We’ll take the most from living/
Have pleasure while we can.

“Live for Today” is a summer of love classic by The Grass Roots. Notice the psychedelic-like feel of the guitars and the blended vocals in the chorus. The notion of living for today captures the music of this time period so perfectly.

Forget society with all their rigid plans. That just leads to needless complication and worry. Chasing money? That’s a fools errand too. The author tells his love that “as long as I’m with you” that’s all he really needs. He’ll live for today while others waste their life away.

“Live for Today” came out during the height of the Vietnam War, so when The Grass Roots sing “Let’s take the most of living/ have pleasure while we can,” it struck a chord with those who feared getting drafted. It is a great Carpe Diem song that stands the test of time. How important is chasing money and making plans if you can’t have love? A song that really epitomizes the hippy culture of the late 60s.

I think “Live For Today” makes an interesting contrast to one of the best protest songs of the 2010’s I’d Love it if We Made it by 1975.

Live For Today Lyrics

When I think of all the worries
People seem to find,
And how they’re in a hurry
To complicate their minds.

By chasing after money
And dreams that can’t come true,
I’m glad that we are different
We’ve better things to do.

May others plan their future
I’m busy loving you.
(One, two, three, four!)

Sha la la la la la live for today.
Sha la la la la la live for today.
And don’t worry ’bout tomorrow, hey.
Sha la la la la la live for today (live for today).

We were never meant to worry
The way that people do.
And I don’t mean to hurry
As long as I’m with you.

We’ll take it nice and easy
And use my simple plan.
You’ll be my lovin’ woman
I’ll be your lovin’ man.

We’ll take the most from living.
Have pleasure while we can.
(Two, three, four!)

Sha la la la la la live for today.
Sha la la la la la live for today.
And don’t worry ’bout tomorrow, hey.
Sha la la la la la live for today (live for today).

Baby, I need to feel you inside of me.
I got to feel you deep inside of me.
Baby, please come close to me.
I got to have you now, please, please.

Please, please gimme some a-lovin’.
To gimme some a-lovin’.
To gimme some a-lovin’.
To gimme some a-lovin’.
Baby, gimme some a-lovin’.
Gimme some a-lovin’.
Got to have all your lovin’.
Gimme some a-lovin’.
I need all your lovin’.
Gimme some a-lovin’.

Now I need all your loving
Sha la la la la la live for today.
Sha la la la la la live for today.
And don’t worry ’bout tomorrow, hey
Sha la la la la la live for today.
(Oh, no, no, no, no, no)
Sha la la la la la live for today.

Songwriters: Giulio Rapetti Mogol / Norman David Shapiro

You are/
Home, home, where I wanted to go.

The lyrics to Coldplay’s “Clocks” are obscure, but there are two central themes: One is the idea of time and missed opportunities: the roads taken and the roads not taken. I make decisions and they guide the path of my life, but they close off other opportunities. All the while the clock is ticking down the hours of my life.

The other hint to “Clocks” is in the chorus and outro, which is quoted above: “You are/ Home, home, where I wanted to go.” This is like a refrain for him to remind himself of his values. While opportunities might be missed, I need to remember that the ultimate thing of importance is the person I love—my home—and that is where I want to go.

The piano intro is a great riff that continues throughout the song and is one of the iconic piano intros of all-time. The piano is extremely up tempo. Usually we think of piano as a great song for delicate ballads. Here, Chris Martin shows that it can be a great instrument to drive a real rock song.

The tempo and matching drumbeat have a lot to do with that. The bass plays a surprisingly important part in the background of this song-though you might not notice it unless you listen for it. Altogether one of Coldplay’s best.

Clocks Lyrics

The lights go out and I can’t be saved.
Tides that I tried to swim against,
Have brought me down upon my knees,
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing…

Come out of the things unsaid,
Shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can’t be named,
A tiger’s waiting to be tamed, singing…

You are, you are…

Confusion that never stops,
The closing walls and the ticking clocks. gonna
Come back and take you home,
I could not stop, that you now know. singing…

Come out upon my seas,
Cursed missed opportunities am I
A part of the cure,
Or am I part of the disease? Singing…

You are, you are…
You are, you are…
You are, you are…

And nothing else compares,
And nothing else compares,
And nothing else compares.

You are, you are,
Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go.
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are),
Home, home, where I wanted to go (You are).

Songwriters: Guy Rupert Berryman / Jonathan Mark Buckland / William Champion / Christopher Anthony John Martin

Say after me/
It’s no better to be safe than sorry.

“Take On Me” by Ah Ha is a cute song about the struggles to communicate desires early in a relationship. The narrator is talking to the girl, and he feels confident about the act of talking to her, but he is wondering if he is just spewing nonsense, as he gets no reaction from her.

Is she shy? He isn’t sure. He knows that he wants her now and he gives her the carpe diem speech, “it’s no better to be safe than sorry.” He tells her that she should figure it out quick, because he’ll lose interest at this rate they are going at.

This song is classic 80s: synthesizers, falsettos, drum tracks and a band with a heavy European accent, and up tempo. The great chorus and wonderful singing make the song. The unique synthesizer riff is also a classic.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful cover version of “Take on Me” by Aqualung.

Take On Me Lyrics

We’re talking away
I don’t know what
I’m to say I’ll say it anyway
Today’s another day to find you
Shying away
I’ll be coming for your love, okay?

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two

So needless to say
I’m odds and ends
But I’ll be stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is okay
Say after me
It’s no better to be safe than sorry

Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two

Songwriters: Pal Waaktaar / Morten Harket / Magne Furuholmen