In the New Year

In honor of the arrival of 2010, here's a song called "In the New Year" by the Walkmen. Not the best song in the world, but interesting nonetheless. His voice sounds like a combination of Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart, and the music kind of sounds like something the Doors would play. And it's a pretty straight forward song, regarding the message.

Song: In the New Year
Artist: The Walkmen
Album: You & Me (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXj0kE61YvI

Oh, I'm still living
At the old address
And I'm waiting on the weather
That I know will pass

I know that it's true
It's gonna be a good year
Out of the darkness
And into the fire
I tell you, I love you
And my heart's in the strangest place
That's how it started
And that's how it ends

Well I know you're with me
It's a point of pride
And it's louder than lightning
In this room of mine

Oh, I'm just like you
I never hear the bad news
And I never will
We won by a landslide
Our troubles are over
My sisters are married to all of my friends
Yeah, that's how it started

You took your sweet time
And I waited by without complaint
Til all the pipe dreams made me insane
So it's all over
It's all over anyhow
You took your sweet time
Finally, I opened my eyes

My friends and my family
They all ask me one thing
How long will you ramble
How long will you stay with me
The snow is still falling
I'm almost home
I'll see you in the new year

Gravity Rides Everything

This song by Modest Mouse says not to worry with all the little things because it will all eventually come together and fall into place. Gravity is used as a metaphor of this concept.

Song: Gravity Rides Everything
Artist: Modest Mouse
Album: The Moon & Antarctica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22_l_AFXyuw

Oh, got to see, got to know right now
What's that riding on your everything?
It isn't anything at all

Oh, got to see, got to know right now
What's that writing on your shelf
In the bathrooms and the bad motels?
No one really cared for it at all
Not the gravity plan

Early, early in the morning
It pulls all on down my sore feet
I want to go back to sleep

In the motions and the things that you say
It all will fall, fall right into place
As fruit drops, flesh it sags
Everything will fall right into place

When we die, some sink and some lay
But at least I don't see you float away
And all the spilt milk, sex and weight
It all will fall, fall right into place

The Bucket

I return to this blog with a song from one of my favorite bands. It was last year that Kings of Leon became worldwide famous, but their best music comes from their earlier material like this. The quartet consisting of three brothers and a cousin from Nashville blend southern rock and garage rock elements. This song was written by lead singer Caleb Followill and directed toward his youngest brother Jared and how he coped with the band's early touring days. Ultimately, it's a song about brotherly love. The vocals aren't going to please everyone, but the music is sincere.

Song: The Bucket
Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWaFVvVoj4o

I'll be the one to show you the way
You'll be the one to always complain
Three in the morning, come-a bang bang bang
All out of fags and I just can't wait

Cancel the thing that I said I'd do
I don't feel comfortable talkin' to you
'Less you got the zipper fixed on my shoe
Then I'll be in the lobby drinking for two

Eighteen
Balding
Star

Golden
Falling
Heart

Look at the shakies
What's with the blush?
Fresh off the plane in my fuzzy rush
Everyone's gathered to idolize me
I hate the way you talk, your Japanese scream

It's been too long since I left the shed
You kick the bucket, and I'll swing my legs
Always remember the pact that we made
Too young to die, but old is the grave

Eighteen
Balding
Star

Golden
Falling
Heart

I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way

Eighteen
Balding
Star

The Freakin' FCC

Fans of Family Guy should appreciate this one. We all know how ridiculous the FCC can be when it comes to regulating material. So without getting into a political discussion, here is the classic FCC song by Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin. And since it is the FCC song, be prepared for some language.

Song: The Freakin' FCC
Artist: Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin from Family Guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NDPT0Ph5rA

Peter: They will clean up all your talking in a menace such as this
Brian: They will make you take a tinkle when you want to take a piss
Stewie: And they'll make you call fellatio a trouser-friendly kiss
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: It's the plain situation! There's no negiotiation!
Peter: With the fellows at the freakin FCC!

Brian: They're as stuffy as the stuffiest of the special interest groups...
Peter: Make a joke about your bowels and they order in the troops
Stewie: Any baby with a brain could tell them everybody poops!
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: Take a tip, take a lesson! You'll never win by messin'
Peter: With the fellas at the freakin' FCC

Peter: And if you find yourself with some you sexy thing
You're gonna have to do her with your ding-a-ling
Cause you can't say penis!
So they sent this little warning they're prepared to do the worst

Brian: And they stuck it in your mailbox hoping you could be co-erced
Stewie: I can think of quite another place they should have stuck it first!
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: They may just be neurotic
Or possible psychotic
They're the fellas at the freakin FCC!

Valley of the Low Sun

This song off the Wallflowers lead singer Jakob Dylan's solo album is about a soldier off at war, most likely Iraq, based on the lyrics. It's acoustic with just Dylan and a guitar. One of the better songs of the decade.

Song: Valley of the Low Sun
Artist: Jakob Dylan
Album: Seeing Things
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPGufnx7N8E


We'd feel much better if we sunk this treasure
And laid our armor down
These precious metals and these captain's letters
They are no use to us now
In the day we struggle with fatigue much greater
Than any offer was
We bow down and worship these bandits and cowboys
Unable to hold their own guns

I know that soldiers are not paid to think
But something is making us sick
Onward and steady
Able and young
In the valley of the low low sun

In the shade we wander along a highway's shoulder
Into the back of beyond
Burning the daylight into a pastime
That's too wise to come more than once
It's boom boom thunder ain't no sleep coming
Out mining a slippery world
Of snow covered beaches and junkyards of diesel
And bombers named after girls

On bridges of black ice not built for the rush
There's a new kind of beast getting up
That's stranger than fiction
Speaking in tongue
In the valley of the low low sun

Hold on for the slow turning
Smoke if you've got 'em boys
This is bottom hiding out
Down under the stairs
Tomorrow has come
Like it's drunk on the blood
Of the men who have dared to be there

The earth's still climbing as it keeps on grinding
It's way up around the sun
As cool water crashes down to the masses bootlegged and bottled like rum
My dreams are humble lean as arrows
Streetwise ready and fair
As we bum rush the ages tied to the rails
On high seas not fit to be sailed

Whatever we've taken does feel like heaven
But baby we just look like hell
Act like you mean it where paradise was
In the valley of the low low sun
Act like you mean it where paradise was
In the valley of low low sun

Strawberry Swing

This is about to become the fifth single released from Coldplay's latest album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. And it cracks my top five of favorite Coldplay songs. The music seems to be a cross between Japanese folk music and even a little bit of western swing mixed in. The message I got from the song was to hold on to your childhood memories and what's dear to you.

Song: Strawberry Swing
Artist: Coldplay
Album: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isH1yy8I_dc

They were sitting
They were sitting in the strawberry swing
Every moment was so precious

They were sitting
They were talking in the strawberry swing
Everybody was for fighting
Wouldn't wanna waste a thing

Cold, cold water
Bring me round
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Cold, cold water
What ya say?
It's such
It's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day

I remember
We were walking up to strawberry swing
I can't wait 'til the morning
Wouldn't wanna change a thing

People moving all the time
Inside a perfectly straight line
Don't you wanna just curve away
When it's such
When it's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day

Now the sky could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time

Now the sky could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time

Now the sky could be blue
Could be grey
Without you I'm just miles away

Now the sky could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time

Those to Come

An interesting song by a kind of interesting band. The Shins often have a Beach Boys type sound to their songs, but this is a more acoustic song that would be good to fall asleep to. This song is really open-ended in terms of meaning. As the title might suggest, it at least seems to me to be a reflection on the cycle of life: conception, birth, life, death, and maybe reincarnation. It could also be talking about friendships, relationships, etc. How many of them don't last, and there are always some waiting to form. Nevertheless, the imagery and spacing in the lyrics are excellent, and it has the feel of a 1960's folk song, especially with the whistling at the very end.

Artist: The Shins
Song: Those to Come
Album: Chutes too Narrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegV_F8E54


Eyeless in the morning sun you were
Pale and mild
A modern girl
Taken with thought still prone to care
Making tea
In your underwear

You went out in the yard to find
Something to eat
And clear your mind
And something bad inside me went away

Quaking leaves and broken light
Shifting skin
The coming night
The bearers of all good things arrive
Climb inside us
Twist and cry

A kiss on your molten eyes
Myriad lives
Like blades of grass
Yet to be realized
Bow as they pass

They are cold
Still
Waiting in the Ether to
Form
Feel
Kill
Propogate
Only to die

They are cold
Still
Waiting in the Ether to
Form
Feel
Kill
Propogate
Only to die

Dissolve
Magically
Absurdly
They'll end
Leave
Dissipate
Coldly and
Strangely
Return

The Sound of Silence

This is one of the all-time classics and has gotten play in many movies including The Graduate, Old School and Watchmen. I've always interpreted this song as being a commentary on the lack of communication between people, which was appropriate back in the 60's and today. The root cause of many problems between people is the failure to communicate adequately.

Song: The Sound of Silence
Artist: Simon & Garfunkel

Hello darkness, my old friend
Ive come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.

Fools said I,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisperd in the sounds of silence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q

Gran Torino

This is an original song from the movie of the same title, starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. The song is essentially a mirror of what the movie is, which is one of forgiveness and redemption. In the movie, as the neighborhood Walt (Eastwood) lives in changes around him, the things that remain consistent are his house and his Gran Torino. After having lost his wife, besides his dog, the car is the only thing he can be happy about. Walt must learn to come to peace with his past mistakes and lift that burden off his shoulders. Eastwood was in on the musical side of the song. When the movie's end credits roll, Eastwood actually sings a couple phrases from the song before Jamie Cullum takes over.

Gran Torino
Music by Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
Lyrics by Jamie Cullum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEXF7U5TYV8

So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or What you've done
Or will become

Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering

Gentle now
The tender breeze blows
Whispers through my Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song

Engine hums and bitter dreams grow
Heart locked In a Gran Torino
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long

Realign all the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh, how I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds

Gentle now
A tender breeze blows
Whispers through a Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song

Engines hum and bitter dreams grow
Heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats A lonely rhythm all night long

These streets are old
They shine with the things I've known
And breaks through the trees
Their sparkling

Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left behind

So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering

Gentle now a tender breeze blows
Whispers through the Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song

Engines hum and bitter dreams grow
A heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats A lonely rhythm
All night long

May I be so bold and stay
I need someone to hold
That shudders my skin
Their sparkling

Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind

So realign
All the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh
How I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds

Gentle now a tender breeze blows
Whispers through the Gran Torino
Whistling another tired song

Engines hum and better dreams grow
Heart locked in a Gran Torino
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats a lonely rhythm
All night long

Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?

So I've decided to create a blog where every few days, I'll post the lyrics to a song and maybe a video to go along with it as well as my thoughts.

Bruce Springsteen is without a doubt one of the greatest artists ever, and in my humble opinion his best work comes from his first three albums. One of the more under-the-radar songs from his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ", is "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?". It's a short song and doesn't have a lot of actual meaning, at least on the surface. Its random verses are reportedly mostly based on people he came across back in his early songwriting days. Also, his father was a bus driver. Anyway, this is rock music in one of its best moments.

Song: Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? (1973)
Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ

Hey bus driver, keep the change
Bless your children, give them names
Don't trust men who walk with canes
Drink this and you'll grow wings on your feet

Broadway Mary, Joan Fontaine
Advertiser on a downtown train
Christmas crier bustin' cane
He's in love again

Where dock worker's dreams mix with panther's schemes
To someday own the rodeo
Tainted women in VistaVision
Perform for out-of-state kids at the late show

Wizard imps and sweat sock pimps
Interstellar mongrel nymphs
Rex said that lady left him limp
Love's like that (sure it is)

Queen of diamonds, ace of spades
Newly discovered lovers of the Everglades
They take out a full-page ad in the trades
To announce their arrival

And Mary Lou, she found out how to cope
She rides to heaven on a gyroscope
The Daily News asks her for the dope
She said, "Man, the dope's that there's still hope"

Senorita, Spanish rose
Wipes her eyes and blows her nose
Uptown in Harlem she throws a rose
To some lucky young matador


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-xmPtYSESE