Category Archives: 1960s songs

The top 500 best music and songs from the 1960s. Song meanings, lyrics and interpretations from your favorite artists. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Dylan. See who rates the highest!

1960s songs, love songs

#232 Ain’t No Sunshine- Bill Whithers

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And this house just ain’t no home/
Anytime she goes away.

Bill Withers has a great voice that sounds somewhat androgynous to me. “Aint No Sunshine” is not as famous as his “Lean on Me”, but it is a far superior song. The lyrics of “Ain’t No Sunshine” are in the tradition of the blues. Withers is singing about a pain he has—he gets lonely and down when his girl is away from him. I like the way he describes how differently he feels when she is away…he feels like his house is not a home anymore.

Ain't No Sunshine Meaning
Bill Whithers

The bridge is very interesting: the line “I know I ought to leave young thing alone”. While the rest of the song is relatively innocent—and is all about his love for his love–in the middle of the song he throws in a line about women who are tempting him while his love is not in sight. Very honest lyrics. I am certain they must have gone over well with his girlfriend.

The production of “Ain’t No Sunshine” is by T-bone Walker, and it is fantastic. Specifically, the string section coming in and out and the level of intensity of the strings at different points in the song is unique. Sometimes the change it volume is almost startling. We notice it. Another great aspect of the production/songwriting is the repeated use of “I know”. I think a lesser producer would have axed it.

Ain’t No Sunshine Lyrics

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
It’s not warm when she’s away
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And she’s always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

Wonder this time where she’s gone
Wonder if she’s gone to stay
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And this house just ain’t no home
Anytime she goes away

And I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know,
Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone
But ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
Only darkness every day
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And this house just ain’t no home
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Songwriters: Bill Withers

1960s songs, memories

#228 Girl From The North Country- Bob Dylan

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Please see for me if her hair hangs long/
For that’s the way I remember her best.

Bob Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country” is a song that you swear you’ve heard before. It sounds like a song that existed before time. Part of that is because it is similar to many old folk songs. Part of that is because I think that one of the qualities of a good folk song is that it sounds like it must have been written long, long ago.

(Consider Woodie Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”…someone had to actually write that, it didn’t just always exist.) But this is actually a Dylan original. It was written in his early years when he was still an up-and-coming folk singer.

Girl From The North Country Meaning
Freewheelin Dylan

Dylan’s “Girl From the North County” is a sad song—the narrator is asking a friend to check in on a girl he once considered his true love. The narrator sounds nostalgic about both his home and his one-time love, but from his tone we get the sense that both are in his past.

One of the more interesting verses is where Dylan mentions that he spends time wondering if she ever thinks of him. I think that “Girl From the North Country” is one of the songs that Dylan wrote in which he speaks most fondly of the woman.

At this stage of his career Dylan only played with his guitar and harmonica—as you can hear in this song. Some of his best work was done during this time. Of course, he delivered great songs for over four (some might say five or six) decades.

Girl From The North Country Lyrics

If you’re traveling till the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline.
Remember me to one who lives there,
For she once was the true love of mine.

See for me if her hair’s hanging down,
It curls and flows all down her breast.
See for me that her hair’s hanging long,
That’s the way I remember her best.

If you go when the snowflakes fall,
When the rivers freeze and summer ends.
Please see for me if she’s wearing a coat so warm,
To keep her from the howlin’ winds.

I’m wondering if she remembers me at all,
Many times I’ve often prayed.
In the darkness of my nights,
In the brightness of my days.

And if you’re traveling in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine

written by Bob Dylan

1960s songs, breakup songs

#224 Mrs. Brown-Herman’s Hermits

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Don’t let on, don’t say she broke my heart/
I’d go down on my knees but it’s no good to pine.

The musicianship in The Herman’s Hermits’ “Mrs. Brown (You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter)” is rather minimalist but the rich melody and great story make for a great song. The author goes to his ex-girlfriends house to return the things of hers that she left at his house because she broke up with him. Her mom opens the door…

And thus, we hear the exchange between the narrator and Mrs. Brown. Herman likes Mrs. Brown, and tells her the truth about his feelings of heartbreak, but he asks her not to tell her daughter that her daughter broke his heart. He knows she no longer loves him…and its no good to pine!

Mrs. Brown You have a lovely daughter meaning
hermits hermits

“Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” works because it is kind of sweet and speaks of the end of a young love. We feel like the narrator will be back on the saddle in no time—with a woman who loves him. He sounds earnest and genuinely caring about Mrs Brown and her daughter.

The song is very well written and beautifully performed by the Herman’s Hermits–an underrated band from the 60s. Notice the seamless transition between bridge and verse. They go together perfectly. I think the melody of this song is great and I think this is a prime candidate for a cover.

Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter Lyrics

Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter.
Girls as sharp as her are somethin’ rare.
But it’s sad, she doesn’t love me now,
She’s made it clear enough it ain’t no good to pine.

She wants to return those things I bought her.
Tell her she can keep them just the same.
Things have changed, she doesn’t love me now,
She’s made it clear enough it ain’t no good to pine.

Walkin’ about, even in a crowd, well
You’ll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud.

If she finds that I’ve been round to see you (round to see you),
Tell her that I’m well and feelin’ fine (feelin’ fine).
Don’t let on, don’t say she broke my heart,
I’d go down on my knees but it’s no good to pine.

Walkin’ about, even in a crowd, well
You’ll pick her out, makes a bloke feel so proud.

If she finds that I’ve been round to see you (round to see you)
Tell her that I’m well and feelin’ fine (feelin’ fine).
Don’t let on, don’t say she broke my heart;
I’d go down on my knees but it’s no good to pine.

Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter).
Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter).
Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter).
Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter).

Songwriters: Trevor Peacock