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, heroes

#52 Space Oddity- David Bowie

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Ground Control to Major Tom/
Commencing countdown, engines on.

David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” is one of the most unique rock songs of all-time. Themes in rock songs are pretty standard: love, death, breakups, war, unhappiness. We never get songs about space launches. The story of Major Tom’s successful lift off, his disembarking from his shuttle, to when something goes wrong is some serious drama.

Space Oddity Meaning
Bowie

Part of the success of Bowie’s “Space Oddity” is that it sounds so foreign that we immediately feel like we are in another world when we begin the song. We almost become Major Tom and can imagine how frightened and lonely the experience of an astronaut must be. How crazy is it to be blasted into space in a tin can? I have seen a lot of space movies, but this song captures the essence better than any of them. It truly is a magical feat.

Note how “Space Oddity” changes tone several times and how the instruments used to create that sound change; the production is remarkable. Pre-liftoff the mood is tense, and it remains so until lift off. The music accelerates during liftoff, and then once we reach space the sound is almost euphoric as Major Tom gazes down at earth and describes space to Ground Control. Then we hear the solo which ends in a long descending note and Major Tom exclaims, “I’m feeling kind of scared”. The mood seems to change again as things seem to turn bad. Incredible work.

Space Oddity Lyrics

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground Control to Major Tom (ten, nine, eight, seven, six)
Commencing countdown, engines on (five, four, three)
Check ignition and may God’s love be with you (two, one, liftoff)

This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You’ve really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare
“This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there’s nothing I can do

Though I’m past one hundred thousand miles
I’m feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows
Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you “Here am I floating ’round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there’s nothing I can do”

written by David Bowie

1970s songs, breakup songs

#50 Angie- The Rolling Stones

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With no lovin’ in our souls/
And no money in our coats/
You can’t say we’re satisfied.

The Rolling Stones’ “Angie” is a breakup song. The couple is on the verge of a breakup, broke, and most of the love is gone. But Angie has so many great physical features that it makes it so hard to leave her. Angie is beautiful, and she kisses good, so there is hesitation from the narrator. Beauty can distort reason.

Angie Rolling Stones Meaning
Mick

Breaking up is hard and the narrator still does love Angie even if the love is not what it used to be. Isn’t it time they said goodbye to each other? Notice that he isn’t breaking up with her. He is asking her a question. Perhaps it is too hard for him. I know people like this; they know the right decision but will try to get their significant other to help them initiate the breakup.

The great piano part is played by session man Nicky Hopkins who has played piano on several other songs on this list including Jealous Guy and You are So Beautiful and another two songs in the top 50. It is a difficult part. The strings arraignment on top of the piano is a combination that works well to create that melancholy mood that is perfect for these lyrics. I like Jagger’s voice here. He sounds young and vibrant and his whispers of “Angie” give the song a unique feel.

More great songs from the Rolling Stones.

Angie Lyrics

Angie, Angie,
When will those clouds all disappear?
Angie, Angie,
Where will it lead us from here?

With no lovin’ in our souls,
And no money in our coats:
You can’t say we’re satisfied.
Angie, Angie,
You can’t say we never tried.

Angie, you’re beautiful.
But ain’t it time we say goodbye?
Angie, I still love you.
Remember all those nights we cried?

All the dreams were held so close
Seemed to all go up in smoke.
Let me whisper in your ear,
“Angie, Angie”.
Where will it lead us from here.

Oh, Angie, don’t you weep,
Oh your kisses still taste sweet.
I hate that sadness in your eyes.
But Angie, Angie,
Ain’t it time we said goodbye?

With no lovin’ in our souls,
And no money in our coats.
You can’t say we’re satisfied?

Angie, I still love you baby.
Everywhere I look I see your eyes.
There ain’t a woman that comes close to you.
Come on baby dry your eyes.

Angie, Angie
Ain’t good to be alive?
Angie, Angie,
We can’t say we never tried.

written by Jagger/Richards

1970s songs, growing up

#49 Right Between The Eyes- CSNY

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A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Right Between The Eyes” deals with honest communication. In dealing with other people, especially friends and lovers, there is a lot of trust involved. If we don’t trust what people say, we could remain shut off to almost everyone. There are very few people who would want to wait around to “prove” to you that they are an honest person. So trusting is important.

Right Between The Eyes meaning
Old School Graham Nash

We develop a kind of blindness to those we love. When that trust is broken it can be debilitating. When there are secrets that are later discovered…the same thing. Why couldn’t you just have told me? It makes you doubt that the relationship ever had any real value. Nash seems to value some of this radical honesty. A man would have looked me in the eyes and told me the truth.

Most of the power of “Right Between the Eyes” comes from the clear vocal delivery of a powerful message. But, of course, the melody is so beautiful. The harmonies that CSNY are so famous for are very subtle in this song. The band is able to show restraint which is difficult. Sometimes egos get in the way and everyone wants to sing lead—which ruins good harmonies. While CSNY has had clashes of egos their harmonies have still always been able to remain amazing.

Right Between The Eyes Lyrics

My head is hanging heavy with the thoughts of him in mind,
‘Tis sacrilege for us to take advantage of the blind.
So, tell before you come to me from out of yonder skies,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

And the pain that we can bring to him,
I don’t think he could beat.
Please don’t ask me how I know
I’ve just been up that street.
And all the people living there
Have been silenced by their own lies…

A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

And talking’ from experience I know how he would feel,
Waking up and finding that his one love wasn’t real.
But the age of truth will soon appear, Aquarius arrives,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

written by Graham Nash