People tell me it’s a sin/
To know and feel too much within.

Dylan gives off the vibe that he is dead inside, but according to the quote above from “Simple Twist of Fate”, he actually believes he feels too much! Or at least the narrator of the song does.

“Simple Twist of Fate” has a weird rhyming pattern: AAABBCC. It helps give it a unique sound that sneaks up on you. It tells the story of a one-night stand that seems much more important to Dylan than it is to his paramour.

He continues to subconsciously look for her in crowds as he believes that she was a perfect match, and only the timing was just wrong. She didn’t see it. The imagery in the song is great. It helps match the music to set a mood to where you can almost see the scene play out like a movie.

“Simple Twist of Fate” is off Blood on the Tracks, which I believe most Dylanologists would rank his third best album–behind Blonde on Blonde and Highway 61 Revisited. The sound on each album is incredibly different. The mood on most of the songs on Blood on the Tracks is similar so if you like “Simple Twist of Fate”, you’ll find other stuff you like on their too. I think it could be argued that it is his best work.

Simple Twist of Fate Lyrics

They sat together in the park
As the evening sky grew dark
She looked at him and he felt a spark
Tingle to his bones
‘Twas then he felt alone
And wished that he’d gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate

They walked along by the old canal
A little confused, I remember well
And stopped into a strange hotel
With a neon burnin’ bright
He felt the heat of the night
Hit him like a freight train
Moving with a simple twist of fate

A saxophone someplace far-off played
As she was walkin’ on by the arcade
As the light bust through a beat-up shade
Where he was waking up
She dropped a coin into the cup
Of a blind man at the gate
And forgot about a simple twist of fate

He woke up, the room was bare
He didn’t see her anywhere
He told himself he didn’t care
Pushed the window open wide
Felt an emptiness inside
To which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate

He hears the ticking of the clocks
And walks along with a parrot that talks
Hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Where the sailors all come in
Maybe she’ll pick him out again
How long must he wait?
One more time, for a simple twist of fate

People tell me it’s a sin
To know and feel too much within
I still believe she was my twin
But I lost the ring
She was born in spring
But I was born too late
Blame it on a simple twist of fate

written by Bob Dylan

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t/
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt is one of the rare songs that had cross-over success on both the country charts and the pop charts. The song also sounds bluesy. It is truly hard to create a great song for both audiences. I think there are less than five such songs on this list.

“I Can’t Make You Love Me” is about how Raitt wishes her lover could feel more for her but he/she simply doesn’t. So, she will take what she can and accept the physical intimacy that is offered. The song is sad, since it is one of mismatched desires and unrequited love. Ideally, she wants to be love, but for tonight she’ll accept whatever he is willing to give her. What else can she do? She can’t make him love her.

This is another song on this list where the piano part is played by Bruce Hornsby. The End of the Innocence was also. The piano has some standout riffs—I believe that is harder to pull off on piano than on guitar. The song also has keyboards to fill in the sound.

Raitt’s vocal makes the song. She sounds resigned to her current situation. We empathize because it is a situation most of us can relate to. And it is heartbreaking. Interestingly Raitt’s biggest hit was when she over forty. So few artists have new hits after 40. I think Sia and Leonard Cohen might be the only two others on this list.

Check out the great cover by SOAK.

I Can’t Make You Love Me Lyrics

Turn down the lights,
Turn down the bed.
Turn down these voices inside my head.
Lay down with me,
Tell me no lies.
Just hold me close, don’t patronize,
Don’t patronize me.

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t.
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.
Here in the dark, in these final hours,
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power.
But you won’t, no you won’t,
‘Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t.

I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see,
The love you don’t feel when you’re holding me.
Morning will come and I’ll do what’s right,
Just give me till then to give up this fight.
And I will give up this fight.

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t.
You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t.
Here in the dark, in these final hours,
I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power.
But you won’t, no you won’t,
‘Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t.

written by Bonnie Raitt

Please don’t say we’ll never find a way/
And tell me all my love’s in vain.

Clapton has it pretty bad for “Layla”.  He describes the sense of desperation and despair a young man can feel when his love is unrequited or forbidden. Supposedly this song was written about his friend’s (George Harrison) wife. The life of a Rockstar is different than yours and mine.

Derrick and the Dominoes’ “Layla” is really two amazing songs in one. The first is with the guitar and vocals. The second with the extended piano outro is an entirely different song. Apart they may have been separate songs on this list. Together they create a top 50 song of all time. It would be interesting to see someone cover just the piano part but add lyrics to it.

Duane Allman played guitar on “Layla” though he wasn’t a member of Derrick and the Dominoes. Somehow, this song wasn’t a hit at first. That is so unbelievable as it is one of those songs that hits you pretty quick and on first listen. It has great vocals dueling guitars with iconic riffs and the piano outro. The topic of the song is one that tends to be well-liked also.

For a certain generation, his live unplugged version might be more famous, but it doesn’t match the original.

Layla Lyrics

What’ll you do when you get lonely?
And nobody’s waiting by your side?
You’ve been running and hiding much too long.
You know it’s just your foolish pride.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

I tried to give you consolation.
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you.
Turned my whole world upside down.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

Let’s make the best of the situation.
Before I finally go insane.
Please don’t say I’ll never find a way.
And tell me all my love’s in vain.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.

written by Eric Clapton & Jim Gordon