Sister Christian there’s so much in life/
Don’t you give it up before your time is due.

“Sister Christen” by Night Ranger is a 1980s power-ballad that almost defines the genre. Night Ranger had the big hair, blazing guitar solos combined with the tender piano intro. Add in the iconic drum crescendo leading into the catchy chorus and you have an all-time great song.

Upon first listen, it is not clear what, exactly Sister Christian is about. Is it about a nun? No, it is about the narrators’ literal little sister. She is growing up fast and that can be disconcerting to older family members. He notices that her old playmates are interested in her for another reason now—for her sex appeal.

Sister Christian is living up her teenage years and exploring. Dating. She’s ‘motoring’. It is not necessarily that she is moving too fast, it seems fast for her older brother and her mother who are concerned about her safety and advise caution. She has a lot of life in front of her. (And wasn’t she just in diapers yesterday?) Typical elderly advice that will probably be ignored.

Sister Christian probably interprets the brother and mother’s advice as unwanted or dated; but it seems to be coming from a good place. Where you are in life might have a big impact on whether you view these lyrics as wise or unwarranted.

Sister Christian Lyrics

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you’re the only one
To say okay
Where you going
What you looking for
You know those boys
Don’t want to play no more with you
It’s true

You’re motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Babe, you know
You’re growing up so fast
And mama’s worrying
That you won’t last
To say let’s play
Sister Christian
There’s so much in life
Don’t you give it up
Before your time is due
It’s true
It’s true yeah

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
You’ve got him in your sight
And driving through the night

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you’re the only one
To say okay
But you’re motoring
Yeah motoring

Songwriters: Kelly Keagy

These days we go to waste like wine/
That’s turned to turpentine…

In Brandi Carlile’s “Turpentine”, the narrator is looking at childhood photographs and reminiscing about how things used to be better—specifically between her and a sibling. The memories brought about from the pictures are bittersweet; she sees how close and happy they were back then. How have things turned so wrong? Their relationship is not completely irreparable, but it is getting there.

She says she’d like to make amends as they are both getting older. Time is running out–and perhaps her patience is too.

Carlile describes their relationship “like wine that’s turned to turpentine”. Wine is great and useful; and if properly cared for it has many uses that can bring happiness. If left unattended it turns to a less precious material: turpentine, a varnish. There are cheaper ways to varnish your floors than by letting your good wine ruin.
She is asking that her sibling let her in—so that they can be close like they once were.

Carlile and the band sound great. The sound is a mixture of folk and modern country music that most music lovers will adore. She sings the song sadly and at times exasperated. Shouldn’t it be easy to get on with your siblings? Sometimes it’s not, and we can hear the frustration in her voice.

If you like this song, check out her version of “The Chain” that she performs in The Highwomen. Also, “Ghost” by the Indigo Girls is a song that sounds like it influenced Carlile’s sound.

Turpentine Lyrics

I watch you grow away from me in photographs,
And memories like spies;
And salt betrays my eyes again.
I started losing sleep and gaining weight,
And wishing I was was ten again,
So I could be your friend again.

These days we go to waste like wine,
That’s turned to turpentine.
It’s six AM and I’m all messed up,
I didn’t mean to waste your time.
So I’ll fall back in line,
But I’m warning you we’re growing up.

I heard you found some pretty words to say,
You found your little game to play,
And there’s no one allowed in.
Then just when we believe we could be great,
Reality it permeates,
And conquers from within again.

These days we go to waste like wine,
That’s turned to turpentine.
It’s six a.m and I’m all messed up,
I didn’t mean to waste your time.
So I’ll fall back in line,
But I’m warning you we’re growing up.

We’re OK I know we’re OK.
These days we go to waste like wine,
That’s turned to turpentine,
It’s six AM and I’m all messed up.
I didn’t mean to waste your time,
So I’ll fall back in line,
But I’m warning you we’re growing up.

Source: Thegreatestsongs.com
Songwriters: Brandi M. Carlile

Because of you/
I never stray too far from the sidewalk.

In “Because of You” Kelly Clarkson writes about how parent’s mistakes and bad parenting can filter down to their kids. Her parents had fears and now she has those same irrational fears—and she can’t help them. This is why psychotherapy is multibillion-dollar business. This is a great song for all new and potential parents to listen to: look how much you can mess up your child. And this is screw-up is rather mild.

“Because of You” is at its best when Clarkson is singing softly. If you have ever watched her or similar judges during The Voice one thing they constantly advise the contestants to do is to “have at least one moment”. What they are saying is that you must have one of those crazy vocal runs or the silly audience won’t be able to understand that you are singing with feeling.

Nonsense. Listen to Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield…or singers who do use the occasional vocal run, but use it sparingly: Sara Bareilles, Adele, Stevie Nicks.

That being said, this is still a nice song with a good melody, interesting story and above average vocals.

Because of You Lyrics

I will not make
The same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break
The way you did, you fell so hard
I’ve learned the hard way
To never let it get that far

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid

I lose my way
And it’s not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that’s weakness in your eyes
I’m forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can’t possibly break
When it wasn’t even whole to start with

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid

I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known
Better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don’t know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I’m ashamed of my life
Because it’s empty
Because of you
I am afraid

Because of you
Because of you

Songwriters: Kelly Brianne Clarkson / Ben Moody / David Hall Hodges