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, growing up

#76 Superstition- Stevie Wonder

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When you believe in things/
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer…

Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is a very unique concept for a song. Wonder’s thoughts on superstition is actually pretty profound: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand/ Then you suffer.” Interesting. I think most of us think of having superstitions as being cute or quirky. However, when stated like that, it is one more mental barrier I am placing between myself and the Truth, and that can’t be good, right?

Superstition
Stevie Wonder

That funky beat in the introduction is a great cross between Motown and a bit of Disco. The clavinet creates a great sound…it should be used more often in pop music and rock music. If I were a current producer this seems like unexplored territory I might want to look into. The intro drumbeat is pretty standard, but not many songs start with a 10 second drum-only part. It was recorded by Jeff Beck.

Lyrics Superstition
Very superstitious,
Writing’s on the wall,
Very superstitious,
Ladders bout’ to fall
Thirteen month old baby,
Broke the lookin’ glass
Seven years of bad luck,
The good things in your past

When you believe in things
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint the way

Everybody scream!

Very superstitious,
Nothin’ more to say,
Very superstitious,
The devil’s on his way,
Thirteen month old baby,
Broke the lookin’ glass,
Seven years of bad luck,
Good things in your past

When you believe in things
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain’t the way,
No, no, no

written by Stevie Wonder

1970s songs, outcasts

#65 Desperado- The Eagles

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And Freedom? Oh freedom. That’s just some people talkin/
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

The above line from The Eagles’ “Desperado” is one of the most underappreciated lyrics in rock. It really captures the spirit of the outlaw–the loner, the rebel, the desperado. As you walk alone are you a rebel or are you creating a prison of your own making?

At times it feels like it might be a dream to escape from this world of daily burdens: our family, our job, our significant other. Wouldn’t it be great to live a life with no cares in the world, and not have to answer to anyone? But would the loneliness be worth it?

Henley and Frey tell the young man–The Desperado–to look a little bit closer: that life is not as it seems. You will end up all alone in this world and your ‘freedom’ that you romanticized will just lead to unhappiness.

Desperado Meaning
The Eagles

What makes “Desperado” great is the simple storytelling along with the beautiful chord progressions of the piano. The song is relatively simple, but it packs an emotional punch due to Henley’s singing. The gradual addition of the strings, then drums, then backup vocals allow the song’s energy to build to the great closing line: “You better let somebody love you, before it’s too late.”

“Desperado” is one of the first songs The Eagles wrote, and it only became popular because Linda Ronstadt released a cover of it. She was (and is!) a superstar, and the burgeoning Eagles were her backup band! Now, it is considered an Eagles classic.

Desperado Lyrics

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
You’ve been out ridin’ fences for so long now.
Oh, you’re a hard one,
I know that you’ve got your reasons.
These things that are pleasin’ you,
Can hurt you somehow.

Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy,
She’ll beat you if she’s able.
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table.
But you only want the ones
That you can’t get.

Desperado,
Oh, you ain’t getting younger.
Your pain and your hunger
They’re driving you home.
And freedom, oh, freedom,
Well that’s just some people talking.
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine.
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day.
And you’re losing all your highs and lows,
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes
Away…

Desperado,
Why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate.
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you.
You better let somebody love you,
(Let somebody love you).
You better let somebody love you,
Before it’s too late.

written by Don Henley and Glen Frey

1970s songs, insecurity

#56 At Seventeen- Janis Ian

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I learned the truth at seventeen/
That love was meant for beauty queens.

As Janis Ian explains, life isn’t all it seems “At Seventeen”. Somehow this song did not become a huge hit. It is a haunting song that contrasts the haves vs the have nots in high school. Ian points out that high school is a vastly different experience for those who are beautiful compared to those who are not.

Those who are beautiful marry into what they need while those who are not beautiful are left to invent lovers on the telephone to pretend that they are busy Saturday nights. It turns out life will continue this way: being good-looking is a huge advantage throughout life, but at seventeen, it seems all the more cruel.

At Seventeen Meaning
The lovely Janis Ian

The song is not demanding vocally, but it still packs a punch, primarily due to the message and the good melody. Ian sings the song as if it is extremely meaningful to her, which is one of the most important characteristics of any vocal.

It is more interesting because I think Ian is good looking—though she was not strikingly beautiful. The outro/solo adds an interesting twist to the song. “At Seventeen” gets a little more jazzy as some horns and shakers are added in before the final note dies away.

At Seventeen Lyrics

I learned the truth at seventeen,
That love was meant for beauty queens.
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles,
Who married young and then retired.

The valentines I never knew,
The Friday night charades of youth.
Were spent on one more beautiful,
At seventeen I learned the truth.

And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces,
Desperately remained at home,
Inventing lovers on the phone.
Who called to say “Come dance with me”.
And murmured vague obscenities,
It isn’t all it seems…
At seventeen.

A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs,
Whose name I never could pronounce.
Said, “Pity, please, the ones who serve,
They only get what they deserve.”

And the rich relationed hometown queen,
Marries into what she needs.
With a guarantee of company,
And haven for the elderly.

Remember those who win the game,
Lose the love they sought to gain.
In debentures of quality,
And dubious integrity.
Their small-town eyes will gape at you,
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received,
At seventeen.

To those of us who knew the pain,
Of valentines that never came.
And those whose names were never called,
When choosing sides for basketball.

It was long ago and far away,
The world was younger than today.
When dreams were all they gave for free,
To ugly duckling girls like me.

We all play the game, and when we dare,
To cheat ourselves at solitaire.
Inventing lovers on the phone,
Repenting other lives unknown.

They call and say, “Come dance with me”,
And murmur vague obscenities,
At ugly girls like me
At seventeen.

written by Janis Ian