Tonight we touched on the things that were never spoken/
That kind of understanding sets me free.

Elton John’s “The Last Song” is a beautiful deep cut from John and Bernie Taupin. The music is good, the lyrics are great. “The Last Song” tells the story of a father and son who are estranged. One of them is sick…who don’t know who, but it is told from his perspective. I imagine it is the father. He is sick and dying.

He gets an unexpected visit from his son, who has come to see him on his death bed. His spirits are lifted and they begin to say the things that they should have said years ago. In the end he simply says, “I guess I misjudged love between a father and his son.”

“The Last Song” is the only song that can consistently bring me to tears. This might be the only piece of art that consistently does so. The combination of the maudlin music with the sad but also uplifting story about the father and son is just too much. The production is well done. Notice how minimalist it is. It truly is difficult to convey this much with so little.

Lyrics The Last Song
Yesterday
you came to lift me up
As light as straw and brittle as a bird

Today I weigh less than a shadow on the wall
Just one more whisper of a voice unheard

Tomorrow
leave the windows open
As fear grows please hold me in your arms
Won’t you help me if you can to shake this anger
I need your gentle hands to keep me calm

‘Cause I never thought I’d lose
I only thought I’d win
I never dreamed I’d feel
This fire beneath my skin

I can’t believe you love me
I never thought you’d come
I guess I misjudged love
Between a father and his son

Things we never said come together
The hidden truth no longer haunting me
Tonight we touched on the things that were never spoken
That kind of understanding sets me free
‘Cause I never thought I’d lose
I only thought I’d win
I never dreamed I’d feel
This fire beneath my skin
I can’t believe you love me
I never thought you’d come
I guess I misjudged love
Between a father and his son

written by Elton and Bernie Taupin

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head.
See, the sea wants to take me…

The narrator of “I Know It’s Over” by The Smiths is heartbroken. The girl he loves is getting married to someone else. Well, “loves” is a strong word. He’s infatuated with her. He seeks out the comfort and advice of his mother, who is the wrong person to go to. His mother seems to be horrible for so many reasons. One, she seems broken herself. Two, she doesn’t seem very supportive of her son.

She says the following to her son: “If you’re so good-looking, why do you sleep with yourself tonight.” Ouch. Is that tough love or shitty parenting? Perhaps if your son is talking about suicide (or feelings of impending doom), you might want to take it a little easier.

His mother does have some good advice for him, but it is couched in horrible advice. She tells him not to be bitter about love: “It is so easy to laugh. It is so easy to hate. It takes guts to be gentle and kind.” Okay good advice! Then: “love is…not for such as you and I my love”. Why say that?  She’s telling him he will be fated to the same lack of love that she is because…I am not sure why. It is a devastating story. Naturally, this brings the narrator back to thoughts of suicide.

“I Know It’s Over” highlights Morrisey’s voice in a way that few of his other songs do. There is a distinct melody to the song, but it is similar to the melodies in Dylan’s songs: it is understated, and might not be as accessible as other rock songs.

I Know It’s Over Lyrics

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said.
I know it’s over – still I cling
I don’t know where else I can go
Oh…

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
See, the sea wants to take me
The knife wants to slit me
Do you think you can help me?

Sad veiled bride, please be happy
Handsome groom, give her room
Loud, loutish lover, treat her kindly
(Though she needs you
More than she loves you)
And I know it’s over – still I cling
I don’t know where else I can go
Over and over and over and over
Over and over, la…

I know it’s over
And it never really began
But in my heart it was so real
And you even spoke to me, and said :
“If you’re so funny
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
And if you’re so clever
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
If you’re so very entertaining
Then why are you on your own tonight ?
If you’re so very good-looking
Why do you sleep alone tonight ?
I know…

‘Cause tonight is just like any other night
That’s why you’re on your own tonight
With your triumphs and your charms
While they’re in each other’s arms…”
It’s so easy to laugh
It’s so easy to hate
It takes strength to be gentle and kind
Over, over, over, over
It’s so easy to laugh
It’s so easy to hate
It takes guts to be gentle and kind
Over, over

Love is natural and real
But not for you, my love
Not tonight, my love
Love is natural and real
But not for such as you and I, my love
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head

written by The Smiths

Half of what I say is meaningless/
But I say it just to reach you, Julia.

We don’t get to hear a lot of solo acoustic work from Lennon from his Beatles years and it is a shame. “Julia” is a tender song (written about his mother) with a beautiful melody and simple accompanying guitar part that highlights Lennon’s voice. I am not sure how many other songs he does finger picking on, but it sounds nice. The song sounds personal to him and his humming helps to sweeten the delivery. He calls this a “song of love for you, Julia”. Very sweet.

“Julia’s” bridge is really amazing (her hair of floating sky is shimmering…). It really shows that a bridge doesn’t need to be long, it just needs to break up the rhythm of the song to create a complimentary sound to the verse and chorus. Once we get back to the chorus and verse for the second or third time, it will sound more fresh if it had a bridge between it. This is one of the better ones.

This song sounds like a lullaby. I imagine there are many women out there named Julia who probably have a love/hate relationship with this song. Does every suitor sing it to them? That could get annoying.

Julia Lyrics

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you, Julia

Julia, Julia, ocean child, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering
In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Hum, hum, hum, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia, Julia, Julia

written by Lennon/Mccartney