Category: The Daily Song

The Daily Song: The Exchange/Torres

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , , , , , 2 Comments

Spotify gifted me one of the most emotionally evocative songs I have ever heard in The Exchange by Torres. It literally yanked me from what I was working on and demanded to be heard, lyrics held, contemplated. “I am afraid to see my heroes age” just pierced me to my soul. There is a world of poetry to explore in this song.

The Exchange

Songwriters: Mackenzie Ruth Scott

My mother lost her mother twice
Once in ’54, then later in life
The exchange was quick and quiet
The records sealed, the names made private
Her search began and ended with a judge
Her papers had been claimed in a freak basement flood
An entire family tree
An eternal privacy
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you’re not here, I cannot be here for you
If you’re not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I’m underwater
And I don’t think you can pull me out of this
There’s virgin oil painted over my door
And hotel soap from every city
Lined up in my window
Blew my per diem on an eighth of Blue Dream
So I can breathe but I still can’t breathe
Around my mouth, brown paper bag
Founding fathers on my back
I’m no martyr
I’m no martyr
I’m just
Afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you’re not here, I cannot be here for you
If you’re not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I’m underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I’ve so much that I want to sing
But there’s no room for toothbrushes and poetry, I
Pray to Jesus Christ incessantly, I
Shine my shoes for the Fat Lady, I’m still
Underwater
I’m underwater
Underwater
Underwater
I am afraid to see my heroes age
I am afraid of disintegration
If you’re not here, I cannot be here for you
If you’re not here, I cannot be alone
Mother, father
I’m underwater
And I don’t think you can pull me out of this
I will no longer claim to know
Where we go when it’s time to go
But when you go, will I go too?
When you go, I am going too
I’m underwater
I’m underwater
Mother, father
I’m underwater
I’m underwater
I’m underwater
Mother, father
I’m underwater

The Daily Song: Can I Be Him? James Arthur

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , 4 Comments

Just one of those songs that gets under my skin.

 

Can I Be Him?

You walked into the room

And now my heart has been stolen

You took me back in time to when I was unbroken

Now you’re all I want

And I knew it from the very first moment

Cause a light came on when I heard that song

And I want you to sing it againI swear that every word you sing

You wrote them for me

Like it was a private show

But I know you never saw me

When the lights come on and I’m on my own

Will you be there to sing it again

Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories

Can I be himI heard there was somone but I know he don’t deserve you

If you were mine I’d never let anyone hurt you

I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips

It’s all that I’ve been thinking about

Cause a light came on when I heard that song

And I want you to sing it again

I swear that every word you sing

You wrote them for me

Like it was a private show

But I know you never saw me

When the lights come on and I’m on my own

Will you be there to sing it again

Could I be the one you talk about in all your stories

Can I be the one

Can I be the one

Can I be the one

Oh, can I, can I be him

Won’t you sing it again

Oh, when you sing it again

Can I be him

Won’t you sing it again

Oh, when you sing it again

Can I be him

I swear that every word you sing

You wrote them for me

Like it was a private show

But I know you never saw me

When the lights come on and I’m on my own

Will you be there, will you be there

Can I be the one you talk about in all your stories

Can I be him

Can I be him

Can I be him

Can I be him

The Daily Song: Ordinary World/Joy Williams (Duran Duran)

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , , , Leave a comment

This haunting cover of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World vibrated through my bones this morning like it contained secret messages about the world, about my life,that I was meant to decode.  Messages of haunting sadness, things lost, inner strength found. What did this stir for you?

Ordinary World

Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue

Thought I heard you talking softly.

I turned on the lights, the TV and the radio

Still I can’t escape the ghost of you

What has happened to it all?

Crazy, some’d say,

Where is the life that I recognize?

Gone away

But I won’t cry for yesterday, there’s an ordinary world,

Somehow I have to find.

And as I try to make my way, to the ordinary world

I will learn to survive.

Passion or coincidence once prompted you to say

“Pride will tear us both apart”

Well now pride’s gone out the window cross the rooftops, run away,

Left me in the vacuum of my heart.

What is happening to me?

Crazy, some’d say,

Where is my friend when I need you most?

Gone away

But I won’t cry for yesterday, there’s an ordinary world,

Somehow I have to find.

And as I try to make my way, to the ordinary world

I will learn to survive.

Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and greed

Feared today, forgot tomorrow

Ooh, here besides the news of holy war and holy need

Ours is just a little sorrowed talk

And I don’t

But I won’t cry for yesterday, there’s an ordinary world,

Somehow I have to find.

And as I try to make my way, to the ordinary world

I will learn to survive.

Every world, is my world (I will learn to survive)

Any world, is my world (I will learn to survive)

Any world, is my world

Every world is my world

Songwriters: Andy Taylor / Fernando Gonzales De Canales / Jaime Martinez Stinus / Javier Gurruchaga Iriarte / John Taylor / Luis Alberto De Cuenca Y Prado / Nick Rhodes / Roger Taylor / Simon Le Bon

The Daily Song: Bridge Over Troubled Water/Artists for Grenfell

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , , , 4 Comments

Just listen

 

 

Stormy’s rap: Yeah, I don’t know where to begin so I’ll start by saying I refuse to forget you
I refuse to be silenced
I refuse to neglect you
That’s for every last soul up in Grenfell even though I’ve never even met you
That could have been my mum’s house, or that could have been my nephew
Now that could have been me up there
Waving my white plain T up there
All my friends on the ground trying a see up there
I just hope that you rest and you’re free up there
I can’t feel your pain but it’s still what it is
Went to the block just to chill with the kids
Troubled waters come running past
I’mma be right there just to build you a bridge yo

When you’re weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all (all)
I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
 Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down1

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooo)
I’ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Songwriters
PAUL SIMON

Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

The Daily Song: Closer by Johnnyswim

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , 2 Comments

I completely dig Johnnyswim.  They are lush and luxurious and just give me the feels. Closer is the first of their songs I ever heard and it remains a favorite.  Great stuff to listen to when I am writing.

Closer

Written by Louis Bell, Austin Rosen, Michael Seander

You’re cold and sweet, just like ice cream

With eyes so big I hoped you’d see,

You begged for grace, you left no grace for me

You traded places with the sun

Made me orbit around your love

With no regard or notice of my world below you burning up

So don’t you come any closer, don’t you come any closer

Ooh ooh ooh

Yeah I closed my eyes, I dreamed today,

I lust for all those memories

But ashes fell to ashes and I laid to rest those better days

You washed your hands all clean of me

But look there’s blood left on your sleeve,

Now everywhere you’ll ever be, at least you will remember me

But don’t you come any closer, don’t you come any closer

Don’t you come any closer, don’t you come any closer

Oh help me please, I’m ruined by your love

The damage has been done

And oh shame on me I took at your word, is that really all it’s worth?

Don’t you come any closer, don’t you come any closer

Cause I closed my eyes, I dreamed today,

I lust for all those memories

But ashes fell to ashes, yeah ashes fell to ashes

So don’t you come any closer, don’t you come any closer

Don’t you come any closer, oh don’t you come any closer

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

The Daily Song: Where It Stays/Charlotte OC

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , 2 Comments

Giving me the feels this afternoon

 

[Verse 1]
I never knew I would cry when I heard your name
And now I’m running to your heart ’cause I feel the pain
We found the devil in our love, we found the way
Why do I feel like you’re with me everywhere I lay?

[Chorus]
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays

[Verse 2]
It feels like a ghost is walking on my grave
If only you knew how long I’d wait
It makes me really angry when you can’t relate
Makes me feel like you’re living and I’m awake

[Chorus]
So tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays

[Bridge]
Oh oh oh oh eh
Woah yeah, oh oh oh oh eh
When we’re not together, I’m so afraid
When we’re not together, I’m so afraid

[Chorus]
So tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Oh, tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Oh, tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Oh, tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays
Oh, tell me where your heart is, tell me where you keep it, tell me where it stays

The Daily Song: History Matthew Mayfield

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , , , Leave a comment

I will admit to becoming a little obsessed with Matthew Mayfield over the last few months. There is something about his rawness and intensity that really resonates with me as a poet and as a woman.  This is spare but endlessly haunting, achingly beautiful and so very, very human.

 

History

Matthew Mayfield

Never thought it would end up this way

Never thought it be true

I’ve always known that love is gambling

Just never thought I could loose on you

And how do I move now that you’ve moved on?

And how do I fight now that you’re long gone?

And how I dream now that you don’t believe?

Say goodbye, we’re history

Yhea we’re history

All the reasons I have faith in you

All the meaning behind

Every season that I spent with you

I never thought that you would cross the line

And how do you feel when you walk into the door?

And how do you look in the mirror anymore?

And how do you toss the idea of you and me?

Say goodbye, we’re history

Yhea we’re history

Mhmm…

The Daily Song: Rescue You Johnnyswim

Posted in The Daily SongTagged , 2 Comments

One of my favorite music discoveries in the last year is Johnnyswim, duo and life-partners Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez.  Their voices together are lush and gorgeous and make me feel.  The lyrics of Rescue You just knocked me out. Wow.

 

Rescue You

Songwriters: Amanda Sudano Ramirez / Abner Pedro Ramirez / Natalie Hemby
You know how to make me worry

And you love that I do it so well

You’ve always been in a hurry

To bring me down to your old hell

And I don’t know why I keep trying and trying again

Cause I know now I’m never really gonna win

My love can’t rescue you

Can’t make your mountains move

Won’t make your desert bloom

The way you want it to

My love can’t heal the scars

You carved on your own heart

My love can’t rescue you

The way you want it to

Not the way you want it to

You drew me up to your tower

Lured by the fame of your spell

A hero’s kiss with no power

Tried to bring you back to life and failed

And I don’t know why I keep trying and trying again

Oh I know now I’m, I’m never gonna win

My love can’t rescue you

Can’t make the mountains move

Won’t make your desert bloom

The way you want it to

My love can’t heal the scars

You carved on your own heart

My love can’t rescue you

The way you want it to

Not the way you want it to

I’ve given you a lifeline, given you time

Oh, but you rather sink than swim

You blame history, you blaming me

But you are your own worst enemy

Oh, I don’t know why I keep trying again

I know now I’m, I’m never gonna win

My love can’t rescue you

Can’t make the mountains move

Won’t make your desert bloom

The way you want it to

My love can’t heal the scars

That you carved on your own heart

My love can’t rescue you

The way you want it to

Not the way you want it to

Oh, not the way I, I want it to