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, new love

#454 Show Me The Way (live)- Peter Frampton

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Oh won’t you show me the way/
I want you day after day.

The power of Peter Frampton’s “Show Me the Way” is clearly in the introduction of the talkbox to rock music.  Musicians used it after Frampton, but none incorporated in into a song a well as this. I have only heard one other musician use it effectively, and that is Joe Walsh. It is such an amazing instrument that really seems to make your guitar “talk”.

Show Me The Way Meaning
Peter Frampton

Another great aspect of this recording is the crowd. They really bring an excitement to the performance that is missing on the regular recording. They realize they are witnessing something amazing and you can feel their energy. This is one of the best live performances ever recorded.

“Show Me the Way” is about how Frampton is so caught up in his new girlfriend that it is negatively affecting his own life. He is wondering what she is thinking, over-analyzing her, over-analyzing himself. He wants to be good for her…he wants to make this simple for her: how about if you just show me what to do and I’ll do it?

Show Me The Way Lyrics

I wonder how you’re feeling
There’s ringing in my ears
And no one to relate to except the sea
Who can I believe in?
I’m kneeling on the floor
There has to be a force
Who do I phone?
The stars are out and shining
But all I really want to know

Oh won’t you show me the way
I want you show me the way

Well, I can see no reason,
You living on your nerves
When someone drops a cup and I submerge
I’m swimming in a circle,
I feel I’m going down
There has to be a fool
To play my part
Someone thought of healing,
But all I really want to know

Oh won’t you show me the way
I want you show me the way
I want you day after day

I wonder if I’m dreaming
I feel so unashamed
I can’t believe this is happening to me
I watch you when you’re sleeping
And then I want to take your love

Oh won’t you show me the way
Oh won’t you show me the way
I want you day after day
I want you day after day
Oh won’t you show me the way
I want you day after day

Songwriters: Peter Kenneth Frampton

1970s songs, party songs

#447 Staying Alive- The Bee Gees

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We can try to understand/
The New York Times’ effect on man.

“Staying Alive” is a song about how a big city can suck the life out of you. You have no choice but to try to stay alive. That is what everybody is trying to do in the big city.

The song sounds so upbeat, but the message is a bit deep. Of course, this song is one of the most iconic ones of all time. How many songs define a music genre? This sound was so influential that it blew up the Disco scene. It is a dance sensation that gets a bad rap. Sure, some of the songs are silly, but it was the dance music of the 70s.

Staying Alive Meaning
Bee Gees

Listen to the heavy rhythm section. The bass is turned way up as is the drums. The guitar is turned down and the guitar is often played with “muted” strings rather than fretted strings. It creates a unique sound. And of course, you have the great vocal harmonies of the Bee Gees. And the falsetto! If you are new to The Bee Gees, disco was not really a big part of their career. Most of their hits were closer to soft rock. They are one of the best groups of all time at harmonizing.

Staying Alive Lyrics

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s alright, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man

Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive

Songwriters: Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb / Barry Alan Gibb

1970s songs, love songs

#431 Let’s Stay Together- Al Green

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Lovin’ you whether, whether/
Times are good or bad, happy or sad.

Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” is a great R&B/ Soul tune from the early 70s. The first line to the song, it is so classic. “I I I..am so in love with you”.  Al Green’s voice is so smooth! He goes in and out of falsetto so effortlessly…go ahead, try to sing along.

The song is so likable: it is an optimistic love song about staying together…not about wanting to get the girl. And he wants to stay together whether “times are good, bad, happy or sad.”

I'm So in Love Meaning
Al Green

The beat on this song is strong… I was a huge Soul Train fan. When I was younger, I watched reruns of the show and Al Green appeared on one of the episodes.  He “sung” and danced to this song and I remember thinking what a stud he was.

Also, the song was about my speed on the dance floor…there was no one doing the splits during this song, so it at least seemed like I might be able to dance to this song, should the time ever necessitate me busting out some moves. Thankfully, it never did. I say “sung” because no one sang live in those days on TV, unfortunately. Almost every band lip-synced. Some better than others.

Let’s Stay Together Lyrics

I, I’m I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Let me say that since, baby, since we’ve been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue

Oh baby
Let’s, let’s stay together (‘gether)
Lovin’ you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can’t see
You’d never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here’s what I want us do)

Let’s, we oughta stay together (‘gether)
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Come on
Let’s stay, (let’s stay together) let’s stay together
Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad

Songwriters: Willie Mitchell / Al Green / Al Jackson Jr