I lied about being the outdoor type/
I’ve never owned a sleeping bag let alone a mountain bike.

The Lemonheads never made it bigtime, though they did have a relatively big hit with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs Robinson. Their best song is “The Outdoor Type”—a gem that describes the slight exaggerations that one tells in the beginning of a relationship. This song was also a cover. It was written/recorded by an even smaller band Smudge–an earlier band of songwriter Tom Morgan.

Have you ever noticed that on every dating profile everyone loves to travel? I would say it is over 90% of profiles. I hate travel. Leading with this is not ideal, nor is the fact that I am not into animals. I want a person to have a solid hour invested in me before they learn that I am a no-animal-owning, travel-hating single. Tom Morgan of feels the same way I do, except for him he met a girl who likes “the outdoors” and so he went along with it and said he likes the outdoors too.

It seems like a relatively harmless white lie until he comically lists all the outdoor activities he has aversions to.

We assume that he does not carry on this charade for long, and it doesn’t lead to any tragic misunderstandings—that’s what makes the song fun–rather than a description of something toxic and manipulative. The girl can find out his true nature by asking him if he’d like to join her on a walk. When he says “no” his big plan of a romance is spoiled.

He is also lying about something that is easily verifiable. He is not lying about faith, children, finances or fidelity. Something crazy could even happen and he could join her on a walk and enjoy it and become the outdoor type.

The song brings up the question about when should we share things when we first meet a potential romantic partner. How fast is too fast? How long is too long to wait? Can you say you are “interested” in the outdoors to someone who is outdoors girl when you are clearly an indoor guy? What about if you like looking at pictures of mountains–that’s outdoorsy, right? Should you exclude all people who don’t like the same activities as you right off the bat?

With this short electric-folk inspired song, The Lemonheads are able to raise a bunch of important issues in a fun, tongue-in-cheek way, while also delivering a song with a catchy chorus.

The Outdoor Type Lyrics

Always had a roof above me
Always paid the rent
But I’ve never set foot inside a tent
Can’t build a fire to save my life
I lied about being the outdoor type

I’ve never slept out underneath the stars,
The closest that I came to that was one time my car
Broke down for an hour in the suburbs at night
I lied about being the outdoor type.

Too scared to let you know you knew what you were looking for
I lied until I fit the bill god bless the great indoors
I lied about being the outdoor type
I’ve never owned a sleeping bag let alone a mountain bike

I can’t go away with you on a rock climbing weekend
What if somethings on tv and its never shown again
Its just as well I’m not invited I’m afraid of heights
I lied about being the outdoor type
Never learned to swim can’t grow a beard or even fight
I lied about being the outdoor type

Songwriters: Tom Morgan

Take it off now girl, take it off now girl/
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight.

“Beneath Your Beautiful” is a classic guy/girl duet sung by Labrinth and Emilie Sande. He sees her as beautiful. He sees her reject all the guys probably because it makes her feel good to do it. But that won’t scare him away. He is going to get to know her…underneath her beautiful.

She sees him constantly dropping girls and she doubts he’d even know how to quit if he wanted to, but she too sees something within him and “wants to see beneath you beautiful.”

“See Beneath Your Beautiful” is about two people who want to see the real insides of each other, not just the public personae that is available that we present to the world. For some people who have crafted their public image or look so perfectly that beauty is difficult to see past. The contrast in the voices adds to the song. Sande is an up and comer (if she’s not already there) and her voice blends well with Labrinth’s.

Lyrics Beneath Your Beautiful

You tell all the boys no
Makes you feel good, yeah.
I know you’re out of my league,
But that won’t scare me away oh no.
You’ve carried on so long,
You couldn’t stop if you tried it.
You’ve built your wall so high,
That no one could climb it.
But I’m gonna try.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl,
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?

You let all the girls go,
Makes you feel good, don’t it?
Behind your Broadway show,
I heard a voice say please don’t hurt me.
You’ve carried on so long,
You couldn’t stop if you tried it.
You’ve built your wall so high,
That no one could climb it.
But I’m gonna try.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now boy, take it off now boy,
I wanna see inside.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?
Oh, tonight.

See beneath, see beneath,
I Tonight I

I’m gonna climb on top your ivory tower,
I’ll hold your hand and then we’ll jump right out.
We’ll be falling, falling
But that’s okay.
Cause I’ll be right here
I just wanna know.

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful?
Would you let me see beneath your perfect?
Take it off now girl, take it off now girl,
Cause I wanna see you say:
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?
Tonight, see beneath your beautiful.
Oh tonight, we ain’t perfect, we ain’t perfect.
Would you let me see beneath your beautiful tonight?

Songwriters: Emeli Sande / Mike Posner / Timothy Mckenzie

I hate you, I love you/
Leave, please don’t go away.

When Jewel’s first album came out I thought she might end up being bigger than The Beatles. Her first album had three legit all-time-great songs, several good songs and maybe only one real clunker. She was 19. The first couple Beatles albums were only okay. Was it possible we had the next Beatles right here in front of us? Imagine how great her follow up work would be? Alas, she only produced one other good song a couple albums later, “Grey Matter”.

That is still a tremendous career, but it was quite a drop-off from the crazy heights of what might be the most successful debut album of all time.

“Grey Matter” discusses how her feelings can run hot and cold on a guy but she appreciates that he is always steady for her. It is a sweet song, and not well known. “Grey Matter” was never performed in the studio. She recorded herself singing it on the road and put it on “This Way” live. It is a magical performance. You can really hear everything about what is great about Jewel in this recording. She is an amazing live solo performer.

Just Jewel with her guitar is crazy. Her voice is unique and sounds amazing here. Her guitar work is solid: finger-picking on an acoustic guitar makes for great sounding music. Also, notice the depth of her voice. She has all the power of any of the divas, but she uses restraint and only belts out two or three words towards the end. And there are never any crazy vocal runs.

I got to see Jewel open for Bob Dylan before she had released her first album. (I was there for Dylan). It was clear to everyone there she was special. She was extremely beautiful, had a sharp wit and handled the crowd well. She also told us about how she was just learning the guitar and she just starting writing a song with the two easiest chords she could play, then she sang a verse of her new song “Who will save your soul.” It was pretty amazing.

Grey Matter Lyrics

Hate you, I love you
Leave, please
Don’t go away
Can’t decide if
I like your face
Or if I wish
It would stray
You’re a child but
You’re malicious
You’re sweet but
Don’t remember my name
And heads you win
And tails I’m lost
And love equals pain

I am drifting
Without an anchor
Through your ambiguous region
A strange continent
Immune to all reason
And I’m flattered by
Your gray matter

Inside my skin
I feel your tongue
Telling me I’m dirty
And licking my bones
A surge against silence
A knife across a plate
Makes the sound
Of need on hate

I am drifting
Without an anchor
Through your ambiguous region
A strange continent
Immune to all reason
And I’m flattered by
Your gray matter

And I do not understand
Why a woman can’t
Just love a man
You’re amusing
You’re a real cool show
With your meat hooks
And barbed wire carnival
You got glitter in your pocket
You got mothballs in your soul
From too many false teeth
And greasy flash bulbs

I am drifting
Without an anchor
Through your ambiguous region
A strange continent
Immune to all reason
And I’m flattered by
Your gray matter
I love you
I hate you

Songwriters: Jewel Kilcher