Then you say, “go slow”
And I fall behind
The second hand unwinds.

In “Time After Time” Cyndi Lauper explores a somewhat ambiguous period in a relationship. Perhaps she and her significant other went on a break. Perhaps they are completely broken up. Things and events in her daily life remind her of him and it brings her back. “The second hand unwinds” as she does things in her life that turn back the clock and move the relationship back to her ex. Things like thinking about him, calling him, hooking up with him, whatever.

We also know that he is experiencing similar things. He might reach out and then they seem to fall into their old patterns. Lauper seems to be encouraging him to venture out. She encourages him and tells him she will always be there for him. It is a really lovely sentiment. I am not sure many people feel this way after a relationship ends. She says this as much for her as for him.

“Time After Time” is Lauper’s greatest hit, but she has many. She is one of the more surprising candidates missing from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She has two songs on this list, but also a near miss in “All Through the Night” and of course “Girls just want to have fun”, which was a hit, but not good.

Time After Time Lyrics

Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after

Sometimes you picture me
I’m walking too far ahead
You’re calling to me, I can’t hear
What you’ve said
Then you say, “go slow”
And I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you’re lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows
You’re wondering if I’m okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside (deep inside)
And the drum beats out of time
If you’re lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time

If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time
Time after time

I’ve got a suitcase of memories that I almost left behind
Time after time
Time, time, time
But you say to go slow but I fall behind
Time after time after time (after time, oh)
written by Cyndi Lauper, Hyman Zaret

We never did too much talkin’ anyway/
But don’t think twice, it’s all right.

In “Don’t Think Twice (It’s Alright)” Dylan has come to the end of another relationship. He is trying to pass it off like he doesn’t hurt—don’t worry about it, don’t think twice. But we get the feeling that it might be more meaningful to him than he lets on. The relationship was very sexual. There are several illusions to that in “Don’t Think Twice”. But there is also the interesting line: “I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul.” That is a great Dylan line. So, he was clearly emotionally invested.

He also expresses a desire for her to chase after him, or for her to be more hurt about the breakup. We get the feeling that she won’t think twice and that is what got him to think about the title of the song.

The melody of the song is traditional, so if it sounds like you might have heard it before, it is possible. However, by now, Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” is the standard. This is very early Dylan, and we can hear that his voice sounds very clear and almost as good as it ever did.  Note the clarity of his guitar picking. We can tell he is an above-average acoustic guitar player: he strikes the individual strings cleanly while singing and maintaining the rhythm. That is not easy.

Dylan does spiteful breakup songs better than anyone. Here we get just a hint of his true feelings. The message of “Don’t Think Twice” is delivered in a very passive-aggressive manner. Whereas he is thinking “Screw you bitch” it comes out “we never did too much talkin anyway/ but don’t think twice it’s all right.”

Don’t Think Twice Lyrics

It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don’t matter, anyhow
And it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don’t know by now
When your rooster crows at the breaks of dawn
Look out your window and I’ll be gone
You’re the reason I’m traveling on

Don’t think twice, it’s all right

It ain’t no use in turning on your light, babe
That light I never knowed
And it ain’t no use in turning on your light, babe
I’m on the dark side of the road
But I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talking anyway

So don’t think twice, it’s all right
It ain’t no use in calling out my name, gal
Like you never done before
It ain’t no use in calling out my name, gal
I can’t hear you any more
I’m a-thinking and a-wond’rin’ walking down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I’m told
I give her my heart but she wanted my soul

Don’t think twice, it’s all right
So long honey, babe
Where I’m bound, I can’t tell
Goodbye’s too good a word, babe
So I’ll just say fare thee well
I ain’t saying you treated me unkind
You could have done better but I don’t mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
But don’t think twice, it’s all right

written by Bob Dylan

And if you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.

Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” is a great breakup song. It appears that promises were made and now that couple is no longer together. The chain that held them together was supposed to stay like that forever.

These words that we speak to each other when we are together–of forever and permanence–do they lose all meaning when the love dies? Was it a lie? Regardless, the narrator says you will never have his love again.  Buckingham has used this line before in Never Going Back Again. Apparently, you get one try with him.

“The Chain” was written on the famous Rumours album, in which everyone in the band was enmeshed in each other’s sex lives and it was crumbling apart. It made for excellent music, but perhaps not the best working environment. The album is a masterpiece and I cannot imagine anyone not having it in their top five all-time.

“The Chain” is one of the only songs written by everyone in Fleetwood Mac. You can hear the individual contributions of each performer if you listen closely. Most notable is John McVie’s contribution on the bass. The song is heavily driven by its distinct bassline. It has one of Lindsey’s best solos as well. He really rocks. If you have seen him play this live you can see he plays part of the lead while singing at the same time. It is ridiculous.

The Best Cover of The Chain- The Highwomen

This is one of those songs that you would think could never be covered well. However, The Highwomen deliver a captivating performance–worthy of the original–below.

The Chain Lyrics

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise.
Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies.

And if, you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.
I can still hear you saying,
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain).

And if you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.
I can still hear you saying,
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain).

Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night.
Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies.
Break the silence, damn the dark, damn the light.

And if you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.
I can still hear you saying,
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain).

And if you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.
I can still hear you saying,
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain).

And if you don’t love me now,
You will never love me again.
I can still hear you saying,
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain).
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)…

written by Fleetwood Mac