Erasure - Blue Savannah

A Little Respect was going to be my choice, but then I gave it a thought. And while A Little Respect is more interesting, this is better.

Released as a single in 1989.




Blue savannah song
Oh its a blue savannah song
Somewhere cross the desert
Sometime in the early hour
In a restless world
On the open highways

My home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you

Blue savannah song
Oh its a blue savannah song
Racing cross the desert
At a hundred miles an hour
To the orange side
Through the clouds and thunder

Home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you

Im on my way back
And your love will bring me home
Im travelling fast
And your love will bring me home
Will I discover
That your love will bring me home?

Somewhere cross the desert
Sometime in the early hour
To the orange side
Through the clouds and thunder

My home is where the heart is
Sweet to surrender to you only
I send my love to you

Françoise Hardy - Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles

Another 60's french song (1962).
She sings about how boys and girls around her know what love means, while she's lonely. No one whispers "I love you" in her ear. In the end, she wonders when the sun's gonna shine for her too.




Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Se promènent dans la rue deux par deux
Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Savent bien ce que c'est qu'être heureux
Et les yeux dans les yeux
Et la main dans la main
Ils s'en vont amoureux
Sans peur du lendemain
Oui mais moi, je vais seule
Par les rues, l'âme en peine
Oui mais moi, je vais seule
Car personne ne m'aime.

Mes jours comme mes nuits
Sont en tous points pareils
Sans joie et pleins d'ennui
Personne ne murmure «je t'aime» à mon oreille

Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Font ensemble des projets d'avenir
Tous les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Savent très bien ce qu'aimer veut dire
Et les yeux dans les yeux
Et la main dans la main
Ils s'en vont amoureux
Sans peur du lendemain
Oui mais moi, je vais seule
Par les rues, l'âme en peine
Oui mais moi, je vais seule
Car personne ne m'aime.

Mes jours comme mes nuits
Sont en tous points pareils
Sans joie et pleins d'ennui
Oh! quand donc pour moi brillera le soleil?

Comme les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Connaîtrai-je bientôt ce qu'est l'amour?
Comme les garçons et les filles de mon âge
Je me demande quand viendra le jour
Où les yeux dans ses yeux
Et la main dans sa main
J'aurai le coeur heureux
Sans peur du lendemain
Le jour où je n'aurai
Plus du tout l'âme en peine
Le jour où moi aussi
J'aurai quelqu'un qui m'aime

France Gall - Laisse Tomber les Filles

Okay, it was time to update this blog!
This is a song by France Gall, written by Serge Gainsbourg and recorded in 1964.
It's a warning for jerks (and jerkettes?) : don't play with innocent hearts! Below is a fairly recent version by April March called Chick Habit (1995). It was featured in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Lyrics are pretty similar.

hang up the chick habit
hang it up, daddy,
or you'll never get another fix

.

Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c'est toi qu'on laissera
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c'est toi qui pleureras
Oui j'ai pleuré mais ce jour-là
Non je ne pleurerai pas
Non je ne pleurerai pas
Je dirai c'est bien fait pour toi
Je dirai ça t'apprendra
Je dirai ça t'apprendra
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Ça te jouera un mauvais tour
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Tu le paieras un de ces jours
On ne joue pas impunément
Avec un cœur innocent
Avec un cœur innocent
Tu verras ce que je ressens
Avant qu'il ne soit longtemps
Avant qu'il ne soit longtemps

La chance abandonne
Celui qui ne sait
Que laisser les cœurs blessés
Tu n'auras personne
Pour te consoler
Tu ne l'auras pas volé

Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c'est toi qu'on laissera
Laisse tomber les filles
Laisse tomber les filles
Un jour c'est toi qui pleureras
Non pour te plaindre il n'y aura
Personne d'autre que toi
Personne d'autre que toi
Alors tu te rappelleras
Tout ce que je te dis là
Tout ce que je te dis là

Dick Justice - Henry Lee

Another song from the Anthology of American Folk Music;  another tragic story. 
Typical "if I don't get you, nobody else will" twisted situation.

Interesting fact:

In case you wonder how a pen-knife could be so fatal, it was originally a "weapon knife," pronounced "weepin' knife," from whence "wee pen-knife," and an easy verbal jump to "little pen-knife."

(from this page, which has more information on the song :
 Remembering the Old Songs )

there is a well known version by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. I find the lalala, lalali part rather irritating, but that's just my personal opinion. It can be viewed here.


"Get down, get down, little Henry Lee, and stay all night with me.
The very best lodging I can afford will be fare better'n thee."
"I can't get down, and I won't get down, and stay all night with thee,
For the girl I have in that merry green land, I love far better'n thee."

She leaned herself against a fence, just for a kiss or two;
With a little pen-knife held in her hand, she plugged him through and through.
"Come all you ladies in the town, a secret for me keep,
With a diamond ring held on my hand I'll never will forsake."

"Some take him by his lily-white hand, some take him by his feet.
We'll throw him in this deep, deep well, more than one hundred feet.
Lie there, lie there, loving Henry Lee, till the flesh drops from your bones.
The girl you have in that merry green land still waits for your return."

"Fly down, fly down, you little bird, and alight on my right knee.
Your cage will be of purest gold, in deed of property."
"I can't fly down, or I won't fly down, and alight on your right knee.
A girl would murder her own true love would kill a little bird like me."

"If I had my bend and bow, my arrow and my string,
I'd pierce a dart so nigh your heart your wobble would be in vain."
"If you had your bend and bow, your arrow and your string,
I'd fly away to the merry green land and tell what I have seen."

Kathy Young - Our Parents Talked It Over

Kathy Young with The Innocents. Their biggest hit was a cover of The Rivileers 1954 song "A Thousand Stars", which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This one, however, didn't do well in the charts.
But it's just so heartfelt!

edit: lyrics!



so our parents talked it over
and they all seemed to agree
we were much too young for marriage
you were much too old for me

there would me no ceremony
there would be no weddingbells
just a very lonely girl
and unhappy teenage boy

we begged them and we pleaded
we tried to make them see
i could not live without you
and you so needed me

maybe someday they'll be sorry
and i hope it won't be long
we will prove that what we wanted
was a love that won't go wrong

The Doors - The Crystal Ship

Some say The Doors' late singer Jim Morrison wrote "The Crystal Ship" when he was
dropping acid on an Isla Vista beach one night, transfixed by the glittering lights of
Platform Holly, an offshore oil rig. [beware this is a .pdf]

To quote wikipedia: ' John Densmore "co-writer" states: "Jim wrote The Crystal Ship for Mary Werbelow in 1964, a girlfriend with whom he was breaking up, it was in his famous notebook of poetry he had when we formed. (sic),. . . . The song was a goodbye love song." '

Not cheesy.




Before you slip into unconsciousness
Id like to have another kiss
Another flashing chance at bliss
Another kiss, another kiss

The days are bright and filled with pain
Enclose me in your gentle rain
The time you ran was too insane
Well meet again, well meet again

Oh tell me where your freedom lies
The streets are fields that never die
Deliver me from reasons why
Youd rather cry, Id rather fly

The crystal ship is being filled
A thousand girls, a thousand thrills
A million ways to spend your time
When we get back, Ill drop a line

Dodie Stevens - Pink Shoelaces

1959 hit single
who doesn't love eccentric, wealthy men?




Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley
He's my guy and I love him truly
He's not good lookin', heaven knows
But I'm wild about his crazy clothes

He wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh

He takes me deep-sea fishing in a submarine
We got to drive-in movies in a limousine
He's got a whirly-birdy and a 12-foot yacht
Ah, but thats-a not all he's got

He's got tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Now Dooley had a feelin' we were goin' to war
So he went out and enlisted in a fightin' corps
But he landed in the brig for raisin' such a storm
When they tried to put 'em in a uniform

He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh

Now one day Dooley started feelin' sick
And he decided that he better make his will out quick
He said "Just before the angels come to carry me
I want it down in writin' how to bury me."

A'wearin tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Give me tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh

And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Buell Kazee - The Butcher's boy/ The Railroad Boy

This song appeared on the influential Anthology of American Folk Music (1952)

And over my coffin, place a snow white dove
To warn this world that I died for love

sad; sad
 
sung by Buell Kazee (1900-1976)

and also by Joan Baez and Bob Dylan




Too bad I can't find the one I heard the other night, by this band. It was better than this one above. I think.


Lyrics as performed by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Hughes Stadium, Colorado
University, Fort Collins, CO, 23 May 1976,
transcribed by Manfred Helfert.

She went upstairs to make her bed
And not one word to her mother said.
Her mother she went upstairs too
Saying, 'Daughter, oh daughter, what's troublin' you?':

'Oh mother, oh mother, I cannot tell
That railroad boy that I love so well.
He courted me my life away
And now at home will no longer stay.'
'There is a place in yonder town
Where my love goes and he sits him down.
And he takes that strange girl on his knee
And he tells to her what he won't tell me.'
Her father he came home from work
Sayin', 'Where is my daughter, she seems so hurt'
He went upstairs to give her hope
An' he found her hangin' by a rope.
He took his knife and he cut her down

And on her bosom these words he found:
'Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
And on my breast, put a snow white dove
To warn the world that I died of love.

Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy

The video is a little gem. In it, "Ken" answers a woman's phone call only to address her as:
hey, hey guy.





Ken: "Hallo"
French guy: "Hallo??"
Ken: "Oh dear, you have phone"
French guy: "Yeah, hey guy, tell me about your menicure"
Ken: "I love you and feel the groove"
French guy: "Tell me about it, is it the true"
Ken: "It's true, yes, it's true"
French guy: "Don't fool out, it's dangerous"
Ken: "Don't worry, baby gold"
French guy: "Everything is same as all"
Ken: "Everything is the same"
French guy: "Oh, I love you"
Ken: "Me too"
French guy: "I love you"

Let me see what you have done
Let me know what happens here tonight
Love for hire is dangerous
Let me know what happens here tonight

Hey hey guy (Shell I get you)
Hey hey guy (Oh yeah)
Hey hey guy (? any longer)
Hey hey guy (Oh yeah)

Steps to heaven, three steps to me
Let me know what you are doing tonight
You love me, but sorry I don't love you
Let me know what you are doing tonight

Fool for love and shine
Shine into my life
In your eyes my trouble
I forget that's right

Let me try your love
Yes babe, I'm waiting, please don't stop
Hey guy all your love forever...

Neil Sedaka - Calendar Girl

Pick your favourite!

edit: here's a petition you can sign to get Neil Sedaka on The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame



I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Yeah, sweet calendar girl
I love, I love, I love my calendar girl
Each and every day of the year

(January) You start the year off fine
(February) You're my little valentine
(March) I'm gonna march you down the aisle
(April) You're the Easter Bunny when you smile
Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calender girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year)

(May) Maybe if I ask your dad and mom
(June) They'll let me take you to the Junior Prom
(July) Like a firecracker all aglow
(August) When you're on the beach you steal the show

Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year
(Every day of the year)

(September) Light the candles at your Sweet Sixteen
(October) Romeo and Juliet on Halloween
(November) I'll give thanks that you belong to me
(December) You're the present 'neath my Christmas tree

Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl
I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl
Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year

The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

I need excitement, oh i need it bad



John Peel's favourite song!

The drummer looks rather happy....



1978.



Are teenage dreams so hard to beat
Everytime she walks down the street
Another girl in the neighbourhood
Wish she was mine, she looks so good

I wanna hold her wanna hold her tight
Get teenage kicks right through the night

I'm gonna call her on the telephone
Have her over cos i'm all alone
I need excitement oh i need it bad
And its the best, i've ever had

I wanna hold her wanna hold her tight
Get teenage kicks right through the night

I wanna hold her wanna hold her tight
Get teenage kicks right through the night

The Supremes - I Hear a Symphony

Woke up to this song the other day...


"I Hear a Symphony" is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, "I Hear a Symphony" was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks, from November 14, 1965 to November 27, 1965. In the United Kingdom, "I Hear a Symphony" made it to number fifty, and then dropped off the charts for two weeks before re-entering at number thirty-nine

Lead vocals by Diana Ross
Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers.
 (wikipedia)




You've given me a true love
And every day I thank you love
For a feeling thats so new
So inviting, so exciting

Whenever you're near
I hear a symphony
A tender melody
Pulling me closer
Closer to your arms

Then suddenly, I hear a symphony
Ooh, your lips are touching mine
A feeling so divine
till I leave the past behind
I'm lost in a world
Made for you and me

Whenever you're near
I hear a symphony
Play sweet and tenderly
Every time your lips meet mine now baby

Baby, baby
You bring much joy within
Dont let this feeling end
Let it go on and on and on
Now baby, baby
Those tears that seem my eyes
I cry not for myself
But for those who never felt the joy we felt

Whenever you're near
I hear a symphony
Each time you speak to me
I hear a tender rap so dy of love now

Baby, baby
As you stand holding me
Whispering how much you care
A thousand violins fill the air

Now baby, baby
Don't let this moment end
Keep standing close to me
Ooh, so close to me, baby, baby
Baby, baby
I hear a symphony
A tender melody

The Shangri-Las - Leader of the Pack

How come we haven't had anything by The Shangri-Las yet?
Here's their well known 1964 hit Leader of the Pack.




Is she really going out with him?
Well, there she is. Let's ask her.
Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?
Mm-hmm
Gee, it must be great riding with him
Is he picking you up after school today?
Uh-uh
By the way, where'd you meet him?

I met him at the candy store
He turned around and smiled at me
You get the picture? (yes, we see)
That's when I fell for (the leader of the pack)

My folks were always putting him down (down, down)
They said he came from the wrong side of town
(whatcha mean when ya say that he came from the wrong side of town?)
They told me he was bad
But I knew he was sad
That's why I fell for (the leader of the pack)

One day my dad said, "Find someone new"
I had to tell my Jimmy we're through
(whatcha mean when ya say that ya better go find somebody new?)
He stood there and asked me why
But all I could do was cry
I'm sorry I hurt you (the leader of the pack)

He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I'll never know

Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!

I felt so helpless, what could I do?
Remembering all the things we'd been through
In school they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget him (the leader of the pack)

The leader of the pack - now he's gone

Air - Playground Love

The nostalgic modern love song by excellence.
Yes you're right I have no clue what to write about this song everyone knows.



I'm a high school lover, and you're my favorite flavor
Love is all, all my soul
You're my playground love

Yet my hands are shaking
I feel my body reeling
Time's no matter, I'm on fire
On the playground love

You're the piece of gold
That flashes on my soul
Extra time, on the ground
You're my playground love

Anytime, anywhere,
You're my playground love.

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - Baby Baby

I think I already posted something by Frankie Lymon... but.. I like his voice, and the lyrics to this song.

The Teenagers' first single, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", was also their biggest. After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both his career and those of the Teenagers fell into decline. Lymon eventually fell into heroin addiction, and died in 1968 at the age of 25.
(wikipedia)

Fame, fatal fame...it can play hideous tricks on the brain.

Baby-baby, how I want you
Baby-baby, how I need you
Baby-baby, you're the only one,
two, three, four

Baby-baby, how I miss you
Baby-baby, long to kiss you
Baby-baby, say you want me too,
three, four, five

You're my favourite number, all that counts is you
I'm so glad it's you I want
I'm so glad you want me too

Baby-baby, want to bring you
Baby-baby, a wedding ring too
Baby-baby, soon will be three,
four, five, six
Stop!

Baby-baby, when I'm near you
Baby-baby, I go right to
Baby-baby, heaven number seven,
eight, nine, ten

Baby-baby, in your arms dear
Baby-baby, all your charms dear
Baby-baby, I appreciate
nine, ten, eleven

You're my favourite number, all that counts is you
I'm so glad it's you I want
I'm so glad you want me too

Baby-baby, hold me tight dear
Baby-baby, with all your might dear
Baby-baby, till the clcok strikes nine,
ten, eleven, twelve
Go home!
That's all, bye-bye..

Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star

1961 hit single, appeared in David Lynch movie Mulholland Drive

Why haven't I told you

Oh, baby, I've told every little star
Just how sweet I think you are
Why haven't I told you

I've told ripples in a brook
Made my heart an open book
Why haven't I told you

Friends ask me "am I in love"
I always answer "yes"
Might as well confess
If the answers yes

Maybe, you may love me too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me

Friends ask me "am I in love"
I always answer "yes"
Might as well confess
If the answers yes

Maybe, you may love me too
Oh, my darling, if you do
Why haven't you told me

Doris Day - Please Don't Eat The Daisies

Supposing it showers, while you're eating flowers...

From the 1960 homonymous comedy, starring Doris Day and David Niven.



After the first April Showers
Flowers appear everywhere,
and as they bloom,
their fragrant perfume,
tell us that spring's in the air.

Please, please don't eat the daisies,
don't eat the daisies, please, please.

Here I am waitin' and anticipatin'
the kisses that I'll get from you.

Please, please don't eat the daisies,
don't eat the daisies, please, please.

I'm so romantic that I'm gettin' frantic
wonderin' what you're gonna do.

Please, please don't eat the daisies,
don't eat the daisies, please, please.

Do you love me,
Do you love me not?
That's what I'm longin' to know.
Do you love me,
Do you love me a lot?
You'll prove it by lettin' the daisies
grow.

Please, please don't eat the daisies,
don't eat the daisies, please, please.

Supposin' it showers
while you're eatin' flowers
The hours will be wasted away.

Please, please don't eat the daisies
today...
don't eat the daisies...

Donna Summer - I Feel Love

Extraordinary classic from 1977.



Oh nevermind the lyrics.

The Temptations - My Girl

1964, Motown

I've got so much honey, the bees envy me.



I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

I've got so much honey
The bees envy me.
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

Ooooh, Hoooo.

Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey.

I don't need no money,
Fortune or fame.
I've got all the riches, baby,
One man can claim.

Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl. (My girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl. (My girl)

Talkin' bout my girl.
I've got sushine on cloudy day
With my girl.
I've even got the month of May
With my girl.

Mary Wells - My Guy

1964 , Motown

'cause I'm stuck like glue, to my guy.



Nothing you can say,
Can take me away,
From my guy.
Nothing you could do,
'cause I'm stuck like glue,
To my guy.
I'm sticking to my guy,
Like a stamp to a letter,
Like birds of a feather,
We, stick together,
I can tell you from the start,
I can't be torn apart from my guy.

Nothing you could do,
Could make me be untrue,
To my guy.
(My Guy)
Nothing you could buy,
Could make me tell a lie,
To my guy
(My Guy)
I gave my guy,
My word of honour,
To be faithful,
And I'm gonna,
You'd better be believing,
I won't be deceiving,
My guy.

As a matter of opinion,
I think he's tops,
My opinion is,
He's the cream of the crop,
As a matter of taste,
To be exact,
He's my ideal,
As a matter of fact.

No muscle bound man,
Could take my hand,
From my guy.
(My guy)
No handsome face,
Could ever take the place,
Of my guy,
(My guy)
He may not be a movie star,
But when it comes to being happy,
We are,
There's not a man today,
Who can take me away,
From my guy.

No muscle bound man,
Could take my hand,
From my guy.
(My guy)
No handsome face,
Could ever take the place,
Of my guy,
(My guy)
He may not be a movie star,
But when it comes to being happy,
We are,
There's not a man today,
Who can take me away,
From my guy.
(what'cha say?)

There's not a man today,
Who could take me away,
From my guy.
(Tell me more!)

There's not a man today,
Who could take me away,
From my guy