So close the blinds and shut the door/
You won’t need other friends anymore.
Oh don’t leave home, oh don’t leave home.

“Don’t Leave Home” is a song about drug abuse. Sung in Dido’s sensual voice it almost comes across as a love song…but it clearly isn’t.  Dido speaks of the seduction and deceit involved in drug use, cleverly hidden in a song that sounds like a love song.

Dido gives voice to the drugs’ comforting words in this song: “You won’t need other friends anymore”, “If you’re cold, Ill keep you warm”, “I will be your safety”, etc. Dido warns about the seductive nature of drug use and it’s power to take over your life.  In return, all drugs asks for is your heart, and it will promise to be everything to you.

Dido

The verses and chorus both have great melodies, and the song is a unique take on a drug song. Dido uses electronic effects and percussion more than most on this list and she uses them well. They accentuate her voice and complement the melody rather than dominate it. This is song number two for Dido on this list, and I have a feeling she may get another. That puts her in Rock n Roll hall of Fame territory.

Don’t Leave Home Lyrics

Like a ghost don’t need a key,
Your best friend I’ve come to be.
Please don’t think of getting up for me,
You don’t even need to speak.

When I’ve been here for just one day,
You’ll already miss me if I go away.
So close the blinds and shut the door,
You won’t need other friends anymore.
Oh don’t leave home, oh don’t leave home.

And if you’re cold, I’ll keep you warm.
If you’re low, just hold on,
‘Cause I will be your safety,
Oh, don’t leave home.

And I arrived when you were weak,
I’ll make you weaker, like a child.
Now all your love you give to me,
When your heart is all I need.
Oh don’t leave home, oh don’t leave home.

And if you’re cold, I’ll keep you warm.
And if you’re low, just hold on.
‘Cause I will be your safety,
Oh, don’t leave home.

Oh how quiet, quiet the world can be,
When it’s just you and little me.
Everything is clear, and everything is new,
So you won’t be leaving, will you?

And if you’re cold, I’ll keep you warm,
And if you’re low, just hold on.
‘Cause I will be your safety,
Oh, don’t leave home.
‘Cause I will be your safety.
And I will be your safety,
I will be your safety.
Oh, don’t leave home.

Songwriters: Dido Armstrong / Rollo Armstrong

And you’re not what I asked for/
If I’m honest, I know I would give it all back/
For a chance to start over and rewrite an ending or two.

Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to be Mine” might sound like a love song, but it isn’t-it is a song to her younger self. It was written to be part of the musical she wrote called Waitress. This is the main song from it. She released it as a single too. It is a song to the person she was in the past—who was much different than the person she is now. She was younger, more carefree, willing to take chances, open to love and had a fire in her eyes.

Now that fire is gone. Mostly due to complications that life brings, and her struggles to make a living. Even though we’re not supposed to look back at our glory days, a part of Sara’s character yearns for that time.

Sara Bareilles has one of the most beautiful female voices in the past 20 or so years (I will also accept Sia and Adele). She is most known for a couple pop hits (Love Song, Brave) that really don’t show off her talents. Bareilles’ “She Used to be Mine” does a good job at showcasing her songwriting ability and her singing ability. She also plays piano.

‘She Used to be Mine” is tender, and we can hear it in the instrumentation but also in her voice. Sara can pull off singing about a better past without it sounding morose. Perhaps a better future is in store for the character.

She Used To Be Mine Lyrics

It’s not simple to say,
That most days I don’t recognize me.
That these shoes and this apron
That place and its patrons
Have taken more than I gave them.
It’s not easy to know,
I’m not anything like I used be, although it’s true.
I was never attention’s sweet center,
I still remember that girl.

She’s imperfect, but she tries,
She is good, but she lies.
She is hard on herself,
She is broken and won’t ask for help.
She is messy, but she’s kind,
She is lonely most of the time.
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie,
She is gone, but she used to be mine.

It’s not what I asked for,
Sometimes life just slips in through a back door
And carves out a person and makes you believe it’s all true.
And now I’ve got you.
And you’re not what I asked for,
If I’m honest, I know I would give it all back
For a chance to start over and rewrite an ending or two.
For the girl that I knew…

Who’ll be reckless, just enough.
Who’ll get hurt, but who learns how to toughen up,
When she’s bruised and gets used by a man who can’t love;
And then she’ll get stuck.
And be scared of the life that’s inside her,
Growing stronger each day ’til it finally reminds her
To fight just a little, to bring back the fire in her eyes,
That’s been gone, but used to be mine.

Used to be mine
She is messy, but she’s kind,
She is lonely most of the time.
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie,
She is gone, but she used to be mine.

Songwriter: Sara Bareilles

When the truth is found
To be lies/
And all the joy
Within you dies.

“Somebody to Love” is a great psychedelic rock classic sung by Gracie Slick of Jefferson Airplane. Her message: you better find somebody to love. The message is very traditional in this song: “When you don’t have anything else, you can rely on those you love”. But that is not really what she’s saying. She’s saying, “shit is going down, you better have some that loves you or you’re screwed. Find someone.” The sense of urgency with which she sings is rivaled by no one else in rock that I can think of. Everything she sings sounds imminent and important.

The song is produced incredibly well. I can’t imagine that a cover or a live performance could match the album performance. There are several layers of guitar that sound great including the bizarre distant sounding lead guitar during the solo at the end. The bass is excellent, but a bit hidden in the track…it helps establish the groove of the song. The rhythm section of the band is quite strong on the record.

Somebody to Love Lyrics

When the truth is found
To be lies
And all the joy
Within you dies

Don’t you want somebody to love?
Don’t you need somebody to love?
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?
You better find somebody to love
Love

When the garden flowers
Baby, are dead, yes
And your mind, your mind
Is so full of red

Don’t you want somebody to love?
Don’t you need somebody to love?
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?
You better find somebody to love

Your eyes, I say your eyes
May look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby
I’m afraid you don’t know where it is

Don’t you want somebody to love?
Don’t you need somebody to love?
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?
You better find somebody to love

Tears are running
They’re all running down your breast
And your friends, baby
They treat you like a guest

Don’t you want somebody to love?
Don’t you need somebody to love?
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?
You better find somebody to love

written by Gracie Slick