Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
You’re whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone.

Pink’s “Glitter in the Air” is about letting go and being spontaneous. I guess Pink thinks throwing glitter in the air is pretty crazy. It is as good as a metaphor as anything else. Creating those special moments in life and in a relationship are things to be celebrated and to be remembered. Sometimes creating memorable moments involves risking being turned down, or not having your phone call returned, but Pink argues that it is always worth it.

I really love the bridge of Pink’s “Glitter in the Air”. I have always thought that it sounds like something I have heard before. I have heard that Paul McCartney didn’t record Yesterday for the longest time because he could swear he heard it before and it already existed. That is how I feel with the bridge. I feel like I have heard that “Sugar” part before. It might just be that it is so iconic. It could be that I can’t place what it reminds me of. Regardless, I love that part.

Interestingly, this is the second song for Pink on this list. That means I would vote for her for Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Two songs on the top 500 and it is automatic for me. Such an achievement.

Glitter in the Air Lyrics

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don’t care?

And it’s only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg
The sun before the burn
The thunder before the lightning
Breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
You’re whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It’s only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table
The walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

La la la la la la la la
There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee,
Calling me sugar

You called me sugar
Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight?
Tonight

Songwriters: Alicia Moore / William Mann

Uh, sleep all day, out all night,
I know where you’re going.

Before Joe Walsh became a lead guitarist of The Eagles he was the lead singer for James Gang. James Gang was quite different than The Eagles. James Gang can best be defined by this, their best song: Funk. They had multiple lead guitars, heavy percussion and their songs were jam heavy, lyric lite.  And there was lots of partying. This song sounds like it was recorded in the middle of a party that didn’t stop during the recording. There are people howling in the background—and that seems to add the texture of the song.

“Funk #49” is a classic “chicks suck” song. Walsh is great at those. He writes about how girls are trouble, only bring you heart-ache and are up to no-good. And he doesn’t think that’s right! I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention Walsh’s unique voice. It is up there with Dylan with most unlikely voices to be lead singer, but it works and lots of people (me included) love it.

Funk #49 Lyrics

Uh, sleep all day, out all night,
I know where you’re going.
I don’t that’s a-acting right,
You don’t think it’s showing.
A-jumpin’ up, fallin’ down,
Don’t misunderstand me.
You don’t think that I know your plan,
What you try’n to hand me?

Out all night, sleep all day,
I know what you’re doing.
If you’re gonna a-act that way,
Think there’s trouble brewing.

Songwriters: Dale Peters / James K. Fox / Joseph Fidler Walsh

Pulsin to the backbeat/
The Blitzkreig Bop.

The lyrics in The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” contain words that are similar to those used by the Germans during WWII, but I think that is a bit of a red herring. The meaning of “Blitzkrieg Bop” is innocuous–it is a party song which is played fast, thus “Blitzkrieg”—which connotes fast and “bop” which is slang for party. Plus, the alliteration and absurdity of the phrase makes for a cool song title.

This is one of those songs that makes you feel good. It reminds you of school being out for summer, and parties and concert-going, specifically, when you were younger. Overall, it reminds you of a simpler time in your life. It is a great anthem that still resonates some fifty years after it was written. The power chords and unmelodic vocals make this pretty much the beginning of punk music. The Ramones were extremely influential on punk and even heavy metal.

Blitzkrieg Bop Lyrics

Hey ho, let’s go.
Hey ho, well let’s go.
Hey ho, let’s go.
Hey ho, let’s go.

They’re formin’ in a straight line.
They’re goin’ through a tight one.
The kids are losin’ their minds-
The Blitzkrieg bop.

They’re pilin’ in the back seat.
They generate steam heat.
Pulsatin’ to the back beat-
The Blitzkrieg bop.

Hey ho, let’s go.
Shoot ’em in the back now.
What they want? I don’t know
They’re all reaved up and ready to go.

They’re formin’ in a straight line.
They’re goin’ through a tight one.
The kids are losin’ their minds-
The Blitzkrieg bop.

They’re pilin’ in the back seat.
They generate steam heat.
Pulsatin’ to the back beat-
The Blitzkrieg bop.

Hey ho, let’s go.
Shoot ’em in the back now.
What they want? I don’t know,
They’re all reaved up and ready to go.

They’re formin’ in a straight line.
They’re goin’ through a tight one.
The kids are losin’ their minds-
The Blitzkrieg bop.

They’re pilin’ in the back seat.
They generate steam heat.
Pulsatin’ to the back beat.
The Blitzkrieg bop.

Hey ho, let’s go.
Hey ho, let’s go.
Hey ho, let’s go.
Hey ho, let’s go.

Songwriters: Joey Ramone / John Cummings / Douglas Colvin / Thomas Erdelyi