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, songs about sex

#186 Angel Of The Morning- Merrilee Rush

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If morning’s echo says we’ve sinned/
It was what I wanted now.

Many artists have covered this song, but Merrilee Rush’s version of “Angel Of The Morning” is the standard. She is in great voice, and we hear the emotion she sings with as she asks her lover to “just touch my cheek before you leave me baby.” It is a song about a young woman becoming an adult and exercising her right to love and live with whomever she chooses. The lyrics were quite risqué for the time.

Angel in the Morning Meaning
Merrilee Rush

Merrilee Rush’s melody of “Angel of the Morning” is so strong that it has managed to remain fresh some fifty years after release. Both the verses and especially the chorus are iconic melodies that have achieved Standard status. The production is well done. The trumpet is featured prominently, and it sounds muted and not overdone. I also think there is an oboe being used, though I cannot confirm that. This was her only hit.

Angel Of the Morning Lyrics

There’ll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can’t bind your heart
And there’s no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start
I see no need to take me home
I’m old enough to face the dawn

Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Then slowly turn away

Maybe the sun’s light will be dim
And it won’t matter anyhow
If morning’s echo says we’ve sinned
Well, it was what I wanted now
And if we’re victims of the night
I won’t be blinded by the light

Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)
Then slowly turn away
I won’t beg you to stay with me
Through the tears of the day, of the years
Baby, baby, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)

written by chip taylor

 

1960s songs, looking for love

#181 I Say A Little Prayer- Aretha Franklin

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I run for the bus, dear/
While riding I think of us, dear.

Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer” was a heavily covered song when it came out. Several of the top divas of the time took a shot at it, but Aretha Franklin is the one who really nailed it. Her version sounds happy, free flowing and loving—which is what this song should be about. Other versions sound robotic or stilted.

Notice Aretha’s mic work…she belts out several notes, but they don’t sound overwhelming because she steps away from the mic. Also, her runs are tight and minimal. And there is minimal vibrato. This is how you should sing.

Say a Little Prayer meaning
aretha

I think this is a much better example of Aretha Franklins work that “Respect”. She shows off a greater range and there is more nuisance in this song. I also think Respect gets annoying with the spelling and the repetition. The piano in “Say a Little Prayer” sounds playful and of course we have the standard Motown background singers.

I Say A Little Prayer Lyrics

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now
And wondering what dress to wear, now
I say a little prayer for you

Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, together, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me

I run for the bus, dear
While riding I think of us, dear
I say a little prayer for you
At work I just take time
And all through my coffee break-time
I say a little prayer for you
Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you

Forever, forever we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, together, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me

My darling believe me
For me there is no one
But you

written by Burt Bacharach

1960s songs, authenticity

#180 I Started A Joke- The Bee Gees

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I started a joke which started the whole world crying/
But I didn’t see that the joke was on me.

The Bee Gees “I Started A Joke” is a very beautiful song with a nice melody and the typical Bee Gees harmonies. The lead singer is Robin, who has a pretty distinctive voice. So, who is this guy/gal who started a joke?

I Started A Joke meaning
bee gees

What is “The Joke”? It is irrelevant, but it is something that hurts another person. The narrator blurted something out and it ended up ruining his world. It wasn’t so funny when the ramifications of his actions came back on him and he lost the people in his life.

There are various readings that believe this has religious overtones. That is possible, we just don’t know enough to say for sure. Overall, the narrator expresses a sense of disappointment with his younger self, and feels that he got his comeuppance.

I Started A Joke Lyrics

I started a joke which started the whole world crying
But I didn’t see that the joke was on me oh no
I started to cry which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I’d only seen that the joke was on me

I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
‘Till I finally died which started the whole world living
Oh if I’d only seen that the joke was on me

I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
‘Till I finally died which started the whole world living
Oh if I’d only seen that the joke was on me
Oh no that the joke was on me

written by The Bee Gees