It’s been seven hours and fifteen days/
Since you took your love away.

“Nothing Compares 2U” by Sinead O’Conner is great song written by Prince.  He never released a version that was anywhere near as good as O’Conner’s. That says a lot about how good this version is. Sometimes covers are better.

“Nothing Compares 2U” is a breakup song: the narrator had her love taken away. If she could give it another shot she would do it in a heartbeat…because no one compares to her ex. But she can’t. It is a very sad song.

There is a great bit of imagery at the end of the song. Whether due to her depression from the breakup, or her simple lack of knowledge of how to properly treat them, the flowers that her lover planted at his house died when she broke up with him: “All the flowers that you planted mama/ in my backyard/ all died when you went away.” Sad.

In “Nothing Compares 2 U” we can hear Sinead’s great voice and the ease with which she sings with emotion. We believe she wrote the song. The string arrangement and production do a lot of work for the song. It makes the song sound melodramatic and sorrowful and that is what it is going for.

O’Conner was a rising star in music after this was released; she was a budding superstar, really…just listen to her. Then she went on SNL and ripped up a picture of the pope and then next thing you knew everyone hated her and her career was basically over. At the time, it was not even really clear what she was upset about, but she was vilified and ostracized.

She was years ahead of her time.

Nothing Compares 2 U Lyrics

It’s been seven hours and fifteen days
Since you took your love away
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since you took your love away

Since you been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
‘Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you

It’s been so lonely without you here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong

I could put my arms around every boy I see
But they’d only remind me of you
I went to the doctor and guess what he told me?
Guess what he told me?
He said girl you better try to have fun
No matter what you do, but he’s a fool
‘Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you

All the flowers that you planted mama
In the back yard
All died when you went away
I know that living with you baby was sometimes hard
But I’m willing to give it another try
‘Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you

Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
Nothing compares
Nothing compares to you

written by Prince

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.

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

Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide/
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no.

Carole King has had one of the most bizarre careers. She basically released one great album, Tapestry and not much else after. It could be argued that it is the best album of all-time by any artist. There is not a single bad song on it. It is definitely top ten. “It’s Too Late” was the best song from that album.

Before this, she wrote hits for other people. Several are on this list, or are recognizable to any music fan, such as I’m Into Something Good, One Fine Day, Up On the Roof, Natural Woman, and of course, Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles. She would record some of these songs herself on Tapestry.

In “It’s Too Late” Carole King talks about the ending of a relationship in an unsentimental way. Something inside her has died and she can’t fake it anymore. It is too late to save the relationship. She asks her lover if he doesn’t feel it too.

Her voice sounds very real. “It’s Too Late” doesn’t feel like a performance so much as her trying to work through her feelings in song. That said, there is still a lot going on in the recording. You have a sax and keyboard solo in addition to her piano playing. Live performances of her singing this with just a piano sound great too.

It’s Too Late Lyrics

Stayed in bed all mornin’ just to pass the time
There’s somethin’ wrong here, there can be no denyin’
One of us is changin’, or maybe we’ve just stopped tryin’
And it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no

It used to be so easy, livin’ here with you
You were light and breezy, an’ I knew just what to do
Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool
And it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no

There’ll be good times again for me and you
But we just can’t stay together, don’t you feel it, too?
Still I’m glad for what we had and how I once loved you
But it’s too late, baby now, it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can’t make it)
Somethin’ inside has died, and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it, oh, no, no, no, no, no

It’s too late, baby, it’s too late now, darling
It’s too late.
written by Carole King & Toni Stern