that can’t be seen

He fell into the precipice
By choice he entered through
Dark waters yet unspoken
Of a loss he could not bear to be true
His fate lay among the flowers
Of the desert morning stars
Uncharted lands and faithful hands
Beckon from afar

In time his eyes will open
And he will begin to see
The beauty of his innocence
Free from memory
His horse that was a nightmare
Will be a promise seen
No longer there a prisoner
He’ll realise his dream

And souls will join and be reborn
In the Eden of his heart
He’ll bring forth a light of unity
From which he will not part
Loving eyes will no longer
Pour acid on his soul
For forged within integrity
His horse becomes a foal

And there begins his reckoning
A freedom from the past
The pain in vain will dissipate
And peace will come to pass

Songwriters: Lisa Gerrard / James Orr

This, for me, is  a poem set to music and it’s one of the most poignant that I’ve ever read. Lisa Gerrard who has the most incredible singing voice actually speaks these words and they are almost hypnotic. They tell the tale of a man who loses his love and sinks into a deep depression as he struggles to cope with the loss ‘he couldn’t bear to be true’ but then they speak of his journey back to a place of hope where he can be free from the pain of his past memories.

I discovered this track when I was in therapy after the death of my husband. The therapist had worked with analogies and some hypnosis and my ‘peaceful place’ was always a river that I would arrive at via a winding path, through a wood, and with me (my emotional protection) was always a palomino horse. So, you can imagine, the lyrics had enormous significance for me and I had to share them with my therapist. As she read them, she started to cry which came as something of a surprise to me but, I later discovered that she too had lost someone very close to her. For me, this short, spoken song sums up the journey through grief; five years on, I have found peace and this song no longer makes me cry but, even now, it comes close.

I hope that you love it as much as I do.

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Good morning blogging world, I don’t know what it’s like where you are but here we have blue skies and sunshine and I’m feeling absolutely awesome :O) It’s been a busy few days but I’m raring to go with this week’s Song Lyric Sunday which is brought to us once again by lucky Jim Adams. If you’d like to play along, here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

Our prompt for this week is Cards/Dice/Gamble/Lose/Win and, without further ado, here is my choice:

The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin’ for a soul to steal
He was in a bind
‘Cause he was way behind
And he was willin’ to make a deal

When he came upon this young man
Sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot
And the devil jumped
Up on a hickory stump
And said, “boy, let me tell you what

I guess you didn’t know it
But I’m a fiddle player too
And if you’d care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I’ll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
‘Cause I think I’m better than you”

The boy said, “my name’s Johnny
And it might be a sin
But I’ll take your bet
And you’re gonna regret
‘Cause I’m the best there’s ever been”

Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
‘Cause hell’s broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

The devil opened up his case
And he said, “I’ll start this show”
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow

Then he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made an evil hiss
And a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

When the devil finished
Johnny said, “well, you’re pretty good, old son
But sit down in that chair right there
And let me show you how it’s done”

He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

The devil bowed his head
Because he knew that he’d been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny’s feet

Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back
If you ever want to try again
I done told you once you son of a bitch
I’m the best that’s ever been”

He played Fire on the Mountain run boys, run
The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough
Granny, does your dog bite? No child, no

Songwriters: Charles Fred Hayward / Charlie Daniels / Fred Edwards / James W. Marshall / John Crain / William J. Digregorio

I used to play this song when I was in the gym, pounding away on the treadmill and running out of puff and it immediately picked me and pushed me on. It’s not my usual style but it has an amazing energy which I absolutely love!

While I was writing this, another tune sprang to mind so, today, you get two for the price of one (music starts at around 2:00).

I’ll never forget this scene from the movie ‘Deliverance’ and it never fails to bring a smile to my face when I watch it! There is one other scene that I’ll also never forget but we won’t go into that – eek!

Have a super Sunday one and all

Lisa x

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday

Good morning one and all, I hope that you’ve had an amazing week! As is traditional for this particular day of the week, it’s time for Song Lyric Sunday which is brought to us by the Daddy of music prompts, Jim Adams. If you’ve never played along, why not make today your first time – it’s a great way to discover new music and meet new blogging friends.

Here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

And here is this week’s prompt which is a toughie – Dad/Father/Barbecue. Actually I just wrote that and the remembered this dark and twisted track by Morrissey:

 

Stepchild, you have outlived your time
You represent embarrassment and failure
And the father who must be killed
Is the blight upon your blighted life
And his might is his legal right
To ground you down

Stepchild, with every petty swipe
You just might find you’re fighting for your life
And the father who must be killed
Is a step farther but nonetheless
The way he chews his food
Rips right through your senses

Stepchild, there’s a knife in a drawer in a room downstairs
And you, you know what you must do
So the stepchild ran with a knife to his sleeping frame
And slams it in his arms, his legs, his face, his neck and says
There’s a law against me now

And the father who must be killed
With his dying breath, he grabs her hand
And he looks into her eyes
He says “I’m sorry” and he dies

Stepchild, I release you
With this broken voice I beseech you

Why are lives so short?
The stepchild thought half pointing to the sky
No one to warn me
No hand to touch me
And no Bible-belters to mess with me

Mama don’t miss me
Mama don’t miss me
This death will complete me
“But where I go there will be no one to meet me
I know there will be no one to meet me”
But still the step-child press the knife to her throat
Half pointing to the sky
Just as mother-less birds fly high
Then so shall I
So shall I
So shall I
So shall I
So shall I

Songwriters: Steven Morrissey / Alain Gordon Whyte

My choice may not be entirely appropriate as it’s Father’s Day but I love this track for its macabre lyrics and strange melody, which alternates between nursery rhyme simplicity and hypnotically sinister. As with many of Morrissey’s later tracks it is dramatic, with a strong underlying beat, and slowly builds to a climax. It definitely won’t be everyone’s up of tea but I really hope that you like it!

Have a great Sunday everyone

Lisa x

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday

Good morning blogging world, I hope that you’ve had an awesome week, hasn’t it gone quickly!? Here we are again, primed and ready for another Song Lyric Sunday, brought to us by the fantastic Jim Adams; if you’ve never played along why not give it a try today, it’s great fun and a fantastic way to discover new music and new blogging friends. Our prompt for this week is Desire/Lust/Romance/Passion so look forward to hearing some steamy tunes!

If you want to join in, here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

My choice for this week has a fabulously sexy beat and comes with a sensationally politically incorrect video ;O)

It’s the time of the season
When love runs high
In this time, give it to me easy
And let me try with pleasured hands

To take you in the sun to promised lands
To show you every one
It’s the time of the season for loving

What’s your name?
Who’s your daddy?
Is he rich like me?
Has he taken any time
To show you what you need to live?

Tell it to me slowly
Tell you what I really want to know
It’s the time of the season for loving

What’s your name?
Who’s your daddy?
Is he rich like me?
Has he taken any time
To show you what you need to live?

Tell it to me slowly
Tell you what I really want to know
It’s the time of the season for loving

Songwriters: R. Argent

I’m not quite old enough to remember when this song came out but I’ve loved it ever since I first heard it. It’s not musically or lyrically brilliant but it is, somehow, very sensual, especially the line “What’s your name? Who’s your daddy?” for some reason. If this was released today it would probably have the #Metoo movement up in arms but it was written at a time when people seemed to be more sexually liberated but, at the same time retained a certain innocence. A wink or a clumsily delivered chat up line was met with a giggle or a roll of the eyes and not cynicism or disgust. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now and let you enjoy the music :O)

Have a fantastic day everyone

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

Happy Sunday blogging world! I hope that the sun is shining on you and you have something wonderful planned for your day! As we’ve reached the end of another week, it’s time, once again, for Song Lyric Sunday which is brought to us by Jim Adams, the man who drives us forward with his prompts.  This week we are tasked with finding a great song based on Avenue/Boulevard/Drive/Lane/Road/Street, if you love music and want to meet new blogging friends why not play along? Here are some rules to help you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

This was a tricky one for me as, although I could think of songs that fit the prompt, I couldn’t think of one that I really liked but then I remembered this:

Father wears his Sunday best
Mother’s tired, she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister’s sighing in her sleep (ah)
Brother’s got a date to keep, he can’t hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our

Our house, it has a crowd
There’s always something happening
And it’s usually quite loud
Our mum she’s so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down and a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street

Our house, in the middle of our
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our (something tells you that you’ve got to move away from it)

Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss (ah)
She’s the one they’re going to miss in lots of ways

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

I remember way back then when everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time, such a fine time
Such a happy time
And I remember how we’d play, simply waste the day away
Then we’d say nothing would come between us
Two dreamers

Father wears his Sunday best
Mother’s tired, she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister’s sighing in her sleep
Brother’s got a date to keep, he can’t hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

Our house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street, our house

Songwriters: Carl Smyth / Chris Foreman / Daniel Woodgate / Garaham McPherson / Lee Thompson / Mark Bedford / Michael Barson

I remember when Madness burst on to the popular music scene and it was awesome for those of us who were young teenagers as we’d never hear anything like it. Ska music was completely unknown to us before then and we absolutely lapped it up – The Specials, Bad Manners, The Beat – they were all fantastic to listen to and great to dance to (once we’d got the hang of the moves!). Madness, however, well, they were the best because they were so much fun and had incredible energy. My friends and I all learned the lyrics to Baggy Trousers off by heart and we laughed our socks off at the video – we were at school so it was the perfect fit.

When Our House was released we instantly fell in love with it and, again, learned the lyrics but it became apparent that there was a darker side to Madness which intrigued us still further. The funny video was still there, the upbeat tune, the energy but there was something just a little sad in the lyrics; in the middle of the song the melody changes and we hear the words:

Our house, in the middle of our (something tells you that you’ve got to move away from it)

and then

Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss (ah)
She’s the one they’re going to miss in lots of ways

I grew up with Madness and, as is so very rare with bands, they grew up with me. Over time their lyrics became more complex and more thought provoking which fitted in perfectly with our teenage angst. If you have time, check out One Better Day on YouTube, a beautiful song which tells a tale of homeless people in London, I tried to post the video but for some reason it wouldn’t work but here are the lyrics:

Arlington house, address: no fixed abode
An old man in a three-piece suit sits in the road
He stares across the water, he sees right through the lock
But on and up like outstretched hands
His mumbled words, his fumbled words, mock

Further down, a photo booth, a million plastic bags
And an old woman filling out a million baggage tags
But when she gets thrown out, three bags at a time
She spies the old chap in the road to share her bags with
She has bags of time

Surrounded by his past, on a short white line
He sits while cars pass either side, takes his time
Trying to remember one better day
A while ago when people stopped to hear him say

Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes

Now she has walked enough through rainy town
She rests her bag against his and sits down
She’s trying to remember one better day
A while ago when people stopped to hear her say

Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes
Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes
The feeling of arriving when you’ve nothing left to lose

Walking round you sometimes hear the sunshine
Beating down in time with the rhythm of your shoes
The feeling of arriving when you’ve nothing left to lose

Songwriters: Cathal Joseph Smyth / Christopher John Foreman / Daniel Mark Woodgate / Graham Mcpherson / Lee Jay Thompson / Mark Bedford / Mark William Bedford / Michael Barson

Have a great Sunday one and all!

Lisa x

Song Lyric Sunday

A very good morning to everyone out there in blogging land (I was just channeling my 1980’s radio DJ there!). It’s Sunday morning so it must be time for Song Lyric Sunday, the perfect way to discover new music and make new blogging friends.  As always I have to thank our tireless host, Jim Adams whose prompt for this week is Cool/Groovy/Hip/Nifty/Radical/Swell.

If you’d like to play along and why wouldn’t you,  here are some rules for you:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don’t like to wait.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

I have to be honest, this one was tricky for me as I have nothing in my music collection that contains any of the word prompts so I decided to pick a musician who was definitely cool and always radical and that’s David Bowie.

 

Do you remember a guy that’s been
In such an early song?
I’ve heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don’t say it’s true

They got a message from the Action Man
“I’m happy, hope you’re happy too

I’ve loved all I’ve needed, love
Sordid details following”

The shrieking of nothing is killing, just
Pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I
Ain’t got no money and I ain’t got no hair
But I’m hoping to kick but the planet it’s glowing

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low

Time and again I tell myself
I’ll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh no, not again
I’m stuck with a valuable friend
“I’m happy, hope you’re happy too”
One flash of light but no smoking pistol

I never done good things (I never done good things)
I never done bad things (I never done bad things)
I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low

My mother said, to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom

Songwriters: David Bowie

Ashes to Ashes lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

I remember when I first saw this video, which was really cutting edge for its time, and I was absolutely blown away. I hadn’t seen or heard anything like it before and I believe it’s what started my lifelong interest in Bowie’s music. I can’t say that I like everything that he’s done but he wrote several songs that will never leave my all time top 20. He was so innovative and so completely committed to everything that he did that each song really was a performance in itself.

Even better than that, he was beautifully, wonderfully weird and I don’t believe that there ever was or ever will be anyone like him. His creativity was outstanding and he was the ultimate rock and roll chameleon, we never knew what to expect from his next and it was never what we expected! Anyway, I had so many of his songs to choose from that it was impossible to narrow it down to one so you have two bonus tracks to enjoy too. The first, Rock and Roll Suicide is an amazingly powerful track that starts with just a single guitar strumming and then builds and builds to a really powerful crescendo. The second I chose simply because I love the song and the video is jaw droppingly outrageous – classic Mr Bowie.

 

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy and I hope you have a great Sunday :O)

Lisa x