This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Oh, baby, you don't get turned on by the radio
Oh, baby, you got nothing to play on your stereo
"Why don't the Beatles get back together?"
"Why don't nobody sing of romance?"
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
Oh, baby, I think you are lost in the seventies
Oh, baby, "The music she ain't what she used to be"
You don't understand what they're saying
You've given it every chance
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
Well, you wish you were back in the good old days
When tomatoes were cheaper
And you never heard the words of your favorite songs
Through a three inch speaker
And you never messed around with dangerous drugs
You were all getting sick on beer
And you didn't get any
(Unless you went steady and made out for a year)
Well, you can hide away honey
In your rock and roll dreams
You can stand by your blue suede shoes
But the party is over
And I'm getting tired of waiting for you
Oh, baby, "Where are the oldies they used to play?"
Oh, baby, you want to crawl back into yesterday
You don't want to deal with the future
You don't want to make any plans
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
Oh, baby, you got nothing to play on your stereo
"Why don't the Beatles get back together?"
"Why don't nobody sing of romance?"
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
Oh, baby, I think you are lost in the seventies
Oh, baby, "The music she ain't what she used to be"
You don't understand what they're saying
You've given it every chance
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
Well, you wish you were back in the good old days
When tomatoes were cheaper
And you never heard the words of your favorite songs
Through a three inch speaker
And you never messed around with dangerous drugs
You were all getting sick on beer
And you didn't get any
(Unless you went steady and made out for a year)
Well, you can hide away honey
In your rock and roll dreams
You can stand by your blue suede shoes
But the party is over
And I'm getting tired of waiting for you
Oh, baby, "Where are the oldies they used to play?"
Oh, baby, you want to crawl back into yesterday
You don't want to deal with the future
You don't want to make any plans
Oh, baby, all you wanna do is dance
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Gentle Hour
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Ed Sheeran
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Plastic Bag
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Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is one of my personal favourites. It is filled with great lines, but my favourite line has to be "I think you are lost in the seventies". This is many years later, but I'm still stuck there... Despite the fact that I was born in '93!!
A great song, a great artist. That sums Billy Joel and his music up.
I love the ooo lalala after the 'Beatles line (a la 'Nowhere Man' or 'You Won't See Me'). I often thought this would be a good cover tune for a newer band but I guess some of the lyrics are somewhat dated. Aaahhh, to be back in the good old days, 'when tomatoes were cheaper'. just the right amount of cheese as always Bill.
And you didn't get any unless you went steady and made out for a year...
HAHAHAHHA.
Billy is fucking great. This song is great.