1970s songs, breakup songs

#249 Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd

Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love/
Though this feeling I can’t change.

Lynyrd Skynyrd were the bad boys of southern rock in the early 70s; “Free Bird” was their opus. If you like guitar solos, freedom and jamming, this is probably a song that is at the top of your list of greatest songs.

They felt that their signature sound was due to their three lead guitarists, though it is obviously due to lead singer Van Zant’s unique voice. Lynyrd Skynyrd is another band that would die prematurely due to a tragic airplane crash at the height of their fame.

Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is about a man apologizing to a woman for leaving her, because he is like a bird and is born to be free. He feels sorrow, and hopes the girl will remember him, but he knows his nature and he knows that it is time for him to move on. He takes complete responsibility…but he can’t and won’t change–he is not a one-woman man..

The guitars in “Free Bird” are amazing but the most outstanding part is the vocal. Both the verse and chorus are great melodies and they are sung perfectly by Van Zant. He is sad but not devastated. We know he will be ok tomorrow. We can tell he loves this woman, but he loves women more; and he will probably be with a new one tomorrow.

Free Bird Lyrics

If I leave here tomorrow,
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now.
Cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.

Lord knows, I can’t change.
Bye, bye, baby, it’s been a sweet love-
Though this feeling I can’t change
But please don’t take it so badly.
Cause Lord knows I’m to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now.
And this bird you’ll never change.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And this bird you can not change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.
Lord help me, I can’t change.
Lord, I can’t change.
Won’t you fly high, free bird, yeah.

Songwriters: Allen Collins / Ronnie Van Zant

1980s songs, authenticity

#248 True Colors- Cyndi Lauper

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I see your true colors/
And that’s why I love you.

In “True Colors”, Cyndi sees a world of people, living sad lives. She can see it in their eyes. She thinks we need is to all gather our collective strength to show our true (wonderful) selves that we are hiding from the outside world.

It will take courage, but the payoff will be worth it. So smile, and show off your personality. Don’t be bashful or afraid about looking different. When you show who you really are…your True Colors…Cyndi thinks it is the most beautiful thing you can do. Though she realizes it is hard.

Lauper’s “True Colors” works because it has a nice melody and hook with the chorus and it also doubles as a women’s anthem (more of a people’s anthem really). Cyndi’s unique voice is well matched to this song, and she sings it passionately. Cyndi Lauper’s most well known song is “Girls just want to have fun”, and while that is a fun song, I feel it pigeonholes her a bit. Her ballads are where she delivered her best work.

The best version might be from her “Body Acoustic” album. More great songs from Cindi Lauper.

True Colors Lyrics

You with the sad eyes-
Don’t be discouraged, oh I realize
It’s hard to take courage,
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all.
The darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small.

And I see your true colors
Shining through.
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you.
So don’t be afraid to let them show,
Your true colors.
True colors are beautiful:
Like a rainbow.

Show me a smile then
Don’t be unhappy
Can’t remember when
I last saw you laughing.
This world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear,
Just call me up
‘Cause I will always be there.

And I see your true colors
Shining through.
I see your true colors-
And that’s why I love you.

So don’t be afraid to let them show-
Your true colors,
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow.

Ooh can’t remember when
I last saw you laughing.
Ooh oh oh oh
This world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear,
Just call me up
‘Cause I will always be there.

And I see your true colors
Shining through.
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you.
So don’t be afraid (don’t be afraid)
To let them show your true colors,
True colors are beautiful (you’re beautiful, oh)
Like a rainbow.
Oh oh oh oh oh like a rainbow.

Songwriters: Billy Steinberg / Tom Kelly

1990s songs, contentment

#247 Feel’s Like Home- Chantal Kreviazuk

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If you knew how lonely my life has been/
And how long I’ve been so alone.

Randy Newman wrote “Feel’s Like Home” in the 80s, but it was Chantal Kreviazuk (and also Edwina Hayes) who turned this song from a C into an A. The lyrics tell a simple story about a loving relationship feeling like home. Despite its simple concept, the meaning is elegant; the song is much more passionate than the title suggests.

Feels Like Home Meaning — chantal kreviazuk

The lover’s eyes makes the narrator lose herself and her heart beats fast at the sound of his voice. The best line of the song is the one above, and Kreviazuk rightly highlights it in her version. She was lonely and alone until her love came along. The meaning is simple but incredibly moving.

The upbeat piano in Kreviazuk’s version is an interesting contrast with the slow finger-picking guitar of Hayes version. Both are great interpretations. Both are also these artists best performances. Kreviazuk’s feels more like a celebration. She feels genuinely surprised by her emotions and the words she’s saying. It gets the slight edge.

Lyrics Feels Like Home

Something in your eyes,
Makes me want to lose myself.
Makes me want to lose myself
In your arms.

There’s something in your voice
Makes my heart beat fast.
Hope this feeling lasts,
The rest of my life.

If you knew how lonely my life has been,
And how long I’ve been so alone.
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along,
And change my life the way you’ve done.

It feels like home to me,
It feels like home to me.
It feels like I’m all the way back where
I come from.
It feels like home to me,
It feels like home to me.
Feels like I’m all the way back where I belong.

A window breaks down a long dark street,
And a siren wails in the night.
But I’m alright ’cause I have you here with me,
And I can almost see through the dark there is light.

If you knew how much this moment means to me,
And how long I’ve waited for your touch.
If you knew how happy you are making me,
I never thought that I’d love anyone so much.

Songwriters: Randy Newman

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