Category Archives: 1970s songs

The best 500 songs from the 1970s. Meanings, lyrics and interpretations from your favorite seventies artists. Fleetwood, The Eagles, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Queen and all your favorite 70s artists ranked.

1970s songs, outcasts

Psycho Killer- Talking Heads

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Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh/
Psycho Killer…

The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” stretches the genre of rock in many ways. Most wouldn’t call it rock—something closer to punk, new wave or avant garde, but these delineations are mostly boring. The Talking Heads are thought of as an 80s band because they had one of the first real big hits on MTV with “Burning Down the House”. “Psycho Killer” was released in 1975.

Any song that strays from typical subjects of love, relationships and firsthand experience is worth taking a look at. A song about a killer is simply more interesting, as the area is less explored. There are two songs on this list that also explore this space: Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer”.

Psycho Killer meaning
Talking Heads

“Psycho Killer’s” has so many unique aspects that contribute to its unique sound. The sound is primarily driven by the pounding baseline and David Byrnes unique voice—it is almost a-melodic. The guitar work is unique as well: crisp harmonics in the intro to a heavily distorted sound at the end takes you for quite a ride. Of course, the French lyrics add to the mystery.

One of the more interesting aspects is his line: “fa fa fa fa fa fa fa”. For whatever reason, in most English songs we usually say “ba ba ba ba ba ba ba” or “la la la”.  No idea why, but that change creates a dissonance. And this song is about a person who is disconnected from society, so that dissonance connects well with the lyrics.

Psycho Killer Meaning
The Talking Heads

We don’t get many details about the killer, other than he seems like a malcontent who feels he is above it all. He is intelligent and looks down on others. In the French verses he admits to killing and seems to relish in remembering the experience. The song seems to be a sort of warning to others not to cross him as he’s a live wire.

You’ll love this live performance of Psycho Killer: It is great performance art.

Psycho Killer Lyrics

I can’t seem to face up to the facts
I’m tense and nervous and I can’t relax
I can’t sleep ’cause my bed’s on fire
Don’t touch me, I’m a real live wire
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh

Ay-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ooh
You start a conversation, you can’t even finish it
You’re talking a lot, but you’re not saying anything
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?

Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ay-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya

Ce que j’ai fait, ce soir-là
Ce qu’elle a dit, ce soir-là
Réalisant mon espoir
Je me lance vers la gloire, okay
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
We are vain and we are blind
I hate people when they’re not polite
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?

Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Psycho Killer
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ai-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ooh

French Translation:

What is it?
What I did, that evening
What she said, that evening
Fulfilling my hope
Headlong I go towards glory… OK

Songwriters: Chris Frantz / Chris Franz / David Byrne / Tina Weymouth

1970s songs, heartbreak

Amoureuse- Kiki Dee/ Veronique Sanson

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But I would give him anything he asked/
If my first love could be my last.

Kiki Dee’s Amoureuse is a beautiful love song—translated from the French song of the same name—written and performed by Veronique Sanson. Sanson’s version may be superior, but Dee’s translated lyrics really hit home for those of us who are not French speakers.

Kiki Dee is most well-known for being the co-singer on one of Elton John’s worst songs, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”. It was a huge hit, so someone liked it. Amoureuse is Dee’s best song. In English-speaking countries Sanson is probably most well known for being married to Stephan Stills. Her work is quite good and connects even if you don’t typically listen to foreign music.

Amoureuse
Kiki Dee

Amoureuse (translation: “lover“) tells the story of a woman who is looking back on her first love with regret. The relationship is long over, but she yearns for things to have turned out differently. She remembers lying in her lover’s bed and thinking “this is everything I ever dreamed it could be”; yet the relationship ended. She would do anything to change that, but it isn’t in the cards.

Amoureuse
Wow. Veronique Sanson.

Why did the relationship end? We don’t get the full story, though we get the feeling the narrator took the relationship for granted. She thought, “If my first love is this great, imagine how great the next one will be.” But what if that greater love never comes? You are left with regret, heartache, loneliness and nights spent reminiscing.

The production and overall sound of Dee’s Amoureuse is very Carpenters-esque. Karen Carpenter was a superstar at the time this was released, so I can imagine all the record execs trying to find and create “the Next Karen Carpenter”. This is about as close as it comes-a pure voice that sings about heartbreak in a slightly too-cheery tune…with an overproduced soundtrack (except for the fact that she’s not a drummer…just go with it). Sanson’s version seems to capture the regretful tone more faithfully.

Amoureuse Lyrics

Strands of light upon a bedroom floor,
Change the night through an open door,
I’m awake but this not my home,
For the first time I’m not alone.

Reaching out, I touch another skin.
Breathing out as he is breathing in.
Deep inside I feel my soul aflame,
Can my life ever be the same?

I should have told him,
I’d do anything if I could hold him
For just another day, for just another day.
His love is something I will not forget.
When I am far away, when I am far away,
I feel the rainfall of another planet,
Another planet.

Close together in the afterglow,
I remember how his loving flow.
Turned the key into another world,
Made a woman of a simple girl.

Daylight comes as we both know it must.
Soon my fantasies will turn to dust.
But I would give him anything he asked,
If my first love could be my last.

I should have told him,
I’d do anything if I could hold him
For just another day, for just another day.
His love is something I will not regret.
When I am far away, when I am far away.
I feel the rainfall of another planet.
When I am far away, when I am far away,
I feel the rainfall of another planet, another planet.

written by Veronique Sanson

1970s songs, protest songs

I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)- Grand Funk Railroad

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I’m your captain, I’m your captain,
Though I’m feeling mighty sick.

Who knew Grand Funk Railroad’s fans were so wonderfully nuts? I mean, look at them going crazy in that video.

On the surface, Grand Funk Railroad’s “I’m Your Captain” tells a story about a ship captain who fears a mutiny. Due to the surreal nature of being away from home for so long—and due to illness–he can’t tell if he is imagining the mutiny or if he is just being vigilant.  He knows one cure for all of these problems: If he could only get home all of these fears and problems would be eliminated.

This literal interpretation works just fine. It does a great job of explaining a unique situation that creates a universal feeling of dread and fear—one we can all perhaps relate to. Each of us have felt afraid in strange circumstances, I can’t imagine the feelings of danger one must feel as a captain in the middle of the ocean. Though “I’m Your Captain” does a good job of bridging that gap.

I'm Your Captain Meaning
Grand Funk Railroad

There is a plethora of figurative interpretations of this song; interpretations that might hit closer to home for you than the literal one. The Vietnam War was being fought during the time this song was written, and it is possible to imagine many young men suddenly given positions of authority halfway across the world. I can imagine they dreamt everyday of getting “closer to home”. I imagine this song resonates strongly with many Vietnam Vets.

The sound is an interesting combination of southern rock and progressive rock. Southern rock brings the layered guitar sound, long jams and relatively simple melodies combined with progressive rock’s multitude of instruments, dream-like sound and/or themes and heavy post-production. It sounds like an odd combination! However, this accounts for the radically different sound in the verses, bridge and outro. The verses are clearly inspired by the southern rock sound, while the outro is progressive rock.

The instrumentation throughout is great, but especially the rhythm section. Both the bass and drums feel like they drive the song. In the outro, the transition to the orchestra with a solo flute creates perhaps its signature sound.

I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home) Lyrics

Everybody listen to me,
And return me my ship.
I’m your captain, I’m your captain,
Though I’m feeling mighty sick.

I’ve been lost now for days uncounted,
And it’s months since I’ve seen home.
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
Or am I all alone?

If you return me to my home port,
I will kiss you Mother Earth.
Take me back now, take me back now,
To the port of my birth.

Am I in my cabin dreaming?
Or are you really scheming
To take my ship away from me?

You’d better think about it,
I just can’t live without it.
So please don’t take my ship from me!

I can feel the hand of a stranger,
And it’s tightening around my throat.
Heaven help me, Heaven help me,
Take this stranger from my boat.

I’m your captain, I’m your captain,
Though I’m feeling mighty sick.
Everybody listen to me,
And return me my ship.

I’m your captain.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I’m your captain.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I’m your captain,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I’m your captain,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I’m getting closer to my home,
I’m getting closer to my home.
I’m getting closer to my home,
I’m getting closer to my, closer to my home.

Everybody listen to me,
And return me my ship.
I’m your captain, I’m your captain,
Though I’m feeling mighty sick.

Songwriters: Mark Farner