I run for the bus, dear/
While riding I think of us, dear.

Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer” was a heavily covered song when it came out. Several of the top divas of the time took a shot at it, but Aretha Franklin is the one who really nailed it. Her version sounds happy, free flowing and loving—which is what this song should be about. Other versions sound robotic or stilted.

Notice Aretha’s mic work…she belts out several notes, but they don’t sound overwhelming because she steps away from the mic. Also, her runs are tight and minimal. And there is minimal vibrato. This is how you should sing.

I think this is a much better example of Aretha Franklins work that “Respect”. She shows off a greater range and there is more nuisance in this song. I also think Respect gets annoying with the spelling and the repetition. The piano in “Say a Little Prayer” sounds playful and of course we have the standard Motown background singers.

I Say A Little Prayer Lyrics

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now
And wondering what dress to wear, now
I say a little prayer for you

Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, together, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me

I run for the bus, dear
While riding I think of us, dear
I say a little prayer for you
At work I just take time
And all through my coffee break-time
I say a little prayer for you
Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you

Forever, forever we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, together, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me

My darling believe me
For me there is no one
But you

written by Burt Bacharach

I hope and pray that someday/
That I’ll be the vision of your happiness.

The melody of The Penguin’s “Earth Angel” is classic. I also like the concept of this song. He is calling his beloved an “Earth Angel”…that’s awesome. The lyrics of this song are not terribly deep, but that is not what pop music was about at this time.

“Earth Angel” was written in 1954, so that is even pre-Buddy Holly, Valens or the Everly Brothers. This song had everything else. Notice the attempts of harmonies. They are rudimentary, but they are important to the development of the genre. There would also be many covers of this song that sound really good. Perhaps the best version of this song has yet to be done.

If you are a fan of Boys II Men or Motown, this is where it all started—this song was recorded in a garage where The Penguins practice. They would never have another hit.

Earth Angel Lyrics

Earth angel, Earth angel, will you be mine?
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

Earth angel, Earth angel, the one I adore
Love you for ever, and ever more.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision of your hap, happiness.

Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you all the time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love’s loveliness.
I hope and I pray, that some day
I’ll be the vision, the vision of your happiness.

Oh, oh, oh, Earth angel, Earth angel, please be mine.
My darling dear, love you for all time.
I’m just a fool, a fool in love with you.

written by Curtis Williams / Gaynel Hodge / Jesse Lorenzo Belvin

Just gimme a chance/
To show you how to love again.

In “Last Worthless Evening” Don Henley sees a woman on the street and sees that she is struggling finding love. Hey, he is struggling too. It is been nearly two years for him since he found a real connection with someone. But he sees something in this girl. He is going to take her under his wing—if she’ll give him a chance to show her how to love again.

Don Henley’s “Last Worthless Evening” essentially offers the woman a choice: take a chance on him and it might be your last worthless evening ever, or continue on as you are with your heartbreak and pain. When you put it that way it seems like Henley’s at least worth a shot.

Henley plays a bit of a hero/savior character in the song. He is going to rescue her and take her and treat her well till her heart is on the mend. It is a romantic thought. However, Henley appears to just know this woman from afar. Guys get notions in their heads like this sometimes, though. We think we can fix things.  “Just be with me and you won’t have anymore worthless nights”. It is a fairy-tale he is selling, but perhaps it has a chance of being a life that is better than the one she currently has. Who knows?

Last Worthless Evening Lyrics

I know you broke up with him,
And your heart’s still on the shelf.
It’s been over two years for me,
And I’m still not quite myself.

You can’t be with someone new,
And you can’t go back to him.
You’re beginning to realize
That it’s sink-or-swim.

I see you around sometimes,
And my heart just melts.
You’re lookin’ like if you had your wish
You’d be somewhere else.

And it just breaks my heart
To see you here this way.
Someday I’ll get the nerve,
To walk up to you and say,

“This is the last worthless evening
That you’ll have to spend.
Just gimme a chance,
To show you how to love again.”

“This is the last worthless evening
That you’ll have to spend.
‘Cause I’ll be there,
When your broken heart is on the mend.”

Every night it’s the same old crowd
Smoky rooms.
You catch a faint glimpse of love sometimes,
But it never blooms.

I’ve been around this block a time or two.
And I’ve made some big mistakes,
But girl I promise you, I promise you,
This is the last worthless evening
That you’ll have to spend.
Just gimme a chance
To show you how to love again.

This is the last worthless evening,
That you’ll have to spend.
‘Cause it won’t be long,
‘Til your little heart is on the mend.

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
(Time, time, tickin’, tickin’, tickin’ away).
(Time, time, tickin’, tickin’, tickin’),
(Time, time, tickin’, tickin’, tickin’ away),
(Time, time, tickin’, tickin’, tickin’).

People inside their houses
With the shades pulled down.
God knows, we could use some romance
In this sleepy bedroom town.
I know you’re still afraid to rush into anything…

But there’re just so many summers,
And just so many springs.
And this is the last worthless evening
That you’ll have to spend.

Just gimme a chance, gimme a chance,
To show you how love again.
This is the last worthless evening
That you’ll have to spend.
‘Cause it won’t be long,
‘Til your little heart is on the mend.

That you’ll have to spend,
Just gimme a chance, darling,
To show you how to love again.
This is the last worthless evening,
That you’ll have to spend.
’cause it won’t be long,
‘Til your broken heart is on the mend.

written by Don Henley