It’s time to say
It’s time to know
That it’s O.K., that some must go.

Buzzy Linhart is not so much a one-hit wonder as a no-hit wonder. “The Love’s Still Growing” was definitely not a hit. It never got a lot of exposure. But this list is not about that. It is about greatness. There are so many things to love about this song. The raw-ness with which Buzzy expresses his heartbreak is as real as it gets. It is not just the lyrics—though the lyrics deliver.

The vocal performance is a bit reminiscent of Joe Cocker’s “You are so Beautiful”. The captured take is so impassioned that you can’t imagine a live performance or a cover ever matching it.

The musicianship in “The Love’s Still Growing” is experimental and captures the emotion of the song well. Great production. If you are a fan of the drums there is a lot here for you. If you like psychedelic music, you’ll love this. If you are a fan of songs about heartbreak, this one’s for you. Anyone who loves great rock music should give Buzzy Linhart a listen.

The Loves Still Growing Lyrics

And I’m so high
I can’t go on.
Oh but I
Can sing this song.

Because the love’s still growing.
And the love’s still growing.

Some folk say,
“That all hope is gone”
But today, the world is one.

Because the love’s still growing.
And the love’s still growing.

It’s time to say,
It’s time to know,
that “it’s O.K.”,
that some must go.

written by Buzzy Linhart

We had a promise made/
Four hands and then away.

In “Heartbeats”, The Knife’s sound like a mix between the 80s, synthesizer music and Blondie. I find it hard to justify the choice of a synthesizer in almost all songs. It rarely sounds like the ideal choice–but here it is fantastic.

Jose Gonzales’ cover version is extremely different and equally amazing. You rarely hear a cover version so different. That is exciting. Both seem to capture a different essence of the song. But what is the song trying to say?

The lyrics of “Heartbeats” tell the story of two people who meet each other and agree to a casual arrangement (see the quote above). They call it a “promise”—but these things cannot be promised. The two have a whirlwind two-week affair. The narrator falls in love. The narrator broke the promise.

At some point along the way the narrator believes that the terms of their arraignment had changed on both sides. Perhaps it was due to their lover’s cold heart and devilish hands, perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Regardless, at the end of the two weeks, the relationship is over, and the narrator is devastated and not even God could comfort them.

Jose Gonzales’ version of “Heartbeats” presents the story as a sad tale of heartbreak. The Knife’s version sounds like an angry, confused retelling of the events. Just as each of us would respond to the events differently it makes sense that there could be two different interpretations of the same tale.

Heartbeat Lyrics

One night to be confused.
One night to speed up truth.
We had a promise made,
Four hands and then away.

Both under influence,
We had divine scent.
To know what to say,
Mind is a razor blade.

To call for hands of above
To lean on.
Wouldn’t be good enough
For me, no.

One night of magic rush,
The start a simple touch.
One night to push and scream
And then relief.

Ten days of perfect tunes,
The colors red and blue.
We had a promise made,
We were in love.

To call for hands of above
To lean on.
Wouldn’t be good enough
For me, no.

To call for hands of above
To lean on,
Wouldn’t be good enough…

And you, you knew the hands of the devil.
And you, kept us awake with wolfs teeth.
Sharing different heartbeats
In one night.

To call for hands of above
To lean on.
Wouldn’t be good enough
For me, no.

To call for hands of above
To lean on.
Wouldn’t be good enough…

written by The Knife