Earlier today I was listening to the radio and they played 'Mike & The Mechanics-In The Living Years'. Now, I've heard this song countless times over the years but have never really listened to the lyrics before, and as I listened I realised what a moving song it was.
Is it just me or does anyone else sometimes hear a song they've heard many times previously but for whatever reason never intensely listened to the meaning of the words before and then suddenly one day you realise the meaning to a song, that you'd sung in your head before without giving any actual thought to the lyrics?

One problem with this though is that sometimes for years you THINK you know the words to a song, and then one day you discover that all along you'd misheard the lyrics

Mike and The Mechanics song is one of the best lyrical song ever. Everybody should listen to it, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up everytime I hear it.

Lesley Gore: It's my Party....

Has the lyrics...."Nobody knows where my Johnny has gone...but Judy left the same time"..

You'd have thought that Judy would have noticed it, surely....



At the risk of diverting the thread into some cul-de-sac, I think that lyric-less songs (ermm, those would be called "tunes" then...) are a lot more forgetable than sung songs... I mean, we all get lots of people coming up requesting "That one that goes...I believe in miracles, where you from...something, something, something", but I've never heard anyone ask for a trance tune by asking for "that one that goes thud thud thuda thud...thud thudda thud thud"

Maybe this is why few tunes stay at number one in the charts nowadays, people dance to them if you play them, but no-one knows what the darn things called, who the artist is, or can recite any words from the chorus...


OK, that said....back to the topic...I used to think that the lyrics to "Running bear" and also "Tell Laura I love her" were really meaningful...then I hit about 12 years old, and suddenly they were just "old songs", until I started DJing. Recently, I played Joshua Kadison's "Jesse" song which conjures up strong images. Also I remember writing all the words to Frankie Goes To Hollywoods: Power of Love, into the Christmas card of a girl my own age, who I desperately wanted to get to know better...I did get to know her better...I got to know that she was a two-timer

Also the song of "I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me" has good lyrics...however... two songs which I've used deliberately for their powerful lyrics were at separate discos, where it was left upto me to choose a song to play to make people think of particular tragic events.

For the Twin Towers 9/11 attack, I used Faith Hills "You'll be there".

When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed to get
To have you in my life
When I look back on these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me

* In my dreams
I'll always see your soul above the sky
In my heart
There always be a place for you for all my life
I'll keep a part of you with me
(And everywhere I am there you'll be) (there you'll be)





Then....I reduced a room to tears, myself included, at a function where the organisers wanted to collect money for the family of the murdered little girls, Holly and Jessica... Chris Rea: Tell me theres a heaven...

The little girl she said to me
What are these things that I can see
Each night when I come home from school
And mama calls me in for tea
Oh every night a baby dies
And every night a mama cries
What makes those men do what they do
To make that person black and blue
Grandpa says their happy now
They sit with God in paradise
With angels' wings and still somehow
It makes me feel like ice

Tell me there's a heaven
Tell me that it's true
Tell me there's a reason
Why I'm seeing what I do
Tell me there's a heaven
Where all those people go
Tell me they're all happy now
Papa tell me that it's so


Doh! Im off again...

A song that moves us because it touches on a humane side we don't always show, can sum up in 3 or 4 minutes an emotion or feeling. It can associate a person, a time or place, and can resound in our hearts and heads until we 'move on'.

Sadly, I lost a partner a few years ago - and being in this job didn't exactly do me any favours, because for as long as up to 3 years after, every now and again, I get choked up.
It seemed every song I played touched a 'chord', so to speak.

So I'm not going to do a list or quote a line from a song - but I'd like to share in Eskies point too.

Music speaks many languages and crosses many 'boundaries'.

Ooooooohhhhh hairs standing up on the back of my neck!!!!!

I have to agree with Spin, this song (The Living Years) also reminds me of the death of my Father. It took me years to actually listen to the song again.


For those who are too young to remember it / or never heard of it, here are the lyrics:-

Oooooh you made me go cold!!

But thanks anyway, sometimes its nice to be reminded!

Spin

On a slightly different 'note', I thought it about time we had a good look at the 'david bane' of many lives, or 'uplifting' lyrics of none other than Gloria Gaynor!!!
(but with a twist of sickness )

GLORIA GAYNOR. Her name is recognized worldwide. Her voice a dynamic force. Her Grammy Award winning signature song, “I Will Survive,” an inspiration that has touched the hearts of people all over the world.


Spanish "I will Survive" Lyrics

Gloria Gaynor
Yo Viviré

Mi voz puede volar, puede atravezar
cualquier herida, cualquier tiempo
cualquier soledad, sin que la pueda controlar
toma forma de canción, así es mi voz,
que sale de mi corazón

Y volará, sin yo querer
por los caminos más lejanos
por los sueños que soñé
será reflejo del amor de lo que me tocó vivir
será la música de fondo de lo mucho que sentí

Oye mi son, mi viejo son
tiene la clave de cualquier generación
en el alma de mi gente, en el cuero del tambor
en las manos del congero, en los piés del bailador
yo viviré, ahí estaré
mientras pase una cumparsa con mi rumba cantaré
seré siempre lo que fuí, con mi azúcar para tí
yo viviré, yo viviré

Y ahora vuelvo a recordar, aquel tiempo atrás
cuando me fui buscando el cielo de la libertad
cuantos a migos que dejé y cuantas lagrimas lloré
yo viviré, para volverlos a encontrar
y seguire, con mi canción
bailando música caliente como bailo yo
y cuando suene una huaracha
y cuando suene un huahuancó
en la sangre de mi pueblo en su cuerpo estaré yo

Oye mi son, mi viejo son
tiene la clave de cualquier generación
en el alma de mi gente, en el cuero del tambor
en las manos del congero, en los piés del bailador
yo viviré, ahí estaré
mientras pase una cumparsa con mi rumba cantaré
seré siempre lo que fuí, con mi azúcar para tí
yo viviré, yo viviré

oye mi son, mi viejo son
tiene la clave de cualquier generación
en el alma de mi gente, en el cuero del tambor
en las manos del congero, en los piés del bailador
yo viviré, ahí estaré
mientras pase una cumparsa con mi rumba cantaré
seré siempre lo que fuí, con mi azúcar para tí
yo viviré, yo viviré

Sobreviviendo
En esta vida lo que estoy haciendo
Sobreviviendo
Estoy sobreviviendo, estoy sobreviviendo.
Sobreviviendo
Para que la gente me siga oyendo.

Rompiendo barreras, voy sobreviviendo
cruzando fronteras, voy sobreviviendo
Doy gracias a Dios por este regalo
El me dió la voz y yo te la he dado
¡Con Gusto!
Rompiendo barreras, voy sobreviviendo
cruzando fronteras, voy sobreviviendo Para ti mi gente
siempre cantaré
te daré mi azucar caramba y sobreviviré
Rompiendo barreras, voy sobreviviendo
cruzando fronteras, voy sobreviviendo
Yo viviré, Yo viviré y SOBREVIVIRÉ.

I Will Survive Lyrics:

At first I was afraid I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong and I learned how to get along
And now your back, from outta space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock I should have made you leave your key
If I’d have known for just one second you’d be back to bother me
Go on now go walk out the door
Just turn around now cuz your not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did ya think I’d crumble
Did ya think I’d crumble did ya think I’d lay down and die
Oh no not i, I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know ill stay alive
Ive got all my life to live I’ve got all my love to give
Ill survive I will survie hey hey
(music)
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
And tried so hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent oh so many nights just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry, but now I hold my head up high
And you see me..somebody new,
Im not that chained up little person still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free
But now I’m saving all my loving for someone whos loving me
Go on now go walk out the door
Just turn around now cuz your not welcome anymore
Werent you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
Did ya think I’d crumble did ya think I’d lay down and die
Oh no not I i will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know ill stay alive
Ive got all my life to live I’ve got all my love to give
Ill survive..i will survive ohh go on now go
Walk out the door just turn around now cuz your not welcome anymore
....continuing chorus......

I Am What I Am Lyrics:

I am what I am
I am my own special creation
So come take a look
Give me the hook or the ovation
It’s my world
That I want to have a little pride in
My world
And it’s not a place I have to hide in
Life’s not worth a damn
Till you can say
I am what I am

I am what I am
I don’t want praise I don’t want pity
I bang my own drum
Some think it’s noise I think it’s pretty
And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle
Why not try to see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham
Till you can shout out
I am what I am

I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the aces sometimes the deuces
It’s one life and there’s no return and no deposit
One life so it’s time to open up your closet
Life’s not worth a damn till you can shout out
I am what I am

I am what I am

I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck sometimes the aces sometimes the deuces
It’s one life and there’s no return and no deposit
One life so it’s time to open up your closet
Life’s not worth a damn till you can shout out
I am what I am

Oh I am
Oh I am
I am, I am, I am good
I am, I am, I am strong
I am, I am, I am worthy
I am, I am, I belong

I am

I am

Ooh ooh ooh ooh I am

I am, I am, I am useful
I am, I am, I am true
I am, I am somebody
I am as good as you, ah ha
Ah ha, ooh ooh ooh ooh yes I am
Ah ah ah ah

Doo doo doo doo I am
I am, I am, I am



I am what I am (remix version)
Written by jerry herman


It takes a lifetime to become the best
That we can be
We have not the time or the right
To judge each other
It’s one life and there’s no return
And no deposit
One life
So make sure you like what’s in your closet

Hmm hm, ooh ooh yeah
Hmm hm ooh ooh yeah, yeah ooh ooh
I am what I am
I don’t want praise
I don’t want pity

I bang my own drums
Some thinks it’s noise
I think it’s pretty
And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle
Why not try to see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham till you can shout out
I am what I am
[i am what I am]

Ooh ooh hmm hm
Ooh ooh ooh ooh yeah
Hm hm hey hey
Ooh uh I am what I am
Am what I am
Needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the ace sometimes the deuces
It’s my life that I want to have a little pride in
My life and is not a place I have to hide in
Life’s not worth a damn till you can shout out?
I am what I am
I am what I am
I am what I am
I am, I am, I am, I am, I am I am what I am
I am what I am

I bet thats the first time that Paulas seen those words, without them changing colour as she reads them....