1980s songs, life is hard

Head Over Heels-The Gogos

Head over heels, no time to think/
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync.

The early 1980s brought a wave of fun girl bands: The Gogos, Cindi Lauper, The Bangles & Madonna (before the British accent) were all less serious than the female singer-songwriters of the 70s. At the time, people loved it, but it was not well received critically. Time has proved the critics wrong–the music rocks.

Head Over Heels by The Gogos explodes with a classic 80s synthesizer intro that gets your heart pumping. It is fast-paced–which aligns well with the meaning of the song. The song is about the hustle of daily life and struggling to make ends meet. Life can seem like both a daze and a whirlwind as we try to make it. Time passes slowly then quickly–it is disorienting.

As we hustle to make ends meet, sometimes, we forget about things that are truly important. As the narrator explains, “I’d forgotten about my heart”. This was perhaps “someone I left behind”. This revelation about her love life seems to send the narrator into a further spin…it’s life in the fast lane.

Both the chorus and verse sound great. They are hectic, alive and spontaneous–just like the lyrics. One thing I’d like to point out is the out-of-synch handclap (I think that’s what it is. It sounds kind of like a whip). It seems to come in at such a weird time that it throws you off your bearings as you wait to hear the follow up. This is great production.

Head Over Heels Lyrics

Been running so long
I’ve nearly lost all track of time
In every direction
I couldn’t see the warning signs
I must be losin’ it
‘Cause my mind plays tricks on me
It looked so easy
But you know looks sometimes deceive

Been running so fast
Right from the starting line
No more connections
I don’t need any more advice
One hand’s just reaching out
And one’s just hangin’ on
It seems my weaknesses
Just keep going strong

Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync

Been running so hard
When what I need is to unwind
The voice of reason
Is one I left so far behind
I’ve waited so long
So long to play this part
And just remembered
That I’d forgotten about my heart

Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync

Songwriters: Charlotte Caffey / Kathy Valentine

2010s songs, death

Elephant- Jason Isbell

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There’s one thing that’s real clear to me/
No one dies with dignity…

Jason Isbell’s “Elephant” may be one of the most emotionally moving songs you will ever hear. Elephant will disturb you. Can this make for great music? Yes. If a song can evoke any feeling in you that is a success. The point of art (if there is one) is to try to convey a feeling from one person to another through a particular medium.

Elephant discusses how we deal with our friends dying. Dying is really the only thing to talk about, but at the same time, time is short, and what is there really to say? Nothing will change the fact that the end is near. So, we dance around the elephant in the room and don’t mention the change in our dynamic. Is this the best way to handle a loved one dying? Probably not. But what is the alternative? Addressing the elephant is an equally bad alternative. Who wants to talk about the fact that soon your friend will be gone?

Elephant is in the country and blues tradition. Isbell’s voice is rightfully restrained. The sound is stripped down to just a guitar, background piano and Isbell’s voice. You could imagine a lesser singer ruining this song by adding unwanted vocal runs which distract from the lyrics and the somber tone.

Elton John’s Last Song and Death Cab for Cutie’s What Sara Said are two other fine songs that deal with death. None are sing-alongs, but each is emotionally moving in their own way.

Elephant Lyrics

She said, “Andy, you’re better than your past”
Winked at me and drained her glass
Cross-legged on a barstool, like nobody sits anymore
She said, “Andy, you’re taking me home”
But I knew she planned to sleep alone
I’d carry her to bed, sweep up the hair from her floor

If I’d fucked her before she got sick
I’d never hear the end of it
She don’t have the spirit for that now
We just drink our drinks and laugh out loud
And bitch about the weekend crowd
And try to ignore the elephant somehow
Somehow

She said, “Andy, you crack me up”
Seagram’s in a coffee cup
Sharecropper eyes, and the hair almost all gone
When she was drunk, she made cancer jokes
Made up her own doctors’ notes
Surrounded by her family, I saw that she was dying alone

But I’d sing her classic country songs
And she’d get high and sing along
She don’t have a voice to sing with now
We burn these joints in effigy
And cry about what we used to be
Try to ignore the elephant somehow
Somehow

I buried her a thousand times, given up my place in line
But I don’t give a damn about that now
There’s one thing that’s real clear to me
No one dies with dignity
We just try to ignore the elephant somehow
We just try to ignore the elephant somehow
We just try to ignore the elephant somehow
Somehow
Somehow

Song by Jason Isbell

1960s songs, breakup songs

How Can We Hang On To A Dream- Tim Hardin

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What can I do, still loving you/
It’s all a dream.

Tim Hardin’s “How Can We Hang On To A Dream” is a simple but beautiful song about a love that is falling apart. The narrator is clinging to the hope that the love can be rekindled, but we get the impression that for the woman the love is already over. The sorrow in Hardin’s voice betrays that he already knows—even though he still holds out the slimmest of hopes of reconciliation.

Both the music and the lyrics capture how surreal a breakup can seem. Your reality is changed very significantly. One day someone is the closest person to you and the next day they are out of your life forever. That reality can be devastating. Was it all a dream? I guess I have to start over again. Tomorrow is going to be so different than today.

How Do I Hang On To A Dream Meaning — Tim Hardin

“How Can We Hang On To A Dream” sounds so unique in its minimalism. It primarily features vocals and piano with contributions from strings and an understated percussion part. This is produced very well. It sounds very raw and there are no superfluous sounds or instruments to get in the way of the strong vocal. If there is anything lacking about this song it is its short length (2:03). Another minute and verse would have been welcome.

Hardin’s name might not sound familiar, but you’d probably recognize another all-time-great song he wrote: “Reason To Believe”.

How Can We Hang On To A Dream Lyrics

What can I say, she’s walking away,
From what we’ve seen.
What can I do, still loving you,
It’s all a dream.

How can we hang on to a dream?
How can it, will it be, the way it seems?

What can I do, she’s saying we’re through,
With how it was.
What will I try, I still don’t see why,
She says what she does.

How can we hang on to a dream?
How can it, will it be, the way it seems?

What can I say, she’s walking away,
From what we’ve seen.
What can I do, still loving you,
It’s all a dream.

How can we hang on to a dream?
How can it, will it be, the way it seems?
How can we hang on to a dream?

Songwriters: Tim Hardin

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