I travel the world and the seven seas,
Everybody’s looking for something…

The Eurythmics’’ “Sweet Dreams” is a song about hopefulness and perseverance. Despite the sinister sounding keyboards, pounding bassline, and suggestive lyrics, Annie Lennox is really just hoping that everyone finds what they are looking for in life—whatever that might be.

The world might seem frightening, but it really isn’t. Everyone is just looking for happiness Are you looking for x? Are you looking for not-x? “Go for it”, is her message. This is what she is trying to convey in her sometimes-misinterpreted lyric:

Some of them want to abuse you;
Some of them want to be abused.

Ultimately, everyone is looking for something, and who is she to tell anyone they are wrong to want what makes them happy? The song has both hedonistic and libertarian ideals at its core: “pleasure is good” and “do what you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with me”. Of course, these are not explicitly stated.

The lasting greatness of the song comes from the synthesizer, the driving beat and Lennix’s amazing, unique vocal performance. It is the quintessential 80s sound. I did always think the song was called “Sweet Dreams are Made of These”.

Sweet Dreams (are made of this) Lyrics

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas,
Everybody’s looking for something.

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Hold your head up
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart

Who can say where the road goes/
Where the day flows, only time.

Enya has one of the more recognizable sounds of any contemporary performer. The echo combined with the Irish accent and overdubbed vocals creates a soothing sound that is instantly recognizable.

Some describe Enya’s sound as “New Age”. I am not certain about that. I think it transcends” that into the pop/ soft rock category-not that it is all that important. Like Sade, she seems to be a genre unto herself.

“Only Time” is Enya’s best song. I especially like the background vocals in the third verse. The message is simple: When and how can we know the answers to questions about important things in our life like love? Answers will be revealed in time. That is the only way. She does not say everything will work out for the best, just that answers will come. Time has a metaphysical quality for Enya: “only time knows” the answer, but it will only be revealed to us if we wait.

If you like Enya, you may also like Sade.

Only Time Lyrics

Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows, only time.
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose, only time.

Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies, only time.
And who can say why your heart cries,
When your love lies, only time.

Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be in your heart.
And who can say when the day sleeps,
If the night keeps all your heart.
Night keeps all your heart.

Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose, only time.
And who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows, only time.

Who knows? Only time
Who knows? Only time

Songwriters: Enya / Nicky Ryan / Roma Shane Ryan

Oh, such a perfect day/
You just keep me hanging on

Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” is one of the best songs about the simple pleasures of love: walking in a park, enjoying the weekend, checking out the zoo or a movie. There is something to be said for sharing simple pleasures with someone you love. There are some darker undertones to the song, such as the above lyric when he says “you just keep me hangin on”. It sounds like he is struggling mentally or emotionally.

At the end he promises the girl that she will reap what she sows. Meaning, that he appreciates the time she is putting in with him while he is struggling; he will make it up to her when he feels better. So, in a sense it isn’t a perfect day. It is a perfect day given the circumstances.

“Perfect Day” starts out with two haunting chords. The mood is slightly lighter throughout the verse—but it is still hesitant and slightly tense. By the time we get to the chorus we do feel as if the music and his mood is one of elation. The release is a nice feeling.

The song has a very nice piano arrangement that is original sounding. Reed has one of those voices like Dylan or Cohen, that is unspectacular, but good—if you allow yourself to take it in. This is one of his better vocals because he delivers it with a lot of emotion. This is probably his best vocal—either solo or in Velvet Underground.

Perfect Day Lyrics

Just a perfect day,
Drink Sangria in the park.
And then later
When it gets dark, we go home.

Just a perfect day,
Feed animals in the zoo.
Then later
A movie, too, and then home.

Oh, it’s such a perfect day,
I’m glad I spent it with you.
Oh, such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on.
You just keep me hanging on.

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone.
Weekenders on our own,
It’s such fun.

Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was
Someone else, someone good.

Oh, it’s such a perfect day,
I’m glad I spent it with you.
Oh, such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.

You’re going to reap just what you sow,
You’re going to reap just what you sow.
You’re going to reap just what you sow,
You’re going to reap just what you sow.

Songwriters: Lou Reed