You’re the scent of an unfound bloom/
A simple tune I only write variations to.

“Melody of You” is a beautiful song that not many people have heard of. I am not sure it ever got any radio play. Sixpense None-the-Richer had one hit in “Kiss Me”, but this was their true masterpiece. The theme of the song is familiar: “My love is special, let me count the ways.” These songs can often go from good to great based up the lyrics.

We want specifics, or at least descriptions we haven’t heard before. The quote above is a great example. The narrator is comparing her love to an undiscovered scent of a flower and saying he is her muse in everything she does. That is romantic stuff!

Lead singer Leigh Nash delivers a solid vocal but the arrangement is what is really impressive. It starts with the light finger-picking of an acoustic guitar and all of the sudden we are almost into a full-blown symphony. In the background the snare drum plays a central part. It is an interesting choice that I don’t think everyone would have made. You usually don’t hear a snare with strings, perhaps that is why it stands out.

Melody of You Lyrics

You’re a painting with symbols deep,
Symphony soft as it shifts from dark beneath
A poem that flows, caressing my skin
In all of these things you reside
And I want you to flow from the pen, bow and brush
With paper and string, and canvas tight
With ink in the air, to dust your light?
From morning to the black of night

This is my call
I belong to you
This is my call
To sing the melodies of you
This is my call
I can do nothing else
I can do nothing else

You’re the scent of an unfound bloom
A simple tune
I only write variations to sooth the mood
A drink that will knock me down to the floor
A key that will unlock the door
Where I hear a voice sing familiar themes
Then beckons me weaves notes in between
A tap and a string, a bow and a glass
You pour me ’till the day has passed

Songwriters: Matthew Preston Slocum

She knows there’s no success like failure/
And that failure’s no success at all.

I would argue that “Love Minus Zero” is the one of the two true love songs that Dylan ever wrote. He wrote many songs about love, but none of them contained as overtly a positive message as this one. (Sad Eyed Lady and Sara are pretty close…interestingly all of these songs are written for the same woman. He ended up marrying her.).

Dylan praises a woman differently than anyone else would, and that is what makes him the best song writer.  He says, “my love doesn’t have to say she’s faithful, but she’s true like ice like fire.”  And people try to charm her by the hour but valentine’s can’t buy her. She also does not judge and she speaks softly…he is very specific, and I’d imagine this would have to be intoxicating for a woman to hear. The way he describes her makes her sound amazing.

The melody of the song is solid and Dylan is in good voice. Like many of his songs it has a harmonica solo—which I like. The song is simple. There is no bridge or chorus, so it is unique and not exactly catchy, but it is a different type of song for Dylan. Combined with his beautiful lyrics it makes for an excellent love song worthy of the top 500.

Lyrics Love Minus Zero/No Limits

My love she speaks like silence
Without ideals or violence
She doesn’t have to say she’s faithful
Yet she’s true, like ice, like fire
People carry roses
And make promises by the hours
My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can’t buy her

In the dime stores and bus stations
People talk of situations
Read books, repeat quotations
Draw conclusions on the wall
Some speak of the future
My love she speaks softly
She knows there’s no success like failure
And that failure’s no success at all

The cloak and dagger dangles
Madams light the candles
In ceremonies of the horsemen
Even the pawn must hold a grudge
Statues made of matchsticks
Crumble into one another
My love winks, she does not bother
She knows too much to argue or to judge

The bridge at midnight trembles
The country doctor rambles
Bankers’ nieces seek perfection
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring
The wind howls like a hammer
The night blows rainy
My love she’s like some raven
At my window with a broken wing

Songwriters: Bob Dylan

Woman-I will try to express/
My inner feeling and thankfulness/
For showing me the meaning of success.

John Lennon’s “Woman” is one of his more personal love songs. It really shows a lot about how his ideas of love have grown and how his appreciation for different aspects of women have changed. Gone are the days are “she was just seventeen, you know what I mean”.

Lennon does not mention looks or sexual attraction for this woman at all in this song. He does, however, mention a deep spiritual attraction that seems to transcend the physical. She understands and takes care of his basic needs. For this he is in her debt, and he hopes to avoid causing her sorrow and pain.

The melody of both the verse and chorus are the strength of “Woman”. Lennon’s voice sounds great, but it almost always does. He sings the song as if it means something to him, and that makes the song resonate. We can especially feel it in the “Oohs” and “Aahs” he sings.

The guitar part is memorable. The sound is distinct. He plays and electric guitar in a typical acoustic guitar pattern. The up and down picking of the chord progression is not unique to this song, but it stands out. The background singers are a bold choice but a great one. They add depth to the sound as if another instrument was playing.

Woman Lyrics

Woman
I can hardly express
My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness
After all, I’m forever in your debt
And woman
I will try to express
My inner feeling and thankfulness
For showing me the meaning of success

Ooh, well, well
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Ooh, well, well
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Woman
I know you understand
The little child inside the man
Please remember my life is in your hands

And woman
Hold me close to your heart
However distant, don’t keep us apart
After all it is written in the stars

Ooh, well, well
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Ooh, well, well
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo

Well, woman
Please let me explain
I never meant to cause you sorrow or pain
So let me tell you again and again and again

I love you, yeah, yeah
Now and forever
I love you, yeah, yeah
Now and forever
I love you, yeah, yeah
Now and forever
I love you, yeah, yeah

Songwriters: John Lennon